Leitisvatn Travel Guide

By Verified Expert

Lake Leitisvatn also known as Sørvágsvatn lies in the Faroe Islands. The lake has an area of 3.6 square kilometres. This is the famous lake that will create an optical illusion when seen from the cliff Trælanípa.

Widely known as the Floating Lake, the scenery here is truly unbelievable. Kayaking on Lake Leitisvatn is one of the most popular things to do on the island.

The ‘floating lake’ is situated on Vágar Island. This is the island where all flights to the Faroe Islands descend and land when travellers come to the Faroe Islands by aeroplane. Vagar Airport is situated on the same island as Lake Leitisvatn.

Lake Leitisvatn is sometimes also called ‘Lake Above the Ocean’. The attraction is easily one of the best nature sights in the Faroe Islands.

How to Experience Lake Leitisvatn

Lake Leitisvatn
The Lake Above the Ocean also known as the floating lake. Photo by Eugenia Di Pasquale known as @eugeniadipasquale on Instagram.

Once you are in the Faroe Islands, getting to Lake Leitisvatn is quite easy. It requires some hiking on an unpaved path. The route itself is easy and there is no real elevation along the road.

The hike can be done by both small children and elderly. Only a basic fitness level is required and the hike will turn out just awesome.

It takes 1 hour to hike from the nearest village Miðvágur to this attraction at the end of the lake towards the ocean. The waterfall Bøsdalafossur flows from Lake Leitisvatn and into the sea from this point.

Once you stand at the vantage point as seen from the Trælanípa cliff, the views you get are unbelievable. You will have the lake in front of you and just beneath the lake lies the wild North Atlantic Ocean. A truly remarkable experience all year round.

Other great attractions
Miðvágur village

Miðvágur

Church in Saksun

Streymoy Island

Gjáarskarð