Vágar Airport

Vágar Airport (FAE) is the port of arrival for most visitors to the Faroe Islands. This is the only airport in the archipelago.

The airport is situated on Vagar Island in the western part of the country. Vágar Airport is located between the village of Sørvágur and Lake Leitisvatn. Home to the Faroe Islands’ flag carrier, Atlantic Airways, this is where all flights to the island group arrive.

There are daily flights to Copenhagen and weekly and seasonal flights to other destinations such as Billund, Edinburgh and Reykjavík.

All you need to know about Vágar Airport

Vágar Airport was established during World War ll by the British Army. The runway has been extended since then and the facilities around the airport have been upgraded. A new terminal was inaugurated in 2014 with a tax-free shop, restaurant, bar, resting area, and a new arrival hall.

The runway is 1799 metres (1.1 mile) long. The western end of the runway lies only 400 metres (1312 feet) from the nearest houses in Sørvágur. On the opposite end of the runaway lies Lake Leitisvatn. This is the famous ‘floating lake’ which creates an optical illusion when seen from the Trælanípa Cliff.

The Airport Terminal

The limited flight traffic to the Faroe Islands makes travel effortless and stress-free to and from Vágar Airport. There are never more than fifteen flights arriving and departing daily, even during the peak travel season in July.

Just to give you a sense of how small the airport is, there are only two gates at the airport, Gate 1 and Gate 2.

The airport is calm, and queues for check-in, security, and baggage claim are minimal. No overwhelming crowds comes with several advantages.

• No need to arrive at the airport more than 1 hour before an outbound flight
• Quick luggage claim process
• Personalised service at the airport

Breathtaking views before landing

When approaching the airport, you will either descend over Lake Leitisvatn or over the Sørvágsfjørður fjord and then the village of Sørvágur just before landing. If the plane enters the runway over Sørvágur, you will have the terminal building on your left-hand side upon landing.

Entering the runway over Sørvágur will give you the most beautiful views, visibility permitting. From this side of the runway, you will fly over the spiky Tindhólmur Islet and the small village of Gásadalur with the famous Múlafossur Waterfall.

After you have disembarked the airplane, you will walk outside for less than a minute before entering the terminal at Vágar Airport.

Car Rental at Vágar Airport

All car rental companies in the Faroe Islands offer pickup at the airport. So if you hire a car in the Faroe Islands, you will be able to pick it up right after landing.

You will find the car rental staff only a minute’s walk from the airport’s small arrival hall. There are signs in the arrival hall pointing towards the car rental companies. Browse the widest selection of car rentals in the Faroe Islands.

Many package tours start at Vágar Airport with travellers either being picked up by a driver or picking up their own rental car. Once heading from the airport, you are only minutes away from breathtaking nature and quaint villages.

Locations Close to Vágar Airport

The airport is a 40 minutes drive from the capital, Tórshavn. There are several daily bus departures from the airport to Tórshavn. You can also get from the airport in a taxi.

Lake Leitisvatn is a neighbour to Vágar Airport, and the hike to the famous Trælanípa Cliff at the edge of the lake can easily be done on the same day as a flight to or from the Faroe Islands.

The small village of Gásadalur lies only a 15 minutes drive from the airport. The settlement is one of the most popular attractions in the Faroe Islands. Gásadalur is where you will experience the famous Múlafossur waterfall that drops directly into the ocean.

Another very popular nearby activity is the Drangarnir Boat Tour, which takes you to the famous Drangarnir Sea Stacks. The boat tour starts in Sørvágur only minutes away from Vágar Airport.

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