Torshavn

Tórshavn is the capital of the Faroe Islands — an archipelago of 18 islands in the North Atlantic between Norway and Iceland, an autonomous territory of Denmark with a Norse cultural identity, a dramatic landscape of sea cliffs, narrow fjords and sea stacks, and a cuisine of cured lamb and dried fish that reflects centuries of self-sufficient island life. At 13,000 residents, it is the world's smallest capital city. The old town of Tinganes, a peninsula jutting into the harbour with grass-roofed wooden houses and a Viking-era ting (parliament) site, is the most atmospheric part of the city — small enough to walk in 20 minutes but dense with character. The Listasavn Føroya (National Gallery of the Faroe Islands) and the Faroese Natural History Museum are both excellent. The Nordic House cultural centre hosts significant events. The real draw of Tórshavn is as a base for exploring the extraordinary landscape: the sea cliffs of Vestmanna, the lake-above-the-sea of Sørvágsvatn (which creates an optical illusion of floating above the ocean), the puffin colonies of Mykines, the sea stacks of Drangarnir, and the village of Gásadalur (accessible only by tunnel since 2004) are among the most dramatic landscapes in Europe. The Faroe Islands' new Nordic cuisine (focused on fermentation, air-drying and local seafood) is internationally acclaimed. Visit May–August for the most daylight.