Faroe Islands

The Faroes were colonised by Norwegians in the 9th century – according to history the first settler was Grímur Kamban, a Norwegian Viking who made his home in Funningur on Eysturoy in 825. The Faroese population has largely descended from these settlers. Recent DNA analyses have revealed that Y chromosomes, tracing male descent, are 87% Scandinavian. However, the studies also show that mitochondrial DNA, tracing female descent, is 84% Celtic.

About 20,000 people live in the metropolitan area which comprises Tórshavn, Kirkjubøur, Velbastaður, Nólsoy, Hestur, Koltur, Hoyvík, Argir, Kaldbak, Kaldbaksbotnur, Kollafjørður, Signabøur and Oyrareingir (Tórshavn Municipality). About 4,700 people live in Klaksvík, the second largest town in the islands. 4,750 people live in Suðuroy, the southernmost islands (2010) and 1330 people live on Sandoy island (2010).

Faroese, the national language, is rooted in Old Norse.

The Viking settlers established their own parliament, called a "ting", around 800. The main ting was established on Tinganes in Tórshavn and local tings were established in various parts of the islands. Around the turn of the millennium, the Faroes came under the control of the Norwegian king. In 1380 the Faroes, along with Orkney, Shetland, Iceland and Greenland, joined Norway in a union with Denmark. At the end of the Napoleonic wars, in 1814, the Treaty of Kiel forced Denmark to cede Norway to Sweden, but it kept the Faroes, Iceland, and Greenland. Two years later, in 1816, the Faroes became a Danish county and the old parliament was abolished. The Danish Governor became the highest authority in the Faroes.

In 1849 the Danish parliamentary constitution was made to apply in the Faroe Islands. In 1852 the Faroese parliament was reinstated as a county council, but served mainly as an advisory power. The Danish governor presided at all meetings and was a co-opted member. At the same time, the Faroes came to be represented in the Danish parliament. Although the Faroe Islands recognise the Royal powers, they have never been a part of Denmark, only the Danish kingdom.

During World War II, Denmark was occupied by the Germans, while the Faroes had a friendly occupation by the British. During this time the Faroese parliament carried both the legislative and the fiscal responsibility. The Faroese people had a taste of self-government and a return to the status quo seemed impossible.

After a referendum, which led to a very small majority voting for independence, in 1946 negotiations took place between the two countries and the outcome was the Home Rule Act in 1948. The Faroese were from then on responsible for most matters of government except for foreign affairs and defence. The Faroe Islands has its own prime minister, and its parliament may legislate on matters of local importance and reject Danish laws. The Faroes are still represented in the Danish parliament by two representatives. Also, since 1970 the Faroes have had independent status in the Nordic Council. Furthermore, the Faroes have their own flag. Unlike Denmark, the Faroe Islands is not part of the EU or the Schengen Area, meaning that non-Nordic EU and EEA citizens do not have work or residency rights. However, Faroe Islanders are full Danish citizens and carry Danish passports for international travel, making them eligible to reside and work in the EU, EEA and Switzerland.

The weather is maritime and quite unpredictable. It can change quickly and it varies extremely, from moments of brilliant sunshine to misty hill fog, to showers: there can be sunshine on one side of the mountain range, while it's raining on the other side. During the summer the islands are often overcast by summer fog. The Gulf Stream south of the islands tempers the climate. The harbours never freeze and the temperature in winter time is very moderate considering the high latitude. Snowfall occurs, but it is short-lived. The average temperature ranges from 3°C in the wintertime to 11°C during the summer. The temperature can be much higher, but the air is always fresh and clean no matter the season.

With their volcanic origin the 18 islands are rugged and rocky. The average height above sea level for the country is 300 m (982 ft). The highest peak, Slættaratindur, is 880 m (2887 ft) above sea level. There are 1,100 km (687 mi) of coastline and at no time is one more than 5 km (3 mi) away from the ocean. Mountains and valleys mostly characterize the inner landscape. The Faroese west coast is characterized by steep slopes and bird cliffs, that in the summertime are full of nesting seabirds such as puffins. Something that first meets the eye of a traveller is the lack of trees in the Faroes. The reason for this are the thousands of sheep that occupy the islands.

