Hotel Føroyar – A Special Hotel in Tórshavn, Capital of the Faroe Islands

When I arrived at the Hotel Føroyar I was delighted to see that it had a traditional turf roof. But I could not help wondering if this was genuine. The turf roof comprises a covering of birch bark topped by tiles of turf has been popular since prehistoric times. Today they continue to triumph over other possible materials as the advantages include the absorption of rainwater and the provision of insulation in winter yet they are cool in summer. My doubts were soon removed by the sight of new turf being laid in one section of the roof. The presence of a lone black sheep had me wondering if he was waiting to graze the new grass.

The hotel sits above Tórshavn the capital of the Faroe Islands and every room has a view of the city below and the island of Nólsoy across the sez. This has been achieved by the well-known Danish firm of architects Friis & Moltke cleverly adapted the building to merge into the landscape. The two-storey building resembles a natural ridge stretching across the hillside. It is conveniently located for trips into Tórshavn and around the island of Streymoy.

The bedrooms are modern, light, spacious and well-equipped. The 106 rooms in the main building occupy the ground floor and the floor below on one side of long corridors that stretch like open arms on either side of the reception and bar area. This was a real plus for me as distanced from the bar area I could enjoy the tranquillity of my surroundings.

In contrast to the traditional exterior the interior is an impressive mixture of shade and light. Spacious and light the reception and bar areas are punctuated by mini-light shows. Guests can mingle around the bar or find a quiet corner to relax in. The hotel also features several well-equipped function rooms.

Breakfast was served in the Gras Restaurant on the first floor and featured a very good buffet and great views over Tórshavn below us. The restaurant is also open for lunch and dinner.

A well-equipped Fitness Room is available to all guests and I was impressed by the array of modern equipment. This room also looks towards Tórshavn below – an added incentive to get in there and get fit.

Early morning walks are my preference when it comes to keeping fit and there is plenty of scope here for walking and horse-riding which are both popular activities in the area. On one of my walks II met up with the black sheep still hanging around no doubt hoping someone would give up a lift up onto the roof to graze that lovely fresh grass.

Before you Go

The Faroe Islands are so different from anywhere else I have been it is well worth reading about the islands and their culture before you go and the Faroe Islands by James Proctor published by Bradt is a good place to start.

Getting There

I flew with Atlantic Airways from Edinburgh (a good excuse to spend some time in this lovely city). I stayed in the Hotel Føroyar a lovely hotel above the town with splendid views of the town and surrounding countryside. It was the first time I had slept under a turf roof.…