Last Updated on January 11, 2026
The highest mountain of the Faroe islands Slættaratindur may not impress with its altitude on paper (880 m), but don’t let the numbers fool you. In the rugged Faroe Islands, where the mountains rise straight from the sea and the weather changes faster than you can lace up your shoes, climbing the highest point is a true adventure. Located between the villages of Eiði, Gjógv, and Funningur, the name Slættaratindur translates to “the flat summit” – but don’t believe it. Only its very top is flat. Everything below is a steep, often wet and always windy. This article gives you all the important information you need for a successful summit and includes my personal experience of climbing this iconic Faroese peak.
Important information for climbing Slættaratindur
Name: Slættaratindur
Short description of the ascent: Steep but short non-technical hike
Essential equipment: Waterproof boots, windproof jacket, warm layers, gloves even in summer, GPS navigation
Fees or restrictions: No permits required
Camping allowed: Wild camping is heavily restricted in the Faroes because most of the land is owned by farmers - avoid unless you get a permission from the land owner
Nearest accommodation/food supply: Villages of Eiði or Gjógv
Best accommodation at the starting point: Local guesthouse in Eiði
Height of the peak: 880 m a.s.l.
Easiest route to the summit: From a parking lot in the pass between Eiði & Funningur
Distance to the summit: 1.8km one way
Elevation gain: 472 m
Time required: Ascent 1–2 hours, descent 0.5–1 hours
Best time to climb: May–September; possible year-round if weather permits
Water availability: None on the trail - bring your own
Difficulty level: ** (6 stars maximum)
Personal mountain interest rating: ***** (6 stars maximum)
Peak beer: Palleba Pilsnari - classic lager ** (6 stars maximum)
Is Slættaratindur the highest peak of Denmark?
Since the Faroe Islands are an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark, some people wonder whether Slættaratindur could also be considered Denmark’s highest peak. The answer depends on if you speak politically or geographically.
Politically, the Faroes are part of the Danish kingdom, so in that sense Slættaratindur (880 m) is indeed higher than Denmark’s highest point in continental Europe, Møllehøj (171 m).
Geographically, however, the Faroe Islands do not lie in Europe. They sit on the North Atlantic Oceanic Plateau, between Iceland and Scotland, and are that’s why they are considered outside the European continent, similar to how the Canary Islands and its highest peak Teide lie off the coast of Africa.
Because of this, most geographic classifications list:
- Slættaratindur – highest mountain of the Faroe Islands
- Møllehøj – highest mountain of Denmark (Europe)
To sum it up, the Faroes are treated as a distinct region, and Slættaratindur is not counted as the highest peak of Denmark in Europe in the mountaineering world. The same applies to the Guinness World record definition of the highest points of every European country. According to it, the mountain must lie within European continent and therefore, the highest point of Denmark is Møllehøj.
Where can you find the highest peak Faroe Islands?
The Faroe Islands are a remote North Atlantic archipelago lying between Iceland and Scotland. While the islands are known for dramatic sea cliffs, wild fjords, and endless grass-covered slopes with thousands of sheep, they also host mountains worth climbing – and none is more iconic than Slættaratindur. It lies in the north of the second largest island Eysturoy.
What accommodation is recommended if you want to climb Slættaratindur?
During my visit of the Faroe islands, I was surprised how well all the islands are connected with tunnels and how easy it is to reach all local points of interest. My longest drive at the islands was 90 minutes and during that time I managed to get from the Vágar airport, which is located on the most western island, to the most northern island Viðoy. Thanks to the great connectivity, it makes sense to stay somewhere central, make it your base and do your day trips from there. I decided to do so and it worked well for me to stay in the capital Tórshavn. The city is located on the largest and well located central island Streymoy and it’s well connected with all other islands. If you stay in Tórshavn, I recommend hotel Hafnia in the city centre. I stayed there and it was both comfortable and very well located. Thanks to its central location, I had great opportunity to explore the old town and visit local restaurants and cafés.