Official tourism website

Although part of the Kingdom of Denmark, the Faroe Islands are not part of the European Union or the Schengen Area.

If you do not need a visa for Denmark, you can generally visit the Faroe Islands visa-free for up to 90 days, provided your passport is valid for at least 3 months beyond your intended departure date. Citizens of the Nordic countries may stay in the Faroe Islands indefinitely with no restrictions including on employment. If you need a visa for Denmark, inform the embassy when you apply that you'll be visiting the Faroe Islands, as Schengen visas issued for the mainland are not valid for the Faroe Islands (or Greenland). Citizens of all EU and Schengen countries can enter with only a valid ID card, but should still carry their passport as a backup, since it is possible for flights to be diverted to Scotland where such cards are not valid.

1 Vágar Airport (Vága Floghavn FAE IATA). The Faroe Islands are served by one airport. The airport is on the island of Vágar and the location was chosen by the British during their occupation of the islands during World War II. About 300,000 (and increasing) passengers fly to and from the airport every year. Vágar is connected to the largest island, Streymoy (on which the capital Tórshavn is situated) by a sub-sea tunnel. There are buses to Torshavn (line 300 on ssl.fo); the schedules are aligned (more or less) with the arrival of all flights. The price to Tórshavn is 90 kr. You need to change buses if you are going to Klaksvik. Taxis serve the airport at fixed rates (Tórshavn costs 220 kr per passenger, not per cab). Advance bookings can be made through the taxi company's website.

Airlines serving the airport are:

Atlantic Airways is the national carrier and connects the Faroes with several places in Scandinavia and continental Europe. The Faroes are accessible by regular commercial air service from Copenhagen (3 times a day), as well as Billund and Aalborg in Denmark. From Norway there are direct flights from Oslo. From Iceland there are direct flights from Keflavík airport near Reykjavík (twice a week). From Britain there are direct flights from Edinburgh. From Spain there are direct flights from Barcelona, Mallorca, and Gran Canaria. From France there are direct flights from Paris-CDG.

SAS flies almost daily from Copenhagen (April - October only).

Widerøe flies regularly from Bergen, Norway.

Summer fog is a problem when flying to the Faroes in the summer months. The planes cannot land in this weather and will often divert to Iceland or Scotland where you will stay until the weather clears. This also means that flights out of the Faroes can be disrupted too. Allow yourself a few days either side of your visit to the Faroes in case of flight delays.

Smyril Line operates a year-round passenger and car ferry service to the Faroe Islands, twice a week in summer. The ferry sails between Hirtshals (North Jutland, Denmark) and Seyðisfjörður (on the east coast of Iceland). It is the only ferry service with scheduled services to Iceland.

Getting to the Faroes by boat takes longer than by plane but has the advantage of allowing you to take your own vehicle. As of 2023, prices for single passage without vehicle start at €92 in off-season and €112 in high season.

For people arriving by yacht, there are several harbours around the islands. The best are found in Tórshavn (the capital), Klaksvík, Tvøroyri, Vágur, Vestmanna, Sørvágur, Miðvágur, Runavík, and Fuglafjørður.

The two largest islands, Streymoy and Eysturoy, are connected by a bridge, Sundabrúgvin ("the Channel Bridge"). Toll tunnels connect the islands of Vágar with Streymoy, and also Borðoy to Eysturoy. Road causeways connect Borðoy with Viðoy and Kunoy. The other main islands Sandoy and Suðuroy have excellent car-ferry connections to Streymoy, making driving in the Faroes easy and pleasant.

Route 7 Tvøroyri - Tórshavn: M/F Smyril has 2–3 daily departures from Tórshavn, sailing to Krambatangi ferry port in Suðuroy.

