Vágar Island Travel Guide

By Verified Expert

Vágar Island is the westernmost of the largest islands in the Faroe Islands. The island is like a ‘Faroe Islands in Miniature’ due to the wealth of attractions and natural wonders found here.

The island of Vágar is home to many of the most loved places in the Faroe islands among others: Múlafossur Waterfall in the tidy village Gásadalur, the 313 metre (1027 feet) high rock formation Trøllkonufingur just outside the village Sørvágur and the rock pillar Dunnesdrangar west of the airport.

Map over Vágar

On this island, you will also experience the sheer Trælanípa Cliff from where you will see the lake above the ocean. Right next to the basalt promontory, you have Bøsdalafossur Waterfall which flows into the North Atlantic Ocean from the largest lake in the Faroe Islands, Lake Leitisvatn.

The village of Bøur comes with gorgeous views and is one of the favourite spots among travellers. From Bøur, you can see the famous Drangarnir Sea Arch. This is the free-standing sea stack that sits next to Tindhólmur Islet with its many peaky upright tips.

Gásadalur at Vágar Island
Jaw-dropping beauty in the remote settlement Gásadalur.

You can see Árnafjall mountain when in the secluded village of Gásadalur. Árnafjall peaks at 722 meters (2369 feet) and is the highest mountain on Vágar Island.

The only airport in the Faroe Islands, Vagar Airport (FAE), is also situated on Vágar Island. Boats to the summer puffins on Mykines Island depart from the village Sørvágur on Vágar Island.

Sod-roof houses on Vágar Island

The View in Bøur
Sod-roofed houses in the settlement Bøur on Vágar Island. Photo by Jannik Hubo known as @jannikhubo on Instagram.

The airport island is home to a lot of houses covered with grass roofs. There are arguably more houses in the Faroe Islands with turf-roofs than anywhere else in the world.

One of many great places to see a lovely collection of buildings with sod on the roof is in Bøur. You might even spot sheep on the roofs every now and then!

Spiky islet of Tindhólmur

Tindhólmur spiky islet
The spikes on the sheer islet Tindhólmur. Photo by Chris Poplawski.

Off the coast of the airport island lies the iconic Tindhólmur Islet. With its spiky shape, you will immediately recognise this islet when you see it.

You will have great views of Tindhólmur from the seaside settlement Bøur. For closer looks at the islet on other nearby nature wonders, book the Drangarnir Boat Tour departing from Sørvágur and heading out of the Sørvágsfjørður Fjord to the many nearby nature attractions.

Underwater Tunnel between Vágar Island and Streymoy Island

Vágatunnilin underwater tunnel
Inside the underwater tunnel from the airport island. Photo by Ólavur Frederiksen.

An underwater tunnel links the airport island to nearby Streymoy Island where you find the capital, Tórshavn. The tunnel is 4940 m (3 mi) from one end to the other.

Like all underwater tunnels in the Faroe Islands, the Vágatunnilin tunnel has two lanes. The tunnel makes it easy to get to and from the airport and same goes when exploring the many incredible nature attractions on the island.

Other great attractions
Elduvík

Elduvík

Skarvanes on Sandoy Island

Skarvanes

Houses in the village Porkeri on Suðuroy Island

Porkeri