Which city is the largest in the Faroe Islands?

Tórshavn is the largest city in the Faroe Islands.

The city stands on Streymoy, the archipelago’s largest island, along its eastern coast. Its name means “Thor’s harbour,” linking the settlement to Norse mythology. Tórshavn is also the Faroese capital and the seat of the islands’ self-government.

Its historic heart is Tinganes, a small peninsula of red wooden buildings. The Norse established their parliament there around AD 850, making the site one of the oldest continuously used parliamentary meeting places in the world. Tórshavn later became the centre of the Danish trade monopoly, which made it the islands’ main commercial hub.

A common mix-up is between the city proper and the wider urban area. Tórshavn itself had 14,223 residents in January 2024, while the broader urban area—including Argir and Hoyvík—had 22,444. Klaksvík is the second-largest town and an important fishing centre, but it is not the Faroes’ largest city.