Tórshavn City-walk

A peaceful walk through Tórshavn with waterfalls, nature and beautiful city view

The route starts at Visit Tórshavn in Steinatún. Walk up Niels Finsensgøta and turn left onto Við Havnará, where Tróndur Patursson’s sculpture Ormabani (“Snake Slayer”) stands in the river. Continue into the peaceful Plantation, following the river among trees, ducks and other birdlife.
Leaving the Plantation, pass the football stadium, swimming pool and Tórsbreyt, and continue along Undir Svartafossi. After about 2 km, you reach the beautiful Svartifossur waterfall, where two streams meet and continue as one.
Follow the narrow path above the waterfall and along Ternuryggur. This allotment area was established in 1938 with around 130 small garden plots, at a time when it lay far outside Tórshavn. During the Second World War, stranded foreign sailors worked on paths here as part of an employment initiative. Continue past the gardens towards Villingafossur. Above lies Tórshavn’s water reservoir, with its dam from 1988 at an altitude of 270 metres.
Climb the steep path at Ketturðin to reach the halfway point. From here, there are magnificent views across Hoyvík, Tórshavn, Argir and Nólsoy, and north towards Skálafjørður, Eysturoy and the northern mountains.
Continue south towards Keldurnar and the telecommunications masts above Hotel Føroyar. Numerous large boulders are scattered across this area. They may date from the Ice Age, possibly deposited by meltwater beneath the ice.
At Keldurnar, the route crosses the old village path to Syðradalur and Norðadalur. Follow it downhill towards á Varða. Just before the stone-wall gate, you can make a 150-metre detour north along the wall to Varðholan, a cave with a large stone in its centre. It was once used for public gatherings and as a hiding place from pirates. Scouts also came here for weekend trips when the area was considered far outside Tórshavn.
Continue through the gate, cross Oyggjarvegur and follow the path towards Írarók. At the bottom of Varðagøta, you pass the childhood home of William Heinesen, the renowned Faroese writer and artist and an honorary citizen of Tórshavn.

Continue into the Plantation to the memorial cairn dedicated to Faroese sailors who lost their lives during the Second World War. The two ponds below the memorial are home to rich and varied birdlife.
At the bridge, turn right towards Sankta Frans School. Here you pass Hans Pauli Olsen’s beautiful bronze sculpture Tarira, also known as Álvagentan (“The Elf Girl”), created in memory of William Heinesen. This is also where Tórshavn’s annual upper-secondary school graduation gatherings are held.
Finally, continue down Tórsgøta to Steinatún, where the route ends.