If you’re planning a holiday to the Faroe Islands but aren’t sure of what the best things to do are, then look no further. In this post, you’ll find a list of the top activities and places to visit during your stay.
Now, the first time you came across the Faroe Islands as a destination might have been in the form of a question like “Where are the Faroe Islands?” and don’t worry, you’re not alone. The Faroe Islands are somewhat of a hidden gem, located in the middle of the North Atlantic Ocean. This 18-island country is an autonomous region of Denmark and is known for its rugged landscapes, friendly locals, and unique culture. The Faroe Islands are the perfect place to get away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life and enjoy some time in nature.
The Faroe Islands weather forecast may put some travellers off at first glance, but trust me the unpredictable Faroe Islands weather is what makes it worth visiting!
Some of the best things to do in the Faroe Islands include hiking through the stunning scenery, taking a boat trip to see the puffins, visiting the capital city of Torshavn, and exploring the island of Vagar. The Faroe Islands are a very special place and were made for nature lovers, adventure-seekers, and those who love to be outdoors!
After spending a week in the Faroe Islands in October (you can find here a detailed 7-day itinerary for the Faroe Islands), I’ve put together this guide with the best things to do and the best places to visit in the Faroe Islands during your stay. But first: When is the best time to visit the Faroe islands?
Let’s see the Faroe Islands trave guide for the first time
The best time to visit the Faroe Islands…
The Faroe Islands are notoriously known for their ever-changing wild weather, but that’s part of their unique charm! The best time to visit the Faroe Islands really depends on what kind of weather you’re hoping for and what activities you want to do while you’re there.
If you’re looking for the best weather (i.e. dry and relatively warm), the months of June, July, and August are the best time to visit. This is also the busiest time of year as it’s peak tourist season. However, if you want to avoid tourist season or you’re a photography lover, it’s a good time to visit in the shoulder season: either early autumn, from September-October or late spring, from April-May.
How to get to the Faroe Islands…
So, where are the Faroe Islands, and how do you get there?
The Faroe Islands are located in the North Atlantic Ocean, about halfway between Norway and Iceland. The best way to get to the islands is by flying into the capital city of Torshavn Airport (FAE), which has direct flights from Copenhagen, Reykjavik, Edinburgh, and a few other cities.
Another option is to take a boat or ferry from Denmark, Iceland, or Scotland, but this can be quite expensive and takes much longer. Once you’re on the island, the best way to get around is by renting a car so that you can explore at your own pace.
Where to stay in the Faroe Islands…
If you’re looking for a place to stay while in the Faroe Islands, there are plenty of great options depending on your budget and preferences. The islands are small, so no matter where you stay, you’ll be close to the main attractions. However, it’s easy to end up staying in the middle of nowhere with a beautiful view with no access to stores and restaurants, so I would recommend staying in either Torshavn or Vagar as they are the best-located islands.
For those on a budget, the best option is to stay in one of the many guesthouses located throughout the islands. There are also a few hostels, but they tend to fill up quickly, so it’s best to book in advance.
For those looking for a mid-range option, there are plenty of hotels and Airbnbs. I booked this Airbnb for my stay, and it was perfect! A little bit outside of town but close to supermarkets and restaurants, and it had a great view of sunrise.
For those looking for a more luxurious stay, there are plenty of great hotels, both in the capital city of Torshavn and in the countryside, like Hotel Foroyar.
If you fancy staying on more than one island, you could always split your stay between 2-3 islands.
Are you ready to start exploring? This is your Faroe Islands travel guide with some of the top things to do in the Faroe Islands!
The best things to do in the Faroe Islands
1. Take the hike to see the lake above the sea: Sørvágsvatn Lake
This is probably one of the coolest things to do in the Faroe islands and is high on everyone’s Faroe Islands bucket list. Sørvágsvatn is the largest lake in the Faroe Islands, but what makes it special is the optical illusion it creates. From certain angles, it appears as if the lake is higher than the ocean when in reality, the opposite is true! This hike was an absolute highlight in my 7-day itinerary, and you can read more about it here.
To get to Sørvágsvatn, you can either drive (it’s about a 40-minute drive from the capital city of Torshavn) or take a bus (the number 150 bus from Torshavn).
To get the best view and experience the optical illusion, I recommend taking the hike up to Bøsdalafossur waterfall. The hike will take about 2 hours to complete and is considered an easy-moderate hike. The trail starts from the village of Sørvágur and will take you through some stunning landscapes before reaching the waterfall. Once you reach the waterfall, you’ll have a great view of the lake and be able to see the optical illusion for yourself!
2. Admire the largest waterfall in the Faroe Islands: Fòssa Waterfall.
Fòssa waterfall is a sight to be seen and one of the best things to do in the Faroe Islands. Fòssa waterfall is the largest waterfall in the Faroe Islands and is located on the island of Eysturoy. The waterfall is about 100 meters tall and is best seen after a period of heavy rain when the water is rushing the most.
To get to the waterfall, you can either drive (about a 30-minute drive from the capital city of Torshavn) or take a bus (the bus ride takes about an hour).
