Port of Runavík cruise port guide

Port of Runavík — Runavík, Faroe Islands.

Runavík sits on the eastern shore of Eysturoy, the second-largest island in the Faroe archipelago, cradled by the long Skálafjørður fjord. As the administrative centre of Runavík municipality, it is one of the largest towns outside the capital Tórshavn — yet by any other measure it remains a small, quiet Faroese community where fishing boats share the harbour with pleasure craft and where the surrounding mountains dwarf every building. Its position on Eysturoy makes it an outstanding base for exploring the most dramatic interior landscapes of the Faroe Islands, many of them inaccessible from Tórshavn within a single cruise call. In the north of Eysturoy, the road climbs past Eiðisvatn lake to the village of Eiði, about 35 minutes' drive from Runavík, where a viewpoint looks out to Risin og Kellingin, the famous pair of sea stacks off the island's northern tip. East of Eiði, the village of Gjógv on the island's northern coast offers a completely different spectacle: a natural sea gorge carved through basalt cliffs that serves as the village's harbour, surrounded by turf-roofed houses and some of the most atmospheric coastal scenery in the North Atlantic. Runavík itself has a working harbour, a handsome modern church, and a small-town intimacy that feels genuinely different from the tourist trail. The sub-sea Eysturoyartunnilin tunnel (11km, opened December 2020) connects Eysturoy to Tórshavn in about 20 minutes, making combination calls between the two ports logistically straightforward. For passengers who have already visited Tórshavn, Runavík opens up the island landscape that the capital can only gesture toward.

Getting ashore

Where do cruise ships dock in Runavík?

Ships dock or tender into Runavík's small harbour on the eastern shore of the Skálafjørður fjord. The pier is within easy walking distance of the town centre, harbour front, and Runavík church. Tender operations are calm in the sheltered fjord. There is no formal shuttle service from the pier — taxis and pre-arranged tour vehicles wait at the quayside on ship days. Confirm pier or tender arrangements with the ship before arrival, as operational procedures may vary by vessel size.

Getting around

Runavík town is compact and walkable on foot. For excursions to the island's highlights — Eiðisvatn, Gjógv, or Slættaratindur — you will need a hire car or taxi, as public bus services are infrequent and don't align well with cruise schedules. Several local taxi drivers offer informal guiding tours of Eysturoy and can be arranged through the harbour or the ship. Tórshavn is about 17km via the Eysturoyartunnilin sub-sea tunnel, about 20 minutes by road. There is no reliable rideshare app service; pre-arrange taxis through the ship or your accommodation contact. Driving in the Faroes requires confidence on single-track mountain roads with passing places.

Don't miss

• Eiði & Risin og Kellingin — The Giant and the Witch: About 35 minutes' drive north of Runavík, the road runs along Skálafjørður and over the mountains, past Eiðisvatn lake, to the village of Eiði on Eysturoy's northwest tip. From a viewpoint just outside the village you can see Risin og Kellingin ('the Giant and the Witch'), the famous pair of sea stacks off the island's northern coast. (The well-known 'lake above the ocean' illusion is at Sørvágsvatn on Vágar, not here.) Allow about 2 hours for the round trip including time at the viewpoint. Eiði is one of the oldest continuously inhabited places in the Faroes.
• Gjógv — Sea Gorge Village: On the northern tip of Eysturoy, the village of Gjógv (pronounced approximately 'jegv') takes its name from the Faroese word for gorge — a narrow, dramatic cleft in the basalt cliffs that the villagers have used as a harbour for centuries. The gorge is about 200m long and 20m wide, with the sea surging in and out at the base while turf-roofed farmhouses cluster on the headland above. Gjógv is one of the most visually striking villages in the entire Faroe Islands, combining the rawness of the North Atlantic coast with the extraordinary resilience of island communities that have made their lives in places of tremendous natural drama. The Gjaargardur guesthouse serves dinner, and its café by the gorge offers waffles, ice cream and coffee in summer (May–August, 11am–6pm). The village is accessible by road in about 40 minutes from Runavík and pairs naturally with the Eiðisvatn stop.
• Slættaratindur — Highest Peak in the Faroes: At about 880m, Slættaratindur is the highest point in the entire Faroe Islands, and on a clear day the summit panorama takes in most of the archipelago. The trailhead is accessible from the road between Eiði and Gjógv, and the round trip takes about 2–2.5 hours on a marked but steep path through open moorland. This hike is for fit, experienced walkers only — Faroese weather can change rapidly, and the ridge is fully exposed to Atlantic wind. Summit views, when the conditions cooperate, are extraordinary: the scattered islands spread across a silver sea in every direction. Even hiking partway up the lower slopes gives a sense of the vast, treeless interior landscape that defines the Faroese high country.
• Runavík Harbour and Church — The town's working harbour, where fishing boats sit alongside the quayside, gives an unvarnished look at the industry that has sustained Faroese communities for generations. Salmon farmer Bakkafrost, the area's biggest employer, and fish processor Faroe Origin are both based here. The parish church, Glyvrar Kirkja (1927, extended in 1981 with a wing inspired by Faroese boathouses), is about 2km north along the fjord in neighbouring Glyvrar. There's a Bónus supermarket by the harbour and a few cafés along the main street, Heiðavegur, making it a good base to pick up local provisions before heading out to the island's hinterland. The surrounding residential streets give a genuine glimpse of everyday Faroese life — orderly, quiet, and entirely different from any other place in the North Atlantic.

