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Updated April 2024
Before visiting the Faroe Islands, there was a lot we didn’t know about this mysterious and magical place! As a remote cluster of islands in the North Atlantic Ocean, we assumed getting around would be a lot more difficult than it really is and discovered that visiting the Faroe Islands is probably a lot easier than you think.
We’ve put together a useful list of things you should know before visiting which will put your travel anxiety aside and help you to really make the most of your trip to the Faroe Islands. Whilst travelling around the Faroe Islands you will experience a place that allows you to escape the everyday, explore the wild and dramatic landscapes and be inspired by the beautiful grass-roof wooden houses.
This guide also includes some practical information on how to get to the Faroes Islands, when is the best time to visit and how long you need to visit. If you’re looking for more inspiration or information on the Faroe Islands, check out our 7-day road trip itinerary which includes everything you need to know when driving, a city guide to Tórshavn and a complete travel guide to the Faroe Islands.
Things you need to know before visiting the Faroe Islands
1. Island Hopping is easy
18 islands make up the Faroe Islands which are mostly connected by tunnels and ferries. The subsea tunnels make it easy to hop from island to island and not have to wait around for a ferry. There are only a few islands only accessible by boat or helicopter.
The land on each of the islands is never more than 3 miles from the coast and has over 1,000km of coastline. Boats are a popular choice to get to more remote islands, hop across from Vágar island to Mykines with the chance to spot thousands of puffins. Book a boat tour to see the islands from a completely different perspective, observe the epic cliffs of Vestmanna or have an unforgettable trip to Drangarnir.
2. Many Locals speak English
The official language of the Faroe Islands is Faroese, which is a Nordic language, similar to Icelandic which is a dialect derived from the Norse settlers who arrived in the Viking era.
The Faroese created their version of Google Translate to help visitors learn some local phrases. Many of the locals also speak very good English and many can speak more than one language including Danish which is officially the second language of the Faroe Islands.
As many of the Faroese speak English, communicating with the locals is very easy, but it’s worthwhile learning a few key phrases:
Hi - Hei (pronounced Hey)
Goodbye - Bei (pronounced bye)
Thank You – Takk (pronounced Tahk)
Do You Speak English? – Tosar Tú Enskt? (pronounced “Toah-sar Too Enskt”)
Yes - Ja (pronounced Yah)
No - Nei (pronounced Nai)
3. Sheep are everywhere
At one point in time the sheep used to outnumber the population of the Faroese 2:1, they still outnumber the total population today but are no longer double the amount. The Faroese sheep are a native breed to the islands, originally introduced in the 9th century and range freely whilst being well adapted to the steep and mountainous terrain.
Driving on the roads you’ll come across many sheep, some decide to run across the roads, so it’s worth staying alert and ready to stop suddenly! If you do unfortunately collide with a sheep, you must contact the police immediately.
4. Best way to get around is by car
Many of the best places on the island to visit are easy to get to by car and there is limited public transport outside of the main towns. Renting a car on the Faroe Islands allows you to explore as many of the villages that are in remote locations, giving you control over your itinerary and the ultimate freedom to explore the islands.
Don’t skip the buttercup routes, these are scenic tourist routes that show off some of the best roads to take in the Faroes Islands - they are marked with signs showing a yellow flower on a green background.
It’s worth noting that on the island of Kalsoy, it is encouraged to leave your car in Klaksvik and take the ferry as a foot passenger where you can catch a local minibus which runs in sync with the ferries. Read more about driving around the Faroe Islands and a 7-day itinerary.
5. Have a plan B
It’s important to be flexible with your plans as they can quickly be influenced by the change in weather. Many times when we were out hiking or had plans to see something in particular our plans had to change. There will be plenty of things to see and do whilst exploring the Faroe Islands but it’s worthwhile to have a plan B in case weather changes.
Visibility can be poor, ocean conditions are rough or places are closed so make sure you have a backup plan so you can make the most of your trip and not be disappointed when things don’t go according to plan! We’d recommend checking the local webcam network to see the weather elsewhere on the islands and might help you decide where to head instead.
Some ideas for rainy-day activities include; taking a whisky and gin distillery tour in Vestmanna, a pub crawl in Torshavn or joining a knitting club in a Faroese home.
