Gjáargarður Guesthouse
faroe islands, faroe islands · ★★★
The Verdict
Worth it for your honeymoon?
Gjáargarður is not a hotel — it's a 21-room family-run guesthouse in the village of Gjógv (population 38) on the north coast of Eysturoy, built and run since 1991 by the Joensen family on land their ancestors farmed for ten generations. The village name means 'gorge' in Faroese after the spectacular 200-metre natural sea-gorge cut through the basalt cliffs to the open Atlantic right outside the door; you can walk it in five minutes from your room. There is no spa, no concierge, no chain-hotel buffer between you and the country — what you get instead is the most authentic remote Faroese stay possible: home-cooked dinners in a single dining room (lamb from the farm next door, fish from the morning catch, rhubarb tart that's the same recipe the grandmother served in 1962), drying racks for wet hiking gear, binoculars at reception for spotting sea-eagles, and the kind of silence that only a 38-person village 90 minutes' drive from anywhere can deliver. For honeymoon couples whose definition of romance is being properly nowhere — and who can accept three-star rooms in exchange for the country's strongest sense of place — this is the Faroese pick that everything else measures against.
- →Need a strictly adults-only resort
- →Want a direct beachfront
- →Prefer boutique & intimate properties
Score Breakdown
84/100
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At a Glance
Room Recommendation
Which room to book
Room 12, 14, or 16 — the three rooms in the newer 2017 annex with private balconies facing the gorge and the open North Atlantic beyond. The newer annex rooms are larger (28 sqm vs 18 sqm for the original guesthouse rooms), have queen beds with sheepskin throws and Snældan wool blankets, and an ensuite shower. The view from these three balconies — the green Eysturoy headland sloping down to the basalt-walled gorge and the ocean horizon — is the single best private view of any guesthouse room in the country.
No Surprises
True cost breakdown — 7 nights for two
Based on mid-range rooms, premium-economy flights from Europe, full dining and signature experiences. Adjust for your actual travel profile.
| Item | Estimated Cost |
|---|---|
| Room (7 nights avg $283/nt) | $1,981 |
| Flights (2 pax, economy/premium) | $1,800 |
| Airport transfers / seaplane | $200 |
| Dining & drinks (beyond room) | $1,585 |
| Excursions & experiences | $700 |
| Spa / signature treatments | $300 |
| Tips & service (8%) | $285 |
| Total estimated | $6,851 |
Day by Day
Your 7-night honeymoon itinerary
Arrival via Vágar to Gjógv
Land at Vágar (FAE), collect the rental car (mandatory), drive 1h 30min east — through the Vágatunnilin tunnel under the sea, past Tórshavn, then across the new Eysturoyartunnilin subsea tunnel with its world-only underwater roundabout lit as a kinetic art installation, and up the steep mountain road to Gjógv. Check in, walk the five minutes to the natural sea-gorge, dinner in the guesthouse dining room — Faroese lamb stew and homemade rhubarb tart by candlelight, with the entire village outside the windows.
Slættaratindur and Funningur
A classic Eysturoy mountain day. The trail to Slættaratindur (Faroe's highest mountain at 882 m) starts 20 minutes' drive from Gjógv — a 4-hour return ascent that on a clear day delivers a view of all 18 islands. The Joensen family arrange guided hikes for guests. Afternoon at the photogenic village of Funningur (10 minutes from Gjógv), a quick stop at the Funningur church, and back to Gjáargarður for dinner.
Saksun and Tjørnuvík day trip
Drive 1 hour west across Sundini fjord to the grass-roof village of Saksun — 14 turf-roof houses, the 17th-century turf-church, a tidal lagoon and black-sand beach. The 1-hour clifftop walk to Tjørnuvík across the headland is one of the great short hikes in Europe; lunch at Múli Café in Saksun (summer only) or pack one of Gjáargarður's hiker lunches. Late afternoon back to Gjógv for sunset gorge walk.
Mulafossur and Sørvágsvatn (long day)
The signature Faroese day requires a long drive west — 1h 45min from Gjógv to Gásadalur. Mulafossur waterfall and the cliff path for the iconic photo, lunch in Bøur at Káta Hús, then the 90-minute return hike to Sørvágsvatn for the lake-above-ocean illusion. Late return to Gjógv (1h 45min back across the islands), dinner at the guesthouse — book ahead, the kitchen closes early.
Kalsoy lighthouse hike and Klaksvík
An adventurous day on the outer islands. Drive to Klaksvík (1 hour from Gjógv), the country's second-largest town, ferry to Kalsoy (20 minutes), then the 2-hour hike to Kallur lighthouse for one of the most photographed coastal viewpoints on Earth — the lighthouse perched on the tip of a narrow promontory with 300-metre cliffs on both sides. Lunch in Klaksvík at Frenchys (the famous burger joint that opened against all odds in a fishing town), back to Gjógv for dinner.
