A Journey to the Faroe Islands: The Island of Mykines
Faroe Islands (ISO 100, 105 mm, f/4, 1/500 s)
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**This post is the 8th 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 Mykines. A Google Map of these places I will talk about can be seen at the end of this article. Check out my drone video of the Faroe Islands below!
Mykines is the westernmost island of the Faroe Islands. It sits in the UTC-1 time zone officially but uses Greenwich Mean Time like the rest of the 17 islands that make up this nation. It is determined that the island was formed 60 million years ago from a series of volcanic eruptions. It is now home to plentiful bird life including puffins.
The Ferry to Mykines is never a sure bet. There can be a myriad of reasons why it can be cancelled on any particular day. Therefore it is recommended that you book your ferry at the start of your trip, that way if it gets cancelled, then you can postpone to another day.
Faroe Islands (ISO 400, 24 mm, f/4.5, 1/1250 s)
Tickets can be booked well in advance so best to get one before actually being in the Faroe Islands. The ferry leaves from the port at Sørvágur, which is easily accessible by the 300 bus. (Bus schedule here) Typical ferry departures to Mykines are twice a day but something a third ferry could be added. You can also arrange a private boat and helicopter to Mykines, though if you are like me, my wallet can’t handle it.
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).
PROTIP: Have a backup plan in terms of accommodation and schedule if the ferry back to Sørvágur is postponed. People CAN be trapped on Mykines if the weather does not cooperate.
UPDATE: Unfortunately, a landslide occurred on the island which does not currently allow tourists to access the lighthouse, so it is closed.
Faroe Islands (ISO 100, 4.5 mm, f/2.8, 1/30 s)
A great part of the ferry trip is that you also get the chance to sail past the two awesome islets of Tindhólmur and Drangarnir. These stunning islands can also be seen up close by hiking from Sørvágur.
It is important to note as well that you will have to pay a hiking fee to explore Mykines. It is 250 DKK and you must pay before hiking on the island. You can pay this online at hiking.fo or at the Locals Cafe upon arrival into Mykines by cash or credit card.
Faroe Islands (ISO 400, 24 mm, f/4.5, 1/1600 s)
The most likely area that you SHOULD be hiking through is on the islet of Mykineshólmur. It is connected to the island of Mykines by a 40 m long footbridge that is suspended 30 meters over the Atlantic. This area, also known as the Ramsar Area, is one of the most popular places for seeing birds of all types such as but not limited to Puffins, Guillemots, Razorbills, Fulmars, Kittiwakes, and Gannets. You can also arrange bird watching tours.
In this area also sits the Mykines Lighthouse. Getting here is quite the adventure as parts of the hike are steep. It was built in 1909 as one of just a few structures on the islet. Today the lighthouse is automated.
Back in town, where the ferry is, you can catch a glimpse of the Church of Mykines. Built in 1862 but Mortan Andressen, it was restored in 1877 after storm weather damage and is the lone church on the island.
Mykines Stova is a cafe on the island that is a great place to relax at in case of bad weather and to wait for your ferry back to Vágar. It is located in a 100 year old house (though recently renovated in 2016). Cozy cafes like this are what I live for on such adventurous trips.
Although not a comprehensive list of what to see in Mykines, there are the highlights of what you can expect when traveling to this island (if the weather cooperates that is). Be sure to check out some of my blog posts on other islands in the Faroe Islands.
