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Meridiela.

Sandur

The main village of Sandoy, on a sand bay, with a church built over five earlier ones on the same ground.

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WhereSandoy
Nearest cityTorshavn
Best seasonMay to September
Time to allowHalf a day
Getting thereOn Sandoy; ferry from Gamlaraett, and a tunnel from Streymoy
EntryFree

Sandur is the main settlement of Sandoy and takes its name from the sand: a rare beach at the head of its bay, with dunes and a lake behind. Excavation under the church in the 1960s found the remains of five earlier churches stacked on the same spot, the oldest from around the eleventh century, along with a hoard of medieval coins. The present building dates from 1839. Two lakes behind the village hold waterfowl.

What you actually see

  • The church site - five earlier churches found stacked beneath the 1839 building.
  • The sand bay - the beach and dunes the village is named for.
  • The lakes - the freshwater bodies behind the village with waterfowl.
  • The coin hoard - the medieval coins found during the excavation.

When to go

May to September is the season. The Sandoy tunnel has made access much easier than the old ferry. Winter is quiet and windy.

Honest expectations

The archaeology is under the floor and is not on display; the church is an ordinary parish building. Facilities on Sandoy are limited. The beach is cold and exposed.

Nearby

Husavik is southeast, and Skuvoy is southwest.

What to pack for Sandur

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Opening times, ticket prices and seasonal closures change - check the official source before you go: official site.

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