Planning your day

Morning arrivals work best for Eysturoy — use the first hour to collect transport and head north to Eiði (about 35 min drive) for the view of the Risin og Kellingin sea stacks, then continue to Gjógv (another 15–20 min) for a walk along the gorge and, in summer, coffee and waffles at the Gjaargardur café — or lunch at Rose's in Ljósá on the way back. If the weather is outstanding and you are fit, ask your taxi driver to drop you at the Slættaratindur trailhead and allow 2.5–3 hours up and back. Passengers who prefer flat ground should stay in Runavík, walk the harbour front, visit the church, and use a taxi to explore the lower fjord roads. Agree the price of a half-day taxi excursion covering Eiði and Gjógv before you set off. Return to the pier at least 45 minutes before all-aboard.

Food & drink

Faroese food culture is built on the sea and the land in equal measure — dried, fermented, and smoked fish and lamb have sustained islanders through centuries of North Atlantic isolation, and those traditions are now gaining international recognition as a serious culinary movement. Runavík's food options are limited compared to Tórshavn, but a few cafés along the main street and the fjord setting make it more than adequate for a morning stop before heading out to the island.

Where to eat

• Café Cibo — A relaxed café on Runavík's main street, about a 15-minute walk north of the pier, serving burgers, steaks, salads, pizzas, desserts and coffee. It opens at 11:30am on weekdays (10am Saturday, noon Sunday), so it suits lunch rather than an early coffee before heading out to Eysturoy's landscapes.
• Gjaargardur Guesthouse, Gjógv — If your itinerary takes you to Gjógv — which it should — the Gjaargardur guesthouse at the edge of the gorge village serves Faroese dinners (6–7:30pm, booking recommended), while its Gjáarkaffi café by the gorge does waffles, ice cream and coffee from 11am to 6pm, May–August. The setting is extraordinary: turf-roofed buildings, the gorge visible below, and the Atlantic on the horizon. This is not a restaurant in the conventional sense — it is a working family guesthouse that serves meals — but it is one of the most genuinely Faroese dining experiences available outside Tórshavn, and the warmth of the welcome makes up for the simplicity of the menu.
• Rose's Restaurant, Ljósá — A small family-run restaurant in Ljósá, the village beside Eiðisvatn on the road to Eiði, serving Faroese open sandwiches (smyrjibreyð), lamb, fish of the day and the family's own smoked salmon. The kitchen is open 11:30am–2pm and 5:30–8pm, making it a good lunch stop on a trip to Eiði or Gjógv; booking is advised.

