What to do on Eysturoy? Route along Gjógv, Hvíthamar & more

What to do on Eysturoy? If you love road trips with mountains, fjords, sheep on the road and villages where the road suddenly seems to end, then you are in the right place. Eysturoy is one of those islands in the Faroe Islands where the route itself is at least as fun as the stops along the way.

We made a loop through the northern part of Eysturoy from Kollafjørður. It turned into a real landscape day. Not one where you go from museum to museum, but mainly a day of driving, stopping, looking around, taking photos and moving on. And honestly: that fits perfectly here.

Because we were travelling with a baby and the weather did not cooperate in the morning, we only left around quarter to three. Normally, I would start this route a little earlier, but in the Faroe Islands it stays light for a long time in summer anyway. And in hindsight, it worked out well, because the weather cleared up in the afternoon.

In this blog, I will take you along our route across Eysturoy, with Gjógv, Hvíthamar, Funningur, Eiði, Risin og Kellingin and a few extra places you can add if you have more time.

Eysturoy: fjords, mountain passes and quiet villages

Eysturoy is located next to Streymoy and is easy to reach by car. You can drive via the bridge or through the famous Eysturoyartunnilin, the tunnel with the underwater roundabout. That alone already sounds like an attraction, but on Eysturoy it is mainly about what you see above ground.

The island is very varied. You drive along fjords, over mountain passes, through small villages and past slopes where waterfalls come down everywhere. We especially liked the north of Eysturoy. The roads are sometimes narrow and winding, but the views make up for a lot.

Do not expect a day full of major attractions. Eysturoy is more of an island to drive around slowly and keep getting out along the way. Sometimes the route to a village is actually already the highlight of the stop.

Our route across Eysturoy in short

We stayed near Kollafjørður and drove from there towards Eysturoy. This was roughly our route:

• Gjógv: village with a natural sea gorge and a beautiful location between the mountains.
• Gongutúrur / Hvíthamar Trailhead: short walk to a viewpoint above Funningsfjørður.
• Funningur and the mountain pass: one of the most beautiful driving routes of the day.
• Eiði and Risin og Kellingin: view of the famous Giant and Witch from the Eysturoy side.
• Elduvík: optional detour to a quiet village by the sea.

Parking was free everywhere and easy to manage. We really appreciated that, because at some popular places in the Faroe Islands you now pay quite a lot for access or parking. On this route, we could easily stop, get out and continue again.

In total, you are not driving for an extremely long time, but you will probably stop often. We had the feeling all day that after every bend there was another new view. And then there were also sheep everywhere on or next to the road. I think we had never taken so many sheep photos from our car before.

Gjógv: the village with the famous gorge

Our first real stop was Gjógv. This village is beautifully located in the north of Eysturoy, between mountains and sea. The name Gjógv literally means gorge, and that is exactly what the village is known for. From the village, a natural gorge runs towards the ocean, which was once used as a harbour.

The route to Gjógv is already a treat. You drive along water, mountains and green slopes with waterfalls coming down from them. Along the way, you pass several viewpoints and probably also sheep who think the road simply belongs to them.

In Gjógv itself, you can walk around calmly. The village is small, but very photogenic. Colourful houses, grass roofs, mountains all around and then that gorge running towards the sea. It is a nice place to get out of the car for a while and not immediately have to continue.

Walking near the gorge

In Gjógv, definitely walk to the end of the village, where you reach the natural gorge. Via steps and paths, you can take a look down by the water. Especially when the sea is a little rougher, you can clearly hear the water hitting the rocks.

From the left side of the gorge, you can walk a short distance uphill. There you will find, among other things, Crown Princess Mary’s Bench, a wooden bench placed in honour of the visit of Danish Crown Princess Mary in 2005. We did not walk any farther up in Gjógv itself, because we had just done the walk at Hvíthamar and mainly wanted to look around calmly here.

And that was perfectly fine for us. Gjógv does not need to become a long hike. It is precisely the village, the gorge and the location that make this stop beautiful. Especially if you already visit several viewpoints in one day, it is also nice to simply walk through the village and look at the sea.

Puffins near Gjógv?

Around the cliffs near Gjógv, you can sometimes see puffins. We spent quite a bit of time here watching for puffins. They were not close enough for a good photo, but it is still fun to spot them. Puffins are smaller than you think, and unfortunately they do not calmly pose on a rock for you.

