Mykines village (Faroese: /ˈmɪtʃiˌnɛs/; ) is the only settlement on Mykines Island, the westernmost of the Faroe Islands. It is a little coastal village with bright houses with turf roofs, with an old turf-roofed stone Church dating from 1878, and a small stream flowing through the village.

Population

The population reached about 179 in 1925 and was still 150 in 1953. Since then it has decreased, and it now fluctuates during the year with a permanent population of around twenty people being supplemented during summer when families who used to live on the island return to their houses for the summer vacation. It had a population of 14 in 2012.

Transport

Land

Mykines Island has no roads: access to other parts of the island is on foot, using well-used footpaths. Mykines village, similarly, has no streets, and footpaths weave between the buildings. Residents use all-terrain vehicles to some extent.

Sea

The village has a small harbour, though the regularity of ferry services can be disrupted by inclement weather. A small ferry visits one to three times a day from 1 May to 31 August and again in one week of October, when the Faroese schools have a holiday (and only if the weather allows it). The ferry is run by a private company and not like the other ferries by the public bus and ferry company Strandfaraskip Landsins (SSL). Every year boat owners can make an offer to SSL in order to run the ferry to Mykines. In 2015 there was one boat called M/B Jósup, which transported tourists and locals from Sørvágur to Mykines and back again. During winter there is no ferry service, only helicopter service. From the harbour a steep footpath leads up to the village, but there is also a simple funicular for goods transport. Some cruise ships visit Mykines, but they need to anchor at sea and use small boats to get ashore.

Air

It is possible to reach Mykines three to four times a week by helicopter operated by Atlantic Airways: Sunday, Wednesday and Fridays. In June, July and August it is also possible to take the helicopter to Mykines on Mondays. They go from Vágar Airport to Mykines and back. When there is no boat, it is not possible for residents to leave Mykines and come back same day. There is a simple helipad at Mykines.

Climate

Mykines has a Tundra climate (Köppen climate classification ET), an oddity in most of the Faroe Islands, which mostly has a Subpolar oceanic climate (Köppen climate classification Cfc).

People from Mykines

The first professional Faroese painter, S. J. Mikines was born in the village and drew inspiration from Mykines.

Facilities

A blue house at the entrance to the village bears a sign Kristianshús - the house is part guest house and part hostel. The rooms are small, the staircase steep and the hallways are narrow, but the accommodation is good. Kristianshús can accommodate up to forty people, with six double rooms, three rooms with three beds, two rooms with four beds and a dormitory with six beds. Meals, beer and wine are served in the cafeteria and packed lunches can be ordered. The local speciality is fried puffins. The cafeteria has an attic room in which S. J. Mikines used to paint. Alternative accommodation is provided at Gula Husid.

Economy

The economy is based on sheep farming and on tourism.

History

A brief history of Mykines can be summarised as follows: