In a nutshell
- The Faroe Islands are still a genuinely under-the-radar destination — and because they’re less touristy than most places, good preparation really pays off.
- This article gives you all the key info and practical tips you need for visiting the Faroe Islands — straight from our own experience.
- Everything covered: getting there, costs, currency, accommodation, getting around, language, food, soccer, whaling, and more useful pointers.
Where Are the Faroe Islands Located?
The Faroe Islands are an archipelago of 18 islands located in the North Atlantic. To the northwest lies Iceland, to the east is Norway, and to the south is Great Britain.
Formally, the Faroe Islands belong to Denmark, but the country is autonomous — it has its own parliament and its own flag.
The Faroe Islands are quite small. Together, the 18 islands cover just 1,399 square kilometers. That’s roughly the size of Rome.
How Much Time Should You Plan for the Faroe Islands?
Since the Faroe Islands are really compact and you can get there relatively quickly, they’re perfect for a short nature getaway.
If you want to see the most beautiful highlights of the Faroe Islands at a relaxed pace and do some hiking too, you should set aside a week for your trip.
That said, the Faroe Islands are also a fantastic destination for a shorter stay. We found that five days is enough to hit all the major highlights.
Of course, more time is always better. Spend more than a week and you can hike more trails, do more activities, and explore even further.
In our dedicated article, we’ve mapped out the perfect route for a seven-day road trip through the Faroe Islands.
When Is the Best Time to Visit the Faroe Islands?
The best time to visit the Faroe Islands is from May to September. These months offer the best weather and the longest days.
That said, summer here can’t be compared to summer in southern Europe. The climate is maritime and seriously changeable.
Expect cool temperatures — an average of around 55°F — with a constant mix of sunshine, fog, rain, and wind.
We’ve written more about the best time to visit, the climate, and our personal weather experiences in a separate article.
Getting to the Faroe Islands
You have two options for traveling to the Faroe Islands: by plane or by ferry.
Getting There by Plane
Currently, there are no direct flights from most of Europe to the Faroe Islands. You’ll need to connect at least once — usually in Copenhagen, from where the flight takes just two hours.
Other cities with nonstop flights to the Faroe Islands include Reykjavik, Edinburgh, and Bergen. The islands have just one airport: Vágar Airport.
The easiest way to find flights is through the Skyscanner search engine.
Search for flights on Skyscanner
Getting There by Ferry
If you’d rather not fly — or you’re traveling with a camper van — the ferry from Denmark is a great alternative.
The MS Norröna, operated by Smyril Line, departs from the port town of Hirtshals in northern Denmark and docks in the capital, Tórshavn.
Schedules vary by season. In summer, the ferry runs twice a week; in winter, once a week. Check the exact departure days and times on the Smyril Line website.
Bonus: the ferry continues on to Iceland after the Faroe Islands — perfect if you’re dreaming of a combined trip.
Entry Requirements for the Faroe Islands
For most European travelers, entering the Faroe Islands is straightforward. EU and EEA citizens generally just need a valid passport.
One important thing to know: even though the Faroe Islands belong to Denmark, they are not part of the EU or the Schengen Area. That means a national ID card alone may not be sufficient — a valid passport is the safest option for all visitors.
This applies whether you arrive by ferry or by plane.
How Much Does a Trip to the Faroe Islands Cost?
Like all Scandinavian destinations, the Faroe Islands are not a budget trip. That said, how much you spend depends a lot on your travel style.
Accommodation prices vary widely — it all comes down to how much comfort you want.
Food can get pricey too, since restaurant prices are high. Cooking for yourself when possible makes a real difference.
Where you have less control is with flights and rental cars — especially during peak season, both cost more than at many other European destinations.
Here’s a quick overview of typical prices:
- Double room in a good hotel or apartment during peak season: €130 to €370, depending on comfort level
- Rental car per day during peak season: €100
- Snack at a bar: €12
- Lunch at a casual restaurant: €22
- Dinner with Faroese salmon at a nice restaurant: €45
- Dinner with beef at a nice restaurant: €85
- Coffee at a café: €5
- Beer at a bar: €9
- Hiking trail to the James Bond Gravestone: €30
- Ferry to Mykines (round trip): €16
Currency and Paying in the Faroe Islands
Two currencies circulate in the Faroe Islands: the Danish krone and the Faroese króna.
Since Faroese króna can be hard to exchange outside the islands, we’d suggest keeping some Danish kroner on hand.
In our experience, card payment works in most places during your Faroe Islands trip — supermarkets, restaurants, cafés, and shops all generally accept cards.
We even paid for some of the paid hiking trails by card. When card payment wasn’t possible, PayPal was often an option.
