travel to faroe islands from scotland

First-Timer’s Guide to the Faroe Islands (Travel Tips & FAQ)

By Author Jurga

Posted on Last updated: May 8, 2024

Planning your first trip to the Faroe Islands can be overwhelming. What kind of weather can you expect in the Faroe Islands? What are the best things to see and the best places to stay? How to get to the Faroe Islands and how to get around? How expensive is food on the Faroe Islands?…

We had so many questions before visiting the Faroe Islands , but never found all the answers in one place. Yet, Faroe Islands is not a typical travel destination where you can just show up and hope to make the best of it. So it’s really important to do some research so that you know what to expect. And – I can’t stress this enough – you really have to book your accommodations well in advance!

Based on our personal experience I created this practical guide to the Faroe Islands that should answer all your questions. Find out!

P.S. If you don’t find an answer to your question in this post, feel free to post a reply below and I’ll try to help.

Where are the Faroe Islands

Faroe Islands is an archipelago of 18 islands, located in the Atlantic Ocean. If you look at the map , you’ll see that The Faroe are pretty much in the middle between Scotland, Norway, and Iceland.

How to get to the Faroe Islands

Faroe islands are closer than you think. The easiest way to get to the Faroe Islands is by plane . There are daily direct flights to Copenhagen in Denmark (2hrs), but also short flights from Edinburgh (UK), Bergen (Norway), and Reykjavik (Iceland).

If you prefer the excitement of seeing land for the first time after days spent at sea, you can opt to arrive in the style of the greatest discoverers. In that case, you can opt to go to the Faroe Islands by boat . Smyril Line ferry travels between Denmark and Iceland with a short stop in the Faroe Islands.

This passenger and car ferry looks like an attractive slow travel option and a great way to get to The Faroe, especially because you can bring your own car . However, consider the time that it takes and the costs associated with it (driving to Denmark, hotel accommodations, tickets for the ferry for you and your car, cabins to sleep in, food onboard). Also, there is always a possibility of getting seriously seasick on this multi-day journey…

We did the math and found that it made no financial sense whatsoever for our family of 5 to take this boat to the Faroe Islands. Not to mention the fact that it would add several days to the journey.

TIP: If you decide to arrive in the Faroe Islands by boat, make sure to book it in advance!

Do I need a visa/passport for the Faroe Islands?

Faroe Islands are not part of the Schengen zone, so visitors from some countries might require a valid visa . I had a slight panic attack when, on the way to the airport, I checked a website of a Dutch travel agency that said that we Europeans also need a passport when traveling to the Faroe Islands. Our passports were safely left at home and we only had our Belgian ID cards with us…

After more research on more reputable websites, I found that citizens from most EU countries don’t need a passport in the Faroe Islands – ID card is sufficient (information is correct at the time of writing – 2018). The funny thing is that nobody ever checked even our ID cards. So all that stress was for nothing and reminded me that, sadly, not everything you read on the Internet is true.

You can find more information in regard to the required documents on the official tourism board website . Alternatively, check with the local Danish embassy in your country. Just remember, the Faroe Islands are not part of the EU and have different visa requirements than Denmark.

Book your Faroe Islands accommodation before you book anything else

My quick search for available accommodations on the Faroe Islands was very eye-opening. With just a handful of hotels, a few B&B’s, and several private rentals, Faroe Islands had a grand total of 74 properties for us to choose from. Then I filtered my search for accommodations for 5 people and had just 13 properties left. 13!!!

When I finally filled in our travel dates and got a warning that 98% of all accommodations for August were fully booked… What was left was a tent in the camping and a house on Sandur island that we weren’t even planning to visit…

At this point, I realized that planning a summer trip to the Faroe Islands four months in advance is clearly much too late . Yet, we were determined to go…

What followed was the craziest trip planning method I have ever used. I searched Booking.com for every available accommodation for every single night during the entire month of August. We even searched for Airbnb even though we never use them, but that didn’t help much… I then put it all in a spreadsheet and made a 10-day Faroe Islands itinerary based on available accommodations.

Only after I booked the hotels and made sure we had a roof above our heads for every single night, I finally booked the flights and reserved a rental car.

TIP: Check for the availability of accommodations before you book your trip to the Faroe Islands, especially if you are planning to visit in July or August.

If you are still not convinced, here is a story for you. We met two young people in our hotel in Torshavn who just arrived in the Faroe Islands without booking anything upfront. They quickly found out that there was nothing available on any island, for days in a row. They were going to every hotel in town begging for a place to stay, I really wonder if they found anything in the end…

Our hosts at another accommodation said that in July and August they get almost daily calls from people looking for last-minute places to stay, while everything is usually fully booked months in advance… So don’t be that person and book in advance.

Best places to stay on the Faroe Islands

One of the best places to stay on the Faroe Islands is the capital, Torshavn. The reason is quite simple – most hotels and accommodations are located in Torshavn.

Also, pretty much any place that can be reached by car is less than 1,5hrs drive from Torshavn. Therefore it’s definitely feasible to just base yourself in the city and take day trips. I think that Torshavn is a good place to stay if you only have a few days on the Faroe Islands and want to have complete flexibility.

However, we found that staying in Torshavn is not ideal for seeing all the places that we wanted to see. So we opted for a self-drive trip and rented accommodations at several different locations. The main reason is that driving up and down will often mean that you spend 2-4hrs in the car each day, passing many of the same places every time.

In addition, with just 100km/day mileage limit on your rental car, it’s inevitable that you’ll exceed this limit big way if you opt to drive up and down to Torshavn each day.

Also, we noticed that accommodation gets cheaper the further you go from Torshavn , and so does the food at the restaurants. Just, once again, there isn’t that much available outside the city…

TIP: If you want to see the best of the Faroe Islands, I recommend to make a road trip. Book several accommodations on different islands, and not base yourself in Torshavn the whole time.

Here are some of the best places to stay for a self-drive road trip on the Faroe Islands:

• Stay in Torshavn for exploring Streymoy island, taking a day trip to Nolsoy or even one of the further located islands, or popular boat excursions like Vestmanna cliffs or RIB62 tour to Hestur island.
• Stay in Gjogv for exploring Eysturoy island. We stayed at Gjaargardur Guesthouse in Gjogv – one of my favorite accommodations of this trip. The rooms here are quite simple, but the location is stunning and so is the food.
• Klaksvik is the best base for exploring the northern islands, including Kalsoy.
• Accommodation on Vagar island makes it easy to explore Vagar and take a day trip to Mykines. It’s also close to the airport, so perfect if you arrive late or have to catch an early flight on the day of your departure.
• We also stayed on Suduroy island , but I’d only add it to your itinerary if you are staying in the Faroe Islands for more than a week.

LEARN MORE: Best Hotels in the Faroe Islands (complete guide!)

TIP: Using the map below, you can compare hotels and short-term rental accommodations in Torshavn . You can also zoom out and see availability in other places. Simply insert your travel dates and group size, and you’ll see the best deals for your trip. Check it out!

How long should you stay in the Faroe Islands

I think that you really need at least 4-5 days to see some of the main highlights of the Faroe Islands .

Ideally, you stay at least a week. This will give you the time to see all the best places, do some hiking, and maybe do a tour or two (boat trips, hiking, and horse riding are the most popular options).

Here you can find our Faroe Islands itinerary suggestions for any trip from 3 to 9 days.

How to get around on the Faroe Islands

Despite the fact that Faroe Islands consist of 18 different islands, you can easily see a lot in the Faroe Islands by car . Most bigger islands are connected by bridges or tunnels, and there are also (car) ferry connections to the other islands.

Car ferries in the Faroe cannot be booked in advance. You just arrive at the harbour and get your ticket on board. Also, you only have to pay for your trip once, the ticket always includes the return journey. Mykines ferry is for passengers only. It’s also the only ferry on the islands that requires advance reservations.

The Faroe Islands also have a good bus network, so it’s possible to travel between the islands without the car. However, many highlights are not located near big towns, so you’d probably not be able to see everything that you want.

It’s also possible to travel between the islands by helicopter . See more information below.

Here you can find all the practical information as well as ferry and bus timetables for the Faroe Islands .

Faroe Islands helicopter

Helicopter is a popular means of transport between the Faroe Islands. Traveling by helicopter is surprisingly cheap as it is subsidized by the government. The cheapest helicopter ride fares cost less than a short taxi ride in London.

However, to prevent tourists from taking too much advantage of this, helicopter rides can only be booked in one direction (no return) for the same day. So if you are considering taking a helicopter to get to one or the other island, keep in mind that you’ll either have to come back by boat, or stay on the island for a few days. Helicopters don’t run daily.

The most popular and easiest to do for tourists is the helicopter to Mykines island . It arrives in Mykines in the morning, allowing you to take a boat back in the evening. However, there are just 12 seats on the helicopter and since recently you can only book the tickets one week in advance. If you do want to book this ride in summer, you’ll probably have to try around midnight of the day when the bookings open.

Note that even if you secure a place on the helicopter, it’s very likely that the boat to come back will be fully booked for that day. So you’d almost have to book the boat tickets first and then hope you can get the helicopter.

Just to complicate things a bit more, the helicopter departs from Vagar airport. Whereas the boat comes back to Sørvágur Harbor, 2km away. So you’d have to figure out where to leave your car and how to get back to it in the evening.

As you can see, trying to get a helicopter to Mykines requires quite some advance planning and lots of flexibility on your side. At the same time, keep in mind, that the boats often get canceled due to stormy weather. And you don’t want to get stuck on Mykines without having arranged accommodation or food in advance. So, as much as it sounded appealing at first, we just decided to take a boat both ways.

If you really want to travel by helicopter in the Faroe Islands, consider flying to some other islands that are not as popular with tourists . All the other helicopter routes allow booking a month in advance. For example, you could take a ferry to Suduroy island, spend a night there, and then take a helicopter to get back to Torshavn the next day.

Here you can find all the timetables and booking information for the Faroe Islands helicopter .

Renting a car on the Faroe islands

If you want to explore the Faroe islands at your own pace, a self-drive trip by rental car is the best way to do it. You don’t need any special car or 4WD in the Faroe Islands (not in summer, anyway). Actually, small cars have advantages as the roads are narrow and some ferries quite small. Since we visited the Faroe Islands with three kids, we rented the biggest 2WD we could find.

There aren’t that many car rental companies available on the Faroe Islands, but we discovered that prices differ a lot. Here you can find the biggest selection of car rental options in the Faroe Islands .

I also recommend checking our favorite website which we use for car hire anywhere in the world. When we traveled, they had an option to rent a car with a big brand that wasn’t featured in the previously mentioned list. It was 30-60% cheaper than any other company offering the exact same car at that moment. This saved us more than 600 EUR.

Also, I kept looking at car rental prices as we got closer to our trip departure date and prices skyrocketed. So book your rental car as soon as you have your flight tickets!

One thing to keep in mind is that for some strange reason most car rental companies in the Faroe Islands seem to have a maximum mileage per day . It’s usually set at 100km/day and they charge extra fees for any additional kilometers. We rented a car for 10 days and drove 1,004km. We exceeded our mileage limit by just 4km(!) and yes, they charged us extra for that.

Driving in the Faroe Islands

Faroe Islands have right-hand traffic (same as in the US and most of Europe, except the UK).

Driving on the Faroe Islands is not that difficult and the main roads are generally good. Most bigger roads are wide enough for two cars. However, there are quite a few roads and also dark narrow tunnels that are just wide enough for one car. In those cases, you are expected to pull over to the side that has wider places foreseen especially for this; it’s really self-explanatory actually.

The biggest danger on the roads in the Faroe Islands are probably the sheep. There are many of them and they cross unexpectedly, so I recommend to always slow down if you see any animals next to the road.

Traffic is somewhat busier around Torshavn and other bigger towns but is pretty quiet on the rest of the islands. We haven’t experienced any traffic jams and didn’t see any accidents.

Parking is usually free, but in Torshavn center, there is a time limit of how long you are allowed to stay. Every rental car is equipped with a small clock that you have to adjust to indicate your arrival time.

