Northern Streymoy is a dramatic region that is perfect for a road trip, and renting a car gives you the freedom to explore these places. The highlight is Vestmanna, a west coast fishing village known for its huge sea cliffs.
From the harbour, boat tours pass towering basalt walls and busy seabird colonies. You can then continue north through scenic valleys, waterfalls, and traditional villages. Our guide explains how to plan your Vestmanna road trip and enjoy the best stops along the way.
Good planning helps you manage tunnels, narrow roads, boat times, and changing weather. Check conditions before leaving and keep extra time between stops.
You can begin in Vágar or Tórshavn. From Vágar Airport, the sub-sea tunnel brings you near Vestmanna in about 30 minutes. From Tórshavn, the drive usually takes 30 to 40 minutes. Vágar offers a direct approach, while Tórshavn is for travellers staying in the capital.
If your route uses the Vágar or Norðoyar tunnel, a return crossing costs 100 DKK. Unlimited use costs 490 DKK per rental and must be added when booking. The Eysturoy and Sandoy tunnels have separate charges. Travelling by car also makes it easier to reach Vestmanna and continue through Northern Streymoy.
Tours usually run daily from May to September and last 1 hour and 30 minutes to 2 hours. Reserve online or through Vestmanna’s tourist centre. You leave the harbour aboard a well-kept boat with an experienced captain. Space is limited, so book one day ahead. Arrive 10 to 15 minutes early and wear warm, waterproof layers.
Weather may change quickly around the cliffs. Rough winds or sea fog can cancel departures, which should qualify for a full refund. Captains may change unsafe routes. You may miss a cave, but the main cliffs and birds often remain visible. Bring dry clothes, snacks, and reading material.
Road signs use metres and kilometres per hour. Limits are usually 80 km/h outside villages and 50 km/h inside them. Some roads narrow to one lane. Slow near bends, watch for sheep, and never stop inside passing places.
The paved roads are well maintained and pass fjords, pastureland, small villages with colourful houses, and steep slopes. Clear weather may reveal Mykines. Dark cliffs rise near Vestmanna, with Atlantic views along the route. Book a vehicle online with Final Rentals for unlimited mileage, winter tyres, and included insurance on this coastal drive.
Vestmanna is a quiet fishing village inside a sheltered bay. Its name means Vestmanna harbour, and fishing remains central to local life.
The Vestmanna Bird Cliffs rise over 600 metres, with some sections reaching 700 metres. Boats pass rock faces, arches, caves, grottos, and narrow channels. Safe conditions may allow entry into a lava tube or lagoon.
Keep your camera nearby, as the cliffs are full of seabirds during spring and summer. You may spot puffins, guillemots, razorbills, fulmars, and kittiwakes flying close to the boat. Puffins are easy to notice because of their colourful beaks. Fulmars and kittiwakes bring flashes of white and grey against the dark cliffs.
The captain may slow down at the best viewing spots, giving you time to take photos. Binoculars or a zoom lens can help you see the birds more clearly. On evening trips, you may also watch them return to the cliffs near sunset.
You may also spot Heygadrangur in the distance. This sea stack rises about 144 metres from the water. It is often described as one of the world’s tallest sea towers. No roads or houses appear in this remote setting. This powerful coastal scene is a major highlight of the Vestmanna road trip.
After the tour, walk around the harbour. You will see colourful fishing boats, old boathouses, small docks, and turf-roofed buildings. Vestmanna’s tourist centre is at Fjarðarvegur 2 beside the pier. You can book tours, ask questions, and buy wool products, gifts, or snacks.
The building has a café and restaurant. Order a Faroese meal, cake, or hot drink while viewing the water. A small Saga Museum displays wax figures and artefacts linked to Viking and pirate history. Spend time around the harbour before continuing north.
A cancellation does not end your day. Walk around Mattakot Lake for valley views, even in mist. Mountain roads built partly for hydroelectric dams also lead to higher viewpoints.
