Editing Tórshavn

{{Short description|Capital of the Faroe Islands}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2020}}
<!-- Infobox begins -->
{{Infobox settlement
| official_name      = Tórshavn
| native_name        = 
| nickname           = Havn
| image_skyline      = {{multiple image
|perrow = 1/2/2
|border = infobox
|total_width = 280
|image1 = Is03002-Torshavn.jpg
|caption1 = [[Tinganes]]
|image2 = Tórshavn Cathedral 2014.jpg
|caption2 = [[Tórshavn Cathedral]]
|image3 = Skansin2.jpg
|caption3 = [[Skansin]] lighthouse
|image4 = Løgtingið by Arne List.jpg
|caption4 = [[Løgting]] house
|image5 = Nordens Hus pa Faeroerne.jpg
|caption5 = [[Nordic House in the Faroe Islands|Nordic House]]
}}
| image_flag         = Flag of Tórshavn, Faroe Islands.svg
| flag_size          = 100px
| image_shield       = Coat of arms of Tórshavn.svg
| seal_size          = 
| image_seal         = Tórshavn Insigna.svg
| shield_size        = 100px
| image_blank_emblem = 
| blank_emblem_size  = 
| image_map          = 
| mapsize            = 125px
| map_caption        = Location in [[Faroe Islands]] on [[Streymoy]]
| pushpin_map        = Faroe Islands#Europe
| pushpin_label_position = 
| pushpin_relief = yes
| pushpin_mapsize    = 250
| subdivision_type   = State
| subdivision_name   = [[Danish Realm]]
| subdivision_type1  = Constituent Country
| subdivision_name1  = Faroe Islands
| subdivision_type2  = Municipality
| subdivision_name2  = [[File:Tórshavn Insigna.svg|22px]] [[Tórshavn Municipality]]
| government_type    = 
| leader_title       = Mayor
| leader_name        = [[Elsa Berg]]
| leader_party       = [[Tjóðveldi]]
| leader_title1      = <!-- for places with, say, both a mayor and a city manager -->
| leader_name1       = 
| leader_title2      = 
| leader_name2       = 
| leader_title3      = 
| leader_name3       = 
| leader_title4      = 
| leader_name4       = 
| established_title  = Founded <!-- Settled -->
| established_date   = 9th century
| established_title2 = Town rights
| established_date2  = 1909
| area_magnitude     = 
| unit_pref          = <!--Enter: Imperial, if Imperial (metric) is desired-->
| area_footnotes     = 
| area_total_km2     = 
| area_land_km2      = 
| area_water_km2     = 
| area_total_sq_mi   = 
| area_land_sq_mi    = 
| area_water_sq_mi   = 
| area_water_percent = 
| area_urban_km2     = 
| area_urban_sq_mi   = 
| area_metro_km2     = 
| area_metro_sq_mi   = 
| population_as_of   = January 2024
| population_footnotes = <ref name="torshavn">[https://hagstova.fo/en/population/population/population Population, municipalities and villages] Statistics Faroe Islands</ref>
| population_note    = population-ranking: 1st
| other_name         = Thorshavn
| settlement_type    = <!--For Town or Village (Leave blank for the default City) -->
| population_total   = 14,038
| population_density_km2 = 
| population_density_sq_mi = 
| population_urban   = 23,160<ref name="torshavn"/>
| population_density_metro_km2 = 
| population_density_metro_sq_mi = 
| population_metro   = 
| population_density_urban_km2 = 
| population_density_urban_mi2 = 
| coordinates        = {{coord|62|0|42|N|6|46|3|W|region:FO|display=inline,title}}
| elevation_footnotes = <!--for references: use <ref> tags-->
| elevation_m        = 24
| elevation_ft       = 
| timezone           = [[Western European Time|WET]]
| utc_offset         = ±00:00
| timezone_DST       = [[Western European Summer Time|WEST]]
| utc_offset_DST     = +01:00
| postal_code_type   = Postal code
| postal_code        = FO-100, FO-110
| blank_name         = [[Köppen climate classification|Climate]]
| blank_info         = [[Oceanic climate#Subpolar variety (Cfc, Cwc)|Cfc]]
| website            = {{URL|www.torshavn.fo/}}
| footnotes          = 
}}
 <!-- Infobox ends -->

'''Tórshavn''' ({{IPA|fo|ˈtʰɔu̯ʂhau̯n|lang|Fo-Torshavn.ogg}}; {{lit|[[Thor]]'s harbour}}; [[Danish language|Danish]]: ''Thorshavn''), usually locally referred to as simply '''Havn''', is the capital and largest city of the [[Faroe Islands]]. It is located in the southern part on the east coast of [[Streymoy]]. To the northwest of the city lies the {{convert|347|m|ft|adj=mid|-high|sp=us}} mountain [[Húsareyn]], and to the southwest, the {{convert|350|m|ft|adj=mid|-high|sp=us}} Kirkjubøreyn. They are separated by the Sandá River. The city itself has a population of 14,038 (2024), and the greater urban area has a population of 23,160, including the suburbs of [[Hoyv%C3%ADk]] and [[Argir]].

