Mykines
The westernmost of the Faroe Islands, home to nine people, about 125,000 pairs of puffins and the only gannets in the archipelago.
- Arrival
- Vágar Airport · FAE
- To the island
- About 30 minutes by boat from Sørvágur
- Private jets
- Vágar, then boat or helicopter
- Best time
- May to September
The city
The last island to the west.
Mykines covers 10 km² at the western end of the Faroes, and its one village, also called Mykines, has nine residents. The houses are turf-roofed and brightly painted, with a stream running between them down to the sea. Knúkur, the highest point, is 560 m.
The birds are the reason to make the crossing. Puffins come back to their burrows on the western slopes for the short summer, from May to August, and the island has the only gannetry in the Faroes. Walking out to the colony needs a trail ticket, which comes with a local guide. Boats run from Sørvágur between May and September, so a day here fits easily around a flight into Vágar.
- Mykineshólmur The islet at the western tip, reached over a 40-metre footbridge across the sound of Holmgjógv.
- The lighthouse Built on Mykineshólmur in 1909, and automatic since 1970.
- The puffin slopes Grass honeycombed with thousands of burrows, busy from May to August.
Arriving
Land on Vágar, then cross the water.
Mykines lies about 20 km west of Vágar Airport. The Jósup and smaller boats leave from Sørvágur, beside the airport, for a crossing of around half an hour. Atlantic Airways also flies a subsidised helicopter route to the island a couple of times a week, mainly for residents: visitors can usually book only one way, about a week ahead.
- London 2 h 00
- Stockholm 2 h 10
- Istanbul 4 h 40
- Marrakech 4 h 45
- Shanghai 11 h 30 long-range jet
When to go
May to September.
Exposed to the open Atlantic, with highs of around 11 to 12 °C from June to September and 5 °C in winter. May and June have the least rain. The boats sail from May to September, which is also when the islands have their longest days.
- 5° J 165 7°
- 5° F 119 6°
- 5° M 144 6°
- 7° A 98 7°
- 9° M 75 7°
- 11° J 72 8°
- 12° J 86 9°
- 12° A 93 10°
- 11° S 153 10°
- 9° O 187 9°
- 6° N 158 8°
- 5° D 171 7°
Where to stay
Stay in Tórshavn, cross for the day.
Shown for information. We have no arrangement with any of these hotels.
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Hotel Brandan Opened in 2020 in the town centre, with 125 rooms and a four-star Superior grade from Horesta.
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Hotel Føroyar Set on the hill above the town, with panoramic rooms facing Nólsoy, a spa and the RUTS restaurant.
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Hilton Garden Inn Faroe Islands A 131-room hotel from 2020, near the national stadium and a short walk from the town centre.
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Hotel Hafnia Right in the centre of the capital, with wide views over the town.
Where to dine
Back in Tórshavn for dinner.
Mykines has a café for the day; the nearest restaurants in the MICHELIN Guide and the Falstaff Nordics guide are in the capital.
- PAZ Two Michelin stars Creative €€€€ Tórshavn, about 46 km east
- Ræst MICHELIN Guide Creative €€€ Old town, Tórshavn
- Húsagarður Falstaff Guide 2026, 87 points Nordic Hotel Brandan, Tórshavn
- Áarstova Falstaff Guide 2026, 86 points Faroese lamb and seafood Gongin, old town, Tórshavn
- Ruts Falstaff Guide 2026, 85 points Faroese fish, set menus Hotel Føroyar, above Tórshavn
Elsewhere in Faroe Islands
More reasons to come.
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