Do you not see them? Then Gjógv is still worth it. You do not only come here for the birds, but especially for the village, the gorge and the route there.

You can also stay overnight here and look for small holiday homes or apartments in and around Gjógv, but do not expect a large hotel selection.

Gongutúrur / Hvíthamar Trailhead: short hike, huge view

One of the best-known viewpoints on Eysturoy is Hvíthamar. On Google Maps, you will also find it as Gongutúrur / Hvíthamar Trailhead. This viewpoint lies above Funningur and looks out over Funningsfjørður and the surrounding mountains.

We did do this walk, but not all the way to the top. In our opinion, that is not always necessary either. Quite quickly, you already get beautiful views over the fjord and the pointed mountains. It is one of those places where after just a few minutes you understand why people stop here.

The car park is located at the mountain pass between Gjógv and Funningur. From there, you walk up via a short path towards the viewpoint. The beginning is clear and partly constructed, but after that it quickly turns into a wet grassy path.

For us, it was enough to walk part of the route. You already get that beautiful view over the fjord without having to finish the entire walk. That is also the nice thing about Hvíthamar: you can decide for yourself how far you go.

Only do Hvíthamar when visibility is good and the wind is mild. There are no fences at the edge and the drop is deep. Is it foggy, wet or stormy? Then I would skip this one and choose viewpoints along the road instead. On Eysturoy, you get plenty of beautiful views there too.

Funningur and the mountain pass: maybe the most beautiful drive

After Hvíthamar, we continued towards Funningur. And this may have been our favourite stretch of the day. The road winds through a landscape of mountains, fjords and sharp bends. Sometimes you drive above the water, sometimes between green slopes where small waterfalls run down.

This is exactly the kind of route where the destination almost becomes secondary. You do not just drive to get somewhere; you drive because the road itself is beautiful. Do pay attention, because the roads are narrow and in some sections there is only one lane. Luckily, there are passing places, but with oncoming traffic and sheep, you still need to stay alert.

Funningur itself is beautifully located by the fjord. You do not necessarily need to stop here for long, but the views around the village are very beautiful. Especially if you drive via the mountain pass, you keep getting new angles on the landscape.

Eiði and Risin og Kellingin

Another logical stop on Eysturoy is Eiði. Just before or around the village, you can stop for a view of Risin og Kellingin: the two famous sea stacks in the ocean. In English, they are often called the Giant and the Witch.

Perhaps you have already seen them from Tjørnuvík on Streymoy. From Eysturoy, you view them from a different perspective. That makes it fun to see both sides, especially if you also do our route through North Streymoy.

According to the legend, a giant and a witch tried to drag the Faroe Islands to Iceland. They failed, and when the sun rose, they turned to stone. Whether that is true, we will leave aside for now, but it does make such a viewpoint a little more fun.

Are you also visiting Streymoy? Then read our blog about Tjørnuvík in the Faroe Islands, where you can see Risin og Kellingin from the black beach.

Note: the road along Slættaratindur is seasonal

A practical tip you do not want to miss: the road along Slættaratindur, between Risin og Kellingin / Eiði and Gjógv, is not open all year round. Keep in mind that this route is normally only open from 1 May to 1 October.

If you are travelling outside that period, carefully check the current road status and route in advance. In the Faroe Islands, roads can temporarily close because of snow, ice, wind or maintenance. Even during the season, it is smart to check the conditions, especially if it is very windy or foggy on the mountain pass.

Slættaratindur itself is the highest mountain in the Faroe Islands at 880 metres. We did not climb to the summit, but you do drive through impressive mountain scenery in this region. In clear weather, this is one of the most beautiful parts of Eysturoy.

Elduvík: quiet detour by the sea

If you still have energy at the end of the day, you can make an extra detour to Elduvík. The road there is another beautiful Faroe Islands route along fjords and green slopes. The village itself is small, quiet and beautifully located by the sea.

Here too, we mainly found the driving route the highlight. That may sound as if the village itself was disappointing, but that is not what I mean. On Eysturoy, many places are simply part of a bigger whole: the road, the view, the sheep, the fjord and then a small village at the end.

What else can you do on Eysturoy?

We did not do everything on Eysturoy. You need more time for that, and in the Faroe Islands the weather simply determines a large part of your planning. If you have extra time, you can add these places too.

