Faroe Islands Travel: 12 Reasons You Need to Go!
Traveling to the Faroe Islands was like a dream. If you were to ask us what the most beautiful islands in Europe are you wouldn’t get the answer you would expect. Well, maybe you have an idea from the title of this post, but we would definitely say the Faroe Islands! Yes, the group of 18 windswept islands between Norway and Iceland certainly win a spot on the list of our favorite destinations.
The cliff faces and bleak landscape are inhospitable, but they will humble you with beauty. I can’t think of a time this year when I had a bigger grin on my face than when I stood on top of a mountain in near hurricane-force winds. It felt dangerous, it felt right, and I felt tiny.
We weren’t exactly planning on traveling to the Faroe Islands this year. Of course, they were always on our travel radar as we had seen enough photos of them on Instagram to know they looked unreal. However, we found ourselves wondering where to go after our road trip around Scotland’s North Coast 500 so we started seriously considering the Faroes. Atlantic Airways runs non-stop flights from Edinburgh to Vágar Airport, the only airport in the Faroe Islands. So we knew it was now or never to travel to the Faroe Islands, an untouched paradise.
Faroe Islands Travel Information
The Faroes Have Downright Stunning Waterfalls
There is no shortage of waterfalls on the Faroe Islands. It may come as a surprise that 18 tiny islands in the middle of the Atlantic have so much water until you see a weather almanac. The archipelago is wet, windswept, and cold. It rains here year round and temperatures fluctuate between 3 °C and 13 °C.
However, with all of the rain and a foreboding ocean, they are dramatic. The vast amounts of rain cascade down the island’s cliff faces in spectacular fashion. Roads here wrap around the coastline and at times look as if they’ll be swept away as waterfalls from above.
We spent our days hopping around the Faroes chasing waterfalls. This means the only proper way to explore the islands is via rental car, which we highly recommend getting if you want to explore at all. There is public transport on the islands but the schedules are infrequent and limiting. Relying on buses will likely hinder a fun holiday here.
There are the Most Charming Homes in the Faroes
The Faroe Islands are famous for their traditional grass roofs. You can see only a number of grass roofs in Iceland, but in the Faroe Islands it is the norm and many of the wood homes are downright charming.
Wonder why someone would want a golf course on their roof? A grass roof operates as a form of insulation keeping the homes warm in the winter and cool in the summer. In the olden days, they also did a great job at protecting from the rain.
The homes are seriously beautiful and actually more expensive to maintain than a standard roof, so it’s become a sign of wealth and aesthetics. And yes you can mow a roof…
There’s a lot of Weather in the Faroe Islands
It’s likely you won’t find the islands on many lists for ‘best island getaways” because they receive nearly 300 days of rain a year! Then to top it off winds here are unpredictable. Wait. It feels like I’m stating why you shouldn’t visit the Faroe Islands. That’s not the case at all!
All of this weather only adds to the mystique of traveling the Faroe Islands. If it was sunny and warm you wouldn’t find snow-capped peaked, dramatic cliffs, and gorgeous waterfalls. These are islands lost in time and a cloud of fog.
The Faroe Islands Have Amazing Hikes
One of the best things to do in the Faroe Islands is go hiking. Exploring the mountains and hills of the Faroes is immensely rewarding. The islands are mostly wild so you’re free to explore as you please. Many of the trails follow old cairns and paths used before there were roads on the island. The island has nearly 340 mountains so it’s unlikely you’ll ever climb them all as a tourist! But this Faroese guy has, and he has a website to tell you about it!
In case you didn’t know a cairn is a stack of rocks used to mark a direction. Some of the cairns and footpaths date back centuries so be sure not to knock over a piece of history.
The Faroes are Iceland’s Odd Cousin
Just like Iceland and Greenland the Faroese are the descendants of Vikings. Despite being under Denmark the country does not have Danish roots. The Danish Kingdom actually received the islands in 1814 in a treaty with Norway, and they have been a part of Denmark ever since.
In modern times they are actually a semi-autonomous region of Denmark with its own parliament and laws. They actually have traits in common with Iceland. Faroese is even similar to a dialect of Icelandic! They are also very well connected to Iceland and are a great addition to any trip there.
The Faroe Islands are a Photographers Paradise
With all of the drama that unfolds and nearly 24/7 light in the summer months, the Faroe Islands are a photographers dream! If you’re going to travel to the Faroe Islands we suggest you pack of these great travel cameras and laptop to capture the trip.
The Faroe Islands Have “Buttercup Roads”
There are roads that are dedicated to the most scenic drives, they even have a cute name, “Buttercup.” C’mon how can you not love that a single lane road named buttercup that also has 2000 ft cliffs and no guard rails? See our tips for renting a car in the Faroe Islands here!
You Feel Unique in the Faroe Islands
When you travel to the Faroe Islands you are not assigned a number and required to tour the countryside in a bus. The Faroes receive a limited number of tourists each year so travelers are rewarded with a unique experience. Not only are there are a limited number of tourists, but there are only 50,000 people that live in the tiny island country!