6. Preparation is Key
Following on from having a plan B, is to make sure you are prepared for the weather on the Faroe Islands. On average, it rains for over 200 days of the year and we recommend you bring a rain jacket and waterproof footwear (walking boots or wellies). The best way to check the weather is on this interactive live weather map of the Faroe Islands, this map also shows live webcams to help you plan your adventures.
Bring lots of layers which help you to keep warm and adapt to any changes in weather whilst out hiking or exploring. Nylon clothing is not recommended as it can be slippery against the grass-covered landscape and is worth bringing a woolly hat and gloves.
If you go out on a hike, make sure you are prepared and check the hiking section on Visit Faroe Islands for some really useful tips and inspiration for hiking routes. There is the option to download the GPX files of the routes and make sure that the difficulty is suitable to your ability. If you’re looking to book a guided hike in the Faroe Islands, this is a great option for those with little hiking experience.
7. One of the safest places to visit
One of the things we noticed when exploring the Faroe Islands was how safe it felt, we quickly fell into habits that back home we would never have dreamed of doing but quickly felt relaxed knowing it was somewhere that is very safe.
It has one of the lowest crime rates in the world and has a small prison on one of the islands. After speaking to the locals, they said it’s a great place to raise your children as everyone feels very safe and trusts each other.
8. Free public transport in Tórshavn
Most locals get around the islands by car, however there is an inter-town network of blue buses that operate on a daily basis check bus timetables online. If you plan to explore the city of Torshavn for the day, make use of the free red buses to get around to the main sites and attractions.
Some of the sites worth visiting are outside the main centre including, the National Museum, National Gallery and are are easy to get to by bus which is a great incentive to leave your car and explore the city via public transport.
9. Experience Local life
The Faroese are a very friendly and welcoming people, who have invited travellers into their homes for centuries to share knowledge on local skills or cook a delicious dinner in exchange for payment. A heimablídni translates to ‘home hospitality’, an unforgettable experience to connect with residents, learn about living on these remote islands and directly give back to communities.
It’s hard to come by an authentic experience that allows you to hear stories from locals which many would skip over when visiting new places and we would highly recommend you make time to do it yourself. We enjoyed our delicious feast at Hanursarstova, hosted by Harriet and John at their beautiful farmhouse on Eysturoy who will share their love of sheep and local life.
10. Connections to Denmark
The Faroe Islands is a self-governing nation which is still part of the Kingdom of Denmark, defined as a constituent country, the Faroese have their government and flag. Denmark provides the Faroe Islands with military and financial aid, however, they make their own decisions on many other matters making them a self-governing nation and also have their currency.
11. Has the World’s first underwater roundabout
After four years of construction, the world’s first-ever underwater roundabout was built in the Eysturoyartunnilin. This tunnel connects the islands of Streymoy and Eysturoy, the roundabout is lit up and shaped like a jellyfish and has an artwork installation of people that covers the middle of the roundabout.
The length of the tunnel is over 2000 metres and is currently the second-longest subsea tunnel in the world. There is a specific radio station you can tune into 97FM to listen to a composition of music that uses sounds from the construction of the tunnel.
12. Not a budget destination
Similar to many other Scandinavian countries, they are relatively expensive to visit. The Faroe Islands are not too dissimilar, some aspects are expensive including car rental, food and transportation. We were surprised by the cost of fuel which is similar to prices in the UK and it’s possible to find cheap food including pizza or fish and chips and affordable places to stay such as Airbnbs.
To avoid huge costs in the Faroes, it’s worth packing snacks with you to save costs on food and if you stay at an Airbnb with a kitchen you can cook your own meals saving on eating out. Plan free activities such as hiking (if you are experienced) and exploring villages don’t require an entrance fee. Otherwise, activities in the Faroe Islands such as boat trips (Vestmanna boat trip) are affordable compared to the more expensive rib boat trips which can only carry a smaller number of passengers.
13. Birdwatching heaven
The soaring cliffs and volcanic landscapes in the Faroe Islands are ideal for sea birds to use as a refuge, many migrating birds come to the islands to nest and enjoy the abundant supply of fish.