The [[Norsemen|Norse]] ([[Scandinavians]]) established their parliament on the [[Tinganes]] peninsula in AD 850.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.torshavn.fo/Default.aspx?pageid=620|title=Tórshavn Municipality|website=Tórshavn Municipality}}</ref> Tórshavn thus became the capital of the Faroe Islands and has remained so ever since. Early on, Tórshavn became the centre of the islands' trade monopoly, thereby being the only legal place for the islanders to sell and buy goods. In 1856, the trade monopoly was abolished and the islands were left open to free trade.

== History ==
=== Early history ===
{{Unreferenced section|date=February 2015}}
It is not known whether the site of Tórshavn was of interest to the Irish monks who were [[History of the Faroe Islands|probably the first settlers]] in the Faroes. The Viking settlers in the 9th century established their own parliaments, called ''[[Thing (assembly)|tings]]'', in different parts of the islands, it being the tradition in each case to hold the ''ting'' at a neutral and thus uninhabited place, so no one location gave anyone an advantage. According to romantics, the main ''ting'' for the islands was convoked in Tórshavn in 825, on [[Tinganes]],<ref>{{Cite web|title=Sightseeing|url=http://old.visitfaroeislands.com/en/what-to-do/sightseeing/|access-date=2021-04-08|website=Visit Faroe Islands}}</ref> the [[peninsula]] that divides the harbour into two parts: ''Eystaravág'' and ''Vestaravág''.

The settlers would thus meet on the flat rocks of Tinganes every summer, as the most central place on the islands, although there was no settlement at Tinganes at that time. The [[Færeyinga Saga]] says: "the place of the ''ting'' of the [[Faroe_Islanders|Faroese]] was on Streymoy, and there is the harbour that is called Tórshavn". The Viking age ended in 1035. The ''ting'' was followed by a market which gradually grew into a permanent trading area.

All through the [[Middle Ages]], the narrow peninsula jutting out into the sea made up the main part of Tórshavn. It belonged to the outfield of two farmers. Unlike other Faroese villages, Tórshavn was never a distinct farming community. During the 12th century, all trade between Norway and the Faroes, along with other tributary islands to the west, became centralised in [[Bergen]].

In 1271, a royal trade monopoly was established in Tórshavn by the Norwegian Crown. According to a document from 1271, two ships would sail regularly to Tórshavn from Bergen with cargoes of salt, timber and cereal. Tórshavn therefore had more contact with the outside world than the other villages did. Under the Norwegian, and then Danish rule, government officials made Tórshavn their home. All of these things, combined with the fact that Tórshavn was the seat of the ''ting'' of the islands, influenced the town's development.

=== 1500–1800 ===
{{unreferenced section|date=February 2015}}
[[File:Tórshavn skansin 8.jpg|thumb|[[Skansin]] fort has been rebuilt several times since it was first built in 1580. The current building dates back to 1790]]

Sources do not mention a built-up area in Tórshavn until after the Protestant reformation in 1539. In {{circa|1580}} a small fort, [[Skansin]], was built by the Faroese naval hero and trader [[Magnus Heinason]] at the north end of the harbour. Later, small fortifications were built at Tinganes.

In 1584, Tórshavn had 101 inhabitants. The population was divided into three equally large groups made up of farmers, their families and servants, trade and government officials and people who owned no land and therefore not much else; this included the landless [[proletariat]] from the villages that during this period came to Tórshavn in search of work. They were set to guard duty on Skansin without pay, and for clothing and food they depended on the bounty of the farmers.

In 1655, king [[Frederick III of Denmark]] granted the Faroe Islands to his favourite statesman [[Kristoffer Gabel]]; the rule of the von Gabel Family (lasting between 1655 and 1709), is known as ''Gablatíðin''. It is the darkest chapter in the history of Tórshavn. Gabel's administration suppressed the islanders in various ways. The trade monopoly was in the family's hands and it was not designed for the needs of the Faroese people. People across the country brought products into town and had to be satisfied with whatever price they were given. At the same time, imported goods were limited and expensive. There came considerable complaints from the islands' inhabitants of unjust treatment by the civil administration in Tórshavn. These not only included the persons in charge of the monopoly trade, but also the [[bailiff]] and others. It was during this period, in 1673, that Tinganes was ravaged by a fire after a store of gunpowder kept at Tinganes had blown up. Many old houses burnt to the ground and old Faroese records were lost as were Gabel's documents.