You’ll mainly need cash in smaller villages, at some cafés, or for the occasional souvenir.
Also check out our dedicated article on the best travel credit cards.
Accommodations in the Faroe Islands
The Faroe Islands don’t have a huge range of places to stay. Most options are small apartments or vacation homes — we stayed in an apartment in a typical Faroese house and loved it.
In the capital Tórshavn, you’ll also find some genuinely lovely hotels.
Prices are, like everything else here, on the higher side — and they shift significantly between peak and off-season.
During peak season, roughly April to September, budget €130 to €370 per night, and during the off-season, roughly October to March, €120 to €250.
In a dedicated article, we recommend 11 truly beautiful hotels and apartments — including advice on which of the 18 islands is the best base.
Getting Around by Rental Car, Ferry, Bus, and Helicopter
We strongly recommend renting a car for your time in the Faroe Islands. It gives you independence, flexibility, and lets you actually reach every spot on the islands.
There are public buses, but they run irregularly and don’t serve every attraction.
Exploring the Faroe Islands by Rental Car
Admittedly, renting a car in the Faroe Islands is not cheap. We paid €100 per day in August.
But the freedom is absolutely worth it. On your drives you’ll stumble across stunning spots where a spontaneous stop always pays off.
The easiest option is to pick up your rental car right at the airport when you arrive.
We recommend using Discovercars to find the best deal — it’s easy to navigate and lets you compare options side by side.
Compare rental car deals on Discovercars
Driving in the Faroe Islands is generally super easy. Traffic drives on the right, roads are well maintained, and parking is free in every town.
Tunnels and Toll Fees in the Faroe Islands
You’ll be driving through a lot of tunnels in the Faroe Islands. Two types have quirks you should know about before you go.
#1 Toll-Based Underwater Tunnels in the Faroe Islands
There are three toll-based underwater tunnels — the most notable being the Vágatunnilin and the Norðoyatunnilin. A round trip through either costs around €13.
The Vágatunnilin connects the western island of Vágar with the main island of Streymoy. The Norðoyatunnilin links Eysturoy with the northern island of Borðoy.
Since late 2023, there’s also the Eysturoy Tunnel, connecting the two largest islands, Streymoy and Eysturoy, starting from Tórshavn.
The cool thing: it sits 187 meters below sea level and features the world’s first and only underwater roundabout. One passage costs €34, though.
Toll fees are paid either at certain gas stations after passing through, or your rental car company will charge the passages to you at the end of your trip. Your license plate gets scanned as you drive through — that’s the system we used, and it was super convenient.
Our tip: As cool as the underwater roundabout is, we’d actually recommend taking the small bridge further north on Streymoy to reach Eysturoy instead — it saves you €34 and the scenery is beautiful.
#2 Single-Lane Tunnels in the Faroe Islands
The Faroe Islands also have single-lane tunnels — we drove through several on the island of Kalsoy, which felt pretty wild at first.
Just drive attentively and follow the rules. Here’s what you need to know:
- A traffic sign at the tunnel entrance tells you who has the right of way. Pay close attention to this.
- Inside the tunnel, there are passing bays every few meters. If you don’t have right of way, pull into one as soon as you see an oncoming vehicle.
- Trucks always have the right of way.
- Your headlights must always be on when driving through.
Ferries in the Faroe Islands
For certain highlights — like the island of Mykines or the James Bond Gravestone — you’ll need to take a ferry.
There are two types: car ferries and passenger-only ferries. If you want to bring your car to an island, check in advance whether a car ferry runs on that route.
The most important passenger-only ferry is No. 36 from Sørvágur to Mykines.
The key car ferries are No. 56 from Klaksvík to Syðradalur (island of Kalsoy) and No. 90 from Tórshavn to Nólsoy. Both can also be used as a foot passenger.
All ferry connections and timetables are on the official website.
Unlike most things in the Faroe Islands, we think the ferry prices are genuinely fair. A round trip to Mykines costs around €16, and to Kalsoy just around €5.
Helicopters in the Faroe Islands
A really unique alternative to the ferries: helicopters. It’s a genuinely one-of-a-kind travel experience.
The helicopters were originally introduced as regular transport for locals, so Atlantic Airways runs fixed schedules — you can book directly on their website. There’s also a sightseeing helicopter available for around €220.
Our Experience with Buses in the Faroe Islands
We didn’t pick up our rental car until day two, so we used public buses for one day. Our experience was mixed, to put it kindly.
Honestly, we would not recommend planning your whole trip by bus — especially if you only have a few days.
Buses don’t reach every attraction, run at most once an hour (often less), and in our experience can be unreliable — sometimes they simply don’t show up.