There is also a hiking trail that leads to the waterfall, so you can get a closer look. The trail to the hike leading up to the waterfalls isn’t obvious but starts at the bottom of the road near the parking spot. It isn’t difficult, but it does have a steep incline where you have to scramble up rocks, so I’d only recommend this to those who have good hiking shoes and are comfortable with heights.
For those who don’t fancy the hike, you can simply take in the view of its cascading water from either side of the road. On top of being able to stop next to the waterfall, there’s also an awesome view point across the fjord on the other side of the road. There’s a small layby you can park up to take in the view.
3. Take a day trip to Mykines islands to see the puffins!
The Mykines are a tourist favourite as it is known as puffin paradise! This small island on the west coast of the Faroe Islands is one of the best places to see puffins and of the best things to do in the Faroe Islands! Puffins are a type of seabird that is adorable, and they happen to burrow and nest on Mykines island over the summer months.
If puffins are high on your bucket list when you visit the Faroe Islands, then the best time to see the puffins is from early May to late August.
To get to the Mykines, you first need to take a ferry (the number 36 ferry, to be exact) from Sorvagur, which takes about 45 minutes and costs DKK 60 per person. You can find ferry times on their website. However, be warned, the ferry to Mykines often gets cancelled due to weather, so make sure you keep a close eye on wind and visibility for the day you want to visit Mykines island.
Once you’re on the island, there are plenty of hiking trails to explore. I recommend taking the hike to the highest point on the island, Holmur lighthouse, for some incredible views. Just be sure to pay the hiking fee (DKK 250) beforehand, as you’ll be required to show proof of payment to start the hike.
The hike to the lighthouse is an easy-moderate hike and should take you around 2-3 hours to complete, so there is little to no reason for this not to be on your Faroe Islands travel bucket list!
4. Go on a village hike!
The Faroe Islands is a hiking destination, and everyone knows about the most famous ones, as Sørvágsvatn mentioned earlier, but there are so many village hikes you can go on that offer great views and are a lot less crowded. These historic village paths used to be the only way to travel between villages before roads and highways were built, so they hold a lot of historical and cultural meaning to the Faroese.
As these paths are kind of off-grid, the locations where they start aren’t as obvious, but once on the path, they will be clearly marked with ancient cairns, a heap of stones set up as a landmark showing the way, so you don’t get lost.
The Visit Faroe Islands website has all the information, maps and details you need to plan and prepare for your hike. You can use this search engine on the Visit Faroe Islands website to find the best village path suited to your needs!
Some notable hikes are:
- Tórshavn – Kirkjubøur
- Bøur – Gásadalur
- Hvalvík – Kvívík
- Funningur – Gjógv
5. Take a kayaking tour to see the sea stacks.
One of the best ways to experience the beauty of the Faroe Islands is from the water! And there’s no better way to do this than on a kayak. There are a handful of kayaking tours you can take, and here are some of the best ones:
- Vàga Kayak offers kayaking tours on Sørvágsvatn lake (prices start at DKK 200 per person)
- Suðuroyar kajakk offers unique kayaking experiences on the island of Suðuroy (prices start at DKK 250 per person)
- North Atlantic Experience sea kayaking tours take you to Drangarnir (price start at DKK 350 per person)
If kayaking in the Faroe Islands is a top priority for your trip, then the best time for you to visit the Faroe Islands is in the summer months, as kayaking tours only run from May to September.
6. Explore the island of Kalsoy
Kalsoy is one of the most unique and beautiful places in the Faroe Islands and definitely worth a visit! Kalsoy is an island located north of the capital city of Torshavn and can be reached by taking a 30-minute ferry ride from the town of Klaksvik. This ferry is quite small and competitive, so I’d recommend arriving at least an hour in advance to secure a space on the boat. You can find ferry times here.
Kalsoy is known for its incredible landscapes, rolling green hills, and picturesque villages. It’s also home to some of the best hiking trails in the Faroe islands! One of the most popular hikes is the hike to the Mikladalur village, which takes you through some stunning scenery before reaching the abandoned village. The hike should take you around 3-4 hours to complete.
In recent years, another hike has become increasingly popular, the hike to the Kollurin lighthouse. The Kollurin lighthouse is the most northerly point in the Faroe Islands, and the views from the top are incredible! This is probably why they chose it as the location for James Bond’s final scene in the latest film, “No Time to Die”.
To symbolize this, they’ve put a gravestone with James Bond at the very spot of his last scene, so this means you can now take a selfie with Jame’s Bond grave!
7. Visit the local village of Gasadalur, and the Múlafossur waterfall.
Gasadalur is a small village located on the island of Vagar. It’s most famous for being home to the Múlafossur waterfall, one of the most beautiful waterfalls in the Faroe Islands. The waterfall cascades down into the ocean below and has become one of the most popular tourist attractions in the Faroe Islands.
To get to the village of Gasadalur, you can either drive (it’s about a 45-minute drive from the capital city of Torshavn) or take the public bus (the number 100 bus from Torshavn). Once you’re in the village, it’s just a short walk to the waterfall.