Conditions improved in Tórshavn when the trade monopoly became a royal monopoly in 1709. The [[Danish Royal Trade Monopoly in the Faroe Islands|Danish royal trade monopoly]] was supplied with goods from [[Copenhagen]] three times a year. However, Tórshavn was hit by a plague of smallpox in 1709, killing nearly the entire population. The town had dissipated reached a population of 300 before the outbreak; 250 of the inhabitants died from the disease. Still, it was during the latter half of the 18th century that Tórshavn started to develop into a small town. This was while Niels Ryberg was in charge of the trade monopoly. From 1768 (and during the next 20 years onwards) Ryberg was allowed to carry on an entrepot trade which was mainly based on smuggling to England. Because of the French-British conflict there was room for this kind of operation. In Tórshavn his warehouses filled up with goods. Ryberg was the first person who thought of making a financial profit from fishing, which later became the most important economic factor to the islands. He experimented with salted cod and herring but at this point in time nothing much beyond this happened.

[[Tórshavn Cathedral]] was first built in 1788 and partly rebuilt in 1865. Since 1990, it has been the seat of the Bishop of the Faroe Islands (in the [[Church of the Faroe Islands]]).

=== 1800–present ===
[[File:Recherche Expedition 1839 Tórshavn.jpg|thumb|left|Tórshavn in 1839, by Barthélemy Lauvergne]]
On 30 March 1808, during the Anglo-Danish [[Gunboat War]], the {{sclass|Cruizer|brig-sloop|1}} {{HMS|Clio|1807|6}} entered Tórshavn and briefly captured the fort at Skansin. The fort surrendered without firing a shot as the landing party approached. The ''Clio''{{'}}s men [[Touch hole#Spiking the guns|spiked]] the fort's eight 18-pounder guns and took all the smaller guns and weapons before leaving. Shortly after 6 May, a German privateer who had assumed the name "Baron von Hompesch" plundered the defenceless city and seized the property of the Danish Crown Monopoly. The Admiralty Prize Court, however, refused to condemn it as a lawful prize.{{citation needed|date=April 2015}}
[[File:Logting 1864, faroe islands.jpg|thumb|Tórshavn in 1864, the [[Løgting]] (parliament) is at top left]]
In 1856, free trade came to the Faroe Islands. By opening the islands to the world, it transformed the economy, with Tórshavn at its centre. <ref>{{Cite web |title=History and politics |url=https://www.studyinfaroeislands.fo/why-the-faroes/history-and-politics |access-date=2022-06-26 |website=www.studyinfaroeislands.fo}}</ref>

In 1866, Tórshavn's town council was founded. The town has been the capital of the Faroe Islands ever since. Later, in 1909, Tórshavn became a market town with the same municipal charter as Danish market towns. In 1913, the Danish [[Folketing]] granted DKK 810,000 to construction of a harbour in Tórshavn. Local waves are {{cvt|3|m}}{{clarify|date=May 2021}}, the waters are ice free and have a tidal variation of {{cvt|0.3|m}}, and storms from the west are mitigated by the gentle eastwards slope of the mountains. Other harbours were also benefitted with an 80% grant to a total build cost of DKK 1.6&nbsp;million.<ref name=ing1913>{{cite web |last1=Jagd |first1=N |url=http://www.e-pages.dk/ingarkiv/3131/15 |title=Havne paa Færøerne |website=e-pages.dk |pages=505–513|publisher=[[Ingeniøren]] |date=27 September 1913}}</ref> In 1927, Tórshavn had a modern harbour built. This made it possible for larger ships to berth.<ref name="Gregoriussen 11-15">{{Cite book|author=Gregoriussen, Jákup Pauli|year=2000|title=Tórshavn, vár miðstøð og borg II. Tekningar úr Havn|location=Velbastaður|publisher=Forlagið í Støplum|isbn=99918-914-4-7|language=fo|pages=11–15}}</ref>

During the [[British occupation of the Faroe Islands in World War II]], Skansin was used as the headquarters of the Royal Navy Command, and two 5.5-inch guns used aboard {{HMS|Furious|47|6}} before World War II were deployed.<ref>[http://www.navweaps.com/Weapons/WNBR_55-50_mk1.htm <nowiki>British
5.5"/50 (14 cm) BL Mark I</nowiki>]</ref>

In 1974, the neighbouring villages [[Hoyvík]] and [[Hvítanes]] were made part of the town area. Later, even more municipalities joined the Tórshavn municipality. In 1978 Kaldbak, in 1997 Argir, in 2001 Kollafjørður, and finally in 2005, Kirkjubøur, Hestur, and Nólsoy.

