Vestmanna Sea Cliffs

The Vestmanna Sea Cliffs are one of the most popular tourist attractions in the Faroe Islands. Located north of the village of Vestmanna on Streymoy Island, these dramatic basalt cliffs rise hundreds of metres above the Atlantic Ocean, and stretch 5 kilometres along the coastline.

The Vestmanna Sea Cliffs are known locally as Vestmannabjørgini. They are a spectacular destination for nature lovers and especially bird watchers.

Birdlife at the cliffs

The Vestmanna Sea Cliffs are an excellent place to observe birds in their natural habitat. During the summer, thousands of seabirds nest on the steep cliff faces.

Among the birds you can see at the cliffs are puffins, guillemots, razorbills, fulmars and kittiwakes. For puffin spotting, the best time to go is from late May to late August.

Getting to the Vestmanna Sea Cliffs

The best way to experience the Vestmanna Sea Cliffs is on a boat tour from Vestmanna, which operates from April to October. The sailing takes less than 30 minutes each way, and the full tour lasts around two hours.

Along the route, towering sea stacks rise from the ocean, while dark basalt walls reveal impressive sea caves. Weather permitting, the boat will enter some of these caves.

On the journey to the cliffs, you will also see Vágar Island and the abandoned village of Slættanes.

Vestmanna is approximately a 40-minute drive from Tórshavn or Vágar Airport. Parking is available at the harbour near the boat departure point.

While exploring the area, you can also visit Saksun, a picturesque village nestled in a valley above a natural tidal lagoon.

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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