With its colorful cluster of wooden turf-roofed homes and sloping hillsides, Tórshavn appears to have stepped out of a fairy tale. But the pint-sized capital of the Faroe Islands is not only a convenient base for exploring the archipelago—it's also a charming city that invites lingering. From exploring Tinganes, home of the Faroese Parliament since Viking times, to hiking to Kirkjubøur and soaking up art at the National Gallery, visitors will find plenty of things to do in Tórshavn.
Weather-wise, the best time to visit Tórshavn is between June and August, but don’t expect to sunbathe—temperatures seldom exceed 59°F (15°C) and the city is often cold and windy, even in the summer. Summer also has the benefit of long daylight hours (up to 22 in June and July, but it is also the busiest season: late spring and early fall promise decent weather and far smaller crowds.
Tórshavn is compact and largely navigable on foot, but if you’d rather not walk, you can jump on one of the city buses, whose four routes reach most parts of the capital. While you can explore further using public transportation, it requires patience and planning. If you want to see more of the Faroe Islands, your best bet is to rent a car or join a tour.
Spurred on by the success of its pioneering restaurant Koks, Tórshavn has emerged as a foodie hotspot over recent years. Although Koks has moved to Greenland, you can still dine at its sister venues, Roks and Ræst. Like most Tórshavn restaurants, it’s a good idea to book tables well in advance—during the summer, restaurants are often booked up for weeks.
