Trælanípa Cliff

Trælanípa is a steep cliff on Vágar Island in the beautiful Faroe Islands. The cliff treats hikers to one of the most renowned views in the Faroe Islands.

The name, Trælanípa, translates to “The Slave Cliff”. According to local folklore, the cliff got this name during the Viking Age when Vikings pushed old, disobedient and sick slaves off the cliff edge.

The scenery at Trælanípa is among travellers’ favourite spots to visit in the Faroe Islands. From Trælanípa Cliff, you can see Lake Leitisvatn, which is the largest lake in the Faroe Islands. From the top of the cliff, it looks as if the lake is floating above the wild North Atlantic ocean. For this reason, the lake is often called “The Lake Above the Ocean”.

Getting to the Trailhead

You will find the trailhead to Trælanípa Cliff very close to Vágar Airport. It takes 10 minutes to drive from the airport to where the trail starts. The trailhead is located next to the village of Miðvágur. When coming from the airport, look for the centrally located church in Miðvágur, and turn right along the road in front of the church, Follow the winding road up to the parking lot. Next to the parking lot is a small café and public toilets.

As you will be in the great outdoors for around three hours, you might want to bring some snacks with you. You can buy some in the café at the trailhead or in the grocery stores or gas station in the village of Miðvágur.

Trail Admission Fee: In order to hike to Trælanípa Cliff, there is a mandatory trail admission fee of 200 DKK. This can be paid by card or cash at the café by the trailhead. The fee does not include a guide.

The Hike to Trælanípa Cliff

In order to get to the famous vantage point, you have to hike a well-trodden 3-kilometre (1.86 miles) trail for around one hour.

Hiking to the famous viewpoint is fairly easy. There is hardly any elevation gain along the route except for the very last part when you hike up the cliff to the viewpoint. The cliff is 142 metres (466 feet) high, making it the lowest mountain on Vágar Island. Nevertheless, the climb up is quite steep.

Most people will consider the hike from the trailhead to the cliff more like a walk than a real hike. Small children can easily join this hike.

On the way to Trælanípa Cliff, you will walk along the scenic Lake Leitisvatn. This is the same lake that you will see perched above the ocean from the sheer cliff. The lake floats 38 metres (125 feet) above the ocean. Most of the lake is up to 60 metres (197 feet) deep, so a huge part of the lake is actually under sea level.

Other great views near Trælanípa Cliff

Right before you get to the point of the hike where you start climbing up the hill, you will have a great view of the cliff itself. There is a wooden bench here where you can relax and soak in the breathtaking surroundings.

Another great attraction next to the cliff is Bøsdalafossur Waterfall which drops from the lake into the ocean below. To get to the waterfall from the cliff, simply hike down it on the opposite side of where you hiked up, and head for the rocks below the cliff. Go down far enough to view the waterfall cascading down the cliffs into the ocean.

Behind Bøsdalafossur Waterfall, you can see the towering Geituskorardrangur Sea Stack shooting out of the ocean. It is possible to see the sea stack from above, but it requires crossing the waterfall and hiking up the hill on the other side. Crossing the waterfall is only possible in very mild weather.

Services near Trælanípa Cliff

As the Lake Above the Ocean is one of the main attractions in the Faroe Islands, there are several services nearby. The Trælanípa Cliff viewpoint itself is pure nature. All the services listed below are located in the nearest village, Miðvágur, and at the trailhead.

• Grocery store: Yes
• Café: Yes
• Public toilet: Yes
• Parking lot: Yes

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.

Go to author