4 Best Faroe Islands Hikes: Kallur, Trælanípa, Klakkur & Gjógv
If you find yourself in the Faroe Islands, make sure you spend some time hiking. This was one of our favorite parts of visiting.
The Faroe Islands are incredibly remote and peaceful, with a population of only around 54,000 people and more sheep than people. The islands are covered in lush green mountains, dramatic cliffs that drop straight into the ocean, powerful waterfalls, colorful villages, turf-roofed houses, and winding mountain roads that disappear into tiny, dark tunnels.
One thing we noticed almost immediately was the lack of trees. The Faroe Islands have no natural forests, although you will find planted trees and small woodland areas, including Viðarlundin Park in Tórshavn.
After spending 8 Nights in Iceland, we visited the Faroe Islands from July 15–20. Five nights ended up being the perfect amount of time for us to see the major highlights without feeling too rushed.
If you’re planning your own trip, check out my Faroe Islands 5 Night Itinerary for our complete day-by-day route.
But if you’re specifically looking for the best hikes in the Faroe Islands, these are the four we personally did and would recommend adding to your itinerary.
1. Kallur Lighthouse Hike on Kalsoy Island
Best for: Dramatic scenery, adventure and iconic Faroe Islands views
Difficulty: Moderate to challenging
Distance: Approximately 3 miles round trip
Time: 1.5–2.5 hours, but allow 3–4 hours if you want plenty of time for photos
Hiking fee: 200 DKK per adult (cash or card)
Location: Trøllanes, Kalsoy Island
Website: Go to SSL.FO for more information on the ferry and bus schedule
The Kallur Lighthouse hike was the one we were most excited about—and also the most logistically challenging.
Located on Kalsoy Island, Kallur is only accessible by ferry, which makes getting there part of the adventure. The hike takes you across narrow ridges and steep grassy slopes with incredible views in almost every direction. It is also home to the famous James Bond memorial from No Time To Die.
Getting to the Kallur Lighthouse Trail
We drove about 50 minutes from Tórshavn to Klaksvík and arrived early at the Ferjulega ferry terminal. The car ferry has limited vehicle capacity (12 cars), so if you’re bringing a rental car, arrive early.
You can also leave your car in Klaksvík, take the ferry by foot and use public transportation once you get to Kalsoy Island. The ferry is route 56 and bus 506 connects with the ferry to take visitors from Syðradalur toward Trøllanes.
We took the 9:00 AM ferry from Klaksvík to Syðradalur. The ferry ride takes about 20 minutes, followed by another 20-minute drive through Kalsoy’s narrow, one-lane tunnels to the village of Trøllanes.
Our transportation details:
- Ferry terminal: Ferjulega, Klaksvík
- Ferry: Route 56
- Ferry ride: Approximately 20 minutes
- Syðradalur to Trøllanes: Approximately 20 minutes by car
- Trailhead: Trøllanes
- Parking: Near the public toilets
The road between Syðradalur and Trøllanes passes through four narrow tunnels. Because parking is limited in Trøllanes, the official tourism site now recommends using the bus rather than driving if possible.
The Hike
The trail begins in the tiny village of Trøllanes and quickly climbs into the green mountains. The scenery gets better and better as you make your way toward the lighthouse.
The hike itself is relatively short, but don’t underestimate it. The grassy trail can become very muddy and slippery after rain, and the exposed sections make weather conditions important. Wear sturdy, waterproof hiking shoes and check the weather before heading out.
The current hiking fee is 200 DKK for adults, with credit cards accepted at the site.
We started around 11:00 AM and ended up spending much longer than the typical hiking time because we stopped to eat, take photos, and enjoy the views.
And here’s an important tip: pay attention to the ferry schedule!
We actually missed our planned 3:10 PM ferry back to Klaksvík. Luckily, we were able to take the 4:30 PM ferry instead, but you don’t want to find yourself stranded on Kalsoy without checking the next departure.
We eventually made it back to Klaksvík and drove the 50 minutes back to Tórshavn and got dinner.
2. Klakkur Trail in Klaksvík
Best for: An easier hike with incredible views
Difficulty: Easy to moderate
Distance: Approximately 1.7 miles round trip from the upper parking area
Time: 1–1.5 hours, plus time at the summit
Fee: Free
Location: Klaksvík
Klakkur was actually the first hike we did in the Faroe Islands, and it was the perfect introduction.
After getting settled into our rental car and Airbnb in Tórshavn, we were eager to get outside and start exploring. We drove about 50 minutes to Klaksvík and started hiking around 7:30 PM.
Yes, 7:30 PM!
One of the best things about visiting the Faroe Islands in summer is the incredibly long daylight hours. We didn’t finish until close to 10:00 PM, and it was still completely light outside.
How to Get to Klakkur
For the shortest route, drive up to the upper parking area at Hálsur.
The road is known as the Ástarbreytin, or “Love Path.” Searching Ástarbreytin in Google Maps will help you find it.
You can also start the hike from Christianskirkjan Church in Klaksvík, but this adds several miles to the hike. The official Faroe Islands hiking guide lists the full route from Klaksvík as significantly longer, while the Hálsur-to-Klakkur section takes about 1.5 hours round trip.
Why We Loved It
We barely saw anyone else on the trail. Once we reached the top, we lingered much longer than planned, taking in the views of the surrounding mountains, ocean and Klaksvík below.
The trail is mostly grassy, but there are some steep sections near the summit, so take your time. The official hiking guide also warns that the top can be very steep in places.
If you’re looking for a relatively easy hike that still delivers those classic dramatic Faroe Islands views, Klakkur is a great choice
3. Trælanípa – The Floating Lake
Best for: First-time visitors and the iconic “lake above the ocean” view
Difficulty: Easy to moderate
Distance: Approximately 4 miles round trip
Time: 2–3 hours
Location: Vágar Island
Trailhead: Miðvágur which has a parking lot and a small hut where you will pay by card or cash
Website: https://www.tralanipan.fo/
Trælanípa is probably one of the most recognizable landscapes in the Faroe Islands.
Located on Vágar Island, the hike takes you along Lake Sørvágsvatn/Leitisvatn, eventually reaching the famous viewpoint where the lake appears to float high above the Atlantic Ocean.
The lake is actually the largest in the Faroe Islands, covering about 3.4 square kilometers. At the end of the lake, you can also see Bøsdalafossur, a 30-meter waterfall that drops directly into the Atlantic Ocean.
Our Experience: Fog, Rain and a Little Faith
We started around 2:00 PM in fog and light rain. At first, I was convinced we had made a mistake. The entire reason we were hiking was basically hidden by the weather. But one thing we quickly learned while traveling around the Faroe Islands is:
Start the hike anyway.
The weather can change incredibly quickly, and that’s exactly what happened to us. As we continued walking, the fog slowly started to lift. Then suddenly, the landscape appeared—and there it was. The lake looked like it was floating above the ocean. It was one of those travel moments that makes you very glad you didn’t turn around because of bad weather.
The trailhead in Miðvágur is well organized, with parking, restrooms, a small hut selling hot drinks and snacks, and a clearly marked trail.
Hiking Fee
The fee has changed since our July trip. Independent hikers currently pay 200 DKK per person, while guided hikes are available for a higher fee. The current official information lists guided hikes at 450 DKK per adult.
The trail requires visitors to check in at the main gate and follow the marked path.
Don’t Skip Múlafossur Waterfall
If you have a rental car, combine this hike with a visit to Múlafossur Waterfall.
It’s only about 20 minutes away and is one of the most famous postcard views in the Faroe Islands. Since you’re already exploring Vágar, there’s really no reason to skip it.
4. Gjógv Cliff Hike
Also known as: Ambadalur Valley Trail, Puffin Trail and Barmur Bench Trail
Best for: Ocean views and dramatic cliffs
Difficulty: Moderate
Distance: Approximately 3 miles depending on how far you go
Time: 1.5–2 hours
Location: Gjógv, Eysturoy Island
Suggested contribution: 50 DKK
After visiting Tjørnuvík Beach, we continued to the tiny village of Gjógv on Eysturoy Island. The winding mountain roads take you through the stunning Gjáarskarð mountain pass, with classic Faroe Islands scenery surrounding you the entire way.
The hike begins near Gjáarkaffi Café and goes by several different names because there are multiple route options and viewpoints branching from the same starting area.
We didn’t complete the entire loop. Instead, we hiked up toward Barmur Bench, continued a little farther, and eventually turned around once we felt like we’d gotten enough of the experience.
And that’s something I really liked about this hike—you don’t necessarily have to commit to completing the entire route.
What You’ll See
The trail gives you:
- Dramatic cliffs
- Wide-open Atlantic Ocean views
- Rolling green mountains
- The tiny village of Gjógv below
- Plenty of opportunities to stop and enjoy the scenery
There is a small honesty box at the trail entrance where you can leave a suggested contribution toward maintaining the land.
We started around 5:00 PM and finished around 6:30 PM.
Final Thoughts: Are the Faroe Islands Worth Visiting for Hiking?
Absolutely. Hiking in the Faroe Islands feels raw, peaceful and incredibly rewarding. The landscapes are dramatic but the trails can feel surprisingly quiet, which makes the experience even more special.
Our four hikes were completely different from one another. Kallur Lighthouse was the big adventure and my favorite hike, Klakkur was an easy introduction with incredible views, Trælanípa gave us the iconic floating-lake scenery, and Gjógv was all about dramatic cliffs and peaceful ocean views.
If you’re already planning a trip to Iceland, I highly recommend adding the Faroe Islands to your itinerary. Five nights was enough for us to experience the major highlights, and these four hikes were some of the best memories from our time there.
If you love remote destinations, dramatic landscapes, big views and adventures that feel a little wild, the Faroe Islands might just become your next favorite place.
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