Torshavn Travel Guide, Faroe Islands

Torshavn Travel Guide – The Little Northern Paradise

This Torshavn travel guide will give you an insight into the beauties and functions of the capital of the Faroe Islands, a group of islands located somewhere between the Norwegian Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean. Today the Faroe Islands are considered a part of the Kingdom of Denmark, just like Greenland. The state is composed of 18 islands and wherever you are on the Faroe territory you are never more than 5 kilometers away from the sea. The capital Torshavn got its name from the god of thunder in Norse mythology, Thor, but the locals just call it “Havn”, which means “port”. Torshavn can be considered one of the oldest capitals in Northern Europe, given the fact that it was founded in the 10th century. One of the closest smaller towns in the UK is Aberdeen, located at 540 kilometers away, while Glasgow is 670 kilometers away from Torshavn.

Torshavn Travel Guide – The Local Vibe

The aspect of Torshavn will remind you of all those northern cities with tall, narrow and colorful buildings overlooking the shore or a canal. Still, the weather is not friendly at all, so the best time to visit the Faroe Islands is from the beginning of July to the end of August, when temperatures can go as high as 11 degrees. You will find that the locals, although influenced by the powerful Icelandic and Scandinavian cultures around them, have their own well established customs and beliefs and they speak their own language. The atmosphere in Torshavn is comfortable and you can actually find all kinds of restaurants, shopping malls, cinemas, hotels, a swimming pool, discos and bars for a rich night out – they are all available in Torshavn and can easily be reached with some help from the tourist information office.

Torshavn Travel Guide – The Largest Traditional Celebration

Every Torshavn travel guide should mention that the people from the Faroe Islands have made a habit from celebrating their culture and traditions, and the place where it all happens is the capital itself. This means that if you are lucky enough to be there at the end of July, you will be caught in the city’s biggest celebration, Ólavsøka. All the inhabitants of the island gather in Torshavn wearing their national costumes, marching on the streets, singing and dancing traditionally. Also each year there is a boat race in the harbor that dates back to the 19th century and where wooden boats from all over the country gather to compete in front of many spectators. The celebration ends at the break of dawn, because until then the dancing and partying goes on in the street as well as in the local bars and discos.