Skarðsáfossur Waterfall

Skarðsáfossur is a waterfall in the remote Faroe Islands. Located on Vágar Island, this attraction is well hidden. The sight is best seen from the seaside.

The waterfall sits between the villages Bøur and Gásadalur. Skarðsáfossur waterfall drops from the cliff’s edge and to a small black beach made out of stone beneath it.

When close to the attraction, you will have a great view of the spiky islet Tindhólmur and the sea arch Drangarnir. You might even be lucky and spot some puffins when enjoying the waterfall.

Exploring the waterfall after days with rain or when raining will give you the best experience. This is when there is some volume in the water falling effortlessly down to the stony surface below.

Getting to Skarðsáfossur

You can only see the waterfall from sea as the area on landside is private property. Skarðsáfossur Waterfall sits 2 km (1.2 mi) from the village Bøur towards the tunnel’s mouth leading to Gásadalur. There is a small unpaved area where locals pull to the right and park their vehicle for sheep herding.

This is where they cross the road and head towards the ocean. There is no visible path on the grassy surface as the field is used for sheep only.

Want to see the waterfall from an ocean perspective? Check out this Drangarnir Boat Tour. The boat tour will take you to the sea arch, Skarðsáfossur Waterfall and more.

Once the boat reaches the skerry Akranessker, the waterfall will appear on your right hand side. Boats can get very close to the fall itself, so close that you can hear the crashing water and sometimes even feel the spray of it.

When flights to the Faroe Islands descends to archipelago to the only runway in the island group, you might spot the waterfall. The flight needs to approach Vágar Airport from the Sørvágsfjørður fjord in order to see it. Make sure to get a window seat facing the flight’s lefthand side.

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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