Klaksvík
Klaksvík is the second-largest town in the Faroe Islands, sitting on Borðoy Island in the northern archipelago. A working fishing port wedged between two back-to-back inlets and ringed by steep mountain ridges, it is both a destination in its own right and the main service hub and transport base for visitors exploring the northern islands. The ferry to Kalsoy departs from here.
The Faroe Islands' Second Town: A Maritime Hub in a Dramatic Northern Setting
Klaksvík grew from four Viking-era farms that gradually merged into a town as the fishing industry expanded. Its modern identity was firmly established when a centralised supply store for all the northern islands was opened here, cementing its role as the commercial capital of the north. The town occupies a narrow strip of land between two inlets, with the pyramid-shaped mountain Kunoyarnakki visible from almost every vantage point across the water. Until 2006, Klaksvík was effectively isolated from the rest of the Faroe Islands, reachable only by sea. The opening of the Norðoyatunnilin subsea tunnel that year transformed access, connecting the town by road to Eysturoy and from there to Streymoy and Tórshavn. The Faroe Islands' only brewery, Föroya Bjór, has been based here since 1888 and is the sole producer of beer in the islands.
The Christianskirkjan church, completed in 1963, is one of the most architecturally notable buildings in the Faroe Islands: the first modern church in Scandinavia to be built in the Old Norse style, with an open roof construction modelled on Viking halls, and acoustics that make it one of the finest concert spaces in the country. Inside, an old eight-man rowing boat hangs from the ceiling, commemorating the sailors who died in World War II, and a 4,000-year-old sacrificial bowl from Denmark serves as the font. Klaksvík is also home to KÍ, the football club that made history in August 2023 by becoming the first Faroese team to reach the UEFA Champions League group stage.
The town is the main departure point for the ferry to Kalsoy Island, one of the most popular hiking destinations in the Faroe Islands, where a trail leads to the Kallur Lighthouse above dramatic sea cliffs. Klaksvík is about an hour from Tórshavn by bus via the subsea tunnel, using the regular Route 400 service. From here, Kunoy and Viðoy islands are accessible by embankment road. The surrounding landscape of fjords and peaks makes Klaksvík an excellent base for spending several days exploring the less-visited northern islands.