Route 36 Sørvágur - Mykines: M/F Jósup has 2 daily departures in summer from Sørvágur on Vágar island to Mykines island, less in winter time. Due to the popularity of the destination, this is the only route that requires booking tickets in advance (via mykines.fo).

Route 56 Klaksvík - Syðradalur: M/F Sam has up to 7 daily departures from Klaksvík to Syðradalur on Kalsoy island.

Route 58 Hvannasund - Hattarvík: M/F Ritan has 3 daily departures from Hvannasund on Viðoy island to the islands Svínoy and Fugloy in summertime, less in wintertime.

Route 60 Skopun - Gamlarætt & 61 Gamlarætt - Hestur: M/F Teistin has around 8 daily departures from Gamlarætt ferry port to Skopun on Sandoy island. Teistin has also a few departures to Hestur island, but only on request. Gamlarætt is located on the west coast of Streymoy, not far from Tórshavn and near the villages Kirkjubøur and Velbastaður.

Route 66 Sandur - Skúvoy: M/F Sildberin has only one regular daily connection between Sandur and Skúvoy, all others must be requested by phone some hours prior to departure.

Route 90 Tórshavn - Nólsoy: M/F Ternan has 5–7 daily departures from Tórshavn to Nólsoy.

Strandfaraskip Landsins, the Faroese public transport service, publishes an annual timetable (Ferðaætlan) containing details of all ferry and bus schedules. It is available from the Passenger Terminal in Tórshavn, and all tourist information centres. It is not possible to make advance bookings on car ferries. You should be at the pier at least 20 minutes before scheduled departure, and much earlier on Friday and Saturday evenings.

Passenger road transport is run by private companies, but is coordinated by a public body, Strandfaraskip Landsins.

The inter-town bus system (Bygdaleiðir) and the public ferry company have established a coherent and well-developed public transport system which takes in all settlements on the islands. This means that there are bus services to all places - maybe not often, but every day!

Bygdaleiðir's buses are blue. A schedule (Ferðaætlan) listing the various timetables for the inter-town buses (and ferries) may be purchased from the tourist office, as well as the central bus station near the harbour in Tórshavn. Transport is quite expensive, so check for student discount or multiple-ride-cards. Students, children and pensioners are eligible for discounts on fares provided they show a student or pensioner identity card. As of Mar. 2026, there is a four-day (adult 500 kr, child 250 kr) and seven-day (adult 700 kr, child 350 kr) Travel Card meant for tourists which is valid for all buses and ferries except routes 36 and 90. It is well worth its price if you are planning to get around the islands by public transport.

The buses are equipped with radios. If you are planning to change buses, do tell the driver in advance, as he will make sure the other bus waits for you.

The capital Tórshavn offers a local bus service (Bussleiðin) with seven routes that reach most area of the town which is free. The red coloured-buses operate every 15-30 mins during the day throughout the week and every 30-60 mins on weekday evenings. Several routes run hourly on Saturdays and Sundays. Route maps and schedules may be obtained on the buses, at Kiosk Steinatún in the centre of town, or at Kunningarstovan, the local tourist information in Tórshavn.

The first motor road connecting two villages wasn’t built until 1916, and travellers were limited to mountain paths and rowing boats. Nevertheless, today driving is easy with an excellent 600 km network of well maintained tarmaced roads and tunnels. The density of cars is one of the highest in Europe.

The numerous road tunnels in the Faroe Islands mean that drivers of large vehicles must plan their routes by finding out in advance which tunnel they can enter. Driving is on the right and most road signs follow international standards. Headlights and seat belts must be on when driving. The speed limit is 80 km/h (50 mph) outside towns and villages, and 50 km/h (30 mph) in the towns and villages. For cars with trailers, the speed limit is 50 km/h and for caravans the speed limit is 60 km/h. The consequences for speeding are severe. Sheep graze freely on both sides of the main roads and will cross at will. Also they may hide from bad weather just inside the tunnels, which causes many collisions each year.