If you want to have the best chance for great weather on Slættaratindur, it might be good idea to stay closer to the mountain. If you stay in the village Eiði, you can observe the peak of the highest mountain of the Faroe islands straight from your window and that’s still the best live forecast you can have 🙂 and it’s only 10 minutes drive to the trailhead from there. Just have in mind that besides the capital Tórshavn and the second largest city Klaksvík, there are only few restaurants and shops so staying in small villages isn’t the best idea if you want to taste local gastronomy.
When is the best time to climb Slættaratindur?
The Faroes do not follow typical seasons of northern continents. They follow their own chaotic schedule of wind, rain, fog, sunshine, and rain – often all within 30 minutes. Do you want to increase your chance for better weather? The best period of the year is from May to September. These are the warmest and driest months with the best chance for clear views.
What to expect throughout the year:
- Summer: 10–15°C, long days, but still windy
- Autumn & spring: Unstable weather, frequent fog
- Winter: Snow possible, trails can be icy, days are short and crampons/snowshoes are recommended
I climbed Slættaratindur at the beginning of October which is the very end of the tourist season and I went up twice because I ended up in a thick fog for the first time. I only got views after an hour of waiting on the summit during my second visit. Patience is key.
What are the best routes to the top of Slættaratindur?
There are several ways to reach Slættaratindur, but the classic route from the pass between Eiði and Funningur is the most common and easiest.
1. Classic Route from Eiði–Funningur Pass (Most Popular)
- Start altitude: 400m
- Distance: 1.8 km
- Elevation gain: 472 m
With an elevation of 880 meters, it may sound easy to climb Slættaratindur and it actually is if you decide for this easiest route. It starts at 400m above sea level so you have only ca 480m vertical meters ahead of you. But the hike is easy only if you go up in decent weather conditions and if you follow your GPS. Unfortunately, a random storm and/or thick fog can roll in without notice and these can cause real challenges. Bring proper hiking shoes to handle the famously slippery Faroese grass and bring a GPS so you don’t get lost if you end up in fog. Suddenly this “small” mountain can become a very real adventure.
2. Start from the sea in Eidi or Funningur (Scenic & Longer)
Do you want to turn your hike to Slættaratindur into a whole day adventure? Start your hike at sea level. There are hiking paths starting in both Eidi and Funningur so you can enjoy full 880m of elevation on the way and enjoy wonderful sea views. Journey from Eidi is 7,2km long and the ascent is relatively gentle. In comparison, it’s only 4,2km from Funningur but the hike is much steeper.
The vast majority of hikers choose the classic route, and that’s also the one I took. To read more about my experiences, continue reading.
Map of the recommended route to Slættaratindur
My story of climbing Slættaratindur
The views from Slættaratindur are fascinating. If you make it to its top on a clear day, you will be rewarded by 360° panorama with view over all 18 Faroe Islands. But I’ll be honest with you. It isn’t likely. Changeable weather is more common at Faroe islands and it’s likely that there will be clouds rolling over during your summit day. Choose the best weather forecast of your holiday for your ascent to increase your chance to have a view. I made it to the peak twice because my first attempt was rewarded with a view into milk. How was my second attempt? Read the following paragraphs.
Don’t fly to Faroe islands if you are scared of flying
My adventure started a bit dramatically (skip this paragraph if you want to read directly about my hike to Slættaratindur). Flying into the Faroes was one of the scariest experiences of my life. As I already mentioned multiple times in this article, the weather at the Faroe islands can be crazy and my experience wasn’t an exception. Actually, a big storm with strong winds above 20m/s (even higher in gusts) was forecast for the day of my expected flight to the islands.
To be honest, I expected all flights to be cancelled seeing this forecast but once I checked the website of Faroe island airport and its expected arrivals, I realized I was only partly right. I found out that all flights are cancelled but except mine! What the heck? Why did all other airlines and pilots cancel their flights but not mine? Are they more experienced?