== Climate ==
{{climate chart
| Tórshavn, [[Faroe Islands]]
|  2.1 |  6.2 | 164.5
|  1.6 |  6.0 | 128.1
|  2.1 |  6.4 | 127.8
|  3.2 |  7.6 | 91.2
|  5.0 |  9.3 | 68.4
|  7.3 | 11.3 | 62.3
|  9.1 | 12.9 | 70.1
|  9.3 | 13.3 | 91.8
|  8.1 | 11.9 | 116.3
|  5.7 |  9.6 | 145.0
|  3.6 |  7.6 | 151.8
|  2.2 |  6.5 | 154.4
| float = right | clear = none | source = [[Danish Meteorological Institute]]<ref name="Climate graph" />}}
[[File:Tórshavn.2009.5.jpg|thumb|Tórshavn Harbour Ferry Terminal, view towards [[Tinganes]] and 'Vesturbýur' ''The Western Town'']]
Tórshavn features a [[subpolar oceanic climate]] (''[[Köppen climate classification|Cfc]]''), with strong moderation from the [[Atlantic Ocean]]'s [[Norwegian Current]]. In winter, Tórshavn tends to be under direct influence of the [[Icelandic Low]], which usually brings overcast and stormy weather to the Faroe Islands. Because of its cloudiness and the ice-free water surrounding Tórshavn, its winter temperatures are exceptionally mild for such a northerly location, with winter daytime temperatures usually oscillating around {{convert|6|C|F|abbr=on}}. However, summer temperatures are much lower than those found in Scandinavia on similar latitudes, and barely exceed {{convert|13|C|F|abbr=on}} daily highs in the warmest month. The moderation also causes the extremes amplitude to be very low: in the period from 1961 to 2021, there was a mere {{convert|33|C-change}} difference between the absolute warmest and coldest temperatures. Temperatures below freezing may occur in any non-summer month, but even in winter, the average daily lows stay well above {{convert|0|C|F|abbr=on}}.

Average monthly precipitation is highest in autumn and winter, peaking in January, due to the activity of the [[Icelandic Low]]. May, June and July, on the other hand, are markedly drier but still receive substantial rainfall.