Must try

• Ræst lamb (fermented lamb) — Ræst kjøt — fermented lamb — is the most distinctive ingredient in Faroese cooking and one that polarises visitors. Legs, ribs and shoulders of lamb are hung in a traditional hjallur (a slatted wooden shed open to the sea wind) for months and sometimes years, developing a complex, intensely savoury, slightly funky flavour that has no direct equivalent in any other cuisine. The result is not dissimilar to a very aged dry-cured meat — deeply umami, with a firm texture and a taste of salt wind. It is typically served boiled or in a stew with root vegetables. Most visitors who try it with an open mind find it more approachable than the description suggests. If you see it on a menu, try it — it is the single most authentic flavour of the Faroe Islands.
• Skerpikjøt (wind-dried mutton) — A close cousin of ræst kjøt, skerpikjøt is mutton that has been dried in the hjallur for a longer period — typically 9–12 months — until it is firm, almost leathery, and very intensely flavoured. It is eaten in thin slices on rye bread, often with butter, and is a staple of the Faroese lunch table. The flavour is stronger and more assertive than ræst kjøt, with a mineral quality that reflects the salt air of the Atlantic. Look for it in local food shops — it makes an unusual and authentic edible souvenir.
• Faroese bakery breads and pastries — The Faroese have a strong baking tradition rooted in Scandinavian influences — dense rye breads, butter-rich pastries, and simple cakes using local dairy products. Local bakeries and supermarkets are a reliable source of fresh-baked bread and pastries. A warm rye roll with local butter and perhaps a slice of skerpikjøt or smoked salmon is the ideal quick breakfast before setting out on an island excursion. Faroese dairy is excellent — the butter in particular has a richness that reflects the quality of the grass the cattle graze on.
• Fresh Atlantic salmon and cod — The Faroe Islands' aquaculture industry produces some of the most highly regarded farmed Atlantic salmon in the world, and wild cod from these waters has been a commercial staple for centuries. In Runavík and across Eysturoy you will find both available in simple preparations — grilled, pan-fried, or baked — at local cafés and restaurants. The salmon is fat and flavourful, raised in the clean, cold waters of the fjords, while Faroese cod is firmer and milder than its Norwegian equivalent. Either is an excellent lunch choice before or after island explorations.

Know before you go

• 🗣️Language — Faroese (Føroyskt) is the official language, with Danish as a co-official administrative language. English is widely understood among younger residents and anyone working in tourism or hospitality. In Runavík, expect to communicate in English without difficulty at the harbour, café, and any tourist-facing business. Faroese is a North Germanic language related to Old Norse and Icelandic — signage will be in Faroese, but navigating with a map or GPS is straightforward.
• 📋Documents — The Faroe Islands are a self-governing territory of the Kingdom of Denmark but are NOT part of the European Union or the Schengen Area. Most nationalities do not require a visa for short visits, but the Faroes operate their own border arrangements. EU/EEA and US, Canadian, Australian, and UK citizens can enter freely for short stays. Your cruise ship handles port clearance — confirm your own visa status if in doubt. Carry your passport or cruise card as identification ashore.
• 🛍️Shopping & hours — Runavík has a small supermarket, a pharmacy, and a few local shops. Hours are typically 09:00–18:00 Monday–Friday, with reduced hours on Saturdays. Shops are generally closed on Sundays. The best Faroese souvenirs — hand-knitted woollen sweaters with the traditional yoke pattern (lopapeysa-style), sheepskin products, Faroese music, and locally produced foods — are found in Tórshavn; Runavík's retail selection is modest. The Danish krone (DKK) is the currency; some places may accept card only.
• 🌤️Weather — Faroese weather is famously changeable: the local saying is that you can experience all four seasons in a single day. Summers (June–August) are cool, typically 10–15°C, with long daylight hours — useful for sightseeing but not warm enough for light clothing alone. Rain, low cloud, and sea mist can appear without warning even on a morning that starts clear. Waterproof outerwear and warm layers are essential. Wind is a constant factor on exposed ridges and coastal headlands — the hike to Slættaratindur in particular requires appropriate gear. Check the forecast before committing to summit hikes.
• 📶Connectivity — 4G LTE coverage is generally good in Runavík town and along the main roads of Eysturoy. The Faroes have their own mobile network (Faroese Telecom / Føroya Tele) — roaming charges may apply depending on your carrier and home country; EU roaming rules do not apply here as the Faroes are outside the EU. Check with your provider before departure. For navigation, download offline maps (Google Maps or Maps.me) for the island before you leave the ship.
• ♿Accessibility — Runavík's harbour front and town centre are relatively flat and manageable for passengers with limited mobility. The majority of the island's major attractions — Eiðisvatn, Gjógv, and Slættaratindur — involve mountain roads, walking paths, and uneven terrain that are not accessible to wheelchair users or those with significant mobility limitations. The Risin og Kellingin viewpoint just outside Eiði is a short walk from its car park. Gjógv village is partly accessible by car but the gorge walk involves steps and uneven ground. Discuss options with the ship's excursion desk.
• ⏱️Getting back — The fjord setting of Runavík means that ship departures are generally well-signalled — you can see the vessel from most points in town and from the main roads leading back to the harbour. If you have gone north to Gjógv or Eiðisvatn by taxi, budget at least 45–60 minutes for the return drive to the pier including buffer time. Pre-arrange your return taxi pickup time before departing — mobile signal on some mountain roads may be limited. The ship will NOT wait for late passengers; confirm the all-aboard time before leaving the pier.

Sources: visitfaroeislands.com; faroeislands.fo; en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Runavík; en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eysturoy