You should always have your lights on when driving in the Faroe Islands.

Toll roads on the Faroe Islands

There are several sub-sea toll tunnels on the Faroe Islands that cost 100 DKK (14EUR) for a return trip. You’ll have to pay when driving from Vágar through Vágatunnilin, and driving from Klaksvík through Norðoyatunnilin.

Also the newly opened Eysturoy Tunnel is a toll tunnel. It saves you such a long drive that the toll can be worth it.

In principle, the toll has to be paid at the nearest petrol station. However, most rental cars are equipped with a special transmitter, and this fee will be charged by your car rental company directly from your credit card. Just to be safe, best ask about this when you pick up the car, so that you don’t end up paying twice.

Buttercup routes of the Faroe Islands

Faroe Islands have several particularly scenic routes , called ‘Buttercup routes’. They are indicated by a small green sign with a yellow flower on it. Faroe Islands tourist maps have all these routes indicated in green, so you really can’t miss them.

When is the best time to visit the Faroe Islands?

Arguably, every season has its charms, but most people visit the Faroe Islands between May and September . June, July, and August are the most popular months. The weather is at its best and it’s also the season when you can expect to see puffins.

If you visit the Faroe Islands outside the summer season, you’ll have the main landmarks all to yourself. Just keep in mind that facilities outside big towns are really minimal even in summer, so don’t expect much if you are traveling off-season.

Faroe Islands can be magical in winter as well, especially if it’s cold and dry. However, it can also be very wet. The good thing is that the temperatures remain quite mild. Average temperatures in the Faroe Islands in December, January, and February are between 2 and 6 °C (35 – 43°F).

READ ALSO: Best Time to Visit Europe

What kind of weather can I expect in the Faroe Islands?

Faroe Islands have a relatively mild climate . It hardly ever gets really very cold, but it’s not warm either. In winter you’ll have temperatures around 2-6°C (36-43F) and in summer 6-12°C (43-54 F). The biggest difference is the rain – there are twice as many rainy days in December or January as in June. Summer might have the best weather for visiting the Faroe Islands, but keep in mind that a ‘heat wave’ with temperatures over 20°C (68F) is an extremely rare occurrence.

The weather here in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean can be really harsh, but it also changes frequently . It’s not unusual to have rain in one place, mist just a bit down the road, and sunshine another mile further.

We visited the Faroe Islands in August and had maximum temperatures of 12°C (54F) every single day. We experienced all kinds of Faroe weather with everything from blue skies and sunshine, to mist and the most miserable rain I’ve seen in my life, and everything in between…

Mostly we would get all kinds of weather in one day. Just a few days were completely dry and at times even sunny. And one day it was raining pretty much non-stop from early morning till late in the afternoon. Unfortunately, that was the day when we visited Mykines – a place where yo can hardly hide anywhere. We got soaking wet and freezing cold in no time. Rain pants would have been really handy here!

What to wear when visiting the Faroe Islands?

What to wear and what to pack on the Faroe Islands will depend a bit on the season when you travel. In general, you always need good sturdy waterproof footwear (if you plan to do any hiking, hiking boots are a must!). A waterproof jacket is a must in any season and waterproof pants are really nice to have too. Rain ponchos and umbrellas are pretty much useless due to high winds.

Even in summer, you should pack a warm hat, shawl/buff, and gloves . Make sure you have several layers of clothing as the weather changes all the time. We had days where we started out with 4 layers (t-shirt, two sweaters, and a rain jacket), and then went to 1, and back to 4 again.

Most tourists we met at the hotels wore jeans and casual sweaters, but remember that jeans are really the worst type of clothing to wear if it rains. We wore our hiking pants pretty much the entire vacation. They are light and dry quickly. Yet, we really regretted we didn’t take rain pants . When it rains, it pours down, and you get soaking wet in a matter of minutes.

I don’t think your packing list will differ much from summer to winter, just in winter, you’ll need a warmer jacket, warmer socks, and more layers (ideally wool). Thermal merino wool underwear is a must for destinations like the Faroe Islands (I wore mine in August).

What are the best places to see on the Faroe Islands

The best places to see on the Faroe Islands include Tinganes in Torshavn, Kirkjubøur, Saksun, and Tjornuvik villages, Gjogv, Kallur Lighthouse on Kalsoy Island, Múlafossur Waterfall near Gasadalur, the famous view from Trælanípa hike, the bird cliffs of Vestmanna or Hestur, and of course Mykines Island.

There are obviously many more stunning locations that are well worth a visit, but – in my opinion – the ones listed above are really not to be missed on any visit to the Faroe Islands.

TIP: If you don’t know where to start and don’t want to worry about roads, ferry schedules, or travel planning, consider booking organized day tours .

There are also multi-day packages that bring you to the best places of the Faroe Islands on organized day trips from Torshavn. So you stay in the same hotel every day and have a local guide pick you up for the day. The most popular option is this 6-day guided tour package – it covers all the musts!

An old-fashioned paper travel guide is also nice to have if you have more time to explore the islands or if you want to learn more about the places that you are visiting.

What are the most beautiful hikes of the Faroe Islands

The Faroe Islands have a lot of hiking possibilities. But not all hikes are worth your time equally.

In my opinion, the best hikes of the Faroe Islands are: Villingardalsfjall and Enniberg (Viðoy island), Kallur Lighthouse (Kalsoy island), Trælanípa – Bøsdalafossur (Vagar island), Mykinesholmur (Mykines Island), Saksun – út á Lónna (Streymoy island).

LEARN MORE: Hiking in the Faroe Islands

What kind of money do they use on the Faroe Islands and do you need cash?

Faroe Islands use the Danish krona (DKK). You can get some cash from an ATM at the airport or in bigger towns. We found that you don’t really need cash when traveling in the Faroe Islands – pretty much everything can be paid by credit card.

We took some cash because one of the accommodations required cash payment, but that was the only time we used it.

How expensive are the Faroe Islands

Despite its remote location, Faroe Islands are more affordable than I thought. I expected Faroe Islands to be as expensive as Iceland , but was pleasantly surprised that it wasn’t the case.

Just like anywhere else in the world, there are big differences in what food costs at an upscale restaurant in the capital city or a pizzeria in a small town.

After the initial shock of seeing 50-70EUR dishes at some fancy restaurants in Torshavn downtown, somehow we managed to find affordable meals for our family during the whole 10-night stay on the Faroe Islands.

We had a 50 EUR/adult dinner buffet at our hotel in Torshavn, while the evening before we spent just 48 EUR for 5 meals. We paid 12 EUR fish&chips/person in Klaksvik, and a total of 60 EUR for pizza and drinks for the whole family at the best pizza place on the Faroe Islands – Joe Pizza in Hvalvik.

Smidjan restaurant on Vagar island (not far from the airport) also has simple food at normal prices. Kids’ menu costs just around 9 EUR, fish & chips – 12 EUR, the most expensive big pizza – 20EUR.

Fuel is much cheaper on the Faroe Islands than in Western Europe.

Hotel prices in the Faroe Islands are somewhat in line with those in other Scandinavian countries. We paid as much as 310 EUR/ night for a family room including breakfast in Torshavn and as little as 110 EUR/ night for a 3-bedroom house on Suduroy island. Most other accommodations cost us around 200 EUR/night. Note that we traveled with 5 people: 2 adults and 3 kids.

Car rental is quite expensive on the Faroe Islands, but not more than in Iceland or Norway (it’s also much more affordable if booked in advance). We rented a big SUV for 10 days and paid around 830 EUR, which is about the same as we paid in Norway for a somewhat smaller car. Check here for the best car rental prices .

Ferries and public transport are subsidized and therefore not expensive at all. Just to give you an idea, Mykines ferry was the most expensive route we took without a car, it cost 120 DKK (16 EUR)/adult return. Return fare on a ferry to Suduroy island was 225 DKK (30 EUR) for a car and a driver. A 7-day unlimited ferry & bus pass costs 700 DKK (95 EUR).

Buses within Torshavn are free of charge.

Guided tours in the Faroe Islands aren’t cheap, however, they usually include everything and allow you to see a lot in a short time. Here you can find the biggest selection of guided day trips and tours in the Faroe Islands .

Is it easy to find where to eat on the Faroe Islands?

All bigger towns on the Faroe Islands have restaurants and supermarkets . For example, in Torshavn, you’ll find a big shopping center and all types of restaurants: everything from Burger King, upscale restaurants, and everything in between. But it’s not the case outside Torshavn.

Most restaurants in smaller towns are only open in the evenings. There are also many small villages that have no restaurants or even cafés at all.

If you get the Faroe Islands tourist map at the airport, you’ll see that it shows all the facilities, including restaurants and petrol stations. But even then, it’s possible that some restaurants in remote villages are only open in high season, or just on certain days…

To be on the safe side, we always recommend packing a picnic for lunch . It gives you complete flexibility and is truly the best way to not have to worry about finding food along the way.

Where can I buy alcohol on the Faroe Islands?

Just like Iceland, the Faroe Islands have quite strict rules when it comes to buying alcohol . You won’t find alcoholic drinks over 2.8% vol at the supermarkets. All stronger alcoholic beverages are only sold by Rúsdrekkasøla Landsins, which has six shops on the islands.

You can get alcohol at the restaurants, but if you want to buy some, the easiest place to do so is the Duty-Free shop at the airport.

Do they speak English in the Faroe Islands?

The official language on the Faroe Islands is Faroese, but everyone we met on the Faroe spoke perfect English. So you should have no problem communicating with most locals.

Do EU roaming regulations count on the Faroe Islands?

EU roaming regulations do not count on the Faroe Islands (not for us coming from Belgium, in any case). This means that you’ll either have to get a local SIM card or pay roaming fees when using your mobile phone connection in the Faroe Islands.

The good news is that pretty much all accommodations and a few other places like some restaurants and even ferries offer free wi-fi .

Is it safe to travel to the Faroe Islands?

Yes, it’s absolutely safe to travel in the Faroe Islands. In fact, I think the Faroe has the lowest crime rate of any place we’ve ever visited. Probably the biggest danger in the Faroe Islands is going too close to the edge of the cliffs or driving in the mist.

Where can I see puffins in the Faroe Islands?

Before we talk about the best places to see puffins on the Faroe Islands, you should know that you can only see them in summer. Best time to see puffins on the Faroe Islands is from May till late August; if you’re lucky, they might be around from mid-April till mid-September.

Mykines island is without any doubt the best place to see puffins from close by on the Faroe Islands. Vestmanna or RIB62 boat tours go to bird cliffs and you’ll see a lot of puffins as well, however, from a much bigger distance.

There are also big puffin colonies on many other locations all over the Faroe Islands, but the chances to see them from close by are minimal. We spotted puffins in Gjogv, but they were really far.

Here you can book a guided tour to Mykines island with a local .

What kind of lenses to pack for photography on the Faroe Islands?

I used two lenses during our Faroe Islands trip: 70-200mm telephoto lens for puffins and a wide-angle 16-35mm lens for landscapes and all the rest. You really need a wide-angle lens for the Faroe Islands!

READ ALSO: Travel Photography Tips

What kind of electrical plugs do they use on the Faroe Islands?

Faroe Islands use European electricity plugs (220-230 volts AC (50 Hz)). If you are coming from outside continental Europe, you’ll need to use European adapter plugs .

Whaling on the Faroe Islands

Unfortunately, the Faroe Islands is one of the few places in the world that still allow whaling . If you travel in the Faroe Islands towards the end of the summer, the chances are high that you’ll be an involuntary witness of whale slaughter.

I don’t want to go into a discussion about whaling, the reasons behind it, and the century-old whaling traditions in the Faroe Islands. I just want to tell you this – if you don’t want to see it, do yourself a favor and don’t stop next to the bay where there are lots of cars parked by the road.

We saw boats in the water and all those smiling families with kids walking along the road to the bay and thought it was some kind of a local market or celebration. By the time we realized what was happening and why the sea was bright red, it was too late… We found ourselves standing on the beach surrounded by tens of dead pilot whales… So the next time we saw hundreds of cars parked by the road and tens of boats in the water, we quickly drove away…

It was a heartbreaking sight for us and I hope and strongly believe that increasing tourism and awareness will make an end to this centuries-old whaling tradition in the Faroe Islands. But in the meantime, as hard as it is to understand, try to remember that you’re just a guest here.

