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Norðoyar
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Explore Norðoyar in the Faroe Islands for steep Atlantic mountains, remote villages, fishing heritage, island ferries and memorable coastal walks.

Norðoyar, the Northern Isles of the Faroe Islands, form a dramatic archipelago in the north-east of the country. The region comprises Borðoy, Kunoy, Kalsoy, Viðoy, Svínoy and Fugloy, where steep basalt mountains rise directly from the North Atlantic and narrow valleys shelter small settlements. Klaksvík, on Borðoy, is the region’s principal town and the Faroe Islands’ second-largest urban centre. Its sheltered position between several islands has made it an important fishing port and transport hub.
Read more about Norðoyar
The landscapes change markedly from island to island. Borðoy combines the urban life of Klaksvík with mountain roads, sea lochs and small farming settlements such as Norðoyri and Árnafjørður. Kunoy is known for its high, serrated mountain ridge and compact village of the same name, while Viðareiði occupies an exposed but exceptionally striking setting between Viðoy’s peaks and the sea. Kalsoy is long and narrow, with isolated villages, a road that enters several tunnels, and walking routes leading into open mountain country. Its northern settlement of Trøllanes is associated with the Kópakonan, or Seal Woman, a well-known Faroese legend.
Norðoyar’s appeal lies in the combination of accessible community life and expansive natural scenery. Klaksvík has cafés, cultural institutions, churches and a working harbour rather than the atmosphere of a purely rural outpost. Beyond the town, roads, ferries and tunnels connect visitors with villages where turf-roofed houses, boat sheds and grazing land remain closely tied to the sea. The region is also a strong base for mountain walks, although routes can be steep, pathless or exposed, and weather can change quickly.
The Northern Isles have long been shaped by fishing, farming, seafaring and inter-island exchange. Traditional Faroese food remains visible in local hospitality, with fish, lamb, fermented specialities and baked goods forming part of the wider culinary culture. Summer brings long daylight and easier access to remote islands, while winter offers a quieter atmosphere but shorter days, stronger weather and more limited transport. Visitors who allow time for weather delays and ferry changes will find Norðoyar best understood not as a checklist of viewpoints, but as a living northern maritime region where dramatic nature and working communities remain closely connected.

When is the best time to visit Norðoyar?

Best: June–August · 15–16°C
Average daytime high and rainfall by month
MonthHigh (°C)Rainfall (mm)
January7150
February7130
March7140
April9120
May11110
June (best)15100
July (best)16110
August (best)16120
September14130
October11140
November9150
December7160

Getting to and around Norðoyar

How to get there

The usual international gateway is Vágar Airport, which lies outside Norðoyar on Vágar. From the airport, visitors travel through the central Faroes by road, usually passing through the subsea tunnel network before reaching Klaksvík on Borðoy. Domestic visitors can also reach the region by road from Streymoy and Eysturoy, while scheduled ferries and, on some routes, helicopter services connect selected northern islands. Services to Kalsoy, Svínoy and Fugloy are limited and subject to change, so consult the official timetable before setting out.

Transportation

Klaksvík is connected to the wider Faroese road network, and a car gives the greatest flexibility for reaching villages and trailheads on Borðoy, Kunoy and Viðoy. Buses serve the main communities, but rural services are less frequent and may not align conveniently with ferry departures. Ferries are essential for Kalsoy, Svínoy and Fugloy, with limited capacity and weather-sensitive schedules. Driving requires care on narrow roads, in tunnels and around passing places; never stop in a tunnel or block a ferry-loading area.

Top city travel guides in Norðoyar

The cities of Norðoyar, and the easiest places to base yourself.

Destinations in Norðoyar

Resorts, valleys and scenic spots worth a trip of their own.

Best attractions in Norðoyar

Norðoyar’s attractions are defined by the close relationship between dramatic landscapes and inhabited places. Klaksvík provides the region’s main concentration of cultural facilities, harbour life, shops and visitor services, while the surrounding islands offer village walks, mountain scenery and encounters with a working maritime landscape. On Borðoy, roads lead towards settlements such as Norðoyri and Árnafjørður, where steep slopes and sheltered inlets reveal the geography that shaped local livelihoods. Kunoy and Viðoy are especially rewarding for visitors interested in high ridges, narrow valleys and panoramic views, although mountain access requires appropriate equipment and weather awareness. Kalsoy brings together remote villages, tunnels, coastal perspectives and walking routes associated with the legend of the Seal Woman; its famous Kópakonan statue stands near Mikladalur. Boat and helicopter connections can make Svínoy and Fugloy possible for carefully planned excursions, but these islands are best approached as living communities rather than quick sightseeing stops. Churches, small local collections, harbours and traditional houses add cultural depth, while birdwatching, hiking and landscape photography are the principal outdoor pursuits. Attractions are dispersed, and transport planning is part of the experience.

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Best landmarks in Norðoyar

Christianskirkjan in Klaksvík is one of Norðoyar’s most recognisable buildings. Completed in the twentieth century, its large Faroese Lutheran church reflects the importance of Klaksvík as a regional centre and incorporates design and materials associated with Faroese culture. The town’s harbour and surrounding mountain amphitheatre form an equally significant working landmark, showing how fishing and maritime transport continue to organise the settlement. On Kalsoy, the Kópakonan statue near Mikladalur commemorates the island’s enduring Seal Woman legend and has become a widely recognised symbol of the northern islands. The village of Trøllanes, reached at the end of Kalsoy’s narrow road, provides a striking human counterpoint to the island’s open mountains and sea cliffs. Viðareiði is another defining landscape landmark, positioned between high mountains and exposed coastal waters on Viðoy. Across the region, turf-roofed houses, boat landings, stone walls and compact church villages are not isolated monuments but elements of a continuing settlement pattern shaped by farming, weather and the sea.

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Best restaurants in Norðoyar

Dining in Norðoyar reflects the wider Faroese food culture while retaining the practical character of a northern working region. Klaksvík has the broadest choice of cafés, bakeries, casual restaurants and places serving contemporary interpretations of local ingredients. Fish and seafood are central, with lamb, potatoes, rye bread and dairy products also common in Faroese cooking. Fermented fish and lamb are traditional foods, but they are usually encountered as part of a wider meal rather than an everyday requirement for visitors. Smaller villages have limited food provision, so carry supplies when travelling to Kalsoy, Svínoy or Fugloy and do not assume that a café will be open between transport connections. Local hospitality may include seasonal produce and home-style dishes, while the town’s restaurants offer a more modern approach to North Atlantic ingredients. Beer and other drinks produced in the Faroe Islands may appear alongside imported options, and advance planning is sensible for evening meals during the busiest summer weeks.

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Best bars in Norðoyar

Klaksvík is the main centre of evening life in Norðoyar, with pubs, cafés, restaurants and occasional live music providing a sociable but relatively low-key scene. The town’s nightlife is shaped more by local community life, concerts and cultural gatherings than by a dense concentration of nightclubs. Smaller villages generally become quiet after the day’s ferry, farming or fishing activity, and evening choices may be limited to accommodation or a local gathering. Visitors should not expect a large late-night entertainment district, particularly outside summer or event periods. Faroese drinking customs and licensing arrangements follow local law, and transport options diminish considerably at night, so plan a safe way back to accommodation. The most rewarding evening may be a meal, a music event or a harbour walk in good light rather than a late night out.

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Best nightclubs in Norðoyar

Klaksvík is the main centre of evening life in Norðoyar, with pubs, cafés, restaurants and occasional live music providing a sociable but relatively low-key scene. The town’s nightlife is shaped more by local community life, concerts and cultural gatherings than by a dense concentration of nightclubs. Smaller villages generally become quiet after the day’s ferry, farming or fishing activity, and evening choices may be limited to accommodation or a local gathering. Visitors should not expect a large late-night entertainment district, particularly outside summer or event periods. Faroese drinking customs and licensing arrangements follow local law, and transport options diminish considerably at night, so plan a safe way back to accommodation. The most rewarding evening may be a meal, a music event or a harbour walk in good light rather than a late night out.

