A Journey to the Faroe Islands: The Island of Kunoy
Kunoy, Faroe Islands (ISO 200, 4.5 mm, f/2.8, 1/40 s)
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**This post is the 10th of a 11-post series discussing what to see in this part of the Faroe Islands (You can check out the other parts in the list below, separated by each specific island (just click on the island name to see the blog post. Everything is also summarized in another post here.**
The Faroe Islands, or the Faroes, are an archipelago located in the North Atlantic Ocean and are a part of Denmark. The subpolar oceanic climate, moderated by the Gulf Stream, make the temperature of the Faroes nearly constant throughout the year. Origins of the Faroe Islands date back as early as 500 AD, thought to be settled by people from Great Britain or Ireland. [Funfact: The population of sheep (70,000) outnumber the human population (54,000)]
Featured
Tórshavn (Blog Post: A Journey to the Faroese Capital of Tórshavn)
Vágar (Blog Post: A Journey to the Faroe Islands: The Island of Vágar)
Streymoy (Blog Post: A Journey to the Faroe Islands: The Island of Streymoy)
Eysturoy (Blog Post: A Journey to the Faroe Islands: The Island of Eysturoy)
Bordoy (Blog Post: A Journey to the Faroe Islands: The Island of Bordoy)
Kalsoy (Blog Post: A Journey to the Faroe Islands: The Island of Kalsoy)
Vidoy (Blog Post: A Journey to the Faroe Islands: The Island of Vidoy)
Mykines (Blog Post: A Journey to the Faroe Islands: The Island of Mykines)
Sandoy (Blog Post: A Journey to the Faroe Islands: The Island of Sandoy)
Kunoy (Blog Post: A Journey to the Faroe Islands: The Island of Kunoy)
The Waterfalls of the Faroe Islands (Blog Post: The Waterfalls of the Faroe Islands)
In this blog post, I will cover the island of Kunoy. A Google Map of these places I will talk about can be seen at the end of this article. Check out my drone video on the Faroe Islands below!
How to Get to the Faroe Islands
The Faroe Islands are accessed primarily through Vágar Airport (FAE), the only airport in the archipelago. Vágar Airport connects the islands to major Northern European hubs:
Copenhagen Airport (CPH), Denmark: Several daily flights by Atlantic Airways and SAS; flight time about 1 hour 45 minutes.
Reykjavik Keflavik Airport (KEF), Iceland: Seasonal flights by Atlantic Airways, about 1 hour 15 minutes.
Edinburgh Airport (EDI), UK: Seasonal summer flights lasting roughly 2 hours.
Most travelers connect via Copenhagen, which has extensive international connections.
How to Get to Kunoy Island
Step 1: From Vágar Airport to Klaksvík (Borðoy Island)
Drive: From Vágar Airport to Klaksvík, the largest town in the north, it’s approximately 115 km and takes about 2 hours by car. The route crosses Streymoy and Eysturoy islands via well-maintained roads and tunnels (including the Vágatunnilin and Eysturoyartunnilin).
Bus: From Vágar Airport, take bus line 400 to Tórshavn (50 min, 60 DKK), then transfer to bus 401 or 402 from Tórshavn to Klaksvík (approx. 1.5 hours, 100 DKK). Buses run a few times daily.
Step 2: From Klaksvík to Kunoy Village (Kunoy Island)
By Road: Kunoy is connected to Borðoy (where Klaksvík is located) via a tunnel under the sea—the Kunoyartunnilin.
Driving Distance: About 17 km from Klaksvík to the village of Kunoy, approximately a 20-minute drive.
Bus: Bus line 411 runs between Klaksvík and Kunoy village, typically 3–4 times per day. The journey takes about 30 minutes and costs around 40 DKK (~5 EUR).
Taxi: Available but limited; expect to pay around 300–400 DKK (~40–55 EUR) for the short ride.
Notes:
Roads are paved and well-maintained but can be narrow and winding.
Bus schedules are limited, especially outside of peak hours, so check local timetables in advance.
Renting a car in Tórshavn or Klaksvík is often the most convenient way to explore Kunoy and surrounding islands.
Kunoy is a long and narrow island, accessible by an embankment from Bordoy to Haraldssund. The mountain tunnel once you get only Kunoy is one lane and is also narrow so use caution! Kunoy directly translates to ‘woman island’ and therefore is the colloquial opposite to Kalsoy, meaning ‘man island’.
Kunoy, Faroe Islands (ISO 400, 4.5 mm, f/2.8, 1/50 s)
The settlements of Kunoy and Haraldssund occupy the island, both with a similar population size. Only these two exist due to the islands’ mountainous geography, making settlements difficult to maintain while not connected to the main roads.
Kunoy Church, Faroe Islands (ISO 400, 24 mm, f/5, 1/1250 s)
While driving along the coastline, you will definitely catch great views of the nearby Kalsoy island and the Kalsoyarfjørður fjord where the most recent Bond movie (No Time to Die), was filmed from. You will inevitably reach the Kunoy Village on your drive, which comprises just a few homes and the nearby Kunoy Church. This bright red structure stands out wonderfully against the plush green, natural backdrop of the countryside.
If you like some of my photos that you have come across, just know that I have many prints showcasing a variety of landscapes, including Faroe, available for purchase below! (Sold as Posters, Canvas, or in Metal-Frames and Wooden-Frames).
View from Kunoy, Faroe Islands (ISO 400, 32 mm, f/5, 1/2000 s)
What you also may notice while in Faroe, is the distinct lack of trees on each island. It reminds me a little of Iceland in this regard. Nonetheless, you WILL find some trees in Kunoy, and perhaps more than all the other islands combined. Near Kunoy, lies The Forest of Kunoy (Viðarlundin í Kunoy).
Kunoy, Faroe Islands (ISO 200, 4.5 mm, f/2.8, 1/30 s)
When you have parked in Kunoy village, just make your way uphill, towards the center of the island. You will see a path that leads you to a very dense forested area with trees of ash, birch, and spruce. This is such a welcomed sight after being deprived of these lovely features for so long while traveling through, or just to even find some shade.
Kunoy and Kalsoy, Faroe Islands (ISO 200, 4.5 mm, f/2.8, 1/30 s)
Furthermore, as Kunoy possesses a number of high mountains in the area, you can opt to hike through the gorge of Skarðsgjógv.
This hike will take you to an abandoned village called Skarð, but take care because this hike should only be reserved for skilled hikers with a guide.
Because this island was so small and had just a few points of interest, I spent only a few hours here. You can skip it if you are pressed for time, but don’t miss it if you can spare just a few hours. It’s got a much more chill vibe than the other islands and gives great views of nearby Kalsoy.
Now of course, this is not a comprehensive list of what to see in Kunoy, however it should be a good representation of what you can expect when you visit. I will discuss more on what to see on each of the Faroese islands in future posts!
