Everything You Need to Know Before You Visit the Faroe Islands

Are you planning to visit the Faroe Islands? This remote, beautiful archipelago is located North Atlantic. It’s best known for its unforgettable landscapes and untouched nature. The Faroe Islands should be at the top of any nature-lover‘s list. In addition to exploring the rugged coastline, stunning waterfalls and mountainous landscapes, you’ll find a beautiful culture and quaint towns + villages steeped in rich tradition.

THERE ARE TWO WAYS TO VISIT THE FAROE ISLANDS:

VISIT THE FAROE ISLANDS BY AIR:

As of right now, only two airlines fly to the Faroe Islands: Atlantic Airways and Scandinavian Airlines (SAS), and they only fly to the Faroe Islands from select locations and on certain days of the week. We flew from Iceland, where we were already spending a few weeks, so that worked out really well for us. However, if you’re wanting to get there from the states, or southern Europe, it might take a bit more planning. As of now, you can fly to and from the Faroe Islands direct from Copenhagen, Reykjavik, Bergen and Edinburgh. Some seasonal direct flights may be available, though. 

VISIT THE FAROE ISLANDS BY SEA:

The other, more grueling, (and seemingly nauseating) option to visit the Faroe Islands is to take a ferry. You can do this from Denmark or Iceland, but it sounds so daunting. Some people love the idea of a sea voyage. We even met a Danish guy living in the Faroe Islands who takes the 6-day voyage when he goes back and forth from Denmark. I get seasick, so this sounds like a nightmare to me. However, if you don’t get seasick and this sounds like your style, you can find more about this sea voyage to visit the Faroe Islands here.

IT’S EXPENSIVE TO VISIT THE FAROE ISLANDS:

I didn’t think it could get much worse, as far as expenses go, than Iceland, but it turns out it can, and it does in the Faroe Islands. That being said, there are still ways that you can cut down on your costs:

⋙ SHOP AT BONUS + PREPARE YOUR OWN MEALS: This is a huge way to save money. Bonus has groceries at discount prices and if your accommodation has a kitchen, which I cannot recommend finding enough, you can prepare almost anything you would back home. If your accommodation doesn’t have a kitchen, you can still find simple things to prepare, like peanut butter sandwiches. Also, there are loads of snack options.
⋙ RENT AN AIRBNB or APARTMENT: Especially if you’re not visiting the Faroe Islands solo. We paid almost the same amount for a barebones hostel private room with a shared bathroom as we did for an entire home with a kitchen and spectacular view.
⋙ RENTING A CAR? LEARN TO DRIVE A MANUAL: We rented an automatic and it would’ve been so much cheaper if we had felt confident enough to teach ourselves a manual while we were there. However, we didn’t, so we rented the automatic for big bucks. Also, if you’re truly planning on going out and about and seeing the islands pay for the unlimited tolls at the car rental place. We would’ve paid 4x the amount in toll fees. For tips on driving, scroll down to driving the Faroe Islands.
⋙ YOU CAN DRINK THE TAP WATER: Bring your reusable water bottle because the tap water is just fine to drink and every little bit adds up to savings.
⋙ TAKE THE BUS: The bus seems to be quite affordable and straightforward to use. Definitely cheaper than a rental car. However, you’re restricted to their timetable. Read more about the bus in the “Getting Around the Faroe Islands” section below.

YOUR TRIP WILL BE DICTATED BY THE WEATHER: 

Storms frequently blow across this archipelago. I don’t think there was a single day while we were there that was completely dry. Fog rolls in quickly, as do storms, and when storms hit, they can bring about crazy strong winds and buckets of rain. We had a full day of hiking planned for our anniversary when a major storm rolled in for the entire day. Instead of standing on narrow ledges and peaks during high winds and slick conditions, we drove to small villages and explored the man-made landmarks.

We’re not fair-weather hikers. We will get out in rain and wind, but only if it’s safe for us to do so. The trails in the Faroe Islands are much like many others we’ve experienced across Europe: wild, unpaved and unblazed. While this is amazing for the nature-lover in me, it can be a little less amazing when a sheet of super-thick fog rolls in, which we had happen. We met a well-seasoned hiker spending the summer in the Faroe Islands, who had fallen 100 meters down a cliff, busted his head open and had to be helicoptered to hospital (and that was on a clear day).  The grass just happened to be super-slick. Accidents like this are why you should  travel with Travel Insurance, don’t think it could happen to you? Read about when travel went wrong for me.

Did this cause us to miss out on things? Absolutely. But what to do? Our safety is worth so much more and it left something for us to do the next time we visit.

SPEAKING OF WEATHER, PACK FOR WET WEATHER + WIND:

The magic word for packing/dressing for when you visit the Faroe Islands is light layers. Even in the summer, the average temperature hovers around the mid-50’s. However, when you start hiking or that sun is really shining down it feels much, much warmer. But, like I said earlier, that weather can change quickly and be pouring rain the next hour. Also, be sure to have clothing that will protect you from the rain shower you’re bound to get stuck in. A waterproof pair of high-ankled boots would be at the top of my list to bring, though. They’ll help you keep your traction, ensure that your feet stay dry and your ankles supported.