Some routes worked fine for us — airport to Tórshavn, and Tórshavn to Gasadalur. But we also spent one afternoon waiting for a bus that never came.
If you do decide to rely on buses, all routes and timetables are on the official website.
Our tip: If you’re planning your entire trip by bus, look into the Faroe Islands Travel Card. It covers all buses and ferries for seven days and costs €93. You can buy it on any bus or at ferry terminals.
Language and Communication in the Faroe Islands
The local language is Faroese, with Danish as the official second language.
The good news: most Faroese learn English in school and speak it well. You’ll have no trouble getting around in English throughout your trip.
Food and Drink in the Faroe Islands
Honestly, Faroese food takes some getting used to. The preparation methods can be pretty different from what most visitors are familiar with.
Smoking, salting, fermenting, and drying fish and meat are all common here. The results can be unfamiliar in flavor — and sometimes pretty pungent.
But don’t worry — there’s also plenty of food you’ll recognize.
Fish is the centerpiece of Faroese cuisine, and you can eat incredibly fresh, delicious salmon here.
A local staple is air-dried, fermented fish — usually Atlantic cod — known as Ræstur fiskur. The fish hangs outdoors for around three weeks, then gets boiled for 20 minutes before serving.
Lamb gets a similar treatment. Skerpikjøt is lamb dried for a full year, ending up somewhere between cured meat and sausage.
Other typical dishes in the Faroe Islands:
- Garnatalg: Lamb innards that are first air-dried and then pan-fried in plenty of fat.
- Grind og Spik: Meat from a pilot whale.
- Seyðahøvd: A sheep’s head cut in half. After the brain is removed, the head is dried and boiled.
- Lamb: Beyond the year-dried version, you can also eat delicious fresh lamb — for example in a really good lamb soup.
- Fish: Fresh fish is everywhere. Herring, cod, and salmon are especially plentiful.
- Seafood: Lobster and shrimp are also popular choices.
Where to Eat in the Faroe Islands?
The first option for trying traditional dishes — or simply fresh fish — is restaurants. There aren’t a huge number of them, but what’s there is good.
Most are in the capital Tórshavn, where you’ll mainly find traditional restaurants (usually with a modern twist) and seafood spots. The occasional burger or pizza place exists too.
The second option is the Heimablídni concept — dining at a Faroese family’s home. It’s a truly unique experience we’d highly recommend.
You can find Heimablídni hosts on the Visit Faroe Islands website or the Eat Local website.
Soccer in the Faroe Islands
Soccer is a huge deal here. Despite the country’s tiny size and population, the Faroe Islands have their own national soccer team.
The best club in the country is KÍ Klaksvík. When we visited in August 2023, we were lucky enough to catch one of their Champions League matches.
Smaller local games are worth attending too. Families and friends of all the players come together — somehow, everyone here seems to know everyone else.
You’ll also find some seriously spectacular soccer fields in the Faroe Islands, perched right on clifftops beside the raging Atlantic.
Whaling in the Faroe Islands
One controversial practice in the Faroe Islands is the Grindadráp, or pilot whale hunt.
It’s a centuries-old Faroese tradition. After the whales are killed, they are eaten — historically, pilot whale was an important food source for the local population.
However, international animal welfare organizations and many Faroese themselves have been criticizing the hunt for years, calling it cruel and unnecessary given that the Faroese now have access to other food sources.
The pilot whale hunt typically takes place in July and August.
More Practical Tips
SIM Card and Internet
Since the Faroe Islands are not part of the EU, EU roaming regulations don’t apply. That means your regular mobile plan likely won’t give you data access on the islands.
If you use your phone anyway, extra charges may apply.
The best option is to pick up a prepaid SIM card locally — available at the information desk at Vágar Airport, at kiosks, gas stations, and tourist centers. Alternatively, you can buy an eSIM before you leave home.
Restrooms
In every town we visited, there were free public restrooms. They were all really clean and pleasantly warm. A genuinely nice surprise!
Dogs in the Faroe Islands
If you love traveling with your dog, you’ll need to leave them at home. It is forbidden to bring animals to the Faroe Islands.
This applies even if you’re only stopping over on your way to Iceland. We honestly couldn’t find a clear reason why — it’s just the rule.
Packing List: What You Absolutely Need to Bring
Packing right is really important for the Faroe Islands. The weather is genuinely unpredictable, so the right clothing makes a huge difference.
Here’s a short packing list:
- Hiking boots
- Warm hiking socks
- A really good rain jacket, ideally with a built-in windbreaker
- Waterproof hiking pants
- Thermal base layers — even in August we wore a long-sleeve thermal top and thermal leggings
- Neck gaiter/scarf
- Beanie/hat
- Gloves
