How to Visit Kirkjubøur in the Faroe Islands (+ What to See)

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Post overview: This guide will tell you exactly how to visit Kirkjubøur, a village on Streymoy that holds a lot of Faroese heritage. I discuss what to do there, ticket prices, how to get there (4 different ways!), and why I think it is a place that needs to be added to your itinerary.

One place that you simply can’t leave off your Faroe Islands itinerary is the historic village of Kirkjubøur on the island of Streymoy. This gorgeous spot in the Faroes holds the key to the islands’ history, and it is as beautiful as it is fascinating.

My initial plans for the Faroe Islands included spending a few hours hiking to Kirkjubøur, hanging around the historic village for a bit, and then hiking back to Tórshavn.

As the days went on, I became keener on checking out some of the lesser talked about islands, such as Nólsoy and Skúvoy, and the desire to hike to Kirkjubøur kind of fizzled out.

Well, due to the Faroes working her magic (my way of saying providing us with less than desirable weather), we skipped out on Skúvoy and axed the long day trip to Nólsoy.

This left us with an entire day in Tórshavn, and we ended up throwing Kirkjubøur back onto our itinerary. We didn’t do this trip on foot as the weather truly was horrendous, but rather by car.

It was our last adventure in the Faroe Islands, and one that I am so happy we got to experience. Visiting Kirkjubøur is an absolute must for anyone visiting the islands.

Over a year after my first trip to the Faroe Islands, I went back with a friend (and returned to Kirkjubøur). I loved it just as much then as I did the first time. And I have visited again at the end of 2026, so this post is up-to-date with all pricing and necessary information.

In this guide, I will share some information, travel tips, and more. It will also include what to see in Kirkjubøur. If you have any questions, please let me know in the comments!

Why You Should Visit Kirkjubøur (History + Highlights)

Kirkjubøur is about a twenty-minute drive from the Faroese capital city of Tórshavn. It is the southernmost village on the island of Streymoy and really does sit at the end of the road.

What makes Kirkjubøur so notable is that it is the historical and cultural hub for Faroese history. You can find three of the most historical sights in the Faroe Islands located within this small village.

The three key sights are the St. Magnus Cathedral, St. Olav’s Church, and the old farmhouse Kirkjubøargarður. There is also a small islet called Kirkjubøhólmur off the village where you can often see a group of eider ducks hanging out.

St. Magnus Cathedral

The ruins of this never-finished cathedral are situated by the sea in Kirkjubøur. Its initial construction began around 1300 by Bishop Erlendur and was never actually completed because it was never roofed.

Nevertheless, St. Magnus Cathedral remains the largest medieval building in the Faroe Islands.

Conservation efforts have been taking place since 1997 on the Cathedral, but have not been completely ongoing. In 2010, however, efforts picked up a bit, and protecting it has become a priority as it slowly wanes as a result of seawater, the wind, and the environment.

St. Olav’s Church

St. Olav’s Church (Ólavskirkjan) is a charming white church dates all the way back to the 12th century and is still in use today, making it the oldest church in the Faroe Islands that is still being used.

Kirkjubøargarður

Literally meaning “King’s Farm”, Kirkjubøargarður is one of, if not the oldest, still inhabited wooden houses in the world. Dating back to the 11th century, it was initially used as the episcopal residence and seminary of the Diocese of the Faroe Islands.

There are many legends that surround Kirkjubøargarður, and one of the most noteworthy ones is that the wood for the houses came as driftwood from Norway and was collected, sorted, and arranged to be used as building material. If you know the Faroe Islands, you’ll know that there are no natural trees or forests on the islands, therefore making wood a very valuable and sought-after material.

The oldest part of the farmhouse is the smoke room, or roykstova. It doesn’t quite fit with its foundation in its present state ,which has given an indication that it was moved from its original state.

