Sandavagur

Sandavágur sits above a bay on the southern side of Vágar, and its church of 1917, with a red roof unusual among the black-and-white Faroese churches, holds the Sandavágur stone: a runestone of about the thirteenth century recording that Torkil Onundarson from Rogaland was the first to settle in this place. It is one of very few runic inscriptions found in the islands. The village won a national tidiness award and looks it.

Background

The name Sandavágur means sandy bay, after a beach that was once much larger than it is now. From one spot in the village all of the southern Faroe Islands are in view. Sandavágur was a municipality in its own right until 1 January 2009, when it joined neighbouring Miðvágur to form the new Vágar municipality. In September 2025 it had 1,015 residents. The local football club, SÍF Sandavágur, merged with MB Miðvágur in 1993 to form FS Vágar; the clubs split again in 2004, and SÍF later became part of 07 Vestur.

Source: Wikipedia, "Sandavágur"

Highlights

• The runestone - a thirteenth-century inscription recording the village's first settler.
• The red-roofed church - a 1917 building unusual in Faroese church colouring.
• The bay - the sandy inlet the village is named for.
• The village layout - a settlement known for its order and upkeep.

When to go

May to September is when the church is most likely open. It closes during services. The bay is exposed to southern swell.

Good to know

The church is often locked outside services and the runestone cannot then be seen. The village is small and quickly walked. Facilities are minimal.

Nearby

Trollkonufingur is east, and Sorvagur is west.

Key facts