There are a number of great places to spot a variety of birds across the islands, the most popular location is Mykines Island which can only be visited with a permit and guide. The numbers of visitors are limited to the island and you can only visit between10am till 5pm, to respect the wildlife and allow visitors in a managed and sustainable way. It costs 400 DDK to access the island with a guide which must be booked in advance.
The type of birds you can spot include; puffins, fulmar, storm petrels, guillemot and the national bird of the Faroe Islands is the Oystercatcher.
14. Some still eat whales (technically Dolphins)
Whaling is currently practised in the Faroe Islands, often known as the Grindadráp or abbreviated as the Grind. This hunt has been a controversial and sensitive topic for the last few decades and has been carried out for centuries since the first Norseman settlers arrived.
The Grind is considered a tradition, where hundreds of pilot whales (technically dolphins) are rounded up in bays and killed, usually more than once a year, during the summer months (typically May to August). Historically, the first settlers to the island would mostly rely on catching seabirds and hunting whales to be self-sufficient in such a remote location.
Today, there are concerns that pilot whale meat contains high levels of mercury and other heavy metals and the consumption results in impaired cognitive function and Parkinson’s disease. This has reduced the overall consumption of pilot whale meat but has not stopped the practice, even with increased global pressure from conservation groups to cease the Grind.
Many hope that the popularity and increase of eco-tourism will change the local’s perception of these magnificent creatures and stop a practice that is no longer carried out for survival, only tradition. If you are uncomfortable with this practice, choose not to eat at restaurants that serve pilot whales on the menu as it will always be clearly labelled.
15. ‘Untouched’ By Over-tourism
The Faroe Islands are well set up for tourists, when you arrive at the airport there are multiple leaflets and information about what to see and do on the islands with a website full of information and excursions you can book.
If you’ve been to Iceland recently you may have noticed the sheer amount of tourists that visit and over-tourism is an issue. Currently, the Faroe Islands have around 110,000 visitors per year and there has been an increase in the growth of visitors in recent years.
16. You can’t just wander around
As you might know, there are no public wildernesses or common areas in the Faroes. This means that by Faroese legislation, you are not allowed to wander wherever you like in the wilderness of the Faroe Islands. Hence, you are only allowed to hike on the old village paths. The path to Trælanípa is not one of these village paths.
17. The perfect place to escape
A perfect getaway from the noise of city life and the everyday stress that comes from sitting in traffic jams, waiting in queues (a very British problem) and dealing with unpleasant people.
The Faroe Islands offer a quiet escape, a place that is remote enough that you can almost run away from your current worries and stresses to relax and detox in nature.
18. You can bring your campervan
If you don’t know by now, travelling by campervan is one of our favourite ways to get around. The Faroe Islands are connected to Iceland and Denmark via the Ferry company Smyril which runs regular ferries once a week. The journey from Hirtshals Denmark takes around 40 hours and from Seyðisfjörður in Iceland, it takes 20 hours.
Whilst exploring the islands, we spotted many motorhomes and campervans which is a great way to get around the Faroe Islands. This is a great way to save costs on accommodation and be able to cook your food. However, wild camping is illegal in the Faroe Islands, as all land is privately owned and you must have permission from the landowner.
There is a network of many campsites available across the islands. Have a look online for a list of campsites and where to buy cooking gas. You cannot sleep overnight in your car, or campervan along the road, in lay bys, or at rest stops. Camping is only permitted at campsites.
19. Drones are restricted
When you discover such epic landscapes in the Faroe Islands, it makes sense that you would want to bring your drone to capture the sheer scale and size of the impressive cliffs without getting too close to the edge.
The only challenge is that windy conditions can make flying a drone almost impossible, gusts of wind can come from nowhere, and you must be very careful where you take off and fly. Many birds and seabirds can display territorial behaviour especially when nesting and could attack your drone. To avoid this fly your drone when birds are less active for example the middle of the day.
There are drone flying signs that remind you to follow the rules and to be respectful of the environment, wildlife and locals. Make sure you familiarise yourself with the drone flying regulations for the Faroe Islands;
Do not fly within 150m of any residential area, village, town or city
Do not fly within 5km radius of Vágar Airport
Do not fly above summerhouses, camping areas, or places with large numbers of people.