HERE ARE A FEW ITEMS MATT AND I OWN AND WOULD HIGHLY RECOMMEND TO ANYONE WHO WANTS TO VISIT THE FAROE ISLANDS:

                 

GETTING AROUND THE FAROE ISLANDS

DRVING IN THE FAROE ISLANDS:

Matt and I like having complete control of our day, especially when we’re in a more isolated destination, so we rented a car and I’m so glad that we did! That being said, there are a few things you should know about driving when you visit the Faroe Islands:

⋙ THEY DRIVE ON THE RIGHT
⋙ TWO OF THE UNDERSEA TUNNELS REQUIRE TOLLS: These two tunnels will be clearly marked as toll tunnels. It costs 100 DKK (about $15) each and every time you use one. However, there aren’t toll booths. Instead, you have to stop at the service station or toll station just past the tunnel exit to pay the toll. Luckily, we paid for unlimited tolls with our rental car, which was 300 DKK total. This saved us time (because we didn’t have to stop) and money. We would’ve paid 1000 DKK total over the 6 days we were out and about driving.
⋙ LIGHTS MUST BE ON ALL THE TIME: Keep those lights on day and night, rain and shine.
⋙ THERE ARE ONE LANE TUNNELS: There are several one-lane tunnels throughout the islands. This sounded super intimidating to me, but honestly, they work really well. Before you enter a tunnel it’s very clearly marked which direction of traffic gets the right-of-way and there are pull outs for the drivers without the right-of-way throughout the tunnels. However, we heard that if there’s a semi-truck, they always get the right-of-way and be sure to pullover for them.
⋙ TAKE YOUR TIME: This archipelago is full of hills, twists, turns and one-lane roads. Locals are used to driving in these conditions, we were not. There were several times that we went 5-10 mph under the speed limit because we know it’s better safe than sorry when it comes to driving. Locals were incredibly patient and passed when it was safe. No one ever honked at us and I’d like to think they appreciated us not driving like total jackasses on roads we were unaccustomed to. Their infrastructure has been built really for local traffic. As this grows as a popular tourist destination, I foresee a lot of need for construction.
⋙ IF YOU NEED AN AUTOMATIC CAR, RENT IT IN ADVANCE: Like I said in the money saving tips, an automatic will cost a pretty penny. However, if it’s what you have to drive, they only have a select number of automatics across the archipelago. When we searched, only two companies offered automatics.
⋙ OFF ROADING IS AGAINST THE LAW: They love their nature in the Faroe Islands and wish to preserve it.

IF YOU WANT TO TAKE A FERRY OR HELICOPTER, BOOK THIS EARLY:

 We wrongly assumed that we would be able to just drive onto a ferry or get in line for the helicopter (yes, they use helicopters for part of their public transportation). Instead we found that the helicopter was completely booked and the ferry only had availability on the rainiest day we were supposed to be there, so we missed out on both of these experiences, but you don’t have to because now you know to book ahead. Here you can find the ferry schedule and costs and the helicopter schedule and costs.

GET AROUND WITH EASE USING BUSES:

Although Matt and I enjoy having the freedom of having a rental car, I’ve heard very good things about the bus system. The allows you to visit the Faroe Islands in more budget-friendly way. The buses run between islands and villages. They run consistently though the week, and over the weekends at certain times. You can pay per ride, the cost varies depending on the zones, or you can purchase travel passes for a certain number of days. Read more about the buses here.

HIKING IN THE FAROE ISLANDS

MANY OF THE MOST POPULAR HIKES ARE ON PRIVATE LAND – FOLLOW THEIR RULES: 

This is something I think is pretty incredible and insanely generous because of all the hikes we did, none of them charged admission and only one had a spot for donations. These farmers and landowners are graciously allowing you to come onto their land and enjoy the beauty of nature. So, in short, treat it like a privilege because it is. Plain and simple, if people treat their land with disrespect (i.e., littering, bothering farm animals, going off trail and/or not following their rules) their much more likely to charge admission, or worse, stop allowing people to enjoy the phenomenal sites on their land. Many of these hikes on private land will have a small sign with property rules and rough routes. Heed these rules and stick to the “trail” as best as possible.
Our two favorite hikes we did were The Lake Over the Ocean + Klakkur. Don’t miss out on those!

Now, there are some hikes that require a guide. Often this is for your safety. That being said, the guided hikes are quite expensive, so we opted out of doing these hikes. If they’re not in your budget, don’t do them. Not only could you face a seriously hefty fine, but you could get lost or injured on one of these trails. We’re hoping to go back with the budget for these epic hikes next time we visit the Faroe Islands.

COMMON HIKING RULES ACROSS THE ISLAND:

Most of these rules are all about being conscious of the environment around you and that’s certainly something we can get behind.

