Day 2: Exploring Vágar
After an incredible first day exploring Saksun, Tjørnuvík, Gjógv and Elduvík, we were ready for another full day on the road. This time our destination was Vágar, one of the islands we had been particularly looking forward to visiting.
Our second day was all about dramatic scenery. We wanted to see the famous Trælanípa viewpoint and Sørvágsvatn, visit the villages of Bøur and Gásadalur, see the spectacular Múlafossur waterfall, and also experience the Faroe Islands from the sea with a boat trip.
We left our accommodation in Strendur and set off early, knowing that we had another busy day ahead of us. As we had already discovered on our first day, the journey itself was going to be part of the experience. The landscape constantly changes as you drive through the Faroe Islands, and even the stretches of road between the places on your itinerary can provide some of the best views of the day.
Trælanípa: The Famous Lake Above the Ocean
Our first major stop was Trælanípa, one of the most famous viewpoints in the Faroe Islands. This was one of the places I had particularly wanted to see because of the extraordinary optical illusion created by Sørvágsvatn, which appears to sit high above the Atlantic Ocean when viewed from the right position.
The hike to the viewpoint takes you along the edge of the lake and towards the dramatic cliffs of Trælanípa. The official route describes Trælanípa as a 142-metre rock wall rising from the sea, and from the viewpoint the lake can appear to be floating above the ocean. At the end of the lake is another spectacular sight, Bøsdalafossur, where the water drops directly towards the Atlantic.
For us, the walk was definitely worth doing, although it was not something I would describe as a completely effortless stroll. It took us around 45 minutes each way, and the conditions made a difference. The Faroe Islands are famous for their wind, and when you are walking beside dramatic cliffs, you really become aware of how exposed the landscape can be.
One thing I would definitely emphasise is to take the weather seriously. The cliffs are steep and exposed, and official guidance specifically advises visitors to keep a safe distance from the edge. The hike also requires payment of a hiking fee and visitors must check in at the reception at the start of the trail.
Was Trælanípa worth it?
For us, absolutely.
This was one of those places where the photographs simply don’t tell the whole story. You can see the famous illusion in pictures, but standing there and looking across the lake towards the ocean gives you a much better appreciation of just how unusual the landscape is.
Sørvágsvatn: The Largest Lake in the Faroe Islands
We then spent some time around Sørvágsvatn, also known as Leitisvatn. It is the largest lake in the Faroe Islands, covering approximately 3.4 square kilometres. The lake is particularly famous because of the optical illusion from Trælanípa that makes it appear to sit directly above the ocean.
After seeing it from above, it was interesting to experience the lake from another perspective. The sheer scale of the landscape around it really becomes apparent when you are actually there.
This was one of the first moments on the trip when I realised just how much variety you can find within a relatively small area of the Faroe Islands. We had started the morning walking beside a huge lake and dramatic cliffs, and within the same day we would be standing beside the Atlantic looking towards one of the world’s most photographed waterfalls.
Gásaskarð and the Road Towards Bøur
From Sørvágsvatn, we continued our drive towards Gásaskarð and then on towards Bøur. This was another section of the day where the driving was almost as enjoyable as the stops themselves.
The Faroe Islands are made for road trips because the scenery changes constantly. One minute you are driving through a tunnel or along a relatively quiet road and the next you emerge into a huge mountain landscape with the sea stretching out in front of you.
Travelling with our 9-seater van also gave us the flexibility to stop whenever we wanted. With eight people in the group, having our own vehicle made a huge difference to the way we experienced Vágar. We didn’t have to work around public transport schedules and could simply follow our planned route at our own pace.
Múlafossur: One of the Highlights of the Entire Trip
From Bøur, we continued towards Gásadalur, with the anticipation building because this was the part of the day when we would finally see Múlafossur.
Múlafossur is probably one of the most recognisable waterfalls in the Faroe Islands, and for very good reason. The waterfall drops directly from the cliffs into the Atlantic Ocean, creating one of those scenes that almost looks too perfect to be real.
The official viewpoint is only around a five-minute walk from the parking area, so you don’t need to undertake a long hike to see it. However, the terrain around the waterfall is very steep and dangerous, so visitors are advised to remain on the marked paths and behind the fences.
When we arrived, we finally understood why Múlafossur appears in so many photographs of the Faroe Islands. The combination of the waterfall, the cliffs, the ocean and the tiny village of Gásadalur in the surrounding landscape is simply spectacular.
And, as with so many places in the Faroes, the weather can completely change the atmosphere. Mist, clouds, sunshine and wind can make the same view look completely different from one moment to the next.
Our BlueGate Boat Trip: Drangarnir & Múlafossur from the Sea
After exploring Bøur, Gásadalur and Múlafossur, we headed to Sørvágur for one of the experiences we had been particularly looking forward to: a boat trip with BlueGate. Our trip lasted around one hour, and it was a fantastic way to see the dramatic coastline of Vágar from a completely different perspective.
