Making the most of Klaksvik
Use these notes to shape a realistic day ashore, then confirm any time-sensitive information for the date of your call.
Arriving at the port
Three quay options are available: North Harbour, 317m long and 12m deep; Nordborg at 166m/8m; and Kosin at 270m/8m. North Harbour is a walk of 20 minutes from the centre, while Nordborg is closest at five minutes and Kosin follows at 10 minutes. Anchorage is also possible.
Most cruise vessels berth at North Harbour beside tiny Anir, whose 16 inhabitants live 3 km north of Klaksvik.
Klaksvik runs an excellent complimentary shuttle between the ship and the town's tourist information centre. Frequent red buses depart as soon as they fill, with another arriving immediately, and the trip takes only a few minutes.
Consult the cruise schedule for Klaksvik.
Klaksvík is capital of the Northern Islands and offers the facilities expected of a town. Set around a well-sheltered bay, it is the Faroe Islands' principal fishing port. Viking-era settlement began here, but the districts did not combine into a large modern Faroese town until the 20th century. Klaksvík then became a commercial and cultural centre for both the Northern Isles and the Faroes overall.
The city now has 5.000 residents. Despite its modest scale, its distinct appearance and atmosphere create a strong sense of contentment and wellbeing.
In 2006, the Noroya undersea tunnel to Leirvík on Eysturoy connected the Northern Isles with the central Faroes. It gave Klaksvík the potential to become the centre of a powerful region able to compete with the central Faroes in a globalised community without geographical limitations.
Getting around
Walk through the harbour as fishing crews follow their daily routines, pausing at the imposing stone Christianskirkjan church. Built in 1963, this architectural landmark is the Faroe Islands' largest church. The Chemistry is a former laboratory that began as a fabric shop in 1919 and served as a chemistry lab from 1932 until 1961. Its original bottles and equipment remain in place, with a neighbouring display of beautifully preserved Faroese tools once used in daily life.
No local tour operators currently offer excursions, leaving a ship-organised trip or taxi as the alternatives.
Nearby places
Above Klaksvík harbour entrance rises the pyramid-shaped mountain on striking Kunoy island. Homes spread attractively across the slopes surrounding the protected bay and harbour.
Food and shopping
Notable Faroese souvenirs include woollen products, stuffed birds, ceramics, wooden pieces, jewellery, music, stamps and posters.
Tipping is not customary because service charges normally form part of the price, whether for a fine restaurant meal, a cross-town taxi trip or a haircut.
Money
The self-governing Faroe Islands form part of the Kingdom of Denmark and issue their own currency, the króna, while using Danish coins. Its value matches the Danish krone, and exchanging it carries no service fee because Danish notes and Faroese króna are accepted equally throughout the country.
Automatic teller machines, or ATMs, are available.
Staying connected
Danish is spoken, and English is understood well.
The library near the post office provides free internet. It normally opens from 8:00am to 6:00pm on weekdays, although schoolchildren have priority during the morning, so internet access generally begins after 1:00pm.
Dial 112 for emergency assistance of any kind anywhere in the country.
Opening Hours and
Most shops trade from 9:00/10.00 until 17:30. Many remain open to 19:00 on Friday. Saturday hours are limited, beginning at 9:00 and ending at either 12:00, 14:00 or 16:00, while every shop closes on Sunday.
See the Faroe Islands public-holiday information.