⋙ IF YOU HAVE TO PASS THROUGH A GATE, CLOSE IT BEHIND YOU. This prevents farmer’s animals from getting out and/or animals from getting in and harming the nature. This is very important and super simple.
⋙ STAY ON TRAIL. This can be a bit more difficult than it sounds since they’re marked sparsely by cairns and sometimes it seems paths branch off. If you find you’ve gone off path, retrace those steps and get back to the path as soon as possible minding the ground around you. Just do your very best.
⋙ SOME OF THE TRAILS ARE ONLY OPEN AT SPECIFIC TIMES. Be mindful of this. We wanted to do a late night hike near us because it was still light outside, but we only had an hour to complete the three-hour hike. We skipped it, but watched several people take advantage of the lack of lock. It really irritated me to see their blatant disregard when people have generously shared their natural wonders with us.
⋙ DOGS ARE NOT ALLOWED IN THE OUTFIELDS. Even if they’re on a leash. Remember this if you’re planning on bringing your dog when you visit the Faroe Islands.
⋙ DON’T MESS WITH THE ANIMALS. I know the sheep (especially the babies) are just about the cutest things in the world, but enjoy them through your camera lens. Keep a distance that’s safe from any/all animals you encounter for their safety and yours. And for the love of all that’s holy, don’t feed them.
⋙ ALSO, DON’T MESS WITH THE NATURE. Don’t take anything with you: this includes flowers, rocks or anything else you didn’t walk in with. Take only pictures, remember.
⋙ RESPECT THE PROPERTY YOU’RE ON. Don’t disturb any buildings, structures, walls or cairns.

LOOKING FOR SOMETHING MORE THAN A DAY HIKE?

There are several multi-day hikes. In fact in the Visit the Faroe Islands booklet we picked up at our hostel, they outline several of the bigger hikes. Many of the islands have route that allow you to hike the entire length of them. If you choose to do a multi-day hike, be sure to plan this out because you have to camp in designated camping sites. Also, be sure you’re completely prepared for all the changing weather.

IS THERE MORE TO THE FAROE ISLANDS THAN NATURE?

Absolutely! It’s impossible to escape the nature because the backdrop of everything is a stunning coastline or mountain/range. However, you’ll also find quaint fishing villages, beautiful churches and sod-roofed homes. There are many amazing sites here!

TORSHAVN has been compared to a mini-Copenhagen. Apparently, close to the bay you can see rows of brightly colored buildings. We were only there on a super-foggy day, so we couldn’t see much of anything. However, there are loads of shopping opportunities and eating opportunities. We had a very delicious meal at the Irish Bar.
SAKSUN has an old sod-roofed church and sheep-farm that is also a living museum. Plus, there’s a beautiful beach and waterfall in the area as well.
THE NIX IN VAGAR is a beautiful statue of the infamous, mythical water horse that lured people to jump on its back. The nix would take people to the lake’s depths and their unfortunate deaths.

Plus, there’s so much more to see when you visit the Faroe Islands! Keep an eye out for future posts coming soon on these amazing destinations, and more!

PRACTICAL INFO FOR THE FAROE ISLANDS:

DANISH ISN’T THEIR NATIVE LANGUAGE:

Although the Faroe Islands is part of the Kingdom of Denmark, they have their own language: Faroese. I’ve heard of people having their Danish phrasebooks handy or Danish pleasantries memorized only to visit the Faroe Islands and find them useless. Not to worry, just about everyone we spoke to spoke English beautifully (lucky us), but you might make an attempt at Faroese just to be a polite visitor.

FAROESE CURRENCY:

The currency in the Faroe Islands is the Faroese króna. It’s comparable and interchangeable in the Faroe Islands to the Danish krone. The exchange rate is the same and they’re somewhat interchangeable, in fact, the coins are all Danish krone coins. The exchange rate obviously fluctuates, but on average it’s around 6.5 Faroese króna to $1 USD (100 króna is about $15.50 USD).

WHERE TO STAY:

The Faroe Islands is still a relatively new tourist destination. (However, I think that’s going to change drastically in the next 5 years or so.) Because it isn’t one of the biggest tourist destinations, accommodation is a bit scarce – this means, you might want to book this as far out as possible.

AIRBNB: We spent most of our trip to the Faroe Islands at this amazing AirBNB. We love getting to stay in an apartment or home that allows you to fix your meals, live like a local and have loads of privacy. Our AirBNB was close to the airport which was super convenient and everywhere you can drive in the Faroe Islands is relatively close. (Never tried AirBNB? Use this link to get $40 off your first stay!)
HOTELS: You’ll find a larger variety of hotels in Torshavn. However, you’ll also find hotels in smaller towns, but they might not have the availability, so definitely book this out as soon as possible.
HOSTELS: As of now, there are only two hostels in the Faroe Islands. We stayed at Giljanes Hostel and while it was very basic, it was nice. The owners we so nice and helpful, they had an affordable airport pickup and they had a delicious breakfast!

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Feeling inspired to visit the Faroe Islands? After writing this, I’m itching to get back there myself. I hope that this helps you plan your own adventure to this unique destination. Don’t forget to follow for more in-depth guides to specific hikes and destinations. Also, feel free to leave comments or send messages with any other questions you might have.

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