So, these are my tips and practical information for your visit to the Faroe Islands . Want to add anything or ask a question? You can do so by leaving a reply below.

If interested, you can also join our Facebook group for Scandinavia travel and ask your questions/ share experiences there.

Summary of the most popular FAQs

While every season has its charms, the best time to visit the Faroe Islands is between May and September. June, July, and August are the most popular months with the best weather.

While you can expect to see puffins in the Faroe Islands between mid-April to September, the best time to see puffins is between May and mid-August.

Yes, you can visit the Faroe Islands at any time of the year. However, some places on the more remote islands might not be easily accessible in the low season, and tourist facilities outside Torshavn are limited in winter.

Faroe Islands is not a cheap destination, but it’s cheaper than e.g. Iceland. With good planning and smart budgeting, you can make your trip quite affordable. For example, accommodation and restaurants outside of Torshavn are much cheaper than in the city and public transport is very cheap too.

Faroese is the official language on the Faroe Islands, but everyone we met in the Faroe Islands spoke perfect English.

Yes, you can easily visit the most popular places in the Faroe Islands by car. The main islands are connected with bridges and undersea tunnels and there are also car ferries to the other islands. Some islands like Mykines cannot be visited by car, but you can get there by boat or by helicopter.

Depending on where you are coming from, you can visit the Faroe Islands in your own car. There are car ferries between the Faroe Islands and Iceland and also between the Faroe Islands and Denmark.

Yes, the Faroe Islands is a very safe travel destination, probably one of the safest places in the world. The biggest danger is running into some sheep on the road.

More tips for visiting the Faroe Islands:

• Hiking: Best Hikes in the Faroe Islands
• Accommodation: Faroe Islands Hotels

READ ALSO our suggestions for the Faroe Islands itinerary (any duration)

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Thursday 18th of January 2024

Hi Jurga, Thank you for your valuable insight on the Faroe Islands. It looks lovely. We're looking at visiting the Faroe Islands summer of 2024. I'll be traveling with 3 children. I've heard about the Grindadrap. I understand it takes place anywhere between May - September (perhaps multiple times). I respect other cultures and their traditions but I'd rather not be there during this event with my children. From what I've read the time and where it occurs really depends upon when whales and dolphins are spotted. Anyone have any additional information that might be helpful regarding this? I reached out to the tourism office but haven't heard from them.

Friday 19th of January 2024

Hi Monica, I understand your concern, but if you ever want to visit the Faroe Islands, you just have to accept that whaling is still a thing there. Based on our personal experience, I can tell you that there is indeed a chance of running into such an event when traveling around. And no, there is no way to predict it. It can occur anywhere and at any time. We saw it twice during our visit. On one occasion, we saw red sea from far, before we even got closer. On another occasion, we saw boats behind whales still in the water. In most cases, even if you see something going on, you can just drive by without actually seeing much, but sometimes you can't avoid seeing certain things, especially if the road passes close to a harbor. However, it's just as likely that you won't witness any of this during your trip at all. So it's really up to you to decide. If you absolutely want to avoid even the smallest chance of seeing any of this, then you would have to research which season is 'safe' and travel at that time. Or go somewhere else. Iceland is a great alternative and very nice to do with kids. Our kids loved all the hot pools everywhere. Whatever you decide, for this summer, you have to book asap. Both - the Faroe Islands and Iceland have quite limited accommodation options outside the capital region so it quickly books up. We have tons of information about visiting Iceland on our blog, if you're interested.

Thursday 17th of August 2023

Just read that a weekly flight from New York is starting up. Hope they are ready for an explosion of tourism.

I'm not sure they are ready for a big influx of tourists even on the main islands, let alone the smaller ones... The future will tell, I suppose.

Monday 1st of May 2023

Hi Jurga, Do you know how much does each ferry ride cost (to Nolsoy and Kalsoy)? The website doesn't seem to indicate, and I am wondering if I should purchase the travel card if I am going each island once. Do I purchase the ticket at the port on the day I am taking the ferry?

Tuesday 2nd of May 2023

Hi Jean, we just got all our tickets at the harbor. I don't remember the prices anymore, but it wasn't expensive at all. It's a local (and I think heavily subsidized) public transport, so the prices are very reasonable.

Glenda Hills

Sunday 23rd of April 2023

Your blog is FANTASTIC ... thank you. I'm seriously considering travelling to the Faroe Islands in September 2024 with a photography group and your information is ever so helpful.

Glad to hear that, Glenda. The Faroe Islands is a beautiful destination for a photo tour!

Saturday 25th of February 2023

Hi, do you know how likely are they to cancel ferries to Mykines Island? I have the visit to Mykines at the end of my trip and I am thinking if I should extend my stay for a day in case the plan falls through, so I can reschedule and try again. Any advice?

Sunday 26th of February 2023

Hi Jean, there is no way anyone can tell you in advance how likely it is that the ferry gets canceled. It really depends on the weather, and yes, it can happen. So yes, it can be a good idea to foresee some flexibility in your travel plans.

Faroe Islands Travel Guide: the ultimate 10 recommendations

Welcome to the ultimate travel guide to the Faroe Islands, a destination of rugged beauty and unspoiled landscapes that beckon travelers seeking an extraordinary adventure. If you’ve ever dreamed of exploring a remote and breathtakingly scenic destination, you’re in for a treat. My mission in this blog post is to equip you with the most practical and comprehensive information on how to plan your perfect Faroe Islands getaway. I’ll take you on a journey through the essential details, from understanding the unique geography and location of these North Atlantic gems to providing expert insights on booking the best trip.

In this travel guide, I aim to demystify the Faroe Islands, helping you navigate the logistics and create a memorable travel experience. You’ll discover the where, when, and how of visiting this remote archipelago, as well as invaluable tips on making the most of your time there. Whether you’re a nature enthusiast, an adventure seeker, or a photographer looking for the perfect shot, this post is your one-stop resource for everything Faroe Islands.

So, fasten your seatbelts and get ready to embark on an unforgettable journey. By the time you’ve finished reading, you’ll have all the practical information you need to book the best trip to the Faroe Islands and create memories that will last a lifetime. Let’s dive into this remote and captivating destination together, step by step.

Where are the Faroe Islands located?

The Faroe Islands are nestled in the North Atlantic Ocean, situated approximately halfway between Iceland and Norway. Geographically, they are located about 320 kilometers (200 miles) northwest of Scotland. This remote and rugged destination, often described as a hidden gem of the North Atlantic, is an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark. Comprising 18 main islands and several smaller islets, the Faroe Islands offer a breathtaking landscape of dramatic cliffs, lush valleys, and pristine fjords. Its unique location, characterized by the cool North Atlantic waters and the influence of the Gulf Stream, results in a mild maritime climate, making it an attractive destination for travelers seeking natural beauty and outdoor adventures. The Faroe Islands, with their distinctive location and captivating scenery, beckon explorers and nature enthusiasts to discover their remote charm and extraordinary landscapes, truly living up to the dream of an off-the-beaten-path travel destination.

Faroe Islands: how to get there?

Getting to the Faroe Islands is more convenient than ever, thanks to the new direct routes offered by Atlantic Airways, the national airline of the Faroe Islands. This company has a rich history dating back to its establishment in 1987. Originally founded as a helicopter company, it quickly expanded to include fixed-wing aircraft, becoming a pivotal player in connecting these remote islands to the world.

If you’re traveling from Europe , you’re in for a real treat. Atlantic Airways has recently launched a direct route from Paris ( France ) to the Faroe Islands, making the journey smoother and more accessible than ever before.

This direct flight from Paris to Vágar Airport significantly cuts down travel time, allowing you to dive right into the Faroese experience. But that’s not all – Atlantic Airways also offers direct routes from other major European cities, including Copenhagen (Denmark), Reykjavik (Iceland) and Edinburgh (Scotland). With a well-connected network and these direct routes, reaching this remote paradise in the North Atlantic has never been easier. So wherever you’re flying from, Atlantic Airways has you covered, ensuring a convenient and comfortable journey to the Faroe Islands.

Travelers coming from North America or other international destinations may consider flying into one of these major European cities. So, whether you’re flying from Paris, Copenhagen, Reykjavik, or Edinburgh, Atlantic Airways, with its strong history and commitment to exceptional service, has you covered, ensuring a convenient and comfortable journey to the Faroe Islands.

Book your flight here!

If you prefer sea travel, you can explore the possibility of taking a ferry from Iceland, which offers a scenic maritime adventure with breathtaking views of the Faroese landscape. Regardless of your choice, these options ensure that your adventure to the Faroe Islands is not only accessible but also a memorable part of your overall travel experience.

Faroe Islands: travel tips

• Language: Faroese is the official language, but most Faroese people also speak Danish and often English. English is commonly used in the tourism industry.
• Weather Preparedness: Be ready for unpredictable weather. Pack layers, a waterproof jacket, and sturdy, waterproof footwear. Regardless of the season, rain is always a possibility.
• Transportation: Public transportation is limited, so consider renting a car to explore the islands independently. Roads are well-maintained but can be narrow and winding, so drive with caution. Rent a car here.
• Respect the Environment: The Faroe Islands’ natural beauty is pristine. Respect the environment by staying on marked paths, not disturbing wildlife, and properly disposing of your waste.
• Camping: Wild camping is not allowed, but campsites are available for a fee.
• Alcohol: The Faroe Islands have strict alcohol regulations. You can only buy alcohol at government-operated stores, and it can be quite expensive. Consider purchasing alcohol at duty-free shops in the airport upon arrival.
• Safety: The Faroe Islands are considered very safe. However, be cautious when hiking, as the terrain can be challenging and the weather unpredictable.
• Cultural Etiquette: While the Faroe Islands are fairly relaxed, it’s important to be respectful of local customs and traditions. Greet locals with a smile and a nod when passing on the street.
• Internet and Mobile Coverage: Internet and mobile coverage are generally good, but be aware that in very remote areas, you may experience limited connectivity.
• Photography: The Faroe Islands offer countless photo opportunities. However, always ask for permission before taking pictures of local residents, and respect any restricted areas or “no photography” signs. Drone photography is allowed in the Faroe Islands and offers unparalleled perspectives of the dramatic landscapes. While it’s a fantastic way to capture the rugged beauty, there are strict regulations. Ensure you familiarize yourself with the specific rules and limitations, including no-fly zones and privacy considerations.

Faroe Islands Currency

In the Faroe Islands, the official currency is the Danish Krone (DKK), and in addition to the DKK, the Faroese Króna (FKR) is also in circulation. While credit and debit cards are widely accepted in most places, it’s advisable to carry some cash, especially for smaller purchases and in more remote areas where card facilities might be limited. You’ll find ATMs available in towns and larger villages, and both Danish Krone (DKK) and Faroese Króna (FKR) are widely accepted, making it convenient for travelers as you can use either currency for your transactions in most places across the Faroe Islands. Keep in mind that the Faroe Islands are part of the Kingdom of Denmark, and the currency used here includes both DKK and FKR, with the exchange rate being 1 DKK = 1 FKR.

Faroe Islands Weather

Understanding the Faroe Islands’ ever-changing weather is not just practical; it’s essential for planning a successful trip to this enchanting archipelago. The Faroe Islands’ climate is characterized by its maritime influences and dramatic seasonal shifts, each offering a unique atmosphere and set of experiences for travelers. In this section, I’ll take you on a journey through the seasons, delving into what you can expect in terms of weather and how it can impact your travel plans. From the vibrant awakening of spring to the tranquility of winter’s solitude, I’ll provide you with the insights you need to choose the perfect time to explore the Faroe Islands and pack accordingly. So, let’s dive into the ever-shifting skies and discover the captivating weather patterns that shape this remote and breathtaking destination.