{{Weather box
| width = auto
| location = Tórshavn (1991–2020, extremes 1961–present)
| metric first = Y
| single line = Y
| Jan record high C = 11.6
| Feb record high C = 13.0
| Mar record high C = 12.3
| Apr record high C = 18.3
| May record high C = 19.7
| Jun record high C = 20.0
| Jul record high C = 20.2
| Aug record high C = 22.0
| Sep record high C = 19.5
| Oct record high C = 16.3
| Nov record high C = 15.6
| Dec record high C = 13.2
| year record high C = 22.0
| Jan high C = 6.2
| Feb high C = 6.0
| Mar high C = 6.4
| Apr high C = 7.6
| May high C = 9.3
| Jun high C = 11.3
| Jul high C = 12.9
| Aug high C = 13.3
| Sep high C = 11.9
| Oct high C = 9.6
| Nov high C = 7.6
| Dec high C = 6.5
| year high C = 9.0
| Jan mean C = 4.3
| Feb mean C = 4.0
| Mar mean C = 4.3
| Apr mean C = 5.5
| May mean C = 7.1
| Jun mean C = 9.1
| Jul mean C = 10.8
| Aug mean C = 11.2
| Sep mean C = 10.0
| Oct mean C = 7.8
| Nov mean C = 5.8
| Dec mean C = 4.5
| year mean C = 7.0
| Jan low C = 2.1
| Feb low C = 1.6
| Mar low C = 2.0
| Apr low C = 3.2
| May low C = 5.0
| Jun low C = 7.3
| Jul low C = 9.1
| Aug low C = 9.3
| Sep low C = 8.1
| Oct low C = 5.7
| Nov low C = 3.6
| Dec low C = 2.2
| year low C = 4.9
| Jan record low C = -8.8
| Feb record low C = -11.0
| Mar record low C = -9.2
| Apr record low C = -9.9
| May record low C = -3.0
| Jun record low C = 0.0
| Jul record low C = 1.5
| Aug record low C = 1.5
| Sep record low C = -0.6
| Oct record low C = -4.5
| Nov record low C = -7.2
| Dec record low C = -10.5
| year record low C = -11.0
| precipitation colour = green
| Jan precipitation mm = 167.3
| Feb precipitation mm = 131.2
| Mar precipitation mm = 129.5
| Apr precipitation mm = 95.4
| May precipitation mm = 70.3
| Jun precipitation mm = 63.1
| Jul precipitation mm = 71.2
| Aug precipitation mm = 93.4
| Sep precipitation mm = 118.1
| Oct precipitation mm = 146.8
| Nov precipitation mm = 155.2
| Dec precipitation mm = 157.7
| year precipitation mm = 
| humidity colour = 
| Jan humidity = 89
| Feb humidity = 88
| Mar humidity = 88
| Apr humidity = 87
| May humidity = 87
| Jun humidity = 88
| Jul humidity = 89
| Aug humidity = 90
| Sep humidity = 89
| Oct humidity = 89
| Nov humidity = 88
| Dec humidity = 89
| year humidity = 88
| unit precipitation days = 1 mm
| Jan precipitation days = 20.7
| Feb precipitation days = 17.3
| Mar precipitation days = 18.9
| Apr precipitation days = 14.7
| May precipitation days = 12.2
| Jun precipitation days = 9.2
| Jul precipitation days = 11.0
| Aug precipitation days = 12.9
| Sep precipitation days = 15.9
| Oct precipitation days = 19.0
| Nov precipitation days = 19.8
| Dec precipitation days = 20.4
| year precipitation days = 
| Jan snow days = 8.3
| Feb snow days = 6.6
| Mar snow days = 8.0
| Apr snow days = 4.4
| May snow days = 1.5
| Jun snow days = 0.0
| Jul snow days = 0.0
| Aug snow days = 0.0
| Sep snow days = 0.1
| Oct snow days = 1.4
| Nov snow days = 5.5
| Dec snow days = 8.2
| year snow days = 44.0
| Jan sun = 29.8
| Feb sun = 53.0
| Mar sun = 91.5
| Apr sun = 116.2
| May sun = 157.8
| Jun sun = 135.4
| Jul sun = 106.9
| Aug sun = 101.6
| Sep sun = 88.9
| Oct sun = 59.7
| Nov sun = 38.6
| Dec sun = 22.7
| source 1 = [[Danish Meteorological Institute]] (humidity 1961–1990, snowy days 1961–1990, sun 2007-2020),<ref name= DMI>{{cite web
| url = http://www.dmi.dk/fileadmin/Rapporter/TR/tr11-20.pdf
| title = Monthly means and extremes 1961–1990 and 1981–2010 for air temperature, atmospheric pressure, hours of bright sunshine and precipitation–Denmark, The Faroe Islands and Greenland
| publisher = Danish Meteorological Institute
| pages = 16–19
| date = January 2011
| access-date = 18 January 2015}}</ref><ref name="Climate graph">{{Cite web |url=http://www.dmi.dk/vejrarkiv/normaler-faroerne/|title=Klimanormaler for Færøerne|access-date=2021-11-25|website=Danish Meteorological Institute|language=da}}</ref> infoclimat.fr<ref>{{Cite web|title=Normales et records pour la période 1991-2020 à Thorshavn|url=https://www.infoclimat.fr/climatologie/normales-records/1991-2020/thorshavn/valeurs/06011.html|access-date=2021-11-25}}</ref> (record high)
}}
{|style="width:100%;text-align:center;line-height:1.2em;margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto" class="wikitable"
|-
!Colspan=14|Coastal temperature data for Tórshavn
|-
!Month
!Jan
!Feb
!Mar
!Apr
!May
!Jun
!Jul
!Aug
!Sep
!Oct
!Nov
!Dec
!style="border-left-width:medium"|Year
|-
!Average sea temperature °C (°F)
| style="{{Weather box/colt|0.0}}"|7.0<br/>(44.60)
| style="{{Weather box/colt|-1.3}}"|6.6<br/>(43.88)
| style="{{Weather box/colt|-0.7}}"|6.8<br/>(44.24)
| style="{{Weather box/colt|0.0}}"|7.0<br/>(44.60)
| style="{{Weather box/colt|2.0}}"|7.6<br/>(45.68)
| style="{{Weather box/colt|5.0}}"|8.5<br/>(47.30)
| style="{{Weather box/colt|9.3}}"|9.8<br/>(49.64)
| style="{{Weather box/colt|10.8}}"|10.5<br/>(50.90)
| style="{{Weather box/colt|10.7}}"|10.4<br/>(50.72)
| style="{{Weather box/colt|9.3}}"|9.8<br/>(49.64)
| style="{{Weather box/colt|6.0}}"|8.8<br/>(47.84)
| style="{{Weather box/colt|3.3}}"|8.0<br/>(46.40)
| style="{{Weather box/colt|4.7}}"|8.4<br/>(47.12)
|-
!Colspan=14 style="background:#ffffff;font-weight:normal;font-size:100%;"|Source 1: Seatemperature.net<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://seatemperature.net/current/faroe-islands/torshavn-streymoy-faroe-islands-sea-temperature|title =Tórshavn Sea Temperature|date=2023-04-25|website=seatemperature.net|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230425063503/https://seatemperature.net/current/faroe-islands/torshavn-streymoy-faroe-islands-sea-temperature|archive-date=2023-04-25 }}</ref>
|}