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Best shops in Norðoyar

Klaksvík is Norðoyar’s most practical shopping centre, with everyday shops, cafés and services useful for travellers preparing for excursions into the smaller islands. Shopping elsewhere is limited and largely local in character, so buy food, water and walking supplies before departing for remote communities. Faroese knitwear, woollen goods, locally designed clothing, books, music and small craft items make more meaningful souvenirs than generic imports, while local food products can include biscuits, preserves, dried or fermented specialities and Faroese beer. Independent shops and cultural venues in Klaksvík offer the best chance of finding regionally connected gifts, although stock and opening arrangements vary. Visitors should not expect a large designer-shopping scene or extensive retail clusters in the villages. Markets and seasonal events may provide opportunities to meet makers and purchase handmade goods, but these are not necessarily held every week, so check local information rather than relying on a fixed market schedule.

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Norðoyar essentials

Currency and Payment
The currency is the Danish krone, DKK, and Faroese banknotes circulate alongside Danish notes and have the same value. Cards and contactless payments are widely accepted in Klaksvík, accommodation, shops and many cafés, but cash remains useful in small settlements and for occasional transport or self-service facilities. The Faroe Islands are outside the European Union and use their own VAT and customs arrangements, so visitors should not assume that all mainland European payment or roaming conditions apply.
Safety
Norðoyar is generally a calm region, but the main visitor risks come from weather, terrain and transport rather than urban crime. Mountain paths may be slippery, unmarked or exposed, and fog can remove visibility quickly; check conditions and tell someone your plans before longer walks. Keep well back from cliffs and nesting sites, particularly on Kalsoy and Viðoy. Drive slowly on narrow roads, watch for sheep, and allow for strong winds, rain and sudden changes that can delay ferries or make exposed routes unsafe.
Emergency Situations
The emergency number throughout the Faroe Islands is 112 for police, fire and ambulance services. Give your exact location, including island, village, road or recognised landmark, because steep terrain and changing weather can complicate rescue. For a serious incident at sea or on the coast, the emergency service can coordinate the appropriate maritime response. Mountain walkers should carry a charged phone, but should not rely on mobile coverage in every valley or ravine.
Do's and Don'ts
Respect private homes, farm buildings, gates and cultivated land, and close gates after passing through grazing areas. Keep dogs under control and do not disturb sheep or seabirds. On walks, stay on established routes where available and avoid cliff edges, especially in fog or high wind. Ask before photographing people, boats or private property at close range. Faroese social etiquette is generally polite and understated; in cafés and restaurants, follow local payment and tipping practices rather than assuming that a large tip is expected.
Local Tips
Allow a buffer day for remote-island excursions, since a missed or cancelled connection can change an entire itinerary. Klaksvík is more than a transport stop and is useful for supplies, cultural visits and harbour-side orientation before heading into the smaller communities. The northern mountains often look most dramatic in changing weather, but visibility matters more than a fixed viewpoint, so keep plans flexible. Ask local accommodation providers about current path conditions and the most reliable way to reach a trailhead.
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From Eve

Local phrases worth knowing

You don't need to get them perfect. A few words go a long way, and locals appreciate the effort.