Climb Slættaratindur

Slættaratindur is the highest mountain in the Faroe Islands. In clear weather, the view from the top is said to be amazing. We did not do this hike, but if you love hiking and the weather is good, this is one of the best-known hikes on Eysturoy.

Do pay close attention to the conditions. Fog, wind and rain can quickly make this walk less enjoyable or less safe. So do not go just because it is on your list. In the Faroe Islands, you sometimes simply need to dare to skip something.

Eysturoyartunnilin

The Eysturoyartunnilin is the famous underwater tunnel between Streymoy and Eysturoy. Especially the underwater roundabout with light art makes it special. It is not a place where you get out, but it is a fun part of your route if you drive through it.

Do keep an eye on possible toll costs via your rental car. These are often charged afterwards. Handy to check with your rental company, so you are not surprised later.

Gøta and Norðragøta

Gøta and Norðragøta are interesting if you want to add a little more culture to your route. In this area, you will find historic places, a church and, in summer, the well-known G! Festival. We did not stop here extensively, but it can be a nice addition if you want to focus a little less on nature and a little more on villages.

Runavík and Toftavatn

Runavík is mainly practical, with shops and facilities. Toftavatn, on the other hand, is a quiet nature area by a lake. Not necessarily a must if you have limited time, but nice if you are looking for a calmer stop.

Combining Eysturoy with Streymoy

Eysturoy is very easy to combine with Streymoy. We stayed near Kollafjørður ourselves, which meant we could quickly go both ways. One day we did North Streymoy with Saksun, Fossá and Tjørnuvík. Another day, we made this route across Eysturoy.

If you have enough time, I would give both islands their own day. Streymoy feels more like a route past remote villages and waterfalls. For us, Eysturoy was especially strong because of the mountain passes, fjords and viewpoints.

Also read our blog about what to do on Streymoy if you want to combine this region in a practical way.

Where to stay for Eysturoy

For Eysturoy, you can stay in several different places. We stayed in an apartment / farmhouse near Kollafjørður. We found that convenient, because you are centrally located between Streymoy and Eysturoy. You can easily drive to Saksun, Tjørnuvík, Gjógv and Funningur, but you are also not too far from Tórshavn.

Want to stay roughly as centrally as we did? Then check accommodation near Kollafjørður. You are somewhere quieter than the capital, but still conveniently located for routes across Streymoy and Eysturoy.

Would you rather have more restaurants, shops and facilities nearby? Then Tórshavn is often the most practical choice. You will drive a little more, but in the evening you have more convenience.

Practical tips for Eysturoy

• Leave a little earlier than we did. We only left around quarter to three, which was still possible because of the long daylight. But with more time, it is more relaxed.
• Parking was free and easy everywhere. At Gjógv, Hvíthamar and the viewpoints, we could park easily.
• See the driving route as part of the day. On Eysturoy, the roads and views are often just as beautiful as the villages themselves.
• Drive calmly. Many roads are narrow and you share them with oncoming cars, sheep and sometimes fog.
• Use a baby carrier with a baby. For Hvíthamar and small paths, a stroller is not convenient.
• Skip Hvíthamar in fog or strong wind. The view is beautiful, but safety comes first.
• Pay attention to the seasonal road along Slættaratindur. The road between Risin og Kellingin / Eiði and Gjógv is normally only open from 1 May to 1 October.
• Stop often enough. Otherwise, you miss exactly the charm of Eysturoy: small viewpoints, sheep and fjords along the way.
• Check tunnel tolls. Especially if you drive through the Eysturoyartunnilin.

A day on Eysturoy: mostly driving, looking around and stopping often

For us, Eysturoy was mainly a day of beautiful routes. Gjógv was beautifully located, Hvíthamar quickly gave us a fantastic view, and along the way we saw more sheep, fjords and waterfalls than we could count. Not every stop needs to be grand or spectacular. Sometimes it is precisely the combination of everything together.

What stood out to us is that Eysturoy is less about one major highlight and more about the whole day together. The roads, the mountain passes, the small villages, the views over the water and the constantly changing sky make it a wonderful road trip day.

If you have a few days in the Faroe Islands, definitely plan a day for Eysturoy. Not too tight, not too full, but with enough space to stop along the way. Because that is often where the most beautiful moment of the day is hiding here.