Welcome to Runavík 2
Since you’re here for a few hours, it’s the perfect time to explore. All routes begin at Visit Runavík, and here you can dive into more information about every stop along the way. Scroll down and find your route.
A) OUT IN THE HEATHER
1. Visit Runavík
Visit Runavík is the town’s tourist information centre, welcoming visitors to Runavík Municipality and its 15 villages across Eysturoy. Here we’re ready to offer local tips, suggest viewpoints and walks, share what’s happening nearby, and welcome you to the Faroe Islands.
2. The Old Shop & Boat House
The old shop, known as Gamli Handil, was built in 1866 by Niels Joensen (Ytri Niels) and became the first shop in the area, serving as an important centre for trade on both land and sea. Located down by the fjord, the shop and its boathouse played a key role in the growth of the local community. Today, Gamli Handil is preserved as a cultural venue, hosting art exhibitions and events that keep its history alive.
3. Doktaragarðurin
Doktaragarðurin - The Doctor’s Garden - is a small green spot in the heart of Runavík, used today as a quiet place to sit, gather or enjoy a break in the open air. It also hosts public events such as Urtagarðsdagurin, which celebrates gardening, plants and local produce. The garden is named after Einar Djurhuus, the local doctor who once lived in the house that stood on this site. He served the area known as Heiðarnar - the settlements spread across the heathland above Runavík - from 1930 to 1968.
4. Hotel Runavík
Hotel Runavík is the only hotel in town, centrally located with its own café and restaurant.
5. Við Løkin
At the end of the brook flowing from Lake Toftavatn lies a small green area called Við Løkin, where a restored corn mill stands.
The mill, once used to grind grain using the power of the stream, was rebuilt in recent years and now serves as a quiet historical spot.
6. School & Løkshøll Culture House
Skúlin við Løkin - the school in Runavík - was finished in 2008 and serves students from 4th to 10th grade. It replaced the older Runavíkar skúli, which had stood on the same site since the 1970s.
The cultural house Løkshøll is part of the school itself, providing a modern space for concerts, theatre and other cultural events.
7. Bylgjan Sports Centre
Bylgjan sports centre in Runavík has expanded over the years. In 2014, a new sports hall was added next to the original hall from the eighties, which was renovated at the same time. In late 2025, the swimming hall also became part of the complex.
Today, Bylgjan hosts a wide range of sports, including gymnastics, handball, badminton, archery and swimming. Sports are an important part of the community here, especially among children and young people, and Bylgjan plays a central role in supporting that active lifestyle.
8. Scout´s house
The Scout’s House in Runavík was finished built in 2013 and is specially designed for scouting activities in the area. Situated right beside open nature, it offers easy access to outdoor programmes and nature-based activities - something that comes naturally when living on these remote islands, where nature is always close.
Over the years, the house has hosted family camps, youth gatherings and a variety of scouting events, making it an active meeting place for young people and the local community.
9. Lake Toftavatn
Lake Toftavatn is one of the country’s largest lakes, known for its calm atmosphere and the soft heather-covered hills surrounding it. A path circles the smaller part of the lake, offering an easy walk close to birdlife, still water and open nature. The lake is also tied to old Faroese sagas - including the story of Nykurin, the water spirit said to rise from the water in the shape of a horse. Along the route you’ll also encounter Nature’s Artwork, a series of small installations that draw attention to the often-overlooked creatures of the landscape and offer a creative, close-up perspective on Faroese nature.
- Nature’s Artwork: Nature’s Artwork highlights lichens - tiny organisms formed through a partnership between algae and fungi. These small life-forms grow on rocks, trees and soil, creating delicate patterns and colours across the landscape. By bringing attention to these subtle details, Nature’s Artwork invites visitors to see Faroese nature through a more attentive lens, where even the smallest forms of life become works of art.
- The Legend of the Nicks: One summer day, a large black dog with a golden-shining tail wandered into a farmhouse. When a child grabbed its tail, he couldn’t let go - and neither could anyone who tried to help. Soon the creature was dragging almost the entire village toward the lake. Out at sea, the farmer of the household felt something was wrong and went ashore. Hearing the cries, he ran home and saw Nykurin pulling the villagers toward the water. In desperation he tore up a clump of earth, marked a cross on it, and threw it at the creature’s tail. The spell broke instantly. Nykurin vanished into the lake, and the villagers, frightened but unharmed, made their way back home.
10. Statue of the Shepherd with his dog
The Statue of the Shepherd withhis Dog was raised in 2009 and stands facing the mountain, honouring the close connection between Faroese people, their land and their animals.
Shepherding here is rarely a full-time job - most people keep sheep as a hobby or side activity - yet it remains a strong cultural tradition. With over twice as many sheepas people living in the Faroe Islands, sheep are an important part of daily life, from gathering on the hills to being a central part of Faroese food culture.
11. Svangaskarð
Svangaskarð sits on the hill above Lake Toftavatn and was the Faroe Islands’ first international football stadium. It is home to B68 Toftir and has also hosted the Faroe Islands national football team for several major matches - including their early international fixtures. A short walk up from the lake brings you to this historic spot, where the view from the top is truly magnificent.