Do not fly above 100m from the ground
20. The islands closed in 2019
The Faroe Islands closed to visitors in 2019 for a weekend, where 100 ‘voluntourists’ took to the islands to help repair hiking paths and put up clear signage to help repair the damage from tourism to preserve the sensitive environment.
Since 2019, volunteers have continued to visit and contribute each year to help with maintenance and infrastructure projects across the Faroe Islands. This initiative is a great way to get visitors involved in projects, by giving back and helping improve popular sites that see a lot of footfall and repair any damage from extreme weather.
21. One island has only sheep
Lítla Dímun is a small, distinct island rising above the North Atlantic Ocean and is one of the only uninhabited islands in the Faroe Islands. As one of the smallest of the 18 islands, it is very difficult to access and can only be attempted in good weather conditions.
There are around 200 Faroese sheep that live on the remote island. Each year in the autumn, farmers will climb the cliffs using ropes, to gather the sheep into the pen, offload them into boats and take them to Suðuroy where they are reunited with their owners.
22. It has a mild climate
You would expect the climate of the Faroe Islands to be relatively cold, due to its northern latitude. However, even though it is located at 62°N, the Gulf Stream travels across the Atlantic Ocean and influences the islands to have a mild climate.
The Faroe Islands experience cool summers with an average temperature of 13°C and once recorded high at 26°C. Summer months are typically from June to August, spring is from March to May, autumn is from September to November and winter is from December to February.
In the winter temperatures stay at an average of 3°C, and for the coldest day of the year can drop to -5 °C but the maximum on the day will usually be above freezing. Snow is likely from December to March and can experience strong storms and hurricanes in the winter months.
23. If you’re hiking let someone know
There are some fantastic hiking experiences across the Faroe Islands and it is recommended to hike with a local guide if you are inexperienced. If you do decide to hike by yourself, you must let someone know where you are going whether it be your Airbnb host or hotel receptionist.
Tourism leaflets are available at the airport which include a contact exchange form that you can leave on the dash or your car. The form includes details of your name, phone number, your destination and the times you are estimating to be back.
24. Pick up wool
As you can imagine, with over 70,000 sheep across the islands, wool can accumulate on fences and grass and is easily lifted from high winds. The wool can take a long time to biodegrade, loose fibres can find their way into bird nests, and the ocean and can in rare cases get trapped around the body of birds restricting their movement.
If you spot wool, whilst out hiking or exploring make sure to pick it up. Many locals will collect any loose wool they find on their land and is a customary practice.
25. Some hikes are restricted
Most of the paths that allow access to everyone are along the old village paths that are marked with ancient cairns showing the route. Other routes that also allow access follow ancient footpaths and it is worth noting that not all routes have well-marked cairns or markers.
Hiking in most locations is free, whereas some hiking routes are restricted on private land charge a fee for access and may require a guide. Hiking restrictions may change and is worth checking on Visit Faroe Islands, currently, it includes the following locations:
Saksun Valley walk to beach (75 DKK)
Kallur lighthouse (200 DKK)
Leitisvatn/ Lake Sørvágsvatn out to Trælanípa and Bøsdalafossur waterfall (450 DKK, 200 DKK without a guide)
Villingardalsfjall from Viðareiði village (200 DKK)
Drangarnir sea stacks (600 DKK)
Mykines (400 DKK if booked online, 500 DKK)
If you’re looking for a guided tour, there are many option to choose from where you can enjoy hiking with local guides.
26. Internet coverage is great
In such a remote location, you’d expect the internet and phone signal to be patchy and few and far between. Our experience whilst exploring the many islands was better than we expected. The phone signal and internet coverage across the islands are very impressive.
Check with your provider if you will be charged for using the internet, unfortunately as the Faroe Islands are not within the EU roaming charges do apply and cost around £6 per MB. Free Wi-Fi is available in some public spaces, hotels and ferries. We’d recommend using an eSIM for internet, use our 5% discount for Holafly.
It is worthwhile renting an internet box from your car rental or purchasing a pre-paid sim that you can get at petrol stations, phone shops, hotels, post offices and at Vágar Airport. We’d recommend downloading offline maps for Google to help you get around and reduce your internet costs if you want to rely on free Wi-Fi.