Parking in the towns of Tórshavn, Klaksvík and Runavík is restricted and parking fines cost 200 kr. The times in black (or white if it's on a dark background) are for weekdays' limited time parking period. The times with brackets are for Saturday. There is typically no time limit on Sunday and public holidays, but if there is, the time limit is written in red. Parking discs must be displayed in the lower right hand corner of the front windscreen showing the time you parked your car. These display discs are available for free at banks and tourist offices.

Off-road driving is prohibited by law in the Faroe Islands. Respect the islands' pristine nature by keeping to sealed roads.

You have to pay a toll to use the sub-sea tunnels in the Faroe Islands. As of summer 2022, there are 3 tunnels that charge tolls:

Two more large sub-sea tunnels are under construction in 2022, connecting the southern islands of Sandoy and Suðuroy to the overall road network. You have three days to pay after using the tunnel before an invoice is sent to the car owner. If you have rented the car, the rental agency will charge a large fee if this occurs. You may pay at any petrol station on the islands or online.

Most car rental companies offer flat rates at the equivalent of 3–5 return tunnel trips. If you prefer to pay for all your tunnel trips yourself, make it clear when you hire the car. The rental company will charge you if it is unaware that you have already paid the tunnel operator.

If travelling with your own car it is also possible to purchase a subscription by registering at tunnil.fo and paying a non-refundable fee of 400 kr (or 600 kr when also using the Eysturoyartunnel) (2022). This will give you access to discounted tunnel prices, but you will have to pre-pay for your trips by loading money into your account at the website (400 kr minimum for each payment).

Vágar

Rent.fo. ☏ 716 060Country code missing, info@rent.fo New rental vehicles. Responsive to emails.

Avis Føroyar, Vágar airport, FO-380 Sørvágur. ☏ 358800Country code missing, 212765Country code missing.

62N.fo (formerly Hertz), Vágar airport, FO-380 Sørvágur. ☏ 733 510Country code missing, car@62n.fo

Tórshavn

Rent.fo, R. C. Effersøesgøta 17, Tórshavn. Tel: 716 060, info@rent.fo

62N.fo, Tórshavn city centre, 100 Tórshavn. Tel: 733 510, car@62n.fo

Miðvágur

Unicar, Ytra bryggja 4, 370 Miðvágur. ☏ 544 000Country code missing, unicar@unicar.fo

You can splurge, and take a helicopter (instead of the cheaper ferry) to all the faraway islands – for example to Mykines, the picturesque island far west.

Atlantic Airways offers a helicopter service to selected towns and villages throughout the Faroes. Contact Atlantic Airways directly (☏ +298 341060). Booking is required. The service is intended for locals on remote islands, and as such tourists can only book one way of a journey but you can use the ferry and bus services to make the return journey.

Bad weather may result in helicopter flights being cancelled.

Non-residents don't get subsidised prices any more; tickets cost about thrice as much as for locals.

The Faroe Islands are the ideal for hitchhiking, as they are amongst the easiest places in the world to secure a lift.

To begin with, the vast majority of locals speak excellent English, allowing for genuine conversation and unique insights into their culture. Furthermore, the Faroese are naturally curious about visitors and often take pleasure in acting as impromptu guides; it is not uncommon for a driver to go out of their way to show you a hidden gem while chatting along the route.

The islands have a prosperous economy, meaning there is a high volume of private motorcars on the well-maintained roads. Safety is rarely a concern either; the small population and robust education system contribute to an exceptionally low crime rate. Finally, because distances are so short, you are never committed to a single vehicle for too long.

Given the high cost of car hire, the infrequent public transport schedules, and the sheer ease of the experience, hitchhiking is can be a wonderful transport choice. In most instances, you will find yourself picked up by the first or second car to pass by.

Nestled amidst the stunning landscapes lies the tranquil lakes of the Faroe Islands. These lakes mirror the surrounding emerald hills and can even cause you to question your perception of vision.

