“Far out in the ocean that gleams and glitters like quicksilver may be found a small leaden-colored land. In proportion to the immense ocean, the size of the tiny mountainous land is like a grain of sand to a ballroom floor. But viewed through a magnifying glass, this grain of sand is an entire world, with mountains and valleys, inlets and fjords, and houses with tiny human beings. At one place there is even a complete little old town, with jetties and piers, warehouses, streets, crooked lanes and steep alleyways, gardens and market-places and cemeteries. There is also an old church situated high above the town; from its steeple, there is a view out over the roofs of the houses and beyond—far out over the almighty ocean.” William Heinesen, “The Lost Musicians”, 1950.

Tórshavn (Faroese pronunciation: [ˈtʰɔurʂhaun]) is the capital and largest town in the Faroe Islands. The town is named after the hammer-wielding Norse god of thunder, Thor, giving it the meaning: Thor’s harbour. The 18 jagged volcanic islands which make up the Faroe Islands resemble a handful of rocks scattered haphazardly in the deep-sea ocean. Home to mountains of myth, hobbit-like turf-roofed houses, and grazing shaggy sheep, these islands make up the perfect playground for the senses. They inexplicably unearth a soothing sound of stillness and a touch of rawness, only bettered by the taste of the freshest of air and the sight of sprawling landscapes in any direction. And the smell. That smell of unhurried childhood.

Tórshavn is the hub from where most people go out and explore the untouched nature on the 18 islands. The capital is situated a 40 minutes drive from the only airport in the Faroe Islands, Vagar Airport (FAE). As one of the smallest capitals in the world, everything in Tórshavn is easy. Forget traffic-clogged highways, forget crowds of people, forget fighting for a seat on the bus. Here, we live life as it should be lived. With plenty of space and clean, fresh air, there’s a real sense of well-being in the Faroese capital. This is the sort of place where people still have time for each other, where people are concerned about each other, and where life moves at a civilized pace.