Árnafjørður fjord

Árnafjørður

By Verified Expert

Published: 01/06/2021

Reading time: 2 minutes

Árnafjørður is a small fjord village in the unbelievable Faroe Islands. This delightful settlement on Borðoy Island is well protected by a deep fjord.

The hidden village is only a 10 minutes drive from the second largest town in the Faroe Islands, Klaksvík. Steep mountains surround the settlement.

Tunnel to Árnafjørður

Tunnel to Árnafjørður
The locals celebrate new tunnels as they enable safer travel and easier travel. This is the tunnel’s mount leading to Árnafjørður. Photo by Ólavur Frederiksen.

The Faroe Islands are connected with an impressive system of tunnels. There are both mountain tunnels and underwater tunnels in the archipelago which make is easy to get around by car. Árnafjørður is a special place in this regards as the place is located between two mountain tunnels.

Once you drive north from the town Klaksvík, you will enter a tunnel going east. Once you get out of the tunnel, you will see another tunnel’s mouth. Nevertheless, in order to get to the fjord settlement, turn right once ypu get out of the first tunnel. This is where Árnafjørður is located.

Hike from Klaksvík

Árnafjørður
The epic fjord view in Árnafjørður on Borðoy Island.

You will get a breathtaking perspective of the fjord when hiking from Klaksvík to Katlarnir. The hike is marked with timber poles and is among the best hikes in the Faroe Islands. Along the route, you will see the 7 kilometre (4.3 miles) deep fjord with Árnafjørður nestled in the bottom.

With nature being close the Faroe Islands population, naming places has always been important for navigating the mountains. This settlement is no exception. Actually, a local inhabitant has published a book with toponyms in Árnafjørður and its surroundings. There are an astonishing 500 toponyms linked to this small fjord settlement only!

Services in Árnafjørður

Road sign in Faroe Islands
Road sign in Árnafjørður. The road network to the fjord settlement is excellent. Photo by Ólavur Frederiksen.

The place is small so there are no basic services in the settlement. Instead, you will go to nearby Klaksvík to get food and other goods. What the place lack in services you will get with stunning views and a lovely row of boat houses along the seaside.

  • Grocery store: No
  • Café: No
  • Public toilet: NO
  • Parking lot: Yes
Person in natur

Høgni Reistrup

Høgni Reistrup is the CEO and Co-founder of Guide to Faroe Islands. Born and raised in the Faroe Islands, Høgni has deep roots in the archipelago. He co-founded the marketplace Guide to Faroe Islands in 2018 as a way for travellers to plan and explore the best of the island group.

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Frequently asked questions

How do I get to Árnafjørður from Klaksvík?

Take the road from Klaksvík towards the harbour settlement Ánir and from there go through the mountain tunnel Norður um Fjall. You will then reach Árnafjørður. 

What is there to do in Árnafjørður?

Go down to the beach to enjoy the tranquility in Árnafjørður. If you are into hiking, you can do the hike from Katlarnir to Klaksvík. This is one of the best hikes in the Faroe Islands.

Where is the best viewpoint over the Árnafjørður Fjord?

You get the best view of the Árnafjørður Fjord in between the two mountain tunnels that connect the place to settlements further north and Klaksvík a bit south. There are only 500 metres (1640 feet) between the two tunnels. This is the place where you can pull off and see the fjord structure forming almost like a lagoon.

Is there a river running through Árnafjørður

Yes, a river Stóra runs through Árnafjørður and you can get close to it when in the settlement. Stórá means 'Big River' in Faroese. A good spot to stand next to it is where the white painted church with its red roof is located. Here you will get a post card view of the settlement with the river and the church in the frame.

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