Vágar
The Island You Land On: Where a Lake Floats Above the Sea
Vágar greets almost every arrival, and we always suggest giving it an hour or two before you rush off to the capital. Within minutes of the runway a lake appears to hover above the ocean, a waterfall drops straight off a cliff into the Atlantic, and a village of eighteen houses sits beneath mountains that steal the afternoon sun. From Vágar’s harbor the summer boats run to Mykines and its puffin colonies, and its coast road strings together sea stacks, small villages, and some of the most photographed views in the North Atlantic. Your first Faroese day, we think, is waiting in sight of the baggage belt.
Come and Discover Vágar
Impressions of Vágar
What to See and Do on Vágar
Our top 5 reasons to visit this region
The Lake That Floats Above the Sea
Hike the lakeside path at Sørvágsvatn to the Trælanípa viewpoint, where the ground ends and the cliff drops to the surf far below, the lake sitting impossibly high behind you. It produces the Faroes’ most famous optical illusion.
Cruise Out to Drangarnir and Tindhólmur
Sail on a fjord tour to the twin sea stacks of Drangarnir, framed against the pyramid islet of Tindhólmur, one of the most striking seascapes in the country. Approaching the arch by boat, with the stacks rising sheer from the water, is pure North Atlantic drama.
Meet the Puffins of Mykines
Take the summer boat to the westernmost island and walk the guided path among the puffins toward its western tip, with the Mykineshólmur lighthouse in view across the sound. It is one of the great short walks of the North Atlantic, though the final crossing to the lighthouse itself is often closed to protect the nesting birds.
Catch Golden Hour in Bøur
Pull over in the tiny village when the light drops, and watch the turf-roofed houses and the sea stacks beyond turn to silhouettes across the fjord. It is one of those places that rewards simply sitting still with a camera as the day ends.
The Witch's Petrified Finger
Find Trøllkonufingur, the lone rock needle above the coast at Sandavágur, which folklore blames on a troll woman caught by the sunrise. The story is as much a part of the Faroes as the rock itself.
"After a 90-minute hike, I finally saw Lake Sørvágsvatn, the lake above the ocean, and was truly amazed by the wonders of nature."
Wang Double Zhe
Itineraries for Inspiration
Every Faroese journey opens and closes on Vágar, so we make those chapters count. Our itinerary inspirations below can dedicate your arrival or departure day to the island's west, then connect through the subsea tunnel to Streymoy, weaving Mykines in as a full-day side trip when the summer ferries run.
Multi Day Tour to the Valley
Tórshavn and the Green Beyond
Island by Island
What our travelers find useful
The Lake Hike Has a Gate
Access to the Sørvágsvatn trail runs through the landowners’ reception, where a hiking fee applies; details and tickets are at hiking.fo. Budget around three hours for the round trip, and treat the fee as the price of keeping a much-walked trail in good repair.
Mykines Needs a Plan B
The little ferry from Sørvágur sails in summer, books out fast, and yields to the swell without negotiation. We secure your crossing early and build the day with enough flex around it that a canceled sailing, always a real possibility here, never derails the rest of your trip.
One Lane to Gásadalur
The tunnel to the village is single-lane with pull-outs. Headlights on, take it slowly, and yield with a wave; the whole system runs on courtesy rather than signals.
Tolls Happen by Camera
The subsea tunnels read your license plate automatically, so there are no booths to stop at and nothing to do as you drive through. The tolls are simply settled through your rental afterward. We make sure you know how it works before you set off, so a small handling fee on your car bill is something you are expecting rather than a surprise.
Mykines Has Rules
The island is a protected Ramsar site and its bird colonies are fragile, so a certified local guide is required to hike out toward the puffin slopes and the lighthouse path, booked in advance rather than arranged on arrival. Follow the marked routes and the birds will let you get closer than you expect.
The Faroe Islands stories to inform & inspire
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Discover More of The Faroe Islands
Streymoy & Tórshavn
Streymoy and Tórshavn hold the pocket-sized capital and its home island, from the ancient parliament headland of Tinganes to the bird cliffs of Vestmanna and the tidal lagoon at Saksun.
Eysturoy
Eysturoy mixes old and new like nowhere else, with two stone giants stranded off its north coast, the tallest mountains in the country, and the world's first roundabout built beneath the sea.
The Northern Islands
The Northern Islands are the Faroes at their most vertical: Kalsoy's film-famous lighthouse, the seal-woman statue at Mikladalur, Klaksvík's working harbor, and Europe's great northern cliff at Enniberg.
The Southern Islands (Sandoy and Suduroy)
The Southern Islands, Sandoy and Suðuroy, are the archipelago's calmer half, reached by the newest tunnel and the best-loved ferry, with dunes, poets' cliffs, and the church that keeps the original Faroese flag.