Sørvágsvatn, perhaps nicknamed as the lake above the ocean, is the largest lake in the Faroes. It is 30–40 m above the sea and its curve sweeps close to sheer cliffs in Vágar.

Lake Toftir (Toftavatn) south of Eysturoy is a lake that's one of its kind. The low rolling hills around the idyllic lake have the widest stretches of heather on the islands. They are considered unique in the Faroes. Furthermore, the terrain is a splendid choice for an outing.

It is possible to hike in Faroe Islands, however, you must stick to prepared trails, and it is not permitted to put up tents outside designated areas. Most famous hikes are accessible only by paying a fee (e.g. the hike along Leitisvatn/Sørvágsvatn out to Trælanípa and Bøsdalafossur waterfall for 200 kr or Mykines past the village for 250 kr, as of 2022). Credit card payment is available everywhere.

Weather is unpredictable, there might be rain storms, so bring suitable clothes. A combination of hiking and bus transport is advised, so you don't need to walk back the same way again. The tourism authority produced a hiking guide which is available from their website. It offers detailed descriptions with small maps for 23 short tours on virtually all of the islands. Going on your own, check with the regional information centres about farming and hunting activities.

Tourist information offices, including the one in the airport, distributes booklets about hiking around the Faroe Islands, suggesting various routes. Another great source for hiking tracks is the mobile application called Maps.me which displays walking paths as well as roads. In any case, one is not far away from picturesque paths in any given location. In the worst case, one can walk along the roads as cars rarely pass by.

The Faroese currency is the Danish krone (plural: kroner), abbreviated "kr." (ISO code: DKK). The Faroese government prints its own banknotes, the Króna, although Danish coins are used. The coins come in 50 oyra (half of a króna), 1, 2, 5, 10, and 20 króna. Paper banknotes come in 50, 100, 200, 500, and 1000 króna. Their exchange value is equivalent to the Danish crown, and there is no service charge on exchange, as Danish notes are just as acceptable and used interchangeably in the Faroe Islands. Euros are not accepted in stores. Since 2024, there is no currency exchange services offered on Faroe Islands.

Before leaving the Faroes, exchange Faroese banknotes for Danish notes in stores or hotels, since Faroese notes are usually not recognized by banks outside of Denmark.

Opening hours in the Faroes are longer than they used to be, but many smaller shops still close early on Saturday (usually at 14:00) and nearly everything is closed on Sundays.

Tórshavn is the obvious choice for shopping, although both Runavík and especially Klaksvik have some nice shops selling clothes and knick-knacks.

Wool and woollen clothing are popular on the Islands, and you will find some fashionable sweaters, jackets and (cheaper) hats, shawls and gloves. Check out the shops "Sirri" and "Guðrun og Guðrun".

There is only one proper shopping centre: SMS (Sølumiðstøð), containing the largest supermarket, Miklagarður, and some different shops and a few chains including Burger King, Bath and Body Works and Vero Moda. Yasmin sells women’s clothing. The Shopping Centre has glass art-work by artist Tróndur Patursson.

There are a few second hand shops in Tórshavn.

American Express are not accepted in stores and most hotels. Visa and Mastercard are accepted everywhere.

If you are from outside the EU/Scandinavia you can have your 25% VAT refunded when leaving the country, for certain purchases not for use in the Faroes. Only purchases with at least 399 kr on a single receipt will be eligible for tax refund. Smaller stores or those in remote villages may not be participating in the VAT refund scheme. For shops that offer VAT refund, they will attach a sticker to the back of your receipt. Take this receipt to the information desk in Vágar airport if departing by plane, onboard the Norrøna ferry or at the Visit North (Visit Norðoy) tourist information centre if departing by cruise ship or sailboat.

