Kirkjubøur Voyage Tips and guide

Kirkjubøur (Danish: Kirkebø) is the southernmost village on Streymoy. The village is the Faroes' most important historical site, with the ruins of the Magnus Cathedral from around 1300, Saint Olav's Church (Olavskirkjan), from the 12th century and the old farmhouse of Kirkjubøargarður from the 11th century.

It has a view towards the islands of Hestur and Koltur towards the west, and to Sandoy towards the south. In 1832, a runestone was found near the Magnus Cathedral in Kirkjubøur. The stone which is referred to as the Kirkjubøur stone dates back to the Viking Age.

The mountain Kirkjubøkambur is 308 m high and is Streymoy's southernmost mountain. The southern tip of Streymoy is called Kirkjubønes. The other mountain at Kirkjubø is called Kirkjubøreyn and is 351 m high.

In 2025, it had 74 residents.

It lies south of the ferry port of Gamlarætt.

Map of Kirkjubøur

Road no. 54 connects Kirkjubøur with Velbastaður and Tórshavn. From Tórshavn city centre to Kirkjubøur it is 12 km. The bus runs here, and the road is also suitable for cyclists.

• 61.95184-6.792071 Magnus Cathedral. Never completed, its walls are being dried out for restoration as of February 2020. The cathedral, less roof and tower, was built when Kirkjubøur was the most important place in the islands. It's hardly surprising that it should have been overtaken by Torshavn with its better anchorage but quite astonishing that the cathedral could ever have progressed as far as it did in this tiny community.  

• 61.951611-6.7931942 St Olav's church (Faroese: Ólavskirkjan, Danish: Olavskirken). The last of several churches to occupy this site. Its gates suggest something grander within but it is very plain, though far from unpleasant. Wonderfully carved pew ends from an earlier building can now be seen in Torshavn Museum.  
• 61.955833-6.7933333 Roykstovan/Kirkjubøargarður. A museum using part of a farmhouse, with the owners living in the other part.  
• The little islet just of the coast, Kirkjubøhólmur, contains an eiderduck colony.

Between the two mountains, a cairn trail leads to Argir , the current southern part of the capital. Another hiking trail leads to the north around Kirkjubøreynen. The hike is easy without any difficult climbs.

• 61.954905-6.7985261 Koks, Í Geilini 13, Kirkjubøur (at the south-western coast of Streymoy), ☏ +298 333999. Tu-Sa. New (very) nordic gourmet food. 1100 kr menu, 1000 kr wine pairing.  (updated Nov 2016)