6 phrase groups · English, local and pronunciation

Basics
EnglishLocalSay it
HelloHallo[Hah-lo]
GoodbyeFarvæl[Far-vail]
YesJa[Yah]
NoNej[Nay]
Please/You're welcomeVinaliga[Vin-ah-lee-gah]
Thank youTakk[Tahk]
Excuse me/SorryUrsak[Ur-sahk]
How are you?Hvussu hevur tú?[Hvoo-soo eh-var too?]
Fine. And you?Bara væl. Og tú?[Bah-rah vail. Ohg too?]
Do you speak English?Talar tú enskt?[Tah-lar too eng-skt?]
I don't understandEg skilji ikki[Egg shil-lee ee-kee]
Eating & Drinking
EnglishLocalSay it
I'd like to see the menu, pleaseEg vil gita matseðilin, vinaliga[Egg vil gee-tah maht-seh-dil-in, vin-ah-lee-gah]
I don't eat meatEg etti ikki kjöt[Egg et-tee ee-kee kyot]
Cheers!Skál![Skahl]
I would like to pay, pleaseEg vil gjalda, vinaliga[Egg vil yahl-dah, vin-ah-lee-gah]
Emergencies
EnglishLocalSay it
Help!Hjálp![Yahlp]
Go away!Far burtur![Far boor-tur]
Call the Police!Ring til løgregluna![Ring til lur-ehg-loo-nah]
Call a doctor!Ring til læknan![Ring til layk-nahn]
I'm lostEg eri týndur[Egg eh-ree teen-door]
I'm illEg eri sjúkur[Egg eh-ree shoo-kur]
Shopping
EnglishLocalSay it
I'd like to buy...Eg vil keypa...[Egg vil kay-pah...]
I'm just lookingEg eri bara at hyggja[Egg eh-ree bah-rah at hig-gah]
How much is it?Hvussu kostar tað?[Hvoo-soo koh-star thah?]
That's too expensiveTað er ov dýrt[Thah air ohv deert]
Can you lower the price?Kanst tú minnka prísin?[Kahn-st too min-kah prees-in?]
Time & Numbers
EnglishLocalSay it
What time is it?Hvat tíð er tað?[Hvat teed air thah?]
It's one o'clockKlokkan er eitt[Kloh-kahn air it]
Half past (10)Hálv (10)[Hahlv (ten)]
MorningMorgun[Mor-goon]
AfternoonEftir miðdegi[Ef-teer mid-day-ee]
EveningKvøld[Kvol-d]
YesterdayÍ gjár[Ee yar]
TodayÍ dag[Ee dahg]
TomorrowÍ morgin[Ee mor-gin]
11[1]
22[2]
33[3]
44[4]
55[5]
66[6]
77[7]
88[8]
99[9]
1010[10]
Transport & Directions
EnglishLocalSay it
Where's a/the...?Hvar er ein/te...[Hvar air ain/te...]
What's the address?Hvat er adressan?[Hvat air ah-dress-an?]
Can you show me (on the map)?Kanst tú vísa mær (á kortinum)?[Kahn-st too vee-sah mair (ow kor-tin-um)?]
When's the next (bus)?Nær kemur næsti (bussur)?[Nair keh-moor nay-stee (boos-sur)?]
A ticket (to ....)Ein bilett (til ....)[Ain bee-let (til ....)]

History of Norðoyar

Viking settlement and early communities

The Northern Isles were settled during the Norse period, when farming and seafaring communities established themselves in valleys and coastal sites around the islands. Earlier activity may have occurred in the Faroes, but the enduring cultural landscape developed through Norse settlement, Christianisation and the growth of village communities. The difficult terrain encouraged small settlements linked by boats, mountain paths and shared grazing practices. Many present-day villages retain the basic relationship between sheltered farmland, landing places and steep upland pasture that shaped life in Norðoyar for centuries.

Medieval church and local society

During the medieval period, the Northern Isles formed part of the wider Faroese community under Norwegian and later Danish rule. Christianity became embedded in local society, while parish structures and village churches helped organise scattered populations. Agriculture, fishing and the seasonal use of mountain pasture remained fundamental, and contact between islands depended heavily on small boats. The region’s legends, place names and oral traditions also developed within this maritime world, preserving stories that continue to influence Faroese cultural identity.