The boat departed from Sørvágur Marina and took us out along the coast towards some of the most spectacular scenery in this part of the Faroe Islands. BlueGate’s Drangarnir & Múlafossur Boat Tour takes passengers past Bøur and the Múlafossur area before continuing towards Tindhólmur and the famous Drangarnir sea stacks.
Seeing these landscapes from the water was completely different from seeing them from the road. From land, you get those spectacular views looking across the mountains and ocean, but from the boat you are right at sea level, surrounded by towering cliffs and enormous rock formations. The scale of the landscape becomes even more impressive when you are looking up at the cliffs from the water.
One of the highlights was getting close to Drangarnir, the dramatic sea stacks and natural arch that have become one of the most recognisable sights in the Faroe Islands. BlueGate says that, when weather conditions allow, the boat may even sail through the iconic sea arch, making the experience even more memorable.
The trip also gave us another opportunity to see Múlafossur from a completely different angle. We had already visited the waterfall from land earlier in the day, but seeing the coastline and waterfall area from the sea made us appreciate just how dramatic this part of Vágar really is.
What I particularly liked about the boat trip was that it wasn’t simply a way of getting from one place to another. It was an experience in its own right. For one hour, we could forget about driving, parking and following the itinerary and simply enjoy the scenery around us.
For us, adding the boat trip to our Vágar day was definitely worth it. We had already seen some of these places from land, but experiencing them from the sea gave us an entirely different perspective and became one of the memorable experiences of our Faroe Islands trip.
Practical information
Operator: BlueGate
Departure: Sørvágur Marina
Duration: Approximately 1 hour
Tour: Drangarnir & Múlafossur Boat Tour
Main sights: Bøur, Múlafossur, Tindhólmur and Drangarnir
Weather: The route can be affected by sea and weather conditions. BlueGate advises passengers to dress warmly, as even summer boat trips can be cold.
BlueGate official website and boat tours
Why Day 2 Was So Special
Looking back, Day 2 was probably one of the most varied days of our entire Faroe Islands adventure.
We started with a hike beside one of the most famous lakes in the islands, stood on dramatic cliffs overlooking the Atlantic, saw a waterfall flowing from the lake towards the sea, explored tiny villages, drove through spectacular mountain scenery, stood beside Múlafossur and then finished the day out on the water.
And that is exactly what makes travelling around the Faroe Islands so special. You can have a day that begins with hiking through the mountains and ends with a boat trip, without ever feeling as though you have spent the day doing the same thing.
What We Loved Most About Vágar
If I had to choose my favourite parts of the day, Múlafossur and Trælanípa would be right at the top of the list.
Trælanípa was impressive because of the unusual landscape and the famous lake-above-the-ocean illusion, while Múlafossur was simply breathtaking because of the way the waterfall drops directly into the sea.
But I would also put the boat trip high on the list because it gave us something we couldn’t get from the road.
Bøur and Gásadalur were also highlights, particularly because they gave us that feeling of being somewhere incredibly remote, even though we could now reach them by road.
Tips for Exploring Vágar
If you are planning to follow a similar route, I would strongly recommend giving yourself plenty of time. It is tempting to look at a map of the Faroe Islands and assume that everything is close together, but you need to allow time for driving, stopping for photographs, walking and, most importantly, dealing with the weather.
Start with Trælanípa if the weather is good. The viewpoint is exposed, and visibility can make a huge difference to the experience. The official guidance also stresses the importance of staying away from the cliff edges.
For Múlafossur, the walk from the parking area is short, but don’t underestimate the terrain around the waterfall. Stay on the marked paths and respect the barriers because the cliffs are very steep.
And if you want to include a boat trip, I would book it in advance and build your day around the departure time. Boat tours are also weather dependent, which is another reason why flexibility is so important when travelling in the Faroe Islands.
Was Day 2 Worth It?
Without a doubt.
If Day 1 introduced us to the dramatic villages and landscapes of Streymoy and Eysturoy, Day 2 showed us another side of the Faroe Islands.
The combination of Trælanípa, Sørvágsvatn, Bøsdalafossur, Bøur, Gásadalur and Múlafossur, followed by our boat trip, made this one of the most memorable days of our entire trip.
It was also a good reminder that the Faroe Islands are not really about ticking attractions off a list. The best moments often happen between the official stops, when you’re driving along a mountain road, looking across a fjord or suddenly seeing a tiny village appear below you.
Our Day 2 Verdict
Vágar was everything we hoped it would be.
Trælanípa gave us one of the most unusual views of the trip, Sørvágsvatn provided the famous lake-above-the-ocean experience, Bøur and Gásadalur showed us the charm of the tiny Faroese villages, and Múlafossur was every bit as spectacular as the photographs had promised.
Adding the boat trip made the day even better, giving us a completely different perspective of the islands and their dramatic coastline.
And although we had already had an amazing first day, by the time we returned to 4 Langanes in Strendur, we knew that the Faroe Islands were going to be even more impressive than we had imagined.
Want to see the full itinerary? Read our complete guide to 4 Days in the Faroe Islands: Our Epic Self-Drive Adventure and see how we planned our four days around the weather.