Streymoy

Hoyvíksvegur 51, Tórshavn

Á Hjalla 14, Tórshavn

Niðari Vegur 81, Vestmanna

Eysturoy

Svartheyggj 2, Norðskáli

Heiðavegur 25, Saltangará

Borðoy

Sævargøta 6, Klaksvík

Sandoy

Heimasandsvegur 58, Sandur

Suðuroy

Langabakki 5, Trongisvágur

Vágar

Skaldarvegur 5, Miðvágur

Outside the capital, bars and nightclubs are few and far between. In Tórshavn, the heart of the nightlife is centred around the harbour. Here, is Cirkus Føroyar, a popular haunt for local musicians. Directly across the street, also overlooking the water, is Hvonn; located within Hotel Tórshavn, it is a favourite weekend destination for the city's youth.

The bar Café Natúr is close by. Every Wednesday there is a pub quiz at Café Natúr. The wooden interiors are similar to English or Irish pubs, and have live music (usually in the form of a singer or guitarist).

Another place is Cleopatra right in the town centre which has a restaurant on the lower floor, with the main bar on the next floor up. The entrance to the bar is up some green felt stairs.

A nightclub is Rex, on the third floor in the same building as "Havnar Bio", the cinema. You need to be 21 or over to get in.

For young people the nightclub Deep is a place to visit. It is the same as in most European cities a you have to be eighteen or older to get in.

For a coffee go to the Western harbour "Vágsbotn", just below Tórshavn Dome and have a cup of coffee at café Kaffihúsið. Kaffihúsi is located down by the sea and has a very nice atmosphere.

The Café Dugni is in the middle of town. Bill Clinton had a cup of coffee there when he visited the islands a few years back. At Dugni you can buy Faroes handicrafts while having coffee and homemade faroese cakes.

Other cafés include Café Kaspar at hotel Hafnia, and Baresso at the shopping centre SMS. Hvonn is one of the most popular places at night, keeping it sophisticated and clean, and also includes a brasserie.

The youth hostels of the Faroes are spread across the islands. The small size of the Faroes ensures that the next youth hostel is always well within one day’s walking distance allowing visitors to travel from one youth hostel to the next one at will.

Accommodation is mostly in 2 to 6 rooms of limited size but of good standard. There are few dormitory accommodations at the Faroese, with one exception being at Bládýpi which has 2 dorms, as well as apartments. Most of the youth hostels don´t have a regular reception with daily opening hours, so be sure to make arrangements with your host by e-mail or phone before arrival.

Prices vary slightly with the cheapest being around 200 kr per night/person for adults. Variable discounts for children 2–11 years old. YHF members get a 20 kr discount while groups get special discounts.

Legally camping is only allowed in designated places but in reality, you can camp anywhere as long as you are not impudent. Locals are aware that camping prohibition law is few centuries old and might not apply these days. Safe distance might be half an hour walk away from the village. There are few objects to hide behind so you would be visible from far away, but as long as you pitch a tent in evening and pick up early morning, you should be fine. Once again, camping outside designated areas is not legal but locals do this too.

If you decide to break the law and camp in the wild, be aware of frequently changing weather conditions. It's advisable to look for a hideout from the wind and pitch a tent to sustain from strong gusts. No one would like to wake-up in a night to repitch a tent.

One can easily find a stretch of land just to oneself to enjoy the tranquillity the Faroe islands gives after a sunset.

Also, be considerate and take your rubbish with you. Or as a saying goes "leave no trace, only footprints".

Citizens of the Nordic countries and the UK are covered by their own national health insurance. It is advisable for citizens of other countries to take out travel health insurance.

Dial 112

Tórshavn (by the SMS shopping centre) on Streymoy. Tel: ☏ +298 341100

Klaksvík on Borðoy. Tel: ☏ +298 455055

Runavík on Eysturoy. Tel: ☏ +298 471200

Tvøroyri on Suðuroy. Tel: ☏ +298 371076

For breakdown and immediate help on the two larger islands Streymoy and Eysturoy, contact the fire station in Tórshavn, telephone number ☏ +298 302100. It is advisable to arrange for insurance coverage for your car to save you the worry of a spoilt holiday due to unexpected garage bills.