How to spend a long weekend in Torshavn
The tiny capital of the Faroe Islands is easy to reach thanks to new direct flights from Gatwick
Eager to escape the crowds this summer? The Faroe Islands could hold the answer. Home to more sheep than people, the self-governing nation within the Kingdom of Denmark is often overlooked as a holiday destination. But a new direct flight from Gatwick running until the end of August has made getting here much easier.
Sitting between Scotland, Norway and Iceland in the North Atlantic Ocean, the isolated archipelago is known for its breathtaking scenery and windswept fjords. However, said Jeanine Barone in The New York Times, the Faroe Islands' tiny capital, Torshavn, is also a "nexus of creativity", filled with "buzzy coffee shops, wine bars and fashion emporia".
Torshavn's "narrow cobblestoned streets" and "black-tarred houses" conjure the backdrop for "the most magical Nordic city break you've never had", said Mike MacEacheran in The Times. But with rain expected on up to 300 days a year, don't forget your waterproof jacket.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
What to do
It's well worth visiting Tinganes – the location of one of the oldest parliaments in the world. With its "bright red walls" and "turf-green roof", "it looks a bit like the House of Commons, if designed by Noddy and Big Ears," said MacEacheran. Make sure you "snoop respectfully", though. Many of the buildings are still in use and politicians live locally in the "surrounding warren" of Reyn.
Be sure to stop at the Nordic House, too. With its grassy roof and "cave-like interiors", it could "almost be a hide-out for elves". The cultural institution hosts regular concerts and the cafe has sweeping views all the way to the island of Nolsoy.
Art lovers will enjoy spending an afternoon at the National Gallery of the Faroe Islands, said Barone in The New York Times. "Snuggled on a grassy expanse within the trail-laced forest", the gallery has a permanent collection of over 200 pieces, and a selection of figurative bronzes by Hans Pauli Olsen are on display outside.
If you have time, consider a boat trip to Vestmanna on northern Streymoy. Spotting seabirds like puffins and Arctic terns "nesting in high cliffs, swooping down and gliding past you is exhilarating", said Rich Booth in The Independent.
Where to dine and drink
Rustic seafood bistro Roks is one of the best restaurants in the entire archipelago, said Laura Hall in Lonely Planet. The little sister of the two-Michelin-starred Koks (which has temporarily relocated to Greenland), serves everything from sea urchin roe to "dishes dusted with fish scales that look like confetti".
If you're looking for something a bit more laid-back, drop into OY Brewing, advised MacEacheran in The Times. The "refreshingly on trend" tap room serves tasty kimchi burgers and Korean chicken drumsticks, alongside an impressive collection of locally brewed beers.
For a place so small, added Booth in The Independent, "it's surprising how heaving the bars in Torshavn are each night". You can't go wrong stopping off for a beer at craft brewery Mikkeller, set within a "little low-beamed fishing house by the harbour".
Vingardurin is also worth checking out. A "treat for oenophiles", said Barone in The New York Times, the "unpretentious" wine bar and art gallery has a cellar stocked with more than 200 bottles. It's an "ideal setting" for "nibbling manchego cheese and mingling with artists at the bi-monthly exhibition openings".
Where to stay
The location of Hotel Hafnia is hard to beat: just "seconds from the harbour", it's a "short amble" from most of the city's attractions, said The Telegraph. Soft sheepskin rugs top comfy sofas in the "warm and alluring" lobby, which serves as a "trendy shelter from the North Atlantic drizzle".
Another safe bet is Havgrim Seaside Hotel 1948 – a "quaint boutique" with "grand-spanking views" of the North Atlantic, said The Times. Situated on the rugged coast of Streymoy within walking distance of Torshavn's centre, the hotel has a garden hot tub: the best place to soak up the ocean views.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Irenie Forshaw is a features writer at The Week, covering arts, culture and travel. She began her career in journalism at Leeds University, where she wrote for the student newspaper, The Gryphon, before working at The Guardian and The New Statesman Group. Irenie then became a senior writer at Elite Traveler, where she oversaw The Experts column.
-
Today's political cartoons - October 5, 2024
Cartoons Saturday's cartoons - gathering funds, juggling tariffs, and more
By The Week US Published
-
5 category 5 cartoons about hurricane Helene
Artists take on precarious conditions, planning ahead, and more
By The Week US Published
-
Wolfs: 'comedy thriller' stumbles despite George Clooney and Brad Pitt
While the crime caper might 'pleasingly pass a Saturday night' its star-studded duo cannot ultimately salvage it
By The Week UK Published
-
Silk Roads at The British Museum: a 'mesmerising' exhibition
The Week Recommends 'Epic' show explores the many routes connecting East and West, through a collection of 'beautiful, unusual, intricate' treasures
By The Week UK Published
-
Sarah Moss picks her favourite books
The Week Recommends The author shares works by Virginia Woolf, Dorothy Wordsworth and Ross Gay
By The Week UK Published
-
TV to watch in October, from 'Disclaimer' and 'The Franchise'
The Week Recommends An HBO comedy from the 'Veep' creator, a mystery from master filmmaker Alfonso Cuarón and a reboot of an '80s classic
By Anya Jaremko-Greenwold, The Week US Published
-
Giant: 'stylishly crafted' Roald Dahl play is 'spectacularly good'
The Week Recommends Mark Rosenblatt's 'fearless' debut examines the character of the controversial children's author
By The Week UK Published
-
The Cabinet Minister: 'sparkling' comedy with a 'satirical sting'
The Week Recommends Nancy Carroll's revival of Arthur Wing Pinero's classic farce is a 'life-affirming triumph'
By Irenie Forshaw, The Week UK Published
-
Movies to watch in October, from 'Joker: Folie à Deux' to 'Saturday Night'
The Week Recommends Joaquin Phoenix as Joker, a new Jason Reitman comedy and a buzzy Palme d'Or winner
By Anya Jaremko-Greenwold, The Week US Published
-
Surviving October 7th: We Will Dance Again – 'blistering' documentary 'unfolds like a disaster movie'
The Week Recommends Yariv Mozer's 'visceral' film features mobile phone footage from survivors of Hamas attack
By Irenie Forshaw, The Week UK Published
-
The best places for a last-minute sunny autumn break
The Week Recommends Escape the chilly weather at these sun-drenched destinations
By Irenie Forshaw, The Week UK Published