Spring in the Faroe Islands

Spring in the Faroe Islands, which typically spans from March to May, is a season of awakening. The islands burst into life as the winter frost recedes, and nature reclaims its vibrancy. While temperatures remain on the cool side, ranging from 5°C to 10°C (41°F to 50°F), the Faroes come alive with colorful flora and lush green landscapes. It’s an excellent time for birdwatching, with countless seabirds returning to their nesting grounds. Be prepared for frequent rain showers and ever-changing weather, so packing layers and waterproof gear is essential.

Summer in the Faroe Islands

Summer in the Faroe Islands, from June to August, is the most popular time to visit. With temperatures ranging from 10°C to 15°C (50°F to 59°F), this is the warmest season, and the days are long, often with nearly 24 hours of daylight. It’s an ideal time for hiking, wildlife exploration, and outdoor activities. The landscapes are at their most picturesque, with vibrant green valleys, wildflowers in bloom, and abundant birdlife. But don’t forget your raincoat, as the islands are still subject to frequent rainfall, even in summer.

Autumn in the Faroe Islands

Autumn, from September to November, ushers in a season of dramatic landscapes and fewer tourists. The temperatures start to drop, ranging from 8°C to 12°C (46°F to 54°F). This season offers a unique blend of fading summer colors and the emergence of stunning fall foliage. It’s an excellent time for photography, as the changing light and weather patterns create captivating scenes. Be prepared for more unpredictable weather and shorter days as the Faroe Islands transition into winter.

Winter in the Faroe Islands

Winter in the Faroe Islands, from December to February, is a time of stark beauty and tranquility. Daylight hours are limited, with only a few hours of dim sunlight each day, and temperatures range from 3°C to 7°C (37°F to 45°F). While it’s the coldest and darkest season, it has its own charm. It’s the best time to witness the Northern Lights, and if you’re a fan of cozy atmospheres and solitude, this is the season for you. Be ready for wet and windy weather, as winter storms can be quite powerful.

Understanding the distinct characteristics of each season in the Faroe Islands is vital for planning the timing of your trip and packing appropriate clothing and gear. Whether you’re seeking the vibrant life of summer or the serene solitude of winter, the Faroes offer unique experiences throughout the year.

Faroe Islands Map: how to travel within the country

Navigating the Faroe Islands is an adventure in itself, offering diverse modes of transport for exploration. Renting a car is a popular choice, providing flexibility to traverse the islands at your own pace, taking in the scenic routes and stopping at various viewpoints. Ferries play a crucial role in connecting some of the more remote islands, offering a picturesque maritime journey between these stunning landscapes. During the high season, helicopter services further enhance accessibility, providing a unique and efficient way to hop between islands, granting awe-inspiring aerial views of the archipelago. Each mode of travel in the Faroe Islands contributes to the overall experience, allowing visitors to immerse themselves in the unique beauty and varied landscapes of this remote destination.

Driving in the Faroe Islands offers an excellent way to explore the breathtaking landscapes, but it comes with its own set of considerations. The network of roads includes some incredible engineering feats like underwater tunnels, connecting various islands. Tolls are applicable for these tunnels, usually ranging from 100 to 250 DKK (Danish Krone) depending on the tunnel and vehicle size. As for road conditions, the Faroes’ serpentine routes can be narrow and winding, so drivers should exercise caution, especially in unpredictable weather.

Wildlife, such as sheep and birds, freely roam, so keeping an eye out for them is crucial to prevent accidents. Speed limits are typically around 50-60 km/h in towns and 80 km/h on rural roads. Renting a car from a reliable company can enhance your travel experience, providing well-maintained vehicles and local expertise. Rent your car here!

Ferries in the Faroe Islands form a vital link between several islands, facilitating exploration and travel. Routes typically connect Torshavn, the capital, with outlying islands like Nólsoy, Hestur, Koltur, and Sandoy. The pricing and schedules for these ferries can vary depending on the season, so it’s advisable to check the official website of the Strandfaraskip Landsins (SSL), the national ferry company, for up-to-date information. Generally, tickets for foot passengers are reasonably priced, while costs for bringing vehicles aboard differ based on size and destination. Schedules are usually accommodating, providing multiple daily trips, especially during the high season, but it’s recommended to plan ahead, considering that weather conditions can occasionally impact the ferry services. The SSL website typically provides comprehensive details on schedules, ticket prices, and any additional information necessary for a smooth ferry experience across the Faroe Islands.

Helicopter rides

Helicopter services in the Faroe Islands offer an exceptional and scenic mode of travel, particularly during the high season. Operated by Atlantic Airways, the helicopter routes typically function from May to August, catering to both locals and tourists. These services connect the islands of Torshavn, Vágar, Mykines, and other smaller isles. Prices for helicopter rides can vary based on the specific route and the season, with costs typically higher during the peak summer months. It’s recommended to book these flights in advance due to their popularity, and also to account for potential weather-related disruptions, as the Faroe Islands’ climate can influence flight schedules. These helicopter journeys not only provide a quick and efficient way to access more remote or smaller islands but also offer breathtaking aerial views of the rugged landscapes, making the travel experience an adventure in itself. For updated information on schedules, prices, and routes, it’s advisable to check the Atlantic Airways website or contact their customer service for any additional details necessary for planning helicopter rides within the Faroe Islands.

Faroe Islands: high season vs low season

The Faroe Islands experience distinct high and low seasons, each offering unique experiences for visitors. The high season typically spans from May to August, drawing in travelers eager to explore the islands during the milder, more accommodating weather. These months see longer days, making it perfect for outdoor activities, including hiking, birdwatching, and enjoying the stunning landscapes. As for the low season, which begins in September and lasts through April, it introduces a different ambiance. With the changing weather, shorter days, and often inclement conditions, it’s a time when the islands adopt a quieter rhythm. Notably, from October 1st, many tourist facilities, including restaurants and some accommodations, start to wind down or even close for the season. While this might limit certain amenities, the low season offers the opportunity for a more serene and authentic experience, often appreciated by those seeking solitude and a closer connection with the Faroes’ raw beauty.

Where to stay in the Faroe Islands?

Strategic accommodation in the Faroe Islands often centers around Tórshavn, the capital, due to its central location and range of amenities. This puts visitors within reach of most of the archipelago’s attractions. The city offers various hotel options, from boutique stays to larger chains, catering to different preferences and budgets.

Some noteworthy hotels offering a comfortable and convenient base for exploration in Tórshavn include:

• Hilton Garden Inn Faroe Islands
• Hotel Føroyar
• Havgrim Seaside Hotel 1948
• Hotel Brandan
• Hotel Hafnia

For those seeking a more remote experience, options extend to the outer islands, offering a chance to immerse in the untouched landscapes and smaller communities. These remote stays might include guesthouses or smaller hotels in areas like Klaksvík, Gjógv, or even Mykines.

Staying with locals via platforms like Airbnb also provides an intimate experience, allowing visitors to embrace the local way of life, gain insider tips, and savor the unique Faroese hospitality in homes scattered across the islands.

One of my favorites is a farm located in Æðuvík . It is owned by Harriet, a female farmer who also sell her pictures. She takes gorgeous photographs of her animals and is currently really invested into saving the Faroese horses breed (there are only 89 left in the world at the time of writing)

Where to eat and drink in the Faroe Islands?

Here’s a list of some exceptional dining spots that offer a taste of the local flavors and global cuisines:

• Koks: Located in Kirkjubøur, this two Michelin stars restaurant is renowned for its innovative take on traditional Faroese dishes, providing an exquisite dining experience.
• Áarstova: Situated in Tórshavn, Áarstova serves up authentic Faroese cuisine, specializing in dishes like skerpikjøt (wind-dried mutton) and ræst kjøt (fermented mutton).
• Ræst: Another Michelin restaurant. Situated in Tórshavn, Ræst offers a unique dining experience where traditional Faroese ingredients are fermented and transformed into delectable dishes.
• Barbara Fish House: Located in Tórshavn, Barbara Fish House offers a casual and cozy atmosphere, with a focus on locally sourced and beautifully crafted seafood delicacies.
• Katrina Christiansen: In Tórshavn, Katrina Christiansen’s restaurant presents a fusion of local ingredients in tapas style dishes.
• Suppugarðurin : Found in Tórshavn, Suppugarðurin is a Japanese restaurant known for its authentic and meticulously prepared dishes, offering a taste of Japan in the heart of the Faroe Islands.

The best way to really experience a culture is to integrate with the locals. And in the Faroes, you can dine in the homes of Faroese people. This is called “ Heimablídni “, which translates directly as “home hospitality”. You can enjoy authentic and intimate dining experiences in people’s homes all across the islands. Find the list of places that offers Heimablídni here .

If you are craving a typical nordic cinnamon bun, or any pastry, check out Breyðvirkið Bakery. Located in Tórshavn, Breyðvirkið Bakery is known for its delightful array of baked goods, offering a variety of freshly made bread and pastries, adding a touch of local flavors to Tórshavn’s culinary scene.

The Faroe Islands also offer a range of spots to unwind and enjoy a drink. Here’s a list of places where you can savor your favorite beverage while soaking in the local ambiance:

• Sirkus Bar – Located in Tórshavn, this trendy bar offers a lively atmosphere and a wide selection of drinks, often hosting live music and events.
• Mikkeller Tórshavn – A craft beer bar situated in Tórshavn, offering an array of unique and flavorful beers, perfect for beer enthusiasts.
• Paname Café: In Tórshavn, Paname Café offers a cozy ambiance and a range of delicious pastries and light meals, providing a taste of French-inspired cuisine in the heart of the Faroe Islands.
• Fríða Kaffihús: Situated in Klaksvík, Fríða Kaffihús offers a cozy and welcoming atmosphere, known for its delightful selection of coffee and light bites, creating a charming spot for a relaxing break in Klaksvík.
• Kaffihúsið Tórshavn – A cozy café in Tórshavn serving various beverages, including coffee, tea, and a selection of wines and spirits.

Faroe Islands: Best things to do

The Faroe Islands offer a myriad of experiences for every traveler. From hiking the scenic trails that reveal breathtaking vistas to exploring charming villages steeped in history, there’s something for everyone. Nature enthusiasts can revel in birdwatching along the stunning cliffs, while photographers can capture the ethereal landscapes at every turn. Whether it’s savoring traditional Faroese cuisine, delving into the local culture, or embarking on exhilarating outdoor adventures, the Faroes promise an unforgettable journey. For a deeper dive into the best activities this captivating destination has to offer check out my dedicated blog post on the best things to do in the Faroe Islands .

You may also enjoy:

The 15 best things to do in the ….

Wild camping is actualy not allowed in the Faroe Islands. Tourist are generally expected to stay at camp sites. It is though possible to get permission from the farmers to set up a tent on their land, but that option is restricted due to sheeps and other farming considerations and is often not an option.

Thanks for letting me know. I’ve corrected the article 🙂

Great article about the lovely Faroe Islands, with loads of helpful information. I just have one correction regarding camping, it is NOT allowed to do wild camping, camping is exclusively allowed at camping sites. If you want to do wild camping, you need to contact the landowner in the area you want to camp and ask for permission, since all the land in the outfield is privately owned, and primarily for sheep to graze on. 🙂

Thank you for letting me know. I’ve corrected it!

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How to get to the Faroe Islands

The  Faroe Islands  is an archipelago of 18 islands located about halfway between Iceland and the Shetland Islands in the North Atlantic Ocean. To get there you'll need to fly or take a ferry.

Flying is the most convenient way to get to the Faroes. Vágar Airport , located on the island of Vágar, is the archipelago's only commercial airport. You can fly direct to Vágar with Atlantic Airways and Scandinavian Airlines from various European cities throughout the year, including Copenhagen, Reykjavik, Bergen, Paris and Edinburgh .

There are more flights in the summer months (June-August) from other European destinations such as the Canary Islands, Barcelona, Crete, Malta and Mallorca.

From Vágar Airport, you can either rent a car, take a public bus or jump in a taxi to the main island of Streymoy where the capital city of Tórshavn is located. The drive to Tórshavn takes around 40 minutes.