Tórshavn day and Koks dinner
A change of register — drive 1h 15min to Tórshavn for a town day. Morning at Tinganes (the world's oldest continuously functioning parliament site since 825 AD), lunch at Áarstova for the country's defining 700-year-old slow-roast lamb recipe, afternoon shopping for Guðrun & Guðrun wool sweaters and Snældan throws. Evening at Koks, Faroe's two-Michelin-star restaurant in the isolated farmhouse above Leynavatn — book 4 months ahead. Late return to Gjógv (allow 90 minutes; the road becomes hazardous in fog).
Final gorge morning and departure
The honeymoon's final morning is intentionally slow — a last gorge walk to watch the kittiwakes return from the sea, breakfast in the dining room, goodbyes to the Joensens. The drive back to Vágar (FAE) is 1h 30min, but pad the timing — fog frequently closes the mountain road out of Gjógv with little warning.
Honest Assessment
What to know before you book
Three-star rooms by international standards — comfortable and clean, but smaller and simpler than any Tórshavn hotel; the trade is location and authenticity rather than luxury.
Gjógv is genuinely remote: the nearest shop or restaurant outside the guesthouse is 25 minutes' drive in Funningur or 45 minutes in Klaksvík. The guesthouse kitchen closes by 8:30 PM; book dinner at check-in.
The mountain road to Gjógv closes in fog and high wind with little warning. Build a 24-hour buffer day at either end of any Faroes trip, and consider basing the first and last night in Tórshavn (Hotel Føroyar or Brandan) with 3-4 nights at Gjáargarður in the middle.
Pre-Arrival
Email to send the hotel
Subject: Honeymoon booking inquiry — Gjáargarður Guesthouse Hello Joensen family, We are planning our honeymoon in the Faroe Islands and would like to book 4-5 nights from [DATE] to [DATE] in your guesthouse. Please could you confirm availability of room 12, 14, or 16 in your 2017 annex (gorge-facing balcony), the best available rate including breakfast and dinner each evening, and any honeymoon touches you can arrange (a Faroese rhubarb tart or sparkling wine on arrival night). We would also like to pre-book guided hikes from the guesthouse: Slættaratindur (Faroe's highest mountain) for one full day, and if possible Drangarnir sea-stack hike via a referred guide. A packed-lunch service for the Sørvágsvatn and Saksun day trips, and your assistance with the road conditions check on departure day, would be very much appreciated. Thank you, [NAMES] [EMAIL] / [PHONE]
Send 2 weeks before arrival. Fill in names, dates, and preferences. Hotels respond to personalised requests.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Is this hotel good for honeymooners?
For couples who want the most authentic remote-village Faroese stay — home cooking, a 38-person village outside the window, the natural sea-gorge five minutes from bed — Gjáargarður is the country's defining choice. It is not a luxury honeymoon in any conventional sense; it is the soul-of-place pick that couples remember as the best part of the trip a decade later.
What is the best time to visit?
Late May through early September. June and July deliver the midnight sun (18-24 hours of daylight), green grass and accessible hiking; August adds longer evenings without the puffin peak. Outside June-August, the road to Gjógv is frequently closed in fog and wind, and the guesthouse runs on partial occupancy with limited dinner service.
What should we book in advance?
Rooms 12, 14, or 16 (the newer annex with balconies and the gorge view) book 4-5 months ahead for July-August. A rental car (mandatory; only ~250 in the country) confirms at the time of room booking. Dinner each evening at the guesthouse must be booked at check-in. The Joensens arrange guided hikes (Slættaratindur, Drangarnir) on request.
Is it adults-only?
No, family-friendly, but Gjógv's village quiet and the simple-room format mean most guests are couples, hikers, photographers. Children stay too but are uncommon outside school holidays.
What's the best room type for a honeymoon?
Rooms 12, 14, or 16 in the 2017 annex — private balconies facing the gorge and the open Atlantic, queen beds with sheepskin throws and Snældan wool blankets, ensuite showers, the country's strongest private view of any guesthouse room. Avoid rooms in the original guesthouse on the back side (no view, smaller footprint).
How do we get there?
Fly to Vágar (FAE) via Copenhagen, Edinburgh (summer), Bergen, or Reykjavík. Vágar to Gjógv is a 1h 30min drive: through the Vágatunnilin subsea tunnel, past Tórshavn, across the Eysturoyartunnilin and its underwater roundabout, then a steep mountain road up to the village. The guesthouse cannot arrange transfers — a rental 4WD is essential.
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