Vágar Airport is located about 45 kilometres west of Tórshavn and serves as the main gateway to the Faroe Islands. After landing, you are not limited to one island. Bridges, tunnels, and well-maintained roads connect the archipelago, making it easy for day trips from Vágar Airport.
Distances on the map may look short, but driving times often stretch due to narrow lanes, changing weather, wind gusts, and frequent photo stops. Renting a car at Vágar Airport makes it easier to reach small villages and scenic spots on your own schedule. Our guide outlines the best nearby routes as well as longer island connections that you can drive to.
If you are organising trips from Vágar Airport, a rental car usually offers the most freedom, while buses are more budget-friendly and suitable for direct routes.
Renting a car at Vágar Airport lets you stop at viewpoints, take short hikes, and adjust your schedule if the weather changes. It also makes it easier to reach small villages that are difficult to access by bus.
The trade-off is higher cost, including car hire, fuel, and tunnel tolls. Plus, you must be confident driving on narrow roads with passing places. Public transport suits a simpler plan, and tickets are usually bought on board.
Plan scenic drives in loops and clusters to save time and avoid backtracking. The road network relies on tunnels, bridges, and key corridors, so crossings matter. These four routes highlight coastal views, fjords, villages, and viewpoints.
Drive from the airport towards the Vágatunnilin subsea tunnel linking Vágar with Streymoy. The toll system uses automatic registration. Driving takes about 45 minutes to 1 hour, depending on the weather and stops. Scenic additions include Leynasandur beach and the Viking remains at Kvívík.
Drive north from Vágar and cross to Eysturoy via the Eysturoyartunnilin, known for its subsea roundabout and smooth gradients that reach about 187 metres below sea level. Continue via the 6.2-kilometre Norðoyatunnilin to Klaksvík. Plan for tunnel tolls in advance. Optional scenic stops include Saksun, Gjógv, and Eiði.
Follow a loop around Vágar Island. Drive from the airport towards Sørvágur, then continue to Bøur and Gásadalur. Bøur offers wide views of Tindhólmur and the sea stacks known as Drangarnir. Access to Tindhólmur is restricted and requires a local guide with permission.
Continue to Gásadalur to see Múlafossur waterfall, located about 11 kilometres from the airport. The waterfall drops directly into the ocean beneath cliffs, making it one of the most photographed spots on the island.
Eysturoy is ideal when you want mountain roads, deep fjords, and peaceful villages. Plan a circular drive through Funningur, Eiði, and Gjógv, letting the journey itself be the highlight. The area sits beneath Slættaratindur, the highest mountain in the Faroes, so dramatic peaks frame much of the route.
Even without hiking, you will enjoy sweeping mountain backdrops and winding coastal roads. End your drive in Gjógv, named after its 200-metre sea-filled gorge.
Plan each day around one main anchor activity, such as a key hike or a village visit, then add one or two nearby scenic stops. Weather in the Faroes changes quickly, so be flexible and have a backup plan. The following options are all fully accessible by car from Vágar Airport and do not require ferries or helicopter transfers.
One of the most rewarding trips from Vágar Airport is the hike to Lake Sørvágsvatn and Trælanípa. The trail is approximately 7 km round trip and typically takes 2 to 3 hours, including stops.
It is relatively easy, though visitors must pay a hiking fee and check in at the main gate. The dramatic optical-illusion viewpoint at Trælanípa makes the lake appear suspended above the ocean. Continue onward to Bøsdalafossur waterfall, where the lake drops directly into the Atlantic. Because the cliffs are exposed, stay back from the edges in windy conditions.
Gásadalur and Bø form a scenic driving loop that delivers dramatic coastal landscapes without a long hike. Gásadalur is famous for Mulafossur waterfall, which plunges into the sea against a backdrop of steep green cliffs and open Atlantic views.
The main viewpoint is easily accessible from the parking area. A short drive away, the village of Bøur offers classic views toward the sea stacks of Tindhólmur and a peaceful atmosphere with traditional Faroese houses.
Driving to Tórshavn provides a cultural contrast to the wild landscapes surrounding Vágar and takes about 45 minutes via the subsea tunnel. The historic peninsula of Tinganes, with its distinctive red-turf-roofed buildings, is the political heart of the Faroe Islands and one of the most photographed areas of the capital.
Nearby, the old town of Á Reyni features black-tarred wooden houses with grass roofs and narrow lanes where residents still live. Museums such as the National Museum and the National Gallery offer insight into Faroese history, heritage, and art. Once parked, most attractions are within walking distance.
Saksun and Tjørnuvík on Streymoy Island offer a countryside experience. Saksun sits above a tidal lagoon and is known for its turf-roof church and striking setting between steep mountains.
At low tide, you can walk along the sandy shore near the lagoon. However, be respectful of farmland and remain on designated paths. Continuing north, Tjørnuvík features a wide black-sand beach and open views of the sea stacks known as the Giant and the Witch rising from the Atlantic. The roads in this area are narrow and winding in places, so drive carefully.
Northern Eysturoy provides sweeping coastal views and remote villages, making it one of the best day trips from Vágar Airport. Gjógv is named after its natural sea-filled gorge, which serves as a small harbour and creates a distinctive focal point for the village.
Walk along the cliffs for expansive views of the surrounding mountains and ocean without strenuous effort. In nearby Eiði, broad coastal viewpoints provide some of the best perspectives of the Giant and the Witch sea stacks.
Day trips from Vágar Airport are for travellers who slow down because the best moments happen between the stops. Pick one main highlight for the day, then let the weather and the road guide the rest. Pull into proper viewpoints, take your time on narrow lanes, and take photo breaks.
Rent a car in the Faroe Islands with Final Rentals to explore remote villages and scenic coastal drives. Select Vágar Airport as your pickup location, enter your travel dates, and choose a vehicle for your trip. Book and manage your car rental at any time. Download the Final Rentals app on Google Play and the App Store.
Most day trips from Vágar Airport fit into one full day if you choose one main destination, such as Trælanípa or Tórshavn, and add short stops along the way. Longer routes, like Klaksvík and extra villages, are possible, but you should plan extra buffer time for weather and photo stops.
Some of the most popular spots are reachable with pre-arranged transfers, guided tours, or a bit of planning around fixed schedules. However, if you want to visit remote villages and stop whenever the scenery calls, driving is the easiest way to explore the Faroe Islands at your own pace.
Subsea tunnels use automatic number plate recognition, so you drive through without stopping, then pay online on the official tunnel payment site afterwards. Prices vary by tunnel and vehicle type, so check the official toll information before you set your route for the day.