The café and tourist centre are warm places to wait. Walking around the village gives fjord views towards neighbouring Vágar. Another sailing may open later. Keep your schedule flexible and enjoy the slower pace while checking updates.
The northern part of this Vestmanna road trip passes Hvalvík, Saksun, Fossá, and Tjørnuvík. Mountains rise beside the road, while the sea remains visible across several sections.
Saksun is inside a steep mountain bowl. Pollurin, its tidal lagoon, reveals black sand during low tide. A small turf-roofed church stands beside the water. Park in the marked area near the church, then walk into the valley.
At low tide, you may cross the exposed lagoon floor towards the sea. Check the tide and return early. The white church, dark water, green slopes, cloudy skies, and waterfalls create a striking scene. Take your time here because changing light can transform the view.
Fossá is beside the coastal road north of Saksun. The road climbs before the falls appear on your left. At about 140 metres, it is the Faroe Islands’ tallest waterfall. Several streams fall towards the sea. Use the nearby pull-off, park safely, and walk towards the viewing area. Sunlight may form rainbows in the spray. Even a quick stop is worthwhile.
Continue to Tjørnuvík, the northernmost village on Streymoy. The final road is very narrow and uses traffic lights for one-way flow. From the black sand beach, you can see Risin and Kellingin. Their names mean the Giant and his Wife. Waves often break around these tall basalt stacks.
Tjørnuvík is inside a U-shaped mountain valley. Surfers may enter the bay. A short uphill walk gives wider beach and village views. Pause above the village before driving down, especially when traffic is waiting.
Northern Streymoy has two-lane roads and single-lane sections. Pull into a lay-by when another car approaches. Do not park in passing places. Drivers often slow to 50 or 60 km/h on narrow bends. Stay on the right and expect sheep near the road. Do not rely on your horn to move them.
Parking is limited in Saksun and Tjørnuvík. Use marked spaces without blocking homes, farms, or traffic. Saksun has spaces near the church. Vestmanna has parking near Skoralið reservoir. Drive slowly through each village and watch for buses, cyclists, pedestrians, sheep, and parked cars.
A Vestmanna road trip is better with a flexible plan. Fog, sea conditions, and narrow roads can slow your journey. Leave extra time for village stops and unexpected views. Some of the best moments may be simple ones. You might enjoy a harbour walk, a waterfall, or seabirds flying above the cliffs.
Rent a car in the Faroe Islands with Final Rentals to use 24-hour contactless pickup and a full-to-full fuel policy. These features suit early starts and longer days across Northern Streymoy. Book and manage your car rental at any time. Download the Final Rentals app on Google Play and the App Store.
A Vestmanna road trip is a scenic self-drive tour on Streymoy Island that takes you to the village of Vestmanna and beyond. You usually start near Tórshavn or Vágar, drive to Vestmanna, then take a boat around the huge 600 to 700 metre bird cliffs. The trip typically continues by car northward to visit Saksun, Fossá waterfall, and Tjørnuvík’s beach and sea stacks.
Vestmanna is easiest to reach by car. Driving to Vestmanna takes about 30 to 40 minutes from either Tórshavn or Vágar Airport. From Tórshavn, you drive north along a coastal road; from Vágar you go through a tunnel into Streymoy. Many visitors rent a car in the Faroe Islands to reach Vestmanna and then hike or drive on to nearby villages.
The top things to do in Vestmanna are taking the famous Vestmanna Sea Cliffs boat tour and exploring the harbour area. The boat trip sails you under 700 metre cliffs to see puffins and sea caves. On land, visit the Saga Museum or enjoy a meal at the harbour cafe. After Vestmanna, drive to nearby Saksun for its lagoon and to Fossá Waterfall, and finish at Tjørnuvík to view the black sand beach and rock stacks. Booking a Faroe Islands car rental makes it easy to cover all these stops
