The first place we visited after landing in the Faroe Islands was the small village of Gásadalur and its famous waterfall, Múlafossur. It is the perfect place to start because it is close to the airport, has stunning scenery, an easy hike, a place for lunch, and puffins!
This hike is free, unlike most of the best ones you will do while on the Faroe Islands. You will see a gorgeous waterfall falling directly into the ocean!
When planning my 7-day Faroe Islands trip, I found most of the information about the island’s hikes to be mysterious. So, in my write-ups, I will try to take the guesswork out of it for you.
The first thing to know is that the tunnel to Gásadalur is one of the few one-way tunnels in the Faroe Islands. The roads were pretty empty, so we had no trouble traversing this tunnel; we just drove slowly.
This tunnel wasn’t built until 2004, so this village was relatively unvisited before then.
Gásadalur Village
Parking in this area is free, but knowing where to park is confusing. Just before you reach the village of Gásadalur, you will see people parked on the side of the road at a sheep farm. Park here, but be sure not to park in the driveway, as this is a working farm.
If you are hungry, walk into the town. You have two choices for food in town.
Like most villages in the Faroes, there is a man who sells waffles and coffee. You will see his cart when you first walk into town. If he isn’t there, he leaves a sign with his phone number on the cart. We didn’t have waffles here, but throughout the Faroe Islands, they are served with rhubarb jam and whipped cream, and we loved them!
The town of Gásadalur is very small, with a population of 11, so you can’t get lost.
Farther up the hill and towards the water is a cafe. It has good food and a nice deck with a view. It sells pastries, sandwiches, and even alcohol. And this building serves another purpose that I would never have guessed… This building is also the town’s slaughterhouse! It also has a bathroom.
When you have fueled up, you are ready to start your hike.
Visiting Múlafossur
Walking straight towards the water, you will reach the trail, which is mainly downhill from this point.
Head up the hill to the right to see puffins in season on the cliff slope.
If you want a challenging hike, continue to the top of the mountain.
Otherwise, walk along the water downhill, where you will soon be able to see Múlafossur! Follow the trail down the hill to see it from all vantage points. Later in our week, we also saw the waterfall from the ocean on a scenic boat trip.
When you are done appreciating the falls, the cliffside, and all the seabirds, take the dirt path toward your car, stopping to interact with the sweet sheep in the enclosure on your right. After getting permission from their caregiver, I stopped to rub their heads and feed them some clovers that were just out of their reach.
When you reach your car, you can head to nearby Lake Sørvágsvatn to see the “lake over the ocean” or stop for an early dinner at Fiskastykkið if you are ready to eat again.
We spent about 2 1/2 hours in Gásadalur.
