Akrar village on Suðuroy Island, Faroe Islands, with colourful houses, boathouses and a small stone jetty on a rocky shoreline below a steep green hillside covered in low mist

Akrar

By Verified Expert

Akrar is one of the smallest settlements in the Faroe Islands, tucked along the Lopransfjørður Inlet on Suðuroy Island. This quiet hamlet is home to only around a dozen residents, offering a rare glimpse of village life at its most peaceful and remote.

Akrar was founded in 1818 by a man from the nearby village of Sumba. In 1985, the settlement reached its peak with 43 inhabitants. Since then, the population has declined significantly over the decades. The school closed in 2015 and has since been turned into a church hall. It lies halfway between Akrar and its sister village, Lopra, and is shared by the two villages.

The poet Poul Johanned Midjord was born in Akrar. A story goes that he wanted to marry the daughter of a farmer from the nearby village of Nes, but her father did not approve. One night, Poul Johannes sailed to Nes, picked her up and sailed her to his home. Her parents remained unaware until it was too late. His most famous poem is “Nesbóndatátturin”, which revolves around this story. The poet wrote in Faroese, the islands’ national language.

Getting to Akrar

Stone cairn on a green hillside above Akrar village on Suðuroy Island, Faroe Islands, with the calm blue waters of Vágsfjørður and the town of Vágur across the fjord
A lichen-covered cairn marks the slope above Akrar, one of the smallest villages on Suðuroy Island, with Vágsfjørður Fjord and Vágur stretching out beyond.

To get to the village, you first have to take the ferry to Suðuroy Island, which leaves from the capital, Tórshavn. The village lies 23 km (14.3 miles) south of Krambatangi, where the ferry docks. If arriving by car, take the road going south until you reach the village of Lopra. Then turn left and follow the road through Lopra and further along the coast until you reach Akrar.

Alternatively, you can take bus 700 to Lopra and walk from there along the road to Akrar. The road connecting the two villages is 1.8 km (1.2 miles) long. The walk takes around half an hour each way. There is no public transportation all the way to Akrar.

Guide to Faroe Islands

Guide to Faroe Islands is nestled in the capital of the Faroe Islands. Founded in 2018, Guide to Faroe Islands is now the go-to agency when planning and booking holidays in the Faroe Islands. Services include car rental, accommodation, and experiences. With sustainability at heart and more than 150 different tours and activities ready for travellers to explore, Guide to Faroe Islands is a guarantee for memories to last a lifetime. Our company has tailor-made exceptional itineraries for successful and wealthy people beside assisting and helping adventurous travellers getting that well deserved holiday.

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