Tórshavn is the capital of the Faroe Islands, set on the southern tip of Streymoy — the largest island in the archipelago. With around 20,000 people it is one of the smallest capital cities in Europe, but it functions as the hub for everything in the Faroes: government, culture, commerce, and the main ferry port.
The oldest part of the town, Tinganes, juts out into the harbour on a small peninsula. The turf-roofed wooden houses here are some of the oldest in the Faroes, and the area remains largely unchanged despite the modern city that surrounds it. The Norse parliament (the Løgting) has met on this spot since the tenth century. Above it stands Tórshavn Cathedral, and to the east the Skansin fortress guards the harbour entrance.
International ferries from Denmark (Hirtshals) and Iceland (Seyðisfjörður) arrive at Tórshavn's port, making it the main gateway to the islands. Domestic boat and helicopter services connect Tórshavn to the other islands.