If you’re feeling adventurous, there’s also the option to hike to the village of Bøur. This is a beautiful but challenging hike that should take you around 4-5 hours to complete. The trail starts in the village of Sorvágur and will take you through some stunning landscapes before reaching the village of Bøur. From Bøur, you can hike back to Gasadalur or continue to the village of Gásadalur.
8. Take a boat tour to explore the iconic sites from the sea
One of the most popular activities in the Faroe Islands is taking a boat tour to see some of the iconic sites around the island to get a closer look and a different angle.
Several different boat tour companies operate in the Faroe Islands. Still, these are the best ones:
- Bluegate offers group boat tours of up to 12 people to Drangarnir, Tindhólmur, Mùlafossur and Mykines island (prices start at DKK 650)
- Seatravel offers a private boat tour to Drangarnir, Tindhólmur, Mùlafossur, and Mykines island (price starts at DKK 955)
Actionboat offers boat tours around the island of Suðuroy to visit the sea caves and sea stacks around the island (prices start at DKK 300)
9. Take a drive down some of the most picturesque roads: Norðradalur & Road 45
The Faroe Islands have some of the coolest and most unique roads in the world, winding their way through the mountains and giving you incredible views along the way. One of the best roads to drive down is road 45 from Bøur to Gasaladur.
This road winds its way around the island, giving epic views from the road and above, but couple that with the backdrop of Tindhólmur, the second tallest mountain on the Faroe Islands, and you have a recipe for one of the most scenic drives you’ll ever experience! (Also epic for skateboarding too!).
Another great road to drive is Norðradalur valley. This drive is extra special at sunrise or sunset. This drive offers great views of the valley, the mountains, and the sea. The drive takes about 30 minutes from Tórshavn and is easy to add on at any point on your itinerary when leaving or returning Tórshavnfrom your daily activities.
10. Have a kick about in the forgotten football field of Eiði
Eiði is a village on the island of Eysturoy and is home to the forgotten football field of Eiði. This football field was built in the 1940s and hasn’t been used since the 1970s.
But that doesn’t mean you can’t have a kick about! It’s technically a campsite for motorhomes, but it doesn’t tend to be booked out, so you’ve got the field to yourself.
11. Take a stroll in Gjogv town
Gjogv is one of the most picturesque towns in the Faroe Islands, and it’s definitely worth a visit! The best way to experience the town is to wander around and take in the beauty of the buildings and the landscape. Gjogv is on the northeastern coast of the island of Eysturoy and is a 50-minute drive from Torshavn.
If you’re looking to make a hike of it, you can start in the village of Eiði and hike to Gjogv. The hike should take you around 4-5 hours to complete.
12. Go on a fishing tour with a local fisherman
If you want to experience the Faroe Islands like a local, one of the best things you can do is go on a fishing tour with a local fisherman. This is a great way to learn about the history and culture of the Faroe Islands while also getting out into nature.
Many different companies offer fishing tours, but I would recommend the company FishingwithBlastein or Boat.Fo. SeaTravel tours are modern fishing tours, whereas Boat.fo takes you on a traditional Faroese boat. Both your companies offer half-day and full-day tours, as well as the option to stay overnight on one of their boats. The starting price for a group tour varies between DKK 500 – DKK 1200. A private fishing tour costs between DKK 1900 – 39000.
During the tour, you’ll learn how to fish with the locals using traditional methods. You’ll also get the chance to catch your own fish, which the locals will then cook for you! This is a great way to sample the delicious seafood that the Faroe Islands have to offer.
13. Take a cave boat tour to Hestur Island
If you’re looking for an adventure, then take the cave boat tour to the island of Hestur. This is definitely not for the faint-hearted, as the waves can be quite rough!
The tour starts in the town of Klaksvik on the island of Borðoy and takes around 45 minutes to reach Hestur Island. Once you’re on the island, you’ll explore the sea caves and the cliffs. The tour costs DKK 250 per person.
So there you have it: the best things to do in the Faroe Islands! I hope this blog has inspired you to visit this incredible place.
Did I miss anything? Let us know in the comments below! And don’t forget to check out this other blog post with a 7-day itinerary for the Faroe Islands so you can plan your trip!
Author : Sté Marques from stemarques.com
You might also like :
- A day Bruges & Ghent Belgium roadtrip itinerary
- The best places to ski in Europe for winter 2022
- List of the best Hotels with Pools in Rome for your ideal trips
- A 3-day Berchtesgaden Germany roadtrip itinerary in 2022
- The list of the Europe’s best hiking trails you should try for holiday hotspots
- The best beautiful places you can’t miss when visit Jurassic coast, Dorset
- The best places to visit Lake Königssee, Germany
- Review Forsthofalm Hotel and Spa, Austria
- Review Locanda Degli Artisti Art Hotel, the luxury hotel in Canazei, Val di Fassa, Dolomites
- The best things to do in Algarve, Portugal 2022
- The best places to visit in Vienna, Austria 2022
- List of the best places to stay in the Algarve, Portugal
1 comment
Your point of view caught my eye and was very interesting. Thanks. I have a question for you.