27. Respect local’s privacy
The picture-perfect houses of the Faroe Islands tempt many to trespass, peer into people’s homes without consent and invade their privacy. It may seem tempting to trespass for a picture opportunity, yet this behaviour only reinforces poor behaviour and does not respect the local’s privacy.
Before visiting the Faroe Islands, we had heard many stories from other travellers of the local farmer who lives in a beautiful house in Saksun. He is known for being very unhappy with the influx of visitors, many have jumped the fence just to get a photo. This type of behaviour is irresponsible, disrespectful and selfish towards those who call this place home.
We saw multiple signs outside of residential areas asking you to respect the privacy of the locals by not peering into windows and making sure to take pictures at a respectful distance. Another way to respect privacy is by adhering to drone flying restrictions. Drones should not be flown within 150m of a residential area.
28. Faroese love football
The Faroese have a real connection to their cultural heritage and the official national sport is rowing, practised by many men and women in traditional Faroese boats. Whereas, the most popular sport in the Faroe Islands is football and they have their own national team and football stadium in Tórshavn.
The national team were hailed the island’s heroes in 1990 when they defeated Austria and many from across the many islands gathered to celebrate the victory. Whilst exploring the islands you might notice the many football pitches in very remote locations, as evidence of the sports popularity.
29. Getting to the islands is easy
The Faroe Islands have their own airline, Atlantic Airways which makes travel to the Faroe Islands very easy and convenient. Atlantic Airways is connected to many cities including Edinburgh, Copenhagen, Paris, Barcelona, Oslo, Palma de Mallorca, Gran Canaria and Reykjavík.
30. Do not hike in hare-hunting season
During the months of November and December, there is an annual hare hunt which is carried out across the Faroe Islands. Make sure you do not hike during this season as it is not deemed safe, make sure that before you hike you get in touch with the tourism board about farming and hunting activities.
31. Stay away from the edge
After speaking to many locals about safety whilst hiking, which is why it is recommended for many locations to go with a guide, many warned us about not going close to the edge of the cliffs. As someone who suffers from a fear of heights, this perhaps was not an issue yet it can be tempting for many to get as close as possible for a photo.
One thing we were made aware of is that many nesting seabirds will create burrows into the cliffs and in many cases under the grassy turf that are on the cliff edges. These can on occasion collapse and are not safe to stand on, in addition to this extreme gusts of wind can quickly knock you off your standing and are not worth risking your life for.
An Essential Travel Guide to the Faroe Islands
Where are the Faroe Islands?
The Faroe Islands are found between Iceland and Norway, only 200 miles north of Scotland in the North Atlantic Ocean. There are 18 islands in total connected by ferries and subsea tunnels and getting to the Faroe Islands takes 1.5 hours from Edinburgh in Scotland.
As a self-governed nation, the Faroe Islands have their government and are part of the Kingdom of Denmark with their language which is Faroese.
What are the Faroe Islands known for?
The Vikings settled on the Faroe Islands, after leaving Norway to start a new life and took women from Ireland and Scotland along the way. The Norse settlers also brought over livestock including sheep which can be seen in many numbers across the islands still today and is where the name of the islands Føroyar is believed to derive from meaning ‘Sheep Islands’.
Dramatic landscapes are found across the islands making it a photographer’s dream to capture the wild and rugged beauty of the place. The only difficulty can be the unpredictability of the weather and it can also change very quickly making it a challenge to get a good weather window.
There are traditional wooden houses that have grass-roofed houses and come in beautiful shades of colour. There is a strong influence of Scandinavian culture as you explore the Faroe Islands, from their language to their food and colourful, picture-perfect homes.
When is the best time to visit the Faroe Islands?
The weather in the Faroes Islands is known for being unpredictable, it can change multiple times within a day! The climate is mild and influenced by the Gulf Stream, if you find yourself in bad weather a local tip is to wait 5 minutes.
The best time to visit for hiking and seeing migrating seabirds such as puffins and fulmars during the summer months of June to August. May and September are also great times to visit the Faroe Islands, where the weather is drier than other months of the year and allows more time to explore the islands.
There is a network of webcams dotted across the many islands that can help you plan your adventures by checking the local weather conditions and making the most of your visit.
