I’ve been to the Faroe Islands twice now, and Eiði is one of those places I wasn’t even planning to visit the first time around.
I’d never heard of it, definitely had no clue how to pronounce it, and it wasn’t anywhere on my itinerary. I actually found it by accident while driving toward Gjógv.
As I was making my way through Eysturoy, I kept getting these incredible views of this tiny village tucked between the mountains and the ocean. Obviously, I had to stop.
And then I kept stopping.
I’d take pictures, drive a little farther, see Eiði from another angle, and pull over again. I have SO many pictures of this village from both of my trips to the Faroe Islands.
That’s one of the coolest things about Eiði. The village itself is beautiful, but some of my favorite views are actually from the roads surrounding it. Depending on where you’re driving, you can see Eiði from completely different angles across the water and from higher up in the mountains.
It’s not one of the big-name Faroe Islands attractions, and there isn’t a huge checklist of things to do once you get there. That’s actually part of why I like it.
If you’re heading to Gjógv, Eiði is literally on the way. You don’t have to take a detour or even turn off the main road to get some of the best views of the village. That’s actually how I discovered it in the first place — I was driving to Gjógv, saw Eiði from the road, and immediately started pulling over to take pictures.
You might also be interested in: 11 Best Things to Do in the Faroe Islands
Things to Do in Eiði
Check Out the Football Field by the Ocean
One of the coolest things to see in Eiði is the football field sitting right in the middle of this ridiculously beautiful setting.
You’ve got the village climbing up the hillside behind it, mountains surrounding everything, and the ocean just off to the side.
You definitely don’t need to care about soccer to appreciate this one. It’s another one of those very Faroese sights that made me stop and take a picture.
Stop at the Risin og Kellingin Viewpoint
If you’re driving from Eiði toward Gjógv, make sure you stop at the Risin og Kellingin viewpoint along the way.
This is easily one of my favorite viewpoints in the area, and I found it completely by accident while heading toward Gjógv.
You can’t actually see Risin and Kellingin from down inside the village of Eiði. You need to drive a few minutes up into the mountains to get the view.
The viewpoint is only about a 5-minute drive from Eiði. The best view I found is near the top of the road between Eiði and Funningur. Once you make it around the last big switchback and the road starts heading down toward Funningur, keep an eye out for a spot to safely pull over.
There’s no entrance fee and not much here in terms of facilities — basically just a few parking spaces and a wooden bench where you can sit and take in the view.
And the view is SO good.
From here, you get a clear view of Risin and Kellingin — the Giant and the Witch — rising straight out of the ocean, surrounded by the dramatic coastline and mountains.
According to Faroese legend, the Giant and the Witch were sent from Iceland to drag the Faroe Islands back with them. They spent so long trying to move the islands that they didn’t notice the sun coming up and were turned to stone.
This was one of those completely unplanned stops that ended up being one of my favorites. I was just trying to get to Gjógv and somehow ended up stopping over and over again along the way to take pictures.
Cost: Free
Drive from Eiði: About 5 minutes
Facilities: No real facilities, just a few parking spaces and a wooden bench overlooking the view.
Google Maps: Exact location here
Photograph Eiði From the Surrounding Roads
This is probably my favorite thing about Eiði.
The village photographs SO well from a distance.
There are numerous places along the roads surrounding Eiði where you can pull over and photograph the village from different angles. Some are higher up in the mountains, while others give you views from across the water.
This is how I originally noticed Eiði in the first place. I was driving through the area on my way to Gjógv and kept seeing this ridiculously picturesque little village below and across the water.
I couldn’t stop taking pictures.
Even after leaving the village, I’d catch another view of Eiði and want to photograph it all over again. I did the exact same thing when I came back to the Faroe Islands for my second trip.
If you’re into photography, don’t put your camera away once you leave town. Some of my favorite photos of Eiði weren’t taken from inside the village at all.
Hiking Around Eiði
There are also a few hiking trails around Eiði, although I haven’t done any of them myself yet, so I can’t personally tell you what they’re like.
From my research, some of the hikes in this area can be fairly challenging, so I’d check current trail conditions and access information before heading out.
You’re also close to Slættaratindur, the highest mountain in the Faroe Islands. I haven’t hiked that one yet either, but it’s on my list for my next trip.
I’m planning on trying some of the hikes around Eiði next time I’m there. If you’ve done any that you recommend, let me know in the comments!
Walk Around the Village
Honestly, you don’t need much of an agenda in Eiði.
Just walk around.
The village is small and quiet, with colorful houses, mountain views, and the ocean basically always right there.
Eiði’s white church dates back to 1881 and is still in use today. It’s a simple little church, but it fits perfectly into the landscape and is worth walking past while you’re exploring.