You can take a ferry to Tórshavn on Smyril Line's M/S Norröna. The service travels between Hirtshals in Denmark and Seyðisfjørður in Iceland via Vágar. There are two weekly departures in the high season (July-August), and one crossing per week during the rest of the year.

You can travel as a foot passenger or bring your vehicle. The ship has a cafeteria that serves Scandinavian specialties, a gourmet restaurant, a cinema, a shop and a swimming pool.

The journey is around 35 hours, so it may not be a good option if you're on a tight schedule (or prone to seasickness!). However, it offers amazing scenery as you approach the islands; if you’re really lucky, you may spot a whale from the deck.

Tunnels and bridges connect the main islands so you can travel around easily if you have a car. If you want to go to the other islands, you’ll need to take a ferry which is relatively easy and cheap to do.

Three subsea tunnels connect the seven largest islands (Streymoy, Eysturoy, Vágar, Suduroy, Sandoy, Bordoy and Svínoy):

• Vágatunnilin: connects the western island of Vágar (Airport) to the island of Streymoy
• Norðoyartunnilin: connects the northern island of Borðoy (Klaksvík) to the island of Eysturoy (Leirvík)
• Eysturoyartunnilin: connects the island of Streymoy with the island of Eysturoy.

All main highways are paved, but there are gravel roads in some of the more remote villages so ensure you take extra care when driving. Driving is on the right side of the road and you'll need to pay a toll to use the subsea tunnels.

There are no toll pay stations at the tunnel entrances, so you must pay at one of the following petrol stations within three days of the journey:

• Effo, Kollafjørður
• Effo, Gundadalur
• Effo, Klaksvík
• Magn, Klaksvík
• Magn, Gøtudalur
• Effo, Leirvík
• Magn, Miðvágur

It's fairly easy to get around without a car thanks to the islands' public transport network. Ferries connect most islands, and buses connect most of the main villages once you’re on land.

One of the great things about taking the bus in Tórshavn is that it's free. However, you’ll need to work around departure times, which might not be ideal if you’re pushed for time or battling against the rain (which is very common as it rains a lot here).

There's also a helicopter that services the Faroe Islands. It's used mainly by locals to get around or to deliver goods, but you can sometimes do a single trip if it's not too busy and there's a spare seat. Tickets are cheap, but there are only 12 seats so make sure you book in advance.

£129 Find cheap flights from Scotland to the Faroe Islands

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Good to know - Cheap tickets from Scotland to the Faroe Islands

Faqs for booking flights from scotland to the faroe islands, how does kayak find such low prices on flights from scotland to the faroe islands.

KAYAK is a travel search engine. That means we look across the web to find the best prices we can find for our users. With over 2 billion flight queries processed yearly, we are able to display a variety of prices and options on flights from Scotland to the Faroe Islands.

How does KAYAK's flight Price Forecast tool help me choose the right time to buy my flight ticket from Scotland to the Faroe Islands?

KAYAK’s flight Price Forecast tool uses historical data to determine whether the price for a flight to the Faroe Islands from Scotland is likely to change within 7 days, so travelers know whether to wait or book now.

What is the Hacker Fare option on flights from Scotland to the Faroe Islands?

Hacker Fares allow you to combine one-way tickets in order to save you money over a traditional return ticket. You could then fly to the Faroe Islands with an airline and back to Scotland with another airline.

What is KAYAK's "flexible dates" feature and why should I care when looking for a flight from Scotland to the Faroe Islands?

Sometimes travel dates aren't set in stone. If your preferred travel dates have some wiggle room, flexible dates will show you all the options when flying to the Faroe Islands from Scotland up to 3 days before/after your preferred dates. You can then pick the flights that suit you best.

Book cheap flights from Scotland to the Faroe Islands

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Another World Adventures

Sail scotland to the faroe islands.

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Experience some of the North Atlantic’s most beautiful and enchanting islands as we sail between Scotland and the Faroe Islands.

Adventure sailing along the West Coast of Scotland to the Faroe Islands will be packed with wind-swept beaches, towering cliffs and remote island communities which are the hallmarks of this stunning route.

There’s time to pull on your hiking boots and explore ashore, as well as a fantastic 48h offshore passage to the Faroes, so this is a great trip for those wanting to develop offshore sailing skills and also have a true adventure holiday.

During your sailing adventure you’ll be on board as guest crew with up to eight other sailors alongside two professionals on a 60ft blue water expedition yacht. Onboard expect to learn a lot, brush up skills, explore and have fun with a group of like-minded individuals. With 90% joining these sailing adventures solo it’s usually a 50:50 male and female split. The voyage is ideal for both new and experienced sailors joining solo or in groups. Most routes don’t require previous sailing experience and top quality training on the yacht is embedded into all of them.

Complete an enquiry form for full details!

Why you'll love this adventure

• An exciting offshore adventure with loads of training and skills building
• Great chances to explore ashore
• Perfect for solo travellers

17 June 2024

28 June 2024

1 July 2024

12 July 2024

15 July 2024

26 July 2024

This trip can be tailor made for your perfect travel dates. Please make a booking enquiry for more information.

No two adventure sailing itineraries are the same! That’s what makes it exciting and so special. If you complete an enquiry we can share an indicative guide to the voyage break down from training days, shore days and life at sea, but the wind and the weather ultimately shape what's possible each day - whether the weather is glorious or cold and harsh - but that's what the adventure's all about! Enquire for full details.

What's included

• All food and accommodation on board
• All sailing tuition
• Your own bunk and storage area
• Highest quality lifejacket
• Fladen immersion suits. These will keep you warm in even the coldest, windiest conditions.
• Daily sailing lessons and tuition from two highly experienced instructors.
• RYA sailing qualifications can be earned where applicable.

Not included

• Your travel to and from the start and end points.
• Travel insurance (see our travel insurance page here).
• Any alcohol – but feel free to bring your own or buy some along the route.
• Any meals you eat ashore.
• Any optional paid excursions offered by the crew.

Accommodation

The 60 foot ocean going expedition yacht was previously a round the world race boat and was built for adventure sailing and long distance blue water sailing! The accommodation on the yacht is comfortable, warm and spacious. Each bunk is 6′ 7″ long and has its own USB charger and light. There are two toilets, a shower, hot water and lots of food!

You get your own bunk on board and sleeping is in one 8 berth cabin not private cabins. This gives everyone plenty of space and each bunk has a lee cloth that you can pull up for a cozy private sleep. 

The expedition yacht has two heads (toilets) and two showers, a generous accommodation area and a smaller galley (kitchen) and saloon.

In three words… Nutritious, delicious and local. Expect to eat very well on board! Ocean sailing is an exercise in using food creatively but you can experience lovely warm meals, as much as you can eat, freshly baked bread and more. The operator can cater for most diets and have loads of fruit and veggies on board. If you have any severe allergies you must check before booking. 

Everyone takes their turn at cooking. Don’t panic if you’re not much of a chef – you’ll get paired up with someone else, and the skipper will provide recipes as needed. 

In Norway maybe you’ll have roast lamb with all the trimmings, in the Caribbean it may be baked plantain with ackee and butterbeans, and in the Azores, the crew look to find some of their famously sweet pineapples.

Who is this trip for?

Age and Experience : These adventure sailing holidays are open to anyone aged 18 – 70 years. Previous sailing experience is not always required so ask and we’ll share full details on the route. 

Fitness to Sail: We believe that as many people as possible should be able to head out to sea and have a great adventure. However, it is essential for everyone’s safety that you are in a fit enough state to be on board.

Ability to complete the five exercises is a prerequisite for joining as a crew member.

Be able to lift 2 full bags of shopping five times, ten jumps with raised arms, stand on each leg for a minimum of five seconds, ten squats, ten step ups.

The exercises are not designed to be physically taxing and almost everyone should be able to complete them. Rather they are in place to check that you have the stability and basic physical condition to be on-board. If when you join the vessel the skipper believes you are not capable of completing these exercises, you will probably not be allowed to embark.

If you have any doubts at all about your ability to complete these exercises safely, you must contact your doctor before attempting them.

Additional notes

An adventure sailing holiday on board an expedition yacht is unlike any other type of holiday you could choose. It’s all about teamwork. Everyone gets involved in every task – cooking, cleaning, prepping, navigating, steering and trimming sails. The skipper and mate are there to show you how and keep things nicely organised to make for a happy crew on board. If you are looking for a beach holiday or a skippered charter, these sailing adventures are not for you. But if you want to be an integral part of an exciting expedition, then you will thrive. Importantly, no one should worry about needing to be good at everything (or anything!).

Do I need sailing experience?

No! All training is provided.

Do people come alone?

Almost everyone comes alone. Couples and groups are very welcome and we do get them. On the whole, however, most crew join solo and so if you are coming alone, you will be one of the crowd!

How many people are on board?

Except in exceptional circumstances, the boat limit the crew size to 9 plus two instructors. This means that there are enough people to sale the boat safely, but you will still have lots of time helming, navigating, trimming sails and such like.

Is this a sailing holiday?

Absolutely. First and foremost, we are here to ensure everyone has an amazing time. Sailing is about having fun, experiencing nature at its most majestic and gently pushing yourself to try and learn new things. These voyages are a unique mix of sailing and training, and you will get far more involvement and training than on any other sailing holiday you may try!

Who else joins?

You’ll be in the company of like minded individuals from all around the world. It’s an even mix of men and women and with an average age of 35-65 but we welcome sailors 18 – 70 years. Experience varies from none at all to Yachtmaster. Most of the crew would describe themselves as having a rusty Day Skipper.

What insurance do I need?

All crew must have adequate travel insurance in place for your sailing holiday. Please make an enquiry for this trip in order to get full details on insurance.

Will I be able to get RYA certification and training?

Training is at the heart of these voyages. The opportunities vary depending on the voyage and your existing experience. On Coastal trips, you can earn the RYA Competent Crew certificate. The price is included in the trip price. On Offshore trips, you can earn the RYA Competent Crew certificate and, with sufficient skills and experience, you can act as a Watch Leader and complete your qualifying passage for RYA Yachtmaster Ocean. 

Can I join as a Watch Leader? 

You may sign on to an ocean trip as Watch Leader providing you have RYA Coastal Skipper or international equivalent or equivalent skills and experience. 

What about my RYA Ocean Qualifying passage?

The Ocean Passage voyages offered by this operator are suitable for Ocean qualifying passages except for the rare exception. Make an enquiry to see if this voyage is suitable. You must have completed a qualifying passage within the past 10 years as skipper or mate in sole charge of a watch on a suitable vessel. You must have been fully involved in the planning of the passage, including selection of the route, the navigational plan, checking the material condition of the vessel and her equipment, storing with spare gear, water and victuals and organising the watch-keeping routine. Your time onboard as a watch leader on board one of the sailing voyages offered by this operator achieves all of these requirements.

Tour operator

We love this sailing company’s ethos – to help people do three things: sail, train and explore. They are passionate about enabling people to experience life out on the open ocean, building sailing skills and exploring some beautiful countries. After years of training people to become professional sailors, and having covered thousands of miles between them, the company Founders realised that so many people had dreamt of setting off across an ocean, but hadn’t the skills, the boat or crew to make those dreams come true.

The company now runs expeditions on a specialised 60’ yacht to some of the most exciting places out there – often largely inaccessible from land. With no previous sailing experience required, the two instructors will guide you every step of the way as you develop your sailing skills, maybe even earning an RYA qualification during the week. Exploring on land as they go is just as important and the bikes and a kayak mean you can head off and enjoy everything there is to see along the route.

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An adventure in the Faroe Islands by land, sea and story

Sep 2, 2022 • 19 min read

Fog rolls in during a hike on the Faroese island of Kalsoy © Sebastian Modak / Lonely Planet

On a sailing and hiking expedition in the remote Faroe Islands, Sebastian Modak finds a place where the lines between myth and history – and beauty and brutality – are undefined.

I woke up to the odd sensation of a cold, wet finger prodding the flesh of my bare arm. The wooden ribs of the ship creaked as I felt myself swaying from side to side in my bunk. 

