Ress Spa at Hotel Føroyar Named One of TIME’s “World’s Greatest Places” for 2026

Ress Spa on the Faroe Islands has been featured on TIME's “World’s Greatest Places of 2026” list. The wellness oasis of Hotel Føroyar recently underwent a major expansion, carving a completely new building into the dramatic terrain. The accolade comes as remote destinations are increasingly shaping the global conversation around travel.

Few destinations feel as remote—or as compelling—as the Faroe Islands. This island nation in the North Atlantic Ocean is increasingly drawing travellers from across the globe, eager to experience its dramatic landscapes and unique culture. It is here, perched above the capital Tórshavn, that you’ll find Ress Spa, one of the most distinctive wellness destinations in the Nordic region. Now, the spa has earned a place on TIME’s prestigious World’s Greatest Places of 2026 list.

The annual list highlights extraordinary destinations offering new, exciting, and relevant experiences. The accolade places Ress Spa among a carefully curated selection of new hotels, cultural institutions and travel experiences shaping the future of global hospitality.

Architecture Rooted in Landscape

Ress Spa forms part of the long-established Hotel Føroyar, which sits just outside the capital Tórshavn, overlooking the fjord and the city’s turf-roofed houses. The spa extends the hotel’s relationship with its surroundings rather than competing with them. Floor-to-ceiling windows frame shifting skies and distant islands, while the interior palette leans into natural materials and muted tones.

In 2025, Ress Spa expanded with an entirely new building, carved directly into the terrain. The addition introduced new indoor and outdoor pools, as well as saunas, drawing on both Nordic and international wellness traditions. Yet the overall experience remains unmistakably local. The design language reflects the Faroese landscape, and the atmosphere favours observation over spectacle—a subtle counterpoint to the often rugged weather outside.

TIME contributor Scott Laird outlines the ideal journey through the spa:

“After showering and changing into uniform bathing suits, guests walk outdoors along a path carved into the landscape. Inside, the steam room releases mineral-rich vapor from superheated volcanic stones, while relaxation spaces frame sweeping views of the surrounding terrain. Then guests can move back outside, whether to the rooftop infinity-edge hot pool or a ground-level indoor-outdoor pool with hilltop views of Tórshavn harbor and its pine forest.”

A New Expression of Faroese Wellness

Beyond its architecture and striking setting, Ress Spa represents an ambition to define a distinctly Faroese approach to wellbeing. Until recently, a specific wellness culture in the Faroe Islands had never been formalized, and no real spa existed on the islands. Instead, a quiet, countrywide philosophy of wellbeing was simply lived rather than articulated.

Out of this lived experience, Ress Spa opened in 2021 at Hotel Føroyar, introducing the first full-scale spa in the Faroe Islands and marking the beginning of a new chapter for Faroese wellness. Its mission was clear: to translate the essence of Faroese nature and culture into a contemporary spa philosophy.

Recognition from TIME highlights how smaller and more remote destinations are increasingly shaping the global conversation around travel. In the Faroe Islands, the emphasis is not on scale. Here, focus is more on thoughtful architecture, and a deep respect for nature. For visitors arriving in Tórshavn, Ress Spa offers something that feels both contemporary and timeless.