== Politics and government ==

Tórshavn is the capital of the Faroe Islands, and as such is the seat of the Faroes’ [[Cabinet of the Faroe Islands|self rule government]]. The government holds the executive power in local government affairs. Today a part of the government is located on the [[Tinganes]] peninsula of Tórshavn. The Prime Minister's office is there and the Ministry of Internal Affairs was also there until it was closed in 2013. The other ministries are located in other office buildings in various places in Tórshavn, i.e. the Ministry of Health<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.government.fo/the-government/ministries/ministry-of-health-affairs/ |title=Ministry of Health Affairs |website=The government of the Faroe Islands |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150711033914/http://www.government.fo/the-government/ministries/ministry-of-health-affairs/ |archive-date=11 July 2015 }}</ref> and the Ministry of Social Affairs<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.government.fo/the-government/ministries/ministry-of-social-affairs/|title=Ministry of Social Affairs|website=The government of the Faroe Islands}}</ref> are located near the [[Landssjúkrahúsið|Hospital of the Faroes]] in Eirargarður, and the Ministry of Finance is located in [[Argir]] in a building called Albert Hall on the street Kvíggjartún.<ref name="fmr">{{cite web | url=http://www.government.fo/the-government/ministries/ministry-of-finance/ | title=Ministry of Finance |website=The government of the Faroe Islands}}</ref> The parliament, the [[Løgting]], which was originally located on Tinganes, was relocated to the town square, Vaglið, in 1856.

=== Mayors of Tórshavn ===
{| class="wikitable sortable" text-align:center
! colspan="2" | Nº
! Mayor (Party)
! Term
|- 
| bgcolor="{{party color|People's Party (Faroe Islands)}}" |
| 1.
| [[Poul Michelsen]] ([[People's Party (Faroe Islands)|A]])
| 1980-1991
|- 
| bgcolor="{{party color|Union Party (Faroe Islands)}}" |
| 2.
| [[Lisbeth L. Petersen]] ([[Union Party (Faroe Islands)|B]])
| 1991-1997
|- 
| bgcolor="#C8D300" |
| 3.
| Leivur Hansen ([[Republic (Faroe Islands)|E]])
| 1997-2001
|- 
| bgcolor="{{party color|People's Party (Faroe Islands)}}" |
| 4.
| Jan Christiansen ([[People's Party (Faroe Islands)|A]])
| 2001-2005
|- 
| bgcolor="{{party color|Social Democratic Party (Faroe Islands)}}" |
| 5.
| [[Heðin Mortensen]] ([[Social Democratic Party (Faroe Islands)|C]])
| 2005-2016
|- 
| bgcolor="{{party color|People's Party (Faroe Islands)}}" |
| 6.
| [[Annika Olsen]] ([[People's Party (Faroe Islands)|A]])
| 2016-2020
|- 
| bgcolor="{{party color|Social Democratic Party (Faroe Islands)}}" |
| 7.
| [[Heðin Mortensen]] ([[Social Democratic Party (Faroe Islands)|C]])
| 2020-2024
|- 
| bgcolor="#C8D300" |
| 8.
| Elsa Berg ([[Republic (Faroe Islands)|E]])
| 2024-
|}

== Sport ==
[[File:Torsvollur Football Venue in Torshavn Faroe Islands.JPG|thumb|left|[[Tórsvøllur]], the home stadium of the [[Faroe Islands national football team]]]]
[[File:Drekin a Faroese Row Boat.jpg|thumb|A boat race at the Jóansøka Festival in Tvøroyri in June 2011.]]

Tórshavn, as the capital city, is the centre of sport in the islands; the largest sports centre is located in the [[Gundadalur]] district of Tórshavn. Also, the largest football stadium, [[Tórsvøllur]], is located here, seating 6,000 spectators. The stadium serves as home to the [[Faroe Islands national football team]]. Around the city there are also two other football pitches, indoor tennis courts, badminton courts and a swimming pool.

The city has several football clubs, including three [[Faroe Islands Premier League|Premier League]] teams: [[HB Tórshavn]], [[B36 Tórshavn]] and [[Argja Bóltfelag]]. Other football clubs with connections to the city are [[FF Giza]] ([[Nólsoy]]), [[FC Hoyvík]] and [[Undrið FF]]. [[Team handball|Handball]] is the second most popular sport in Tórshavn. The city's handball teams are [[Kyndil]], [[Neistin]] and [[Ítróttafelagið H71]] and the [[Faroe Islands men's national handball team|Faroe Island's national handball team]] practice in the city. Tórshavn city has several popular [[Rowing (sport)|rowing]] clubs, including, [[Havnar Róðrarfelag]] and [[Róðrarfelagið Knørrur]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.isf.fo/?page_id=623#51|title=ISF.fo Faroese confederation of sports and Olympic committee|work=Ítróttasamband Føroya}}</ref>

Every year in July the [[Tour of Faroe Islands]], which is a [[road bicycle race]], is held around the islands. The race, called ''Kring Føroyar'' (Tour de Faroe / Around the Faroes), starts in [[Klaksvík]] and ends in Tórshavn.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://tsf.fo//tour+of+faroe+island+2012.html|title=Effo Kring Føroyar (Tour de Faroe)|website=Tórshavnar súkklufelag (Bycycle club of Tórshavn)|language=fo}}</ref>

== Music ==
The Tórshavn Jazz Festival has been held annually since 1983. It attracts musicians from all over North America and Europe and has become a popular tourist event.