We took off. I was surprised that the flight was pretty smooth the whole time. Well, almost the whole time. When we started to descend to land at Vágar airport, the pilot made an announcement: “It’s very windy today at Vágar airport. We recommend to fasten your seatbelts. We expect to experience rather strong turbulence…”
And that exactly happened. Once our plane went down to the level of surrounding peaks, it started to shake like crazy. Up and down. Left and right. It felt sometimes like we are pushed by the wind so close to the cliffs nearby that I rather closed my eyes. It wasn’t a day when you want to have a window seat…
We were descending further in the storm and I could already see the runway but the plane was extremely shaky. Some people were screaming (maybe including me). Will we manage? Suddenly, the pilot added full power in the engine and we started to lift off. “It was too windy and it would be dangerous to land. We are sorry. Since the conditions aren’t about to change in upcoming hours, we are flying back to Copenhagen.”
How to get to the Slættaratindur trailhead?
My second flight to the Faroes next day was still very shaky but we finally made it to the Vágar airport. To climb Slættaratindur, I recommend to rent a car because there is no bus stopping at the start of the trail. That’s exactly what I did too.
After I landed, I studied the current weather to have a chance for a view from the top and there was actually a chance of clear sky directly after my arrival. It means – time to get my rental car and drive to the mountain pass between Eiði and Funningur. You will find there a small parking lot where you can leave your car and start your hike.
Patience is key when climbing Slættaratindur
The trail begins with its steepest part. Luckily, it was so windy that it dried the surface and that made my hike dry and luckily not slippery. Halfway of the elevation up, the trail turned left and it became much more gentle as I walked along the contour line. Bad news was that a thick cloud wrapped around me. The visibility dropped to about 20 meters.
I continued uphill, guided by GPS and a faint trace of previous footsteps. The upper section becomes rockier. Be careful here and follow the GPS. It’s easy to get lost here. I found two other tourists going in the wrong direction. The path actually goes on the other side of the ridge where you’ll find a smooth way up to the top. Luckily, I was prepared and helped the other tourists navigate to the top. There, the terrain flattened – this must be the famous “flat summit.” But the view? Still white. One giant North Atlantic milkshake. I waited and waited but the forecast was wrong. It was still cloudy in two hours. It’s time to give up… Will there be another chance this week?
Four days later, the weather forecast looked a bit better so I decided to go for a second attempt. When I reached the trailhead, the conditions were as tough as during my first attempt. My ascent and view from the top were also the same… But this time, after one hour of waiting, as if the islands felt sorry for me, the fog suddenly broke open and fantastic views opened up.
I released my drone to photograph the beauty. I didn’t have full 360° view but the remaining clouds added drama to my pictures. I couldn’t be more happy. My patience paid off.
Going down is faster, but not easier. I recommend to bring hiking poles to help you stay safe. In rainy weather, it can be very slippery. When I reached the car, the fog had already swallowed the summit again. My timing was perfect – maybe the only view from Slættaratindur during my whole week stay.
What should you be aware of before climbing Slættaratindur?
As you could see in my description in this article, you shouldn’t underestimate your climb of Slættaratindur. Be ready for the following:
- Weather changes violently – This is not a cliché. A fog can move in within minutes and fully hide the trail.
- Slippery slopes – Wet grass in the steep terrain requires poper hiking shoes and ideally also hiking poles.
- Navigation is essential – There is a clear path but you can easily get lost in low visibility.
- Respect private land – Faroese farmers value their fields highly. Stay on the established trail and obey signs.
- Wind can be extreme – Winds over 20 m/s are common and these are strong enough to knock you over on exposed slopes. I strongly recommend not to plan your summit on a windy day over 15 m/s.
My tips for visiting Slættaratindur
- If you want to stay in the accommodation closest to Slættaratindur, stay at local guesthouse in Eiði
- Check the weather frequently, especially wind conditions.
- Start early for the best chance of clear skies.
- Wear waterproof and anti-slippery hiking shoes – the route is almost always slippery.
- Bring warm layers and gloves, even during summer.
- Use hiking poles for a safer descent.
- Bring a reliable GPS map – for example mapy.com
- Respect the fragile landscape – stick to paths and avoid damaging the grass.
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