“Quick! Wake up and come up on deck,” a voice insisted, as the finger slipped through a gap in the bunk’s curtain and poked me again. “The sun’s out.” 

I was learning two things. The first was how quickly personal boundaries and norms around privacy fall away when you are traveling in close proximity to strangers. The second was how rare the sun is in the Faroe Islands.

I rolled out of my bunk and stumbled up the narrow staircase to the deck of the schooner and squinted against the sun for my first cloud-free view of the Faroe Islands in nearly a week.

Storm petrels chased each other in loping figure-eights over silver patches of sunlight. Puffins, their tiny wings flapping in manic blurs, swarmed the highest rocky pinnacles like bees around a hive. The towering cliffs that had been a constant moody, muted backdrop now glowed a hundred greens. Just as the engine cut and the sails were unfurled, someone, moved to provide a soundtrack to the magic of the moment, started playing sea shanties on a Bluetooth speaker. 

By this point, I had hiked up steep, slippery inclines in sideways rain, unable to see more than a few feet into the suffocating fog. Green with seasickness, I had watched from my coffin-like bunk as a dense forest of wet hiking clothes swayed with every movement. I had been so cold on one hike, that I had needed to use one hand to pry the rigid fingers of my other off of my trekking poles. And now this: sunshine. 

Everywhere I went in the Faroe Islands, I had encountered stories, the kind intertwined with fantasy, myth and legend: a town visited by trolls on the twelfth night of Christmas; land formations named after giants and witches; a monster that took on the form of a beautiful horse in order to lure victims – especially children – into the murky depths of a giant lake. 

This was a place shaped by stories and with three days left in my trip, I felt like I had already had the perfect, wrap-it-in-a-bow ending to this one. Yes, this was the happy ending an adventure like this deserved.

Adrift in the North Atlantic

To arrive at an ending though, there has to first be a beginning. And, if an anecdotal survey of my peers is anything to go by, the best place to start may very well be “um, where?” 

Draw intersecting lines from Iceland , the northern tip of Scotland and the southwestern coast of Norway : where the lines meet is about where you’ll want to start looking. Now imagine a mostly treeless, grassy land floating in that tumultuous stretch of ocean. Take a mythically large hammer and start smashing the land to bits, leaving behind a broken puzzle of jagged cliffs, plummeting waterfalls and scooped-out sea grottoes. That’s the Faroe Islands, a collection of 18 islands and more than 750 islets, home to around 50,000 people, 70,000 sheep and a few million seabirds. 

It’s technically a semi-autonomous constituent of the Kingdom of Denmark , but when the Faroese say “we” or “us,” they’re talking about the Faroese, not the Danes. Opinions differ when these islands were first settled and by whom, but most people agree it was probably sometime between 600 and 900 CE.  Over the next thousand years, a tight-knit and thick-skinned society developed. 

As one might expect from a group of rocky islands in the middle of the North Atlantic, this has not always been an easy place to live. While lamb and mutton are plentiful in a place that literally translates to Sheep Islands, the Faroese have long depended on the sea for survival. Massive quantities of salmon, whale and dolphin, the charismatic puffin, the sleek guillemot and a handful of other migratory seabirds: they’ve all at some point or another been on the menu. 

The weather is a near constant dreariness that lends itself to time indoors, sharing stories. Even in the height of summer, when the sun is ostensibly supposed to be up for 19 hours a day, the skies can stay a menacing gray for weeks at a time. Tórshavn , the country’s charming capital, is one of the cloudiest cities in the world, seeing an average of just 870 hours of clear sunshine a year. 

See the Faroe Islands digitally through the eyes of your own local avatar

By land and sea

I came to the Faroe Islands to join an expedition put on by Amarok Adventures , a small adventure tourism operation run by Albert Ojembarrena and Mónica Fuentes, a Spanish couple based in Iceland. While most of the roughly 140,000 annual visitors to the Faroe Islands explore the islands by cruise ship or rental car, Amarok’s itinerary promised a different vantage point. This would be a week of sailing and hiking, alternating between seeing the land from the sea, and the sea from the land. 

“While the soul of some countries lies in the mountains or in the food, or in the culture, in the Faroe Islands, it lies in the ocean,” Fuentes said when I asked her what was special about seeing these lands from the deck of a sailing schooner. 

Before boarding the sailing schooner, I was eased into the adventure with three nights on land, where our small group made a home base out of a collection of turf-roofed cottages in the town of Gásadalur (population: 11) on the western island of Vágar. A short walk from the cabins, a waterfall plunged into the sea. The sun barely set, but when it did – dipping just below the horizon right before midnight – the valley fell into a quiet I have seldom experienced. Late in the evening, standing outside, unable to sleep and trying not to wake up my roommates, my breath sounded as loud as thunder.

As we embarked on day hikes across Vágar, the Faroe Islands’ stories started to emerge. One afternoon, we followed a path known as the Old Postman’s Trail, a name that recalled a time before a tunnel was blasted through the rock, and mail carriers no longer had to trek over a mountain to share news. Earlier that day, we took a walk around Sørvágsvatn, the largest lake on Vágar. From certain angles along the trail, the lake seemed to hover above the ocean; from others it seemed they were one and the same, separated by a hair-thin sliver of land. There, I learned of the “Slave Cliff,” said to have been a natural execution platform for disobedient enslaved people brought to the islands by Norse settlers. Elderly and sick Norsemen were also thought to have used these cliffs as express lanes to Valhalla, the fabled hall waiting for Viking warriors in the afterlife. 

It was becoming clear to me that the Faroes hold few stories like mine, of sunshine at the end of an arduous and cloudy journey. These are stories born out of harsh weather and empty stomachs.

Beauty and brutality

I clutched the railing of the ferry like my life depended on it (it did), as we bounced our way past massive stone arches and crumbling islets looking like the half-inundated ruins of some ancient civilization. We were traveling to Mykines, a speck of land just west of Vágar on the periphery of the archipelago. It was a taste of the seafaring that was to come in the latter half of the trip, but for now I was most excited about the birds. 

Home to just 16 year-round human residents and a staggering number of birds, Mykines is an ornithologist's dream. The common guillemot, the northern gannet, the kittiwake, the northern fulmar, the oystercatcher and more all call this island home when they are not out to sea. But the main attraction is undoubtedly the Atlantic puffin, a palm-sized bird with a beak the color of Tang and eyes that look like the work of an overly enthusiastic make-up artist.

In Mykines’s main village, I met Oda Wilhelmsdóttir Andreasen, one of the island’s residents and the founder of Go Local , a tourism company that offers tours of Mykines as well as stays in her home in the village. We watched the ferry disappear around a rocky outcropping and we were off. 

Andreasen led our group past sheep pastures towards the cliffs that look over the village. A brief respite of sunshine gave way to rolling fog. Scraps of soggy sheep wool hung from fences; the cackling of an aviary’s worth of seabirds cut through the sound of wet boots on wet grass. And then we saw them, first as solitary stragglers on the edge of the colony, then pairs, then a whirling, whizzing cyclone of them. Puffins, in every direction.

It was one of the many moments I’d have on land and at sea in the Faroe Islands, where I had to grapple with the competing sentiments of awe and horror. Puffins are beloved animals in the Faroes – you hear people talk about them with an affection we humans generally reserve for cuddly mammals. They’ve also traditionally been a major part of the Faroese diet, killed in large numbers every year. (There are now restrictions on puffin hunting, due in part to declining populations from climate change.) 

The Faroe Islands is a place where magic and misery, celebration and death often exist side by side. Traditionally, every January, the women of Mykines wave handkerchiefs in the air to welcome back the huge nesting population of gannets, a large white seabird with whispers of yellow around its neck. Just a few months later, as autumn sets in, men gather for the gannet chick hunt. In the darkness of night, they rappel down the cliffs, releasing themselves from safety harnesses once they’ve found their footing. Then, using headlamps for illumination, they pick out around 500 chicks of the right age for the harvest. The birds are killed with a swift cut to the back of the neck and thrown into the sea below where a boat will take them to shore. The meat is shared equally among the hunters; nothing is wasted.

I felt deeply affected – repulsed even – by these stories of death, even as I admired a people’s commitment to self-sufficiency in an otherwise forbidding corner of the world. It is possible, as any traveler will know, to hold two competing ideas at once. 

Back in town, as we waited for the return ferry to Vagar, I struck up a conversation with some 20-something men who had come to Mykines from Streymoy, the largest island in the Faroes, for a long weekend away. In no time, they had pulled out offerings of hospitality. They poured me two varieties of Faroese gin to try (one deliciously complex, the other throat-burningly collegiate). Someone brought out a leg of skerpikjøt , or fermented lamb, the flesh an enticing deep red and easy to slice like a Spanish ham. And then they brought out a tray of almost black slices of meat, a dash of rock salt covering them like sprinkles. This, they explained, was the biggest delicacy of all: a jerky made from the meat of the pilot whale. 

If the Faroe Islands is a patchwork of stories told, retold and interpreted until they become new stories, there is one that has caught the world’s attention more than any other. It is that of the grindadráp , a local whaling tradition wherein pilot whales and white-sided dolphins are herded towards shore and then killed. The animals are dispatched quickly with a specially designed harpoon and the meat and blubber is divided among the community. In recent years, it’s an act that has been put under increasing scrutiny.

In photos in major global news outlets , Faroese men are seen wading through surf turned red with cetacean blood. The bodies of pilot whales and dolphins, deep incisions made at the top of their spinal cords, line the beaches. The outrage reached new levels in 2021 when the numbers coming out of the annual grindadráp were particularly shocking. Where most hunts usually involve hauls in the hundreds, in 2021, at least 1400 white-sided dolphins were killed. By comparison, in 2020’s hunt, the count was only 35. 

Some say the hunters misestimated the size of the dolphin pod, others that they were inexperienced or got carried away. But almost everyone I spoke to thinks what happened in 2021 was a mistake, even if they defend the tradition in general. Other Faroese think the tradition should be stopped altogether, if not for the cruelty of the hunt then for the high levels of mercury and other industrial contaminants found in the meat. (In July 2022, the Faroese government announced a quota of 500 dolphins for this year’s hunt; detractors continue to insist the practice should be banned outright.) 

For my part – a visitor from a place where our meat is made anonymous by Saran wrap and styrofoam – I felt my outrage at the brutality of the whale hunts tempered by my own ignorance. On the spectrum of cruelty, where does the grindadráp fall in comparison to industrial factory farms where cattle are hooked up to machines and food processing plants churn out hot dogs and chicken nuggets? 

I picked out a small piece of the jerky and took a bite – a soft crunch of slight funk and hearty saltiness – and washed it down with a healthy pour of the good gin. I turned down an offer for a second helping but did accept another shot.

The Land of Maybe

Spend some time on the sea around the Faroe Islands and you’ll wonder how so many here spend so much of their lives navigating its temperamental waters. But there are those who love the way clouds roll in without warning like an angry herd of horses, love to watch the sea turn from sapphire to a sinister gray. They can reconfigure their internal gyroscopes so that they can climb masts and pace decks even as a ship lurches like a drunk. Fridtjof Sørensen Eidsvold, a 35-year-old sailor originally from Norway, is one of those people. 

What brought him from the comparatively bountiful shores of Norway to this windswept outpost of Old Nordic culture and tradition? “I’ve always been fascinated by this place – it’s rough: the people are rough, the nature is rough,” he said. “It’s this barren rock in the middle of the ocean, yet the people thrive.”

Eidsvold was one of three crew members who welcomed us aboard the Norðlýsið , after our time spent on land. First built in 1945 as a shipping schooner, the  Norðlýsið ("Northern Light," in Faroese) is extra special to him after he worked on restoring it to its current, gleaming form. 

"The ship has history and tradition in every little detail," Eidsvold said. "We didn't want to change that when we restored it."

For the next four days, our close group – the sailors, our guides and the group of a dozen adventurers spanning ages and continents – got closer than ever. We commiserated when the swells and rain hit, rejoiced when they stopped. Each night, we gathered in the tiny common space under deck, swilling beers and eating meals miraculously prepared in a closet-sized kitchen. Any risk of missing a good night’s sleep because of the claustrophobia, the smell of wet hiking boots or the constant motion, was mitigated by just how tired our bones and muscles were at the end of each day. 

