An isolated island archipelago in the remote Atlantic between Scotland and Iceland, the Faroe Islands feel like Europe’s last wild frontier: remote, dramatic and unapologetically untamed.
Getting to the Faroe Islands is surprisingly easy for somewhere that feels so remote. Most travellers fly into Vágar Airport via Copenhagen, Edinburgh or other Nordic hubs (find flights via Skyscanner), though there’s also a ferry from Denmark and Iceland operated by Smyril Line if you fancy arriving by sea.
Getting around is straightforward thanks to an excellent network of tunnels, bridges and undersea routes connecting many of the islands. Public buses are reliable and inexpensive, and ferries link the more remote communities. There’s even a government-subsidised helicopter service that locals use as public transport between harder-to-reach islands. Seats are limited but tourists can book if space allows. That said, hiring a car gives you the most flexibility, enabling you to stop at roadside waterfalls and explore tiny villages at your own pace, which is often the best way to experience the Faroes.
The weather in the Faroe Islands is famously unpredictable. Expect sunshine, mist and rain in a single afternoon. Temperatures are mild year-round thanks to the Gulf Stream, rarely extreme but often windy, and summer brings long daylight hours but it’s not hot. The key is to pack layers and a waterproof, and just embrace the dramatic weather!
Accommodation in the Faroe Islands ranges from stylish boutique hotels in Tórshavn to cosy guesthouses, self-catering cottages and converted turf-roofed farm stays in remote villages. You’ll also find a handful of budget hostels and campsites during the summer months, though options are limited compared to mainland Europe. Many travellers choose apartments or holiday homes for flexibility, especially if hiring a car and exploring multiple islands. Wherever you stay, book well in advance. Availability is tight, particularly between June and August. I always book my accommodation through trusted providers like booking.com and Hostelworld, but read the most recent reviews carefully.
The Faroe Islands are a self-governing territory within the Kingdom of Denmark, but they sit outside both the EU and the Schengen Area. Nordic citizens can enter freely, and travellers from visa-exempt countries such as the UK, US and EU member states can visit for short stays without a visa. However, some nationalities must apply for a specific Faroe Islands visa. Note that a standard Schengen or Danish visa does not grant entry to the Faroe Islands.
I always recommend checking the official government advice from your own country of citizenship. For example, I’m from the UK so I use the UK Government’s Foreign travel advice website, and navigate to the “Entry requirements” section of the country I wish to visit. That will show me the most up-to-date advice and the correct links to use to apply for a visa officially, without being scammed. E.g. “Denmark: Entry requirements” (Faroe Islands are often included on the page for Denmark, not on their own).
Be aware that if you just google “Faroe Islands visa”, you’ll find lots of 3rd party websites offering to do the application for you, which at best will charge you quite a lot of money and at worst may scam you completely.
If you would rather someone else take care of the application for you to save you time and hassle, I can recommend iVisa. iVisa offer an end-to-end visa application service where they take care of the entire application for you. You just need to sign up via their website and fill out the information they need from you for the application. Note that they charge a fee for this service, so it will be more expensive than applying directly yourself.
Here are some of the resources I’ve found particularly useful for travelling in the Faroe Islands. Download the apps before you go to ensure a smooth and stress-free experience! Check out my Useful Travel Resources page for my complete go-to list of websites and apps.
Currency:
Faroese Króna/Danish Krone (DKK)
Capital City:
Tórshavn
Languages:
Faroese