Do the Faroe Islands still hunt Whales?
The Faroese have had little land to grow crops to sustain them throughout the centuries and have had to rely on harvesting the sea by hunting whales and seabirds for generations to be self-sufficient in such a remote location.
Whaling is still currently practised in the Faroe Islands known as the Grindadráp or abbreviated as the Grind. This hunt has been a controversial and sensitive topic for the last few decades and has been carried out for centuries. The Grind is considered a tradition, where hundreds of pilot whales (dolphins) are rounded up in bays and killed, usually more than once a year, during the summer months (typically May to August).
Whilst we do not support or condone the practice of Grindadráp, we hope that the rise of eco-tourism and interest in whale watching in the Faroe Islands will supersede a practice that is unsustainable and no longer carried out for survival. Many other countries still carry out whaling including Iceland, Japan and Norway for commercial purposes.
In recent years, it was discovered that the consumption of Pilot Whale meat contains high levels of mercury and other heavy metals and has unfortunately resulted in impaired cognitive function and Parkinson's disease. The consumption of whale meat is not only a risk to humans, but the pollution of the ocean is also a risk to the whales themselves.
If you feel uncomfortable with this practice, choose not to eat at restaurants that serve pilot whale on the menu and if you are going to attend a ‘heimablídni’ (we highly recommend this and more on this later) please check with your host beforehand that you would not like pilot whale meat to be present.
In our experience, we did not come across any pilot whale meat in the restaurants we ate at, or the heimablídni we went to, as they served other local produce such as lamb and vegetables. We did not come across any pilot whale meat in any of the supermarkets.
How to get to the Faroe Islands?
By plane
Direct flights to the Faroe Islands with Atlantic Airways are from Copenhagen, Oslo, Reykjavik, Bergen, Paris, New York and Edinburgh. If you are flying from the UK, flights from Edinburgh run two times a week on Mondays and Thursdays from 30th March to 18th December. The flight from Edinburgh to Vagar (Faroe Islands) takes 1.5 hours.
From the 1st of June 2024, Atlantic Airways will have direct flights from Gatwick Airport to the Faroe Islands which is an exciting opportunity for those who would have previously had to fly from Edinburgh in the UK. If you’re looking for an excuse to visit Edinburgh this could be a wonderful addition to your trip to the Faroe Islands, however, if you are struggling for time direct flights from Gatwick could be the best option.
To get to Edinburgh airport, take the train from Leeds to Edinburgh which takes 3 hours total and the scenic route follows the east coast with the best views from Newcastle to Edinburgh passing Northumberland. If you’re able to book a seat on the right-hand side of the train you will get unobstructed ocean views! It could be worth staying the night in Edinburgh and exploring this incredible city for the day which would be the perfect addition to this itinerary.
For trains to Edinburgh Airport including London North Eastern Railway (LNER), CrossCountry, and TransPennine Express. It is recommended to book your seat in advance. If you have booked your ticket but want to try and get on an earlier train (has to be the same train company) speak to the train conductor and see if they will let you on board.
Once you arrive at Edinburgh Waverley train station, you can either take the bus or tram. The tram avoids traffic and costs £7 each whereas the bus 100 Airlink (St Davids Street) costs £5.50 each with a regular service that leaves every 10 minutes to the airport. The tram costs £7.50 for a one-way single and takes you directly to Edinburgh Airport avoiding traffic.
If you’re travelling from London, many services run to Edinburgh including the famous British Pullman with a chance to travel in the ‘Cygnus’ carriage designed by Wes Anderson.
By ferry
The Smyril Line has connections with Iceland and Denmark running regular ferries typically once a week from Hirtshals Denmark (40 hours) and Seyðisfjörður in Iceland (20 hours). This would be a great way to get your campervan or motorhome to the Faroe Islands and we spotted many foreign campervans whilst exploring the islands.
How long do you need to visit the Faroe Islands?
We would suggest a minimum of a week allows you to be able to see most of the main islands with the chance to do some hiking. A week also allows for a few day trips to explore some of the more remote islands including Sandoy and Suðuroy.
Make sure you read our ultimate guide to the Faroe Islands to help you make the most of your trip.