== Transport ==
[[File:Torshavn.png|upright|thumb|A map of Tórshavn showing road links]] 
{{See also|Transport in the Faroe Islands}}
The harbour is served by the [[Smyril Line]] international ferry service to [[Denmark]] and [[Iceland]]. The harbour is also used by domestic ferry services of [[Strandfaraskip Landsins]] within the Faroe Islands, chiefly on the route to [[Tvøroyri]].

The town is served by [[Transport in the Faroe Islands#Bus services|Bussleiðin]] – a network of local buses, with the service identified by its red livery. Bussleiðin has five routes and is operated under contract by Gundurs Bussar P/F. Buses within Tórshavn have been completely free of charge since 2007. In addition, there is a helipad<ref name="ssl_fo">{{Cite web|url=https://www.ssl.fo/en/timetable/helicopter/timetable|title=Timetable|website=ssl.fo|accessdate=27 March 2025|language=en}}</ref> by the coast.

== Sites of interest ==
[[File:Faroe Islands, Streymoy, Tórshavn (5).jpg|thumb|[[Tórshavn Cathedral]] and Bryggjubakki street (left) and Undir Bryggjubakka street (right) at the centre of the city]]
[[File:Faroe stamp 272 national art museum.jpg|thumb|right|Listasavn Føroya on a national stamp, 1995.]]

* [[Tinganes]], the old part of town, is still made up of small wooden houses covered with turf roofs. The oldest one dates back 500 years.
* [[Tórshavn Cathedral]], the second oldest church in the country.
* Tórshavn harbour.
* [[Skansin|Fort Skansin]], a historic site dating back to the sixteenth century
* [[Listasavn Føroya]], the Faroese art museum.
* The main church, Vesturkirkjan, with outside art work by [[Hans Pauli Olsen]].
* The [[Nordic House in the Faroe Islands]], the most important cultural institution in the Faroes.
* The historical museum in Hoyvík, with all its treasures.
* The museum of Natural History, with a small botanical garden with 150 Faroese plants.
* Niels Finsens gøta, Tórshavn's only pedestrianised street.

== Institutions in Tórshavn ==
* [[Løgtingið]] and [[Government of the Faroe Islands|Landstýrið]], is the Faroese parliament and government with all its national institutions.
* [[Kringvarp Føroya]] (Faroese national television and radio) which is publicly owned.
* [[University of the Faroe Islands]], situated next to the national archives, a navigational college, a teachers college, etc.
* [[Postverk Føroya]] is the postal service of the Faroe Islands.
* A number of countries have a Consulate-General in Tórshavn, including all Nordic countries and several EU countries.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.embassypages.com/search?q=Torshavn|title=Search results - EmbassyPages.com|accessdate=27 December 2023}}</ref>
* [[Føroya Studentaskúli og HF-Skeið]] is the largest and oldest high school in the country. It is located just outside Tórshavn.

==Notable natives and inhabitants==
[[File:William Heinesen og Jørgen-Frantz Jacobsen.jpg|thumb|right|The writers [[William Heinesen]] and [[Jørgen-Frantz Jacobsen]], 1918 (both at the age of 18)]]
* [[Niels Ryberg Finsen]] (1860–1904), winner of the Nobel Prize in Medicine and Physiology 1903.
* [[Daniel Jacob Danielsen]] (1871–1916), a missionary and humanitarian who helped [[Roger Casement]] to expose the horrors of the [[Belgian Empire]].<ref name="Irish Times">{{cite news|url=http://www.irishtimes.com/culture/heritage/daniel-j-danielsen-a-pioneering-humanitarian-who-helped-roger-casement-expose-the-horror-of-belgian-rule-in-the-congo-1.2036137|title=Daniel J Danielsen – a pioneering humanitarian who helped Roger Casement expose the horror of Belgian rule in the Congo|last=Maye|first=Brian|date=14 December 2014|newspaper=The Irish Times|access-date=27 December 2015}}</ref>
* [[Petur Alberg]] (1885–1940), composer, most famous for composing the [[Tú alfagra land mítt|national anthem]].
* [[Janus Djurhuus]] (1881–1948), writer
* [[Andrea Árting]] (1891–1988), trade union leader
* [[William Heinesen]] (1900–1991), writer, poet, composer and painter.
* [[Jørgen-Frantz Jacobsen]] (1900–1938), writer.
* [[Høgni Reistrup]] (1984), musician, singer and songwriter.
* [[Ingálvur av Reyni]] (1920–2005), painter.
* [[Janus Kamban]] (1913–2009), sculptor.
* [[Zacharias Heinesen]] (1936), painter.
* [[Lisbeth L. Petersen]] (1939), politician.
* [[Guðrið Helmsdal]] (1941), writer.
* [[Katrin Ottarsdóttir]] (1957), filmmaker.
* [[Carl Jóhan Jensen]] (1957), writer.
* [[Týr (band)|Týr]], folk metal band.
* [[Óli Jógvansson]] (1969), songwriter and composer.
* [[Bárður Oskarsson]] (1972), writer and illustrator.
* [[Guðrið Hansdóttir]] (1980), singer, songwriter.
* [[Teitur Lassen]] (1977), singer, songwriter.
* [[Bárður Háberg]] (1979), songwriter and composer.
* [[Christian Mouritsen]] (1988), footballer.
* [[Gunnar Nielsen (Faroese footballer)|Gunnar Nielsen]] (1986), footballer.
* [[Rógvi Baldvinsson]] (1989), footballer.
* [[Súni Olsen]] (1981), footballer.
* [[Greta Svabo Bech]] (1987), singer.
* [[Sarah Mahfoud]] (1989), boxer.
* [[Helgi Dam Ziska]] (1990), chess player.
* [[Magnus Jákupsson]] (1994), swimmer.
* [[Reiley (singer)|Reiley]] (1997), singer, social media influencer.
* [[Jacob Haugaard]] (1952), entertainer and former member of the Danish Parliament.
* [[Sissal]] (1995), singer.