The Faroe Islands is known as the “Land of Maybe,” because nothing is certain – and that included our plans. Each day was a surprise as we tried (with mixed results) to avoid the worst of the rain and wind. One day, we anchored at the very tip of the island of Kalsoy, using a public bus to make our way down its narrow length, stopping to hike to its famous lighthouse suspended at the lip of a giant, emerald-green bowl. On another, we skirted along the Vestmanna Sea Cliffs, monumental rock formations that rise out of the sea and disappear into thick shrouds of fog. We searched in vain for a place to land, but the swells were bucking with a ferocity that kept us aboard.

The biggest day, we had been told, would be the traversal of Slættaratindur, which at almost 3000ft is the tallest mountain in the Faroe Islands. We disembarked from the ship in the town of Eiði (population: 711) and began our hike. One of the many things about traveling in the Faroe Islands that immediately strikes outsiders as odd is how much of it feels both wild and tamed – another in a string of contradictions that defines the place. Even when we had left the town far behind, there were signs of humanity’s imprint. Docile sheep stared at us as we walked. We crossed makeshift bridges and passed through wire-and-wood gates built into fences.

This is private land, Fuentes and Ojembarrena explained to me. In fact, most of the Faroe Islands is. It was why, I realized, things like entrance fees, trail markers and informational signs seemed so arbitrarily distributed. Much of the Faroe Islands is owned by individual sheep farmers in the form of either outright land ownership or long-term leases from the government (so-called “King’s Land”). 

In the case of the Slættaratindur hike, it made guides all the more crucial. No signs or trail blazes pointed the way we should be going. Fuentes and Ojembarrena frequently consulted GPS devices to make sure we were on the right track. Orienting ourselves without the help of technology became all the more impossible as a blinding fog rolled in and rain started to pour. Getting to the top of Slættaratindur was always going to be a “maybe.” As we looked up and saw the mountain’s peak utterly obscured in dark gray clouds, the plan changed. We wouldn’t summit Slættaratindur as planned. We would take a less perilous, but still arduous, alternative path across the island to meet our ship.

Eight miles later – my feet numb in puddles of cold water collecting at the bottom of my boots, the skin on my face raw from wind and rain – we stumbled into the town of Funningur (population: 47) and climbed aboard the Norðlýsið . If I had come to the Faroe Islands in search of a challenge and a story, this was a success. This, too, could be the ending I was after – perhaps a more Faroese one, sodden and miserable as I peeled layers off and lined up for a hot shower. But there was still a little more to learn.

The tourism story

After the rainy hike and after the miraculously sunny morning, after metropolises of puffins and so many villages of turf-roof houses and eerily empty streets, I said goodbye to the group and set out on my own. For two more days, I explored other corners of the Faroe Islands, but this time by rental car. I took in heart-achingly charming villages like Gjógv with its gorge cutting through town like a deep scar, and Tjørnuvík with its black-sand beach, which I saw get hit by three successive rain storms over the course of an hour. 

I collected more stories, just as the Faroese have for 1000 years. There was the man selling heart-shaped, homemade waffles out of his kitchen for 50 kroner a pop. There was the hiker I saw, cross-legged in the grass in the epic valley of Saksun. Her eyes were closed and she didn’t flinch when the rain started. She was still there when,  just for a little while, it stopped again. There was the meal I had at ROKS , a sister restaurant to the world-famous Michelin-starred KOKS (temporarily closed as it takes the form of a pop-up in Greenland), a story in itself: one of pushing the limits of just how many ingredients could be pulled from the sea. There was all the emptiness and silence, too. Where in other parts of the world, a wandering tourist might expect to find souvenir shops and cafes hungry for currency, here there was nothing. This was a place where, as an outsider, it can feel like you need to tiptoe so as not to tip the balance.

Change comes gradually everywhere, but in the Faroe Islands, it faces an extra blustery headwind. Catching up with Andreasen, the guide on Mykines, after I returned home for the Faroes, I asked her what her biggest concerns were as the story of the Faroes unfolds. Among them, predictably, was me. With rules and regulations around tourism largely in the hands of disparate landowners (mostly farmers who often double as politicians), it’s unclear how a place like the Faroes will deal with increasing tourist numbers.

Andreasen says that after the lull of the pandemic, she’s already seeing the number of visitors arriving in Mykines reaching unsustainable levels, with some even coming in the evening to take advantage of the sub-Arctic sun. A day doesn’t go by, she says when she doesn’t have to tell a tourist to step away from a puffin nest or a dangerous rockface.

“You have around a dozen people living here and then 300 tourists come every day – it’s very stressful,” Andreasen said. “We tend to forget about social sustainability, the lives of the people that live here.”

Andreasen is calling for more rules and regulations around wildlife interaction and visitor numbers, something she says is extra difficult when some farmers just want to charge an entrance fee to their land and call it a day. Whether or not rules are implemented could decide whether Andreasen stays in her quiet haven of Mykines or starts a new chapter for herself.

“I want people to wake up and realize that tourism done right can be part of the economic future here,” Andreasen said. “But I want us to focus on a target group, the people who travel with their heart, for more than to just get a selfie to send to friends. I’m cautiously optimistic we can.” 

It should hardly be a surprise that in the Land of Maybe, one of endless stories being told and retold until they resemble myth, the future remains uncertain, too. 

Amarok Adventures, which also runs trekking trips in Iceland and Nepal, is currently offering  two Faroe Islands hiking and sailing expeditions in June 2023. 

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Journey to Europe's Best-Kept Secret

Hiking the faroe islands.

From $5,295

Moderate to Strenuous

Call 1-800-368-2794 or contact us for any questions

The incredibly isolated Faroe Islands, halfway between Scotland and Iceland, are a breathtaking archipelago of soaring sea cliffs, cozy harbor villages, and famously shaggy sheep. We'll hike airy ridge trails above narrow fjords, along sea cliffs, above the ethereal hanging lake of Sørvágsvatn, and to Vidoy for incredible panoramas over the five northernmost Faroese islands. As we explore, we'll be welcomed into homes, watch traditional Faroese dancing (derived from medieval ring dances), and enjoy a round of beers at the islands' oldest brewery. The seafood here is hook-to-table fresh, and we'll savor meals in the company of knitters, chefs, and artists as we experience the genuine culture of the Faroes.

Arrive: Sørvágur, Faroe Islands

Depart: Sørvágur, Faroe Islands

• Discover the Faroes' stunning coastal hikes and rich seafaring heritage
• Sample Faroese cuisine, including superb fresh-caught fish
• Sip beer at the oldest brewery on the islands
• Meet artisans, dine with local families
• Enjoy welcoming hotels and guesthouses—some hikes start right from the front door!

Dates & Pricing

Pricing below is per person and based on double occupancy. The earlier you book, the more choice you’ll have. WT also has the most generous cancellation and transfer policies in the industry, we make it easy if you change your mind. Have a small group of your own? Take over an existing date or choose your own. You’ll have your own private guide–and the adventure–all to yourselves!

Payment & Cancel Schedule

$600 due at time of reservation 90 days prior to departure: Balance

Cancellation & Transfer Schedule

Up to 91 days prior to departure: No Charge! 61-90 days prior to departure: 25% of trip cost 46-60 days prior to departure: 50% of trip cost 45 days or less: 100% of trip cost

• Expert leadership of a Wilderness Travel Trip Leader and local guides
• Accommodations in hotels and guesthouses
• All meals included except 1 dinner as indicated in Detailed Itinerary
• A glass of wine or beer with dinner
• All ground transportation and baggage handling from meeting until departure
• All activities as indicated in Detailed Itinerary

Not Included

• Travel to and from the arrival and departure location as indicated in Detailed Itinerary
• Additional hotel nights outside the trip's scheduled dates
• Optional gratuities to Trip Leaders or staff
• Optional travel insurance
• Other expenses of a personal nature (some alcoholic beverages, laundry, etc.)

Accommodations

Scroll through our signature accommodations for this trip below. Although it is highly unlikely, we may make substitutions when necessary.

Hotel Vágar

Sørvágur, Faroe Islands, Denmark

Days 1-2 (2 nights)

Gjáargarður Guesthouse

Gjógv, Faroe Islands, Denmark

Days 3-5 (3 nights)

Hotel Hafnia

Tórshavn, Faroe Islands, Denmark

Days 6-7 (2 nights)

Alternate Accomodation: Hotel Brandan

Trip Leaders

Wilderness Travel Trip Leaders have a passion and a joy for creating an unforgettable journey. We are extremely proud of them and the incredible travel experiences they make possible. For more information, including client comments about them and which specific trips they will be leading, please click on their profiles below.

Angela Gillespie

What the Trip is Like

• 1,000-1,200 feet gain/loss
• Day 6: 4.5 miles, 4 hours, and 1,700 feet gain/loss

Client Testimonials

"A fantastic hiking/cultural experience in a uniquely beautiful island group!"

Altamonte Springs, FL

"Skye's skill in identifying places and people ensured a wonderful balance of hiking, cultural experiences, and time in the homes of Faroese people. We had access to very unique places and met people who added their personal perspectives to life in the Faroes."

W Montrose, Ontario

"I've wanted to hike in the Faroe Islands for more than 20 years and was glad that Wilderness offered the trip. There was spectacular scenery, great accommodations, and a guide who cared about our experiences—in towns, beautiful churches, and the arts. We had two gatherings in private homes and the Faroese were so welcoming. I would highly recommend the trip to anyone."

Fort Myers, FL

"The hiking was excellent, but I really enjoyed the home visits also. It was a unique way to experience local culture."

Emporia, KS

"This trip was wonderful. The islands are stunning, with incredibly dramatic scenery and weather. The birds, especially the puffins and oystercatchers, were amazing. The hikes were lovely, not too strenuous and appropriate for the group traveling."

Saratoga Springs, NY

"One of the best trips I've been on. The Faroes are magnificent to behold, the hiking was fabulous, and the views were jaw dropping stupendous."

Larkspur, CA

"Loved the home visits with locals for tea, post-hike snacks, lunch and dinner. Unique experiences!"

Earlham, IA

"I enjoyed this trip so much that I almost cried when it was over. With our leader, there was NEVER a dull moment."

Vancouver, BC

"A well-designed itinerary with a wonderful mix of hiking and cultural experiences. The cultural interactions with local residents were one of the high points of the trip. The hikes were very scenic, historic, and enjoyable."

Seattle, WA

"This trip was a wonderful introduction to the beauty of the Faroe Islands and the culture and history of the Faroese. The people we met generously offered us their hospitality, culture, history, and personal stories."

"This trip exceeded my expectations—and I had fairly high expectations. Our guide and the itinerary design were excellent."

Sioux Falls, SD

"This was such a fabulous trip in such a beautiful country. I loved the exercise and I loved so many of the cultural events—visiting the artist, the brewery, the old farmhouses, the churches, Oliver's boat trip. It was just great."

Baltimore, MD

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Hiking Norway’s Lofoten Islands and Beyond

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Hiking the Fjords of Greenland and Iceland

Denmark, Iceland, Greenland

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Norway: Hiking Alesund and the Sunnmore Alps

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Our Area Specialists know every detail about our tours. They will be happy to answer any questions and help you choose the journey that’s right for you. Contact us to learn more or book your trip today!

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Trip Levels

With more than 200 different adventures to choose from, we want to help you find the trip that’s right for you. Our Trip Level system ranks each trip in two ways: a number rating from 1 to 6 according to the activity, and general travel rigors. 1 is the easiest and 6+ the most difficult—see descriptions below for explanations of each number. A plus (+) sign means the trip is a bit more strenuous than other trips of that level. The detailed explanation of each trip—below the bar with the number rating—is perhaps more important, specifying activities, altitudes, hiking, and travel conditions. The Detailed Itinerary, available by download or mail, gives further information. Our Area Managers can also answer questions and guide you to the trip that best suits your interests.

Level 1 – Easiest

Non-camping journeys, optional walks, little elevation gain or loss.

