Top 10 Viewpoints in the Faroe Islands
The Faroe Islands are eighteen basalt islands in the North Atlantic between Iceland and Scotland, where green slopes drop in sheer cliffs to a grey, restless sea and the weather changes by the minute. There are no high peaks by Alpine standards — the tallest, Slættaratindur, reaches 880 metres — but the combination of vertical coastline, narrow fjords and constant low cloud produces some of the most atmospheric viewpoints in Europe. These ten capture the islands' singular character.
Trælanípa and Lake Sørvágsvatn, Vágar
The most photographed view in the Faroes is the optical illusion of Lake Sørvágsvatn appearing to hover high above the ocean. From the cliff of Trælanípa, 142 metres above the sea, the lake seems suspended over the water far below. A roughly two-hour return hike along the lakeshore from Miðvágur reaches the viewpoint, passing the Bøsdalafossur waterfall that drops straight into the Atlantic.
Drangarnir and Tindhólmur, Vágar
The sea stack of Drangarnir, with its natural arch, frames the jagged islet of Tindhólmur with its five distinct peaks in one of the Faroes' most iconic compositions. The viewpoint is reached by a guided coastal hike from Sørvágur or by boat tour. Late light and a low sun behind the arch create dramatic silhouettes against the open ocean.
Kallur Lighthouse, Kalsoy
On the slender island of Kalsoy, reached by ferry, a short but steep walk leads to the Kallur Lighthouse perched on a green ridge at the island's northern tip. The view back along the spine of Kalsoy, with cliffs falling away on both sides to the sea, is among the most dramatic in the archipelago. The lighthouse featured in a recent James Bond film, raising its profile.
Gásadalur and Múlafossur, Vágar
The waterfall of Múlafossur plunges directly from the village of Gásadalur into the ocean below, with the grass-roofed houses and sheer headlands behind. Until a tunnel was bored in 2004, the village was reached only on foot over the mountain. The roadside viewpoint frames waterfall, village and sea cliffs together — best in soft, overcast light typical of the islands.
Klakkur, Borðoy
Above the town of Klaksvík, the rounded summit of Klakkur at 413 metres offers a 360-degree panorama over the northern islands, the fjords and the town's harbour far below. A track climbs most of the way, and a final walk reaches the top. On clear evenings the low northern sun lights the surrounding peaks and channels in gold.
Slættaratindur, Eysturoy
The highest point in the Faroes at 880 metres, Slættaratindur is climbed by a steep but non-technical route from the Eiðisskarð pass. From the summit, on the rare clear day, the view stretches across most of the eighteen islands, and around the summer solstice it is said the midnight sun can be glimpsed from the top. The climb takes around three hours return.
Sandavágur Church viewpoint, Vágar
The red-roofed church of Sandavágur sits above a sweeping bay, and the surrounding slopes give a classic Faroese composition of village, fjord and cloud-wrapped peaks. It is an easily reached roadside stop that captures the gentler, settled side of the islands, in contrast to the dramatic sea cliffs elsewhere.
Viðareiði and Cape Enniberg, Viðoy
The village of Viðareiði on Viðoy is the northernmost settlement in the Faroes, overlooked by towering cliffs. Beyond it, Cape Enniberg rises 754 metres straight from the sea — among the highest sea cliffs in Europe. The headland is reached by a demanding guided hike, but the village viewpoint alone offers a striking sense of the islands' northern edge.
Saksun, Streymoy
The hamlet of Saksun sits at the head of a near-enclosed tidal lagoon, ringed by steep grassy slopes and waterfalls, with a turf-roofed church above the water. The viewpoint over the lagoon and out to the narrow sea entrance is one of the most serene in the Faroes, especially at low tide when the sand flats are exposed.
Sornfelli, Streymoy
A high mountain road climbs toward the former NATO radar station on Sornfelli, giving one of the few drive-up high viewpoints in the Faroes at around 750 metres. The panorama spans Streymoy, Vágar and the surrounding fjords, often above a layer of valley cloud. It is a quick way to gain altitude and a broad view without a long hike.
Explore on the map
From the floating lake of Sørvágsvatn to the sea stacks of Drangarnir and the northern cliffs of Enniberg, every viewpoint above is plotted on the interactive map. Use it to see which require guided hikes, boat tours or ferries, which are short roadside stops, and plan a route around the islands that works with the fast-changing Atlantic weather.