Saksun in the Faroe Islands: tiny village, huge views

Saksun is one of those places in the Faroe Islands where the drive there is almost as beautiful as the destination itself. You follow a narrow road through a green valley, with mountains around you, waterfalls running down the rock faces and the occasional oncoming car where you calmly have to make space. Typical Faroe Islands, really.

We visited Saksun during our trip across Streymoy. The village is tiny, but the setting is huge. Think of a lagoon, high mountains, an old farm, a little church and a waterfall you can get close to. It is not a place where you will fill an entire day with activities, but it is a great stop.

In this blog, I will tell you what to expect from Saksun in the Faroe Islands, what the road there is like, what you pay at Dúvugarðar, what we thought of it and whether it is worth the detour.

Where is Saksun located?

Saksun is located on Streymoy, the largest island in the Faroe Islands. The village sits in a natural bowl between the mountains, next to a tidal lagoon. That setting is exactly what makes Saksun so photogenic. You get mountains, water, grass roofs, sheep and waterfalls all in one view.

The village itself is small. So do not expect a cosy centre, shops or a long list of sights. You mainly come here for the landscape, the peace and the views. And maybe also a little for that feeling of having reached the end of the road.

We stayed in a farmhouse near Kollafjørður ourselves. From there, Saksun was easy to visit as a day trip across Streymoy. You can also visit Saksun perfectly well from Tórshavn, but you should allow for a drive with narrow roads and changeable weather.

The road to Saksun: narrow, but beautiful

We found the road to Saksun really beautiful. You drive through a long valley where you constantly have views of mountains, green slopes and waterfalls coming down from the rocks. This is one of those routes where you want to stop for a photo all the time, while also needing to keep your eyes properly on the road.

The road is narrow. On many stretches, it is basically a single-lane road, with passing places where cars can let each other through. That works fine, as long as everyone drives calmly and thinks ahead a little. But tour buses also use this road, and you do not want to meet one in an awkward spot.

Our tip: take your time. Do not rush, keep your distance and use the passing places. You are not on a motorway here, and honestly, you would not want to be. The route to Saksun is part of the experience.

Arriving in Saksun: farm or black sand beach?

At the end of the road, you reach a kind of junction. It is signposted which way you can go: towards the Dúvugarðar farm, or towards the black sand beach / lagoon.

We chose the farm and the area around it. We did not do the walk to the black sand beach. If you do want to do that, pay close attention to the tide. At Saksun, you are dealing with ebb and flow, and that determines whether you can safely walk towards the lagoon and the beach.

Also simply follow the signs and rules here. Saksun is not a theme park, but a small village where people live and work. Much of the land is private property, so stay on the marked paths and respect fences and signs.

Dúvugarðar: old farm and small museum

We visited Dúvugarðar, the old farm in Saksun. You pay 150 Danish kroner per person to enter. Honestly? We thought that was quite a lot for what you get. Especially because in many other places in the Faroe Islands, you can simply walk to a waterfall or viewpoint for free.

That said: the location really is beautiful. The farm sits beautifully against the mountains, with the waterfall as a backdrop. In fact, the surrounding scenery is immediately the most beautiful picture of the place.

Dúvugarðar is an old farm that has been renovated and turned into a small museum. In 2024, the farm was restored, and since then you can look inside. You literally walk into an old farmhouse, with rooms, utensils, photos and objects that show how people used to live here.

According to the information on site, the house is hundreds of years old and was still inhabited until around 1940. We found that quite special to see. It gives you a brief idea of how simple and remote life here must once have been. But it remains small (just like the entrance, so mind your head). Do not expect a large museum where you will wander around for hours.

There is also a small souvenir shop and you can get something to drink. Nice, but in our opinion mainly interesting if you are genuinely curious about the old farm or if you want to take your time exploring the place anyway.

Is Dúvugarðar worth the 150 DKK?

That depends a little on your expectations. We found 150 DKK per person on the high side. Not because it is bad, but because it is relatively small. You see an old farmhouse, a few rooms, photos, old objects and the beautiful surroundings around it.