• Royal Rajasthan and Villages of India
• Small ship cruises

Level 2 – Easy to Moderate

Hotel nights and/or safari-style camping, hikes of two to four hours on some days. Other physical activities are sometimes included, such as optional sea kayaking.

• Our African safaris
• Costa Rica Wildlife

Level 3 – Moderate

Half- to full-day hikes (3-6 hours) over rolling countryside on most days, occasional steep trails. Many of our hotel-based walking tours are in this category, as are our snorkeling adventures.

• Tuscany & the Cinque Terre
• Argentina: Hikes and Estancias of Patagonia
• Palau Snorkeling & Sea Kayaking
• Some trips with minimal hiking but rugged travel conditions or long drives, such as  Tribal Ghana, Togo & Benin,  are Trip Level 3.

Level 4 – Moderate to Strenuous

Full-day hikes (4-6 hours), mountainous terrain, significant elevation gains and losses (hiking up or down as much as 3,000 feet) on many days. Altitudes no greater than about 10,000 feet.

• Ultimate Patagonia
• Hiking the Spanish Pyrenees

Level 5 – Strenuous

Full-day hikes (4-8 hours), mountainous, steep terrain (hiking up or down as much as 3,500 feet) on many days. Trips with hiking at average altitudes of 10,000 to 12,000 feet are in this category.

• Inca Trail to Machu Picchu
• Everest Lodge to Lodge

Level 6 – Very Strenuous

Full-day hikes (5-8 hours), mountainous, steep terrain (hiking up or down as much as 3,500 feet) on many days. Most hikes take place at altitudes above 10,000 feet, with some days ascending as high as 18,000 feet.

• Everest Base Camp
• Climb Kilimanjaro!

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A Guide to Vacationing on the Orkney Islands

Quintessentially Scottish coastlines, whiskey distilleries, and Stone Age remains are just a ferry ride away.

In the North Sea just beyond the tip of Scotland, the Orkney Islands often fail to register with tourists. Almost never are they included on any list of Europe's highlights , but why? Because, despite their "island" title, they don't offer white-sand, umbrella-clad beaches, or a balmy Mediterranean climate à la Greece and Spain?

Instead, this scattered archipelago of 70 islands — two thirds of which are uninhabited — has a time-worn, slightly mystical charm of its own. On the Orkney Islands, visitors are rewarded with storm-battered cliffs, ancient stone circles, and ominous-looking "sea stacks" rising from the churning blue water like swords.

Though the Orkney Islands are just 10 miles off the mainland and entirely accessible by ferry from the northern coast, including from Gills Bay and John O'Groats, or by plane from Aberdeen and major U.K. cities, getting there typically requires a few hours and multiple modes of transportation. The farthest-north ferry terminals (i.e., the ones that offer 40- to 60-minute rides) are at least a 2.5-hour drive from Inverness, and the perhaps more-convenient ferry from Aberdeen to Kirkwall takes six hours. The quickest way to travel to the islands is via a 45-minute flight from Inverness to Kirkwall.

Rest assured, the journey is worth it. On Orkney, you'll find a thriving capital with shops and tour operators, frequent ferry service connecting the islands, and one of Europe's highest concentrations of ancient Neolithic sites , all of which are open to visitors. So, ready to plan a trip? Here's everything you need to know before traveling to the Orkney Islands.

Visit an ancient site.

Mainland (the largest of the Orkney Islands) is packed with prehistoric treasures and was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999. Start off with a visit to the Ring of Brodgar , a stone circle that, at an estimated 4,500 years old, is similar in age to Stonehenge and the Egyptian pyramids. Somehow, 27 of its original 60 stones remain standing after all this time, and the experience of walking around these ancient monuments is nothing short of breathtaking.

Nearby Skara Brae is a preserved Stone Age settlement that was uncovered in 1850 when a particularly violent storm blew away all the sand that had concealed it for centuries. Here, you can make out walls and furnishings that were hand-laid by humans more than 5,000 years ago. And if you like the idea of sleeping alongside the prehistoric ruins, it's possible to rent an apartment inside Skaill House , a lovely 17th-century farm manor that sits 600 feet from the archeological site.

Go for a coastal hike.

With the raging North Sea beneath you and a particularly vibrant wildflower display occurring each spring, the Orkney Islands make for very memorable hiking. On western Mainland, you can walk the rugged coastline on a 10-mile path that takes you right to the edge of the cliffs. It offers fantastic views of the sea stacks, those teetering rock formations hewn from the island by the waves.

For something more guided, book a tour with the private company Orkney Uncovered , which offers themed expeditions all over the islands.

Take the world's shortest flight.

Once you've made it to the Orkney Islands from mainland Scotland, there are plenty of ways to get around. Travelers can jump on a bus, catch additional ferries, or head off in a rental car. But much like in the Faroe Islands to the north, there are also inter-island flights, these ones operated by a Scottish airline called Loganair . Among the destinations (like Eday, North Ronaldsay, Sanday, and Stronsay) is a 1.7-mile route that connects Westray to Papa Westray. At just under two minutes, it's officially the world's shortest flight .

Spend the night in Kirkwall.

The capital of Orkney, Kirkwall, is a city rich with culture and history. Records show it was an important trade center as early as the 11th century. Today, it's a bustling commercial hub, with restaurants, bars, theaters, and a nice mix of shops selling locally designed jewelry, crafts, and apparel. At St. Magnus Cathedral , a Viking-era sandstone cathedral dating back to 1137, visitors who sign up for a guided tour are permitted to climb the bell tower. Among Kirkwall's many lodging options are the family-run Ayre Hotel and the Victorian-themed Kirkwall Hotel , which both overlook the marina.

Beyond Kirkwall, it's also worth making the 20-minute drive to Stromness, the second most-populated town in Orkney. With its rows of tiny, centuries-old stone houses set against the water, it boasts one of the dreamiest harbor views in all of Europe.

Go camping in the summer.

With so much open space, it's unsurprising that many travelers want to sleep under the stars during the warmer months. Book a glamping pod or campsite at Wheems Organic Farm , an eco-lodge on a 200-year-old working farm. The property faces the sea on the island South Ronaldsay, offering unparalleled views of the surrounding cliffs and, depending on the time of year, the Northern Lights . While the property's winning feature is its remoteness, a causeway connects South Ronaldsay to Mainland, so you're never more than a half-hour drive back to Kirkwall.

Drink Scottish whiskey.

In true Scottish fashion, there are several whiskey distilleries on the Orkney Islands. Most famous of them is Highland Park , which until recently was the U.K.'s northernmost distillery. ( Kimbland Distillery , on the Orkney island of Sanday, is about 20 miles further north.) Highland Park's single malt has won numerous awards and accolades — and, because it's been making the stuff since 1798, no one is really questioning the distillery's expertise. During a tour of the facilities, visitors learn all about how the barley is steeped in water fresh from a nearby creek, then aged in Spanish oak casks seasoned with sherry. And yes, the tour ends with a tasting.

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Six Things You Might Not Know About the Faroe Islands

By Liz Carlson | June 13, 2024

Related expedition: Scotland, The Faroe Islands, & Iceland: North Atlantic Saga

Until relatively recently, the Faroe Islands remained a bit of an enigma to the rest of the world. This remote archipelago sits between Norway, Iceland, and Scotland and has not been the easiest place to get to. But since the boom of visual storytelling online (I’m looking at you, Instagram), the Faroe Islands have positively blown up. We get it. It’s a spectacular place.

When you’re this far off the grid, the land tends to be as wild as you imagine. Here, huge cliffs jut out from the sea, with green mountains and colourful villages that look straight out of a fairytale. To say the Faroes are picturesque doesn’t do it justice.

Life here revolves around the sea, particularly fishing. In many ways, time moves slowly here, still harkening back to the days of the Norse. To experience the Faroes by sea on our Scotland, The Faroe Islands, and Iceland: North Atlantic Saga expedition lets you follow in the wake of the Vikings in a hidden part of the world. From a rich and diverse history to awe-inspiring bird cliffs to more waterfalls than you can imagine, a trip here will be unforgettable. Here are some things you might not know about the Faroe Islands.

© Liz Carlson

1. 70% of the land is two hundred metres above sea level

Comprised of eighteen main islands, the Faroe Isands boast dramatic scenery with steep rocky cliffs topped with green grass as far as you can see. Volcanic in origin, nowadays, the landscape of the Faroes is defined as thick-tiered basalt formations. No trees. It’s far too windy and wild for trees to cling to life here. Only a few hardy survivors planted by settlers can be spotted in sheltered places like downtown Tórshavn, the capital.

In fact, 70% of the land around the Faroes sits over two hundred metres above sea level. These abundant, steep sea cliffs are perfect for bird colonies and great views. Birdwatching here is just incredible, and we often see many fulmars, gannets, kittiwakes, storm petrels, and, of course, a ton of puffins.

2. Skua is the only Faroese word in English

The Faroese language comes from extinct Old Norse and is related to other Scandinavian languages. It is spoken by all here, though many Faroese people speak great English and Danish. Unique and obscure, it’s pretty incredible that one Faroese word has managed to prevail globally— skua. Skuas are large predatory seabirds, and you can often find the great skua circling in the winds around the Faroes, harassing other birds for their fish. However, it’s not the national bird—that honour belongs to the oystercatcher.

3. The Faroes are still tight with Denmark

The Faroe Islands have been part of the Kingdom of Denmark since 1380 and self-governing since 1948. Denmark does subsidize a part of the gross domestic product of the Faroes these days, and they also look after certain sectors like justice, defense, and foreign affairs. Danish is taught in schools and is widely spoken here. There is some talk of independence, but it’s pretty much evenly split down the middle when it comes to separating from the motherland.

4. Irish, not Vikings, likely first settled the Faroes

Norse history and the Faroes are very much intertwined, with Vikings settling here in the ninth century. The Faroese language derives from the Old Norse, but new archaeological evidence has emerged in recent years that tells a different story. Burnt barley and grains, along with sheep DNA, have been discovered dating hundreds of years earlier, both only possible because of humans. There are also Celtic grave markers and place names around the Faroes, suggesting the earlier settlers came from Britain. Combined evidence from manuscripts of the travelling Irish monks around the sixth century suggests that the Vikings weren’t the first to arrive and settle the Faroes.

5. It’s the land of grass roof houses and colourful homes

Like other places in Scandinavia and the Arctic, many of the homes around the Faroe Islands are brightly coloured, perhaps to stand in contrast to often moody weather. Others are more traditional black, harkening back to a time when houses were covered in tar to keep the heat in. Many houses and buildings today have turf roofs, a tradition dating back over a millennium used again for insulation and protection against the rain.

6. Fishing is life

97% of the exports from the Faroe Islands are from fishing. It’s the most important industry here and dominates every aspect of life. In fact, most of the nation depends on fish farming, particularly salmon, and you’ll see evidence of these farms dotted around various bays in the Faroes.

Many of the meals are fish-based, and you’ll often see lines of fish hanging out to air-dry and age all over the Faroes. However, the national dish is fermented lamb. Ræst is the fermentation process used in the Faroes for fish and lamb, where they are dry-aged outdoors in a particular way.

About the Author

Liz Carlson

Expedition Team

Liz runs one of the biggest travel blogs in the world, Young Adventuress . She is American but has been based in the mountains of Wānaka, New Zealand for the past decade. She is a writer and photographer, focusing on solo female travel, wildlife, and our connection to nature.

©Dennis Minty

Small-Ship Expedition Cruise Scotland, The Faroe Islands, & Iceland: North Atlantic Saga

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Smyril Line’s ferry, M/S Norröna, sails to the Faroe Islands from Hirtshals in the north of Denmark and from Seyðisfjørður in Iceland. Frequency of departures varies according to season.

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Start your journey on board the ferry, M/S Norröna – you’ll feel you’re on holiday as soon as you have the water beneath you. Travel in comfort, bring your own vehicle and the best part: no queuing!

Smyril Line offers transportation only as well as complete travel packages with accommodation (e.g. hotels or holiday houses). Slow travel at its finest!

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