Trade monopolies and the growth of Klaksvík

From the late sixteenth century until the mid-nineteenth century, trade in the Faroe Islands was controlled by a Danish royal monopoly. This restricted overseas commerce but also concentrated approved trading activity in selected settlements. Klaksvík gradually became the principal commercial centre of the Northern Isles, benefiting from its sheltered harbour and position between the surrounding islands. When the monopoly ended in 1856, Faroese communities gained greater freedom to trade, helping ports such as Klaksvík develop more fully as centres of commerce, fishing and transport.

Fishing, boats and the modern harbour

The nineteenth and twentieth centuries brought major changes to the Northern Isles as open-water fishing, improved boats and expanding commercial networks reshaped the economy. Klaksvík grew from a cluster of older settlements into a significant fishing town, while smaller villages continued to combine farming with maritime work. Fishing created employment, encouraged new housing and connected Norðoyar with markets beyond the islands. The harbour remains central to the region’s identity, although modern services and public-sector employment now complement the traditional marine economy.

Roads, tunnels and changing island connections

For much of their history, the islands depended on footpaths and boats, and winter weather could isolate communities for days. Roads, regular ferries and later subsea tunnels transformed access during the twentieth and early twenty-first centuries. Borðoy became more closely integrated with the rest of the Faroes through road links and tunnel connections, while improved infrastructure made Klaksvík an important northern gateway. Remote islands such as Kalsoy, Svínoy and Fugloy still depend on carefully timed maritime or air services, preserving a clear sense of distance despite modern transport.

Contemporary Faroese cultural life

Today, Norðoyar combines strong Faroese traditions with a modern regional centre in Klaksvík. Faroese remains the everyday language, and music, boat culture, local associations and seasonal gatherings continue to connect communities. The region has also become more visible to visitors through its mountain scenery, villages and legends, particularly on Kalsoy. Tourism is an important addition to the local economy, but the islands remain working communities rather than open-air museums. Respect for residents, private land, farming activity and transport limitations is therefore essential.

Norðoyar in Photos

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Evendo: Your Ultimate Travel Guide to Norðoyar, Faroe Islands

Discover Norðoyar with Evendo, the 100% free app-based travel guide covering attractions, landmarks, restaurants, and more. Your perfect trip planner.

  • Detailed information on attractions, landmarks, shops, bars, nightclubs, restaurants, hotels, tours, experiences, and activities
  • Rich set of information including images, descriptions, local tips, maps, and contact details
  • Easy booking of hotels, tours, tickets, and experiences
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Explore Norðoyar with Evendo, the comprehensive and free travel guide app. Discover attractions, plan your itinerary, and experience the best of the Faroe Islands.

  • History of Norðoyar
  • Travel essentials when visiting Norðoyar
  • Curated local tips to experience Norðoyar like a local
  • Easy navigation through the app and the city
  • "Near me" feature to see nearby attractions and services
  • 100% free with no in-app purchases

Welcome to Norðoyar, the northernmost and arguably the most enchanting part of the Faroe Islands. Whether you're a history buff, nature lover, or culinary enthusiast, Evendo is your essential travel companion. With detailed information on attractions, landmarks, shops, bars, nightclubs, restaurants, hotels, tours, experiences, and activities, Evendo ensures you experience the best of Norðoyar.

Start your journey by exploring the iconic Klaksvík, the second-largest town in the Faroe Islands, known for its beautiful harbor and the stunning Kunoy Park. Don't miss out on the historically rich Christianskirkjan church and the breathtaking views from Klakkur, a nearby mountain offering panoramic views of the archipelago.

Food lovers can dive into the local cuisine at renowned restaurants like Angus Steakhouse or Café Fríða, where you can savor traditional Faroese dishes. For a unique experience, visit the small village of Viðareiði, one of the most picturesque locations in the Faroe Islands, and enjoy a meal with a view at Hotel Norð.

Evendo not only helps you discover these gems but also allows you to book hotels, tours, tickets, and experiences seamlessly. No more juggling between different platforms; everything you need is right here in one place. With rich information, images, local tips, maps, and contact details, planning your trip has never been easier.

Download Evendo now and start your adventure in Norðoyar. Discover, plan, and enjoy your perfect trip.

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