If you mainly come for the landscape and just want to see Saksun, it may feel a bit expensive. If you enjoy visiting this kind of historic place and like seeing how people used to live in such a remote location, then it becomes more interesting.

We especially liked the combination: the old farm, the waterfall and the mountains behind it. But purely as a museum, it is not a place where you will spend a long time inside. Good to know before you pay.

The waterfall at Saksun

One of the best things at Dúvugarðar, in our opinion, was the walk to the waterfall. From the farm, you can walk a short distance uphill towards the water. It is not a long hike, more of a short climb.

It was a bit muddy when we were there, so good shoes were useful. You do not need heavy hiking boots, but I would not recommend flip-flops or slippery trainers here. The path can be wet and slippery, especially after rain. And in the Faroe Islands, rain is never far away, of course.

The fun thing is that you can get very close to the waterfall. You can even stand in a spot where the waterfall sits nicely behind you for a photo. We found that this made the place more photogenic than the museum itself.

Just pay attention to where you walk. It is not a neatly built walking path with fences and signs everywhere. That is exactly why it feels natural, but you do need to use your common sense.

Saksun Church and the lagoon

Saksun is also known for the little white church with a grass roof, beautifully located by the lagoon. This is one of the best-known photo spots in the village. The church is small, simple and fits perfectly into the landscape.

The lagoon makes Saksun extra special. At low tide, you can walk towards the black sand beach, but you do need to plan this carefully with the tide. At high tide, the landscape changes and not everything is accessible. We did not do this part ourselves, but would definitely allow extra time for it on a next visit.

If you want to go to the black sand beach, check the tides beforehand and look carefully at the signs on site. In the Faroe Islands, the weather can change quickly and near water you do not want to guess.

Combining Saksun with other places

Saksun is a little remote, but it is easy to combine with other places on Streymoy and possibly Eysturoy. Think, for example, of Fossá, the highest waterfall in the Faroe Islands, or Tjørnuvík, a village on a black bay with views of the famous rocks Risin og Kellingin.

If you have a longer day, you can also combine Saksun with Gjógv on Eysturoy. That does involve a bit more driving, but the scenery along the route is beautiful.

Still planning your trip to the Faroe Islands? Then also read our blog about what to do on Vágar. That island is ideal for your first or final days, because the airport is located there.

We would mainly see Saksun as part of a route through North Streymoy. It is beautiful, but not something you need an entire day for.

Staying overnight near Saksun

In Saksun itself, accommodation options are very limited. It makes more sense to stay in Tórshavn, Kollafjørður or somewhere central on Streymoy. We stayed in a farmhouse near Kollafjørður ourselves. We found it a nice location: peaceful, but still convenient for routes towards Saksun, Tórshavn and other places on Streymoy.

If you mainly want to stay somewhere central and visit multiple islands, Tórshavn is often the most practical choice. You have more restaurants, shops and accommodation there. If you prefer somewhere quieter, look for places to stay on Streymoy outside the city, for example towards Kollafjørður or the northern side of the island.

If you are combining Saksun with Vágar, you can also look at accommodation on Vágar around Sørvágur and Miðvágur. That is especially convenient for Múlafossur, Drangarnir and Sørvágsvatn, but for Saksun itself you are then less centrally located.

The journey and surroundings make Saksun worth it

Saksun is worth visiting. But with the right expectations. Do not go here for a lively village or a large museum. Saksun is small, quiet and especially beautiful because of its location. The road there, the mountains, the waterfalls, the lagoon and the old farm together make it special.

We found the entrance fee for Dúvugarðar quite steep for what you get. The old farm is nice to see briefly, but in our opinion, the best part of Saksun is mainly outside: the landscape, the waterfall and the route there.

If you are making a route through Streymoy, I would definitely include Saksun. Not as the only destination of the day, but as a beautiful stop in a larger loop. And honestly, the narrow road through the valley with waterfalls along the sides already makes it fun to drive there.