North Sea Cruise: Tórshavn
In this seventh post of a multi-part series, Bethany explores Tórshavn, Faroe Islands on her North Sea cruise on Crystal Serenity.
I spent a wonderful day in and around Tórshavn, Faroe Islands. From wandering the port area on my own in the morning to an adventurous excursion out and about in the afternoon, it was great fun exploring this fascinating island.
North Sea Full Itinerary
Below is the full itinerary for the trip. This post includes details about Tórshavn. Looking for info on other stops? Check out the ‘Links’ section at the end of this post!
- August 5-6: Copenhagen, Denmark
- August 7: North Denmark
- August 8: Kristiansand, Norway
- August 9: Sandnes, Norway
- August 10: Kirkwall, Orkney, Scotland
- August 11: Lerwick, Shetland, Scotland
- August 12-13: Tórshavn, Faroe Islands and a sea day
- August 14-17: Reykjavik, Iceland
- August 16: South Coast of Iceland
Arriving Into Tórshavn
We arrived into the port of Tórshavn on a foggy morning. While it’s not technically an independent country (it is a self-governing nation within the Kingdom of Denmark), I am still counting it as a new country for me in my “60 in 60” quest…hello #48!
Exploring Tórshavn
I enjoyed a nice walk around the harbor area this morning. Since my excursion wasn’t until the afternoon, I had plenty of time to explore this pretty (and quiet!) town on my own. The old harbor area is lined with colorful buildings. Many boats of various sizes bobbed gently in the water as well.
Tórshavn has a ton of charm and character. There are many buildings with grass roofs. There were also many different sculptures all around the area. Even though the weather was a bit cool, damp, and dreary, I still very much enjoyed exploring the area.
Afternoon Excursion
My afternoon excursion kicked off with a quick photo stop at an overlook with great views of Tórshavn.
Sandavágs Kirkja
The excursion continued onto Sandavágur, a village known for its striking red-roofed church (Sandavágs Kirkja).
The small church was simple but beautiful inside. After spending a bit of time at the church, our journey continued through the tranquil Kaldbaksfjørður and Kollafjørður Valley before crossing the undersea tunnel that connects Streymoy to Vágar Island.
Múlafossur Waterfall
The next stop on today’s excursion was the remote village of Gásadalur, a secluded hamlet nestled among towering mountains. Here, we hiked a short distance in the rain to the Múlafossur Waterfall, where crystal-clear waters plunge 100 feet over dramatic cliffs into the Atlantic Ocean.
Bøur
The last stop on today’s excursion was Bøur. This is a picturesque village where traditional grass-roofed houses line narrow, winding streets. Scroll through the pictures below to see the gorgeous village:
We walked through the village to a small, old home for some tea, coffee, and cake.
Inside the old home, the owner and her daughter gave us the history of the house. It has been in her family for several generations. They have been restoring it, but have kept all of the charm and character.
After enjoying my tea and cake, I stepped outside for a few more views. The house sits right on the water, and the views from the back patio area are quite striking. Although the clouds and fog took away the sweeping views of the valley, it was still a beautiful sight.
Returning to the Ship
I snapped a few more pictures on the bus ride back to the ship. There are waterfalls, big and small, everywhere! I also got to see a gorgeous full rainbow as we neared the harbor area.
Dinner at Waterside Restaurant
Once back on the ship, I changed for dinner and headed back to Waterside, the main dining room. Tonight’s dinner did not disappoint…it was as delicious (and gorgeous!) as usual:
- Appetizer: fresh green asparagus “en Pete” with lemon vinaigrette, olives, herbs
- Soup: cream of selected Italian mushrooms, served in an oregano bread bowl
- Main course: Waldorf risotto (green apple, celery, and walnut risotto, with crispy sweet potato chips)
- Dessert: “A Sweet Take on Whiskey”
A Relaxing Day at Sea
After a wonderful day in and around Tórshavn, Faroe Islands, I got to enjoy a well-deserved sea day. We have had several busy days in some beautiful ports, so it was great to be able to sit back and relax a bit as we made our way to our final stop at Reykjavik.
Vintage Room Lunch & Lecture
I enjoyed an absolutely amazing lunch today in The Vintage Room. A small group of us (14) experienced a decadent four-course wine pairing menu. I met some wonderful people and had some fantastic food and wine. Not a bad lunch for a Wednesday!
Getting My Steps In
The sun came out in the afternoon, so it was a perfect time for a few laps on the Promenade Deck! I even spotted a few whales popping up here and there. Unfortunately, I was never fast enough with my phone to actually snap some pics!
Dinner at Umi Uma
My last dinner on the ship tonight was in the third specialty restaurant, Umi Uma (by Nobu Matsuhisa).
- Sushi to start…eel and cucumber roll, and spicy tuna roll
- Grilled scallop salad with yuzu dressing
- Wok-fried shrimp and scallops with spicy garlic sake soy sauche
- Trio of crème brûlée to end…passion fruit, pink guava, sweet ginger (with some small cookies on the side)
Conclusion
I really enjoyed my day in and around Tórshavn, Faroe Islands. Even though the weather was less than ideal, it was still wonderful to explore the charming island. The following day at sea was a fantastic opportunity to relax and recharge, to prepare for the end of my journey in Reykjavik.
Links
Check the main page for this cruise to read more about my adventures:
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