==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:Eystaravág, Torshavn, faroe islands, feb 2005.jpg|Eystaravág
File:Faroe Islands, Streymoy, Tórshavn (6).jpg|City bus on the Norðari Ringvegur
File:Faroe Islands, Streymoy, Tórshavn (1).jpg|View over central Tórshavn
File:Tórshavn.2.old habour.jpg|Vestaravág
File:Niels Finsens gøta 2003.JPG|Niels Finsens Gøta
File:British gun, skansin (Faroe Islands).jpg|The British cannon at [[Skansin]]
File:Havnar-kirkja-foto.JPG|Tórshavn cathedral
File:Faroe Islands, Streymoy, Tórshavn (4), Bryggjubakki street at night.jpg|Bryggjubakki street at night
File:Tó.StadtparkWeg.jpg|The municipal park
File:Faroe Islands, Streymoy, Tórshavn (7), Tinganes.jpg|Alleys of Tinganes
File:Tórshavn Panorama.jpg|Tórshavn from Oyggjarvegur
</gallery>

==Twin cities==
{{more citations needed section|date=February 2012}}
{{See also|List of twin towns and sister cities in the Faroe Islands}}

Tórshavn is [[Twin towns and sister cities|twinned]] with:
*{{Flagicon|Denmark}} [[Esbjerg]], Denmark
*{{Flagicon|Denmark}} [[Birkerød]], Denmark
*{{Flagicon|Norway}} [[Asker]], Norway
*{{Flagicon|Iceland}} [[Garðabær]], Iceland
*{{Flagicon|Iceland}} [[Reykjavík]], Iceland<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.torshavn.fo/Default.aspx?pageid=204|title=Torshavn.fo, Vina- og samstarvsbýir|website=Tórshavn Municipality|language=fo}}</ref>
*{{Flagicon|Finland}} [[Jakobstad]], Finland
*{{Flagicon|Åland}} [[Mariehamn]], [[Åland]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mhbibl.aland.fi/vanorter.html |title=Mariehamns stads vänorter |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081201180118/http://www.mhbibl.aland.fi/vanorter.html |archive-date=1 December 2008 }}</ref>
*{{flagicon|SWE}} [[Eslöv]], Sweden
*{{Flagicon|Italy}} [[Riolunato]], Italy

== See also ==
{{Portal|Faroe Islands}}
* [[List of towns in the Faroe Islands]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Sources==
* Havsteen-Mikkelsen, Sven (1995) ''Føroyinga søga'' (Bjarni Niclasen, týddi; Jørgen Haugan, skrivaði eftirmæli. Tórshavn: Føroya skúlabókagrunnur)

== External links ==
{{commons|Tórshavn}}
* [http://www.torshavn.fo/Default.aspx?pageid=619 Tórshavn Municipality website]
*{{Wikivoyage-inline}}

{{Tórshavnar kommuna}}
{{Municipalities of the Faroe Islands}}
{{Danish capital cities}}
{{List of European capitals by region}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Torshavn}}
[[Category:Tórshavn| ]]
[[Category:Populated places in the Faroe Islands]]
[[Category:Weather extremes of Earth]]
[[Category:Populated places established in the 10th century]]
[[Category:Populated coastal places in the Faroe Islands]]
[[Category:Ports and harbours of the Faroe Islands]]