Streymoy

Join the Hipporoller Challenge

Help the Travel Guide reach 20,000,000 characters and we'll donate 63 hipporollers worth over $6000. Read more.

Contributors

• Utrecht (51%)
  from http://utrecht.travellerspoint.com
• davidx (49%)

Help contribute to this article to share the ad revenue.

Introduction

St Olav's Church, Kirkjubøur

© All Rights Reserved davidx

Streymoy is the largest island in the Faroe Islands and contains the island capital of Torshavn.

Geography

Streymoy is joined to Eysturoy by what is called the 'bridge over the Atlantic Ocean', one of the few underwhelming sights on the Faroe Islands - since the two islands are so close at this point. An undersea tunnel connects it to the airport island of Vagur and there are ferries to Suðuroy and Nolsoy from Torshavn and to Sandoy and Hestur from Gamlarætt. There are also helicopter links with other islands.

Although Kirkjubøur, and the bird cliffs of Vestmaana are well visited, possibly some visitors to Torshavn miss the delights of northern Streymoy. There are delights there indeed.

Towns and Villages

• Torshavn - claims to be the world's smallest capital, but in fact it's not (that honour goes to Adamstown, Pitcairn Islands).
• Kirkjubøur - Once capital and most important religious site.
• Vestmaana - northwest of the island and noted for trips to bird cliffs. The boats wind through stacks, caves and arches and, particularly in the breeding season, the seabirds are splendid. You may still se men climbing desperately difficult rocks to catch puffins, which are regarded as a delicacy in the islands.
• Saksun - an idyllic village in north-east Streymoy with a lagoon, a church and an interesting museum
• Kvivik - on a loop road from the road to Vestmaana - foundations of a viking settlement and a sad monument to a shipwreck.
• Tjornuvik - at the north-east tip of the island with excellent views of north Eysturoy.
• Haldarsvik - octagomal church and fine view southwards.
• Gamlarætt - north of Kirkjubøur - ferries to Hestur and Sandoy.

Sights and Activities

• Saksun is a wonderful place. There is a lagoon with a narrow inlet separating it from the open Atlantic. It is possible to walk beside this inlet but it may well take longer than you would think. There is a small church above the lagoon and on the other side of the lagoon is the small settlement, with part of one of the old farms now converted into a museum.

Saksun

© All Rights Reserved davidx

• Tjornuvik - a delightful village in the far north-west where the road allows fine views of the sea staccks off Eysturoy, Risin and Kellingin.
• Haldarsvik - a lovely octagonal church and a great view of the narrow straits between Streymoy and Eysturoy.

Events and Festivals

Weather

Streymoy isn't the first place that comes to mind for its nice weather. Actually, you should consider yourself very lucky if you don't have any rain, even if you just visit for a few days. Even the somewhat drier months of June to August still have 20 to 22 rainy days a month! From October to March it rains on all but a few days a month. Temperatures are never hot but it rarely gets really cold as well. Winter (December to March) night time temperatures average around 2 °C while average summer (July-August) temperatures hoover around a chilly 12 °C.

Getting There

By Plane

A bus meets planes at Vagar Airport (FAE).

By Car

Although obviously you can't drive to Streymoy from other countries directly, the ferry described below offers you to bring your own car. This gives you maximum freedom on the islands and you don't need to rent a car.

By Bus

By Boat

By boat your options are limited, time consuming and it's not a good deal at all unless you really want to bring your own car. Smyril Line ferries leave from Denmark, Norway and Scotland to Iceland, stopping en-route at Streymoy.

The Icelandic cargo ship Eimskip has two vessels, the Dettifoss and Goðafoss which travel the route Rotterdam-Hamburg-Göteborg-Århus-Fredrikstad-Tórshavn-Reykjavík. It takes 8 days in total and the return trip goes via eastern Iceland and Tórshavn only. The vessel can take a maximum of 3 passengers but only between mid-April and mid-October.

Getting Around

By Plane

By Train

By Car

By Bus

By Boat

Eat

Drink

Sleep