Although we enjoyed traveling Iceland, we really felt different traveling in the Faroes. We rarely found other tourists, and never ever saw a giant bus full of foreigners like in Iceland. We were able to stop at beautiful spots and see only a few other people enjoying the views too. If you want to escape the crowds like us, the Faroe Islands are your calling.
The Faroe Islands Have the Best Looking Livestock
The resident sheep population outnumbers people on the Faroe Islands, by about 30,000. Yes, there are estimated to be more than 80,000 sheep in the Faroes! The Faroes sheep are a unique breed of sheep only native to the islands after centuries of breeding. You can also find the Faroese pony, duck, and goose here.
The Faroes Have Amazing Food
There aren’t a plethora of restaurants on the Faroe Islands. However, there are a number of places that take dining very seriously including one Michelin star restaurant that’s worth a trip to the Faroe Islands alone. We were lucky enough to try out three of Tórshavn’s best restaurants, Barbara Fish House, etika, and Áarstova.
Our meals at the three restaurants were beyond amazing! We enjoyed Barbara Fish House’s signature “From our Fjords” tasting menu that featured a number of Faroese specialties. It included some monkfish that may have been the most spectacular seafood dish we’ve ever had. Tasha was able to get here sushi fill at etika sushi and the fish was amazingly fresh.
She even claimed that etika had some of the best sushi she has ever tasted – and that is saying something for a sushi connoisseur like her. For a local fine dining experience, we made our way to Áarstova. Áarstova has a prime location in a historic building in Downtown Tórshavn and serves delicious and local cuisine in the form of three or five courses.
The Faroe Islands Will Humble You
Humans are minuscule in the grand scheme of things. With globalization and the impact we have on the world today it’s easy to forget that. The Faroe Islands will humble you, they will bring you back down to size. It’s tough to describe the feeling when you look out from 100-meter cliff to an ocean battering its walls, other than small.
There is (Pretty Much) NO Crime in the Faroe Islands!
Did you know there is no prison on the Faroe Islands? The islands are well known for their extremely low crime rates and friendly locals. Their unemployment rate also sits at around 2.2%, making it one of the lowest in the entire world!
So, if you’re on the fence about traveling the Faroe Islands or it’s your first time abroad you can rest assured knowing there is no serious crime here. The most damage you’ll likely get into is go hiking right off a cliff!
Where to Stay in the Faroe Islands
Faroe Islands Accommodation: The Faroe Islands are limited in hotels with the majority located in Tórshavn.
Airbnb
Since the majority of hotels are located in Tórshavn, your best accommodation option in the Faroe Islands is Airbnb. There are Airbnbs scattered around the islands so when you find a good location you want to book it! To feel more at home we use Airbnb you can check out some tips and read more about getting an Airbnb coupon code here. Or just take this coupon for your first stay!
Hotel Føroyar
This is where we stayed while in Tórshavn. It was centrally located to the town (granted it’s a very small capital city) and had a great breakfast, with comfortable rooms and free parking.
Hotel Nord
One of the few hotels in the Faroe Islands not located in Tórshavn. With a bar and garden in Viðareiði, this is a quiet and great place to stay in the Faroe Islands
Plan & Pack for the Faroe Islands
Our Recommendation For Travel Insurance
We don’t travel without travel insurance, and neither should you. You never know what can happen in a foreign country, and it’s best to be prepared. HeyMondo offers excellent short and long-term travel insurance policies.
Rain Jacket
It should go without saying that the weather in the Faroes can be a bit rainy, this is the most important item in your suitcase. You have two options for styles of rain jackets. The first one we recommend is a classic packable rain jacket made for hiking that is a solid choice for outdoor adventurers. The second option being a trench coat jacket for travel for those looking to maintain style while dodging puddles.
Sweater
The fleece sweater is a perfect layer when combined with an outer shell to keep you warm. We purchased wool sweaters from independent retailers in the Faroe Islands, and good ones were fairly easy to find for a decent price. For those with less time, a little bit of online shopping for wool sweaters will suffice. We picked up sweaters from Smartwool and love our stuff from Marine Layer.
Hiking Pants
Technical pants are water-resistant and dry quickly, not to mention they’re comfortable on long walks. They also make for an awesome pair of travel pants as many have become stylish these days with cuts like normal pants.
Boots
It’s wet in the Faroe Islands and you can expect a lot of boggy weather year-round so packing a pair of good waterproof boots for hikes is crucial for protecting your feet. Good boots or hiking shoes for here are essential. We’d suggest a high ankle boot, but you can go even further with “wellies” or muck boots.
Travel Water Bottle
We’ve shifted to using an insulated aluminum water bottle as it handles the hot sun well. However, we also love filtered water bottles in areas we’re uncertain of the water supply. Read more about favorite water bottles for travel in our post.
