Tórshavn Shore Excursions

Kirkjubour and Nordic House
Duration: Approx. 3 hours

In the middle of the North Atlantic lie the Faroe Islands, a rocky archipelago of wild and unique beauty and the home of a tiny Scandinavian nation of 47,000 people. Thanks to the Gulf Stream, the climate is a good deal less severe than the island's northerly position might suggest; winters are warm and summers are cool.

From the quayside you will drive through the centre of Tórshavn, the capital of the Faroes, whose origins date back more than a thousand years. You can compare old and new as you pass tarred wooden houses contrasting with the clean lines of the modern public buildings. Unlike many Nordic towns of similar age, Tórshavn has never been touched by all-embracing fire, so the old quarter of the town is remarkably well preserved.

Leaving Tórshavn, you continue westward to the village of Velbastaour with fine views of the nearby islands of Koltur and Hestur, and then southwards to the historic village of Kirkjubour. It is here that Irish monks, presumed to be the earliest settlers in the Faroes, made their home in the 8th century. In about 1100 Kirkjubour was made the episcopal seat of the islands and you can see the 12th-century St. Olav’s Church - the only medieval church still in use in the Faroes - the Magnus Cathedral, started in the 13th century but never completed, and a farmhouse standing on the remains of the episcopal palace dating from around 900 A.D. On your drive to the Nordic House, which you will visit, you will enjoy magnificent vistas of Tórshavn and the island of Nolsoy. Built in 1983, this magnificent building is a forum for cultural events ranging from concerts and exhibitions to lectures on folklore. The striking architecture reflects the influence of the whole Nordic region, with wood from Sweden, tiles from Norway, furniture from Finland and construction materials from Denmark and Iceland. The grass roof however is uniquely Faroese.

By coach, subject to a minimum of 40/maximum of 180. Please note: This tour may operate in a different order so as to avoid congestion.