It is also said that Bishop Erlendur wrote the “Sheep Letter” inside Kirkjubøargarður in 1298, which gave us the earliest documentation of the Faroe Islands we know today. Interestingly, the Patursson family, which has been the house’s occupants since 1550, is still living there (the 17th generation!). They have a very cute border collie that I met outside.

Kirkjubøur Ticket Prices & Visitor Center

One of the things I noticed on my most recent trip to Kirkjubøur is that there is a visitor center and ticket required to enter the historic site. Good. This should have been implemented a long time ago as it is taken care of by locals and people are still living at some of the sites they are sharing with travelers.

The entrance ticket to Kirkjubøur can be purchased at the visitor center and it is 150 DKK for adults (about $23), 100 DKK (about $15.50) for seniors, and free for children.

Kirkjubøur visitor center is open daily from 7am to 9pm. There is a gift shop, snack bar, and toilets on-site. Card is accepted.

How to Get to Kirkjubøur from Tórshavn

You can get to Kirkjubøur one of four ways really… by tour, car, foot, or bus. Here is some additional information about how to reach Kirkjubøur from Tórshavn.

Taking a Tour to Kirkjubøur

My first two trips to Kirkjubøur were by rental car so I was excited to finally take a tour there on my latest trip. The tour goes to the nearby island of Sandoy before wrapping up in Kirkjubøur.

Taking a tour there gives you local insight into the village and some background info when you’re at St. Magnus Cathedral and inside Kirkjubøargarður.

Another perk of taking a tour is that the entrance ticket to Kirkjubøur (150 DKK for adults) is included in the tour so you don’t have to fork out that extra money. Click here to check Sandoy-Kirkjubøur tour prices and availability.

Bus to Kirkjubøur

The bus is free, as are all buses in and around Tórshavn.

You can take Bus 5 during the weekdays and Bus 7 on Saturdays (just be sure to take it in the direction of Kirkjubøur). I recommend departing from Steinatún Norður in the city center as it is a central location.

Hiking from Tórshavn to Kirkjubøur

A popular way to reach Kirkjubøur from Tórshavn is to hike there! The hike is listed as moderate and is 6 kilometers (3.7 miles) one way. A lot of people will hike there and take the free bus back (or vice versa). The one-way hike takes around 2 hours and can be muddy along the way. There is an elevation gain of 212 m.

For directions on foot, you can check out these very detailed instructions (and GPX map) from Visit Faroe Islands.

Driving with a Rental Car

If you have a rental car, the village is not far away from Tórshavn as noted above. It is simply about a twenty-minute drive south of the capital city.

You’ll pass the Gamlarætt ferry port on the way, and that will let you know that you’re about five minutes from Kirkjubøur. Once you arrive, there is a large parking lot where you can park (for free so long as you purchase a ticket to see the historical site).

The road to Kirkjubøur is rather narrow and there’s a lot of sheep. Drive cautiously. Click here to check rental car rates in the Faroe Islands.

What to Do Near Kirkjubøur

There are plenty of places, and tours, that you can combine with a trip to Kirkjubøur.

If you’re planning to head to Sandoy, this is a great spot to hit up on the way to or from. Sandoy is now connected to Streymoy by tunnel and it is easier than ever to get there.

You will also be close to the Gamlarætt harbor which is where two of my favorite RIB boat tours depart from. This trip to Hestur island’s sea caves is one of my favorite things to do in the Faroe Islands. You can also take a RIB boat to Koltur from there.

Both of those RIB boat trips are somewhat short, giving you a chance to combine them with Kirkjubøur.

Visiting Kirkjubøur FAQ

There are some frequently asked questions about visiting Kirkjubøur (and my answers to them).

Is Kirkjubøur Worth Visiting?

Yes, you definitely need to take some time to check out Kirkjubøur. If I had to do it all over again, I would have made the effort to do the hike, but the weather wasn’t cooperating, so I am glad we did end up seeing it via car.

If you have any tips for travelers or questions, please leave them below! Thanks!