There aren’t a ton of specific things to do in Eiði, but that’s not really why you come here. It’s just a really pretty village to walk around, take pictures, and enjoy the views.
A Little About Eiði
Eiði is home to around 600 people, so we’re definitely not talking about a big town here. But by Faroese standards, it’s actually one of the larger villages on Eysturoy.
The village’s history goes back centuries, and the name Eiði comes from an Old Norse word meaning “isthmus,” which makes sense once you see where it’s located.
What I love about places like Eiði, though, is that they aren’t preserved tourist villages.
People actually live here.
The colorful houses, little church, football field beside the ocean, and crazy mountain backdrop are just part of everyday life.
That’s one of my favorite things about exploring the smaller villages in the Faroe Islands.
How Long Do You Need in Eiði?
Honestly, it depends on what you want to do.
If you’re heading to Gjógv, you don’t technically have to spend any extra time in Eiði at all. The road takes you right past the village, and you can see some of my favorite views without even turning off the main road.
There are several places along the way where you can safely pull over, take a few pictures, and keep going.
Or you can drive down into the village, walk around, check out the football field and church, and then continue toward Gjógv and stop at the Risin og Kellingin viewpoint.
So I wouldn’t say you need a certain amount of time here. Eiði can be a quick roadside photo stop on your way to Gjógv or somewhere you spend longer exploring.
How to Get to Eiði
Driving in the Faroe Islands is by far the easiest way to visit Eiði, and it’s how I’ve explored the area on both of my trips.
Eiði sits on the northwestern side of Eysturoy, and honestly, getting there is part of the fun. The roads around this part of the island have some incredible views, so I’d leave yourself extra time for random photo stops.
If you’re already planning to visit Gjógv, you’ll drive right past Eiði on the way. You don’t even need to turn off the main road if you just want to stop at a few viewpoints and take pictures.
Having a rental car also makes it really easy to combine Eiði with Gjógv, Funningur, and other villages in this part of Eysturoy.
You can reach Eiði by public transportation as well, but if you have the option to rent a car, that’s definitely how I’d do it. So much of what I love about this area is being able to stop whenever you see something from the road.
What to See Near Eiði
Eiði is really easy to combine with some of my other favorite places in the Faroe Islands. I wouldn’t dedicate an entire day just to Eiði. Instead, I’d work it into a bigger day exploring this part of Eysturoy.
If you’re trying to figure out how to fit stops like this into your trip, check out my 5 Day Faroe Islands Itinerary.
Gjógv
Drive from Eiði: About 20 minutes
Gjógv is actually where I was heading when I first discovered Eiði, and the two are SO easy to visit together.
The drive between them is also part of the experience. You’ll pass the Risin og Kellingin viewpoint along the way before continuing toward Gjógv.
Gjógv itself is known for its natural harbor, but I loved just walking around the village too. It’s colorful, surrounded by mountains, and ridiculously photogenic.
Funningur
Drive from Eiði: About 15 minutes
Funningur is another tiny village nearby, surrounded by mountains and turf-roofed homes. The drive through this area alone is worth doing.
Slættaratindur, the highest mountain in the Faroe Islands, is also nearby. I haven’t hiked it yet, but it’s on my list for my next trip.
Good to Know Before Visiting Eiði
Parking + bathrooms: If you need a bathroom break while you’re driving around Eysturoy, Eiði is an easy place to stop. There are parking spots and public restrooms right in town, which is always good to know when you’re road-tripping around the Faroe Islands.
Risin og Kellingin viewpoint: The viewpoint is about a 5-minute drive from Eiði on the road toward Gjógv. It’s free, with a few parking spaces and a wooden bench, but no other facilities.
How long to spend: There’s no set amount of time I’d recommend. You can make Eiði a quick viewpoint stop or spend longer walking around and photographing the village.
Photography: Don’t put your camera away when you leave town. Some of my favorite views of Eiði are from the surrounding roads.
Weather: Like everywhere in the Faroe Islands, the weather can change ridiculously fast. Even if it looks clear when you leave, I’d have a waterproof jacket with you. Both of my trips were in October, and I have a whole guide to what it’s actually like visiting the Faroe Islands in October.
Is Eiði Worth Visiting?
Yes — especially if you’re already exploring Eysturoy or heading toward Gjógv.
I wouldn’t plan an entire day around Eiði, and I’m not going to tell you it’s the most jaw-dropping place you’ll see in the Faroe Islands. There are definitely other places I’d prioritize if you only have a few days.
But that’s also not really why I like it.
I had never heard of Eiði. I had no clue how to pronounce it. It wasn’t on my itinerary.
I just happened to drive past it on my way somewhere else and couldn’t stop taking pictures.
And after two trips to the Faroe Islands, I still think it’s one of the prettiest little villages to photograph.
Sometimes those completely unplanned stops end up being the ones you remember most.