The little village of Sandavágur with around 1000 inhabitants is on the south coast of Vágar. The name means sandy bay and refers to the sandy beach which used to be much larger than present. 

The town has an ancient history. A 13th century runestone, discovered in 1917, bears an inscription stating that the Norwegian Viking Torkil Onundarson from Rogaland was the first settler in the area. The stone can be seen in Sandavágur Church. Excavations in the town have also uncovered ruins from the Middle Ages.

The picturesque village church stands out with its distinctive red roof. 

Next to the church there is a large bronze and stone statue of The Shepherd of Sondum (Seyðamaðurin av Sondum) and the huldre woman.

Á Steig in Sandavágur was the residence of the first Lagman. This was called Løgmansgarðurin (The Lagmans farm). 

The clergyman V. U. Hammershaimb, who was born in Sandavágur in 1819 and became the father of the Faroese written language, was the son of the last law speaker. In 1919, the 100th year of V. U. Hammersheimb, a memorial monument was built in his honours.

There is a freestanding rock to the east of the town called Trøllkonufingur, which means Witch’s finger.

Places in Sandavágur