faroe islands road trip itinerary

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The Perfect Faroe Islands Itinerary For 3, 7 or 10 Days

10 April 2019.

Rugged cliff lines, sweeping fjords, tiny gingerbread villages, spectacular coastal drives and pristine wilderness that unfolds beyond your window makes the Faroe Islands a perfect place for a road trip.

After two trips to the Faroe Islands, one in late summer when the landscapes were washed in brilliant greens and again in spring when the saffron-coloured grasslands were offset by thick snow, I’ve driven across much of the archipelago, explored on foot, returned to some places over and over again and only managing to squint at others through a thick layer of fog.

Whether you’ve got just 3 days to spare or 10, this is how I’d suggest planning your Faroe Islands itinerary to make the most of your time.

Before diving in though, it’s important to know that it pays to be a little flexible when exploring this remote cluster of islands. Frequently wild weather means plans have a habit of getting thrown out the window, ferries cancelled, hikes shelved for another day and epic viewpoints obliterated before your eyes. So, while I’d recommend using these itineraries as a guide, try to make use of good weather for the adventures that really need it and know when to throw in the towel and save an activity for another time rather than push on senselessly.

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Visiting for a long weekend or perhaps enjoying a stopover on the Smyril Lines cruise ship? With 3 days in the Faroe Islands you’ll get a fantastic introduction to the archipelago and be able to tick off some of its most famous sites that will undoubtedly whet your appetite for a longer return journey.

Day 1   |    Vágar

Hit the ground running with the Faroe Island’s most iconic sight – the majestic waterfall of Múlafossur tumbling from a vivid green cliff into the churning sea. Backed by towering cliff walls and the enchanting grass-roofed village of Gasadalur, it’s impossible to imagine a more magical sight or one more quintessentially Faroese to kick off your adventure.

Gasadalur sits less than half an hour from the airport along a stunning coastal drive that hugs the cliffs extending beyond Sørvágur and Bøur before disappearing into the eerie mountain tunnel that funnels you toward the once isolated village. If you’re arriving in the Faroes by ferry, you may wish to drop your luggage at your hotel in Tórshavn before setting off for the hour long drive.

The incredible waterfall scene is best experienced from the viewing platform opposite, but be sure to take the time to wander around the village itself and climb a short way up the hill beyond the falls.

Slowly make your way back toward Sørvágsvatn, or Leitisvatn as it’s also known, drinking in the views across the bay of the jagged spires of Tindhólmur, the perfect arch of Drangarnir and, on a clear day, the silhouette of Mykines twisting into the distance.

A short way beyond the airport, pull into the parking area to begin the hike along Sørvágsvatn to the soaring sea cliffs of Trælanípan.

Nestled in a lush basin, this lake was made famous by the optical illusion created when viewed from the cliffs that surround it where it appears to float precariously above the crashing sea. From here you can peer down the vertigo-inducing rockface that drops straight into the churning water, watch Bøsdalafossur spill into the ocean and clamber up the sweeping and rather steep hillsides to enjoy the views from every angle.

From the parking lot, it’s just 3 kilometres to the farthest point, an easy 1 hour each way, but you’ll most likely be persuaded to spend a whole lot more time here. This area is notoriously foggy and, though it should go without saying, remember to always be exceptionally careful when wandering about near the cliffs.

** UPDATE: As of April 2019 the trail along Sørvágsvatn to Trælanípan is restricted and visitors are required to pay a hiking fee and be accompanied by a guide. The cost is 450 DKK (€60) for adults, 150 DKK (€20) for children aged 7 to 14, and free for kids 6 and under. Guided hiking groups depart at 9 a.m., 12 and 3 p.m. daily. Book your tour here or visit  this website  for more information.

Sørvágsvatn is one of the most visited areas in the Faroe Islands and these measures have been put in place to help preserve the fragile natural environment and curb the strain from increasing foot traffic.

If this hike is slightly out of your budget, I’d highly recommend the nearby Fjallavatn as a stunning alternative. For the full guide, read this post or scroll down to Day 7 of this itinerary.

** UPDATE: Thankfully, it is now also possible to complete the hike without a guide, but you must pay the hiking fee of 200DKK (€27) at the entrance gate.

From here, avid birdwatchers and those unable to visit Mykines should head straight to Vestmanna to catch the final departure of the day for the famous bird cliff boat tour. On this two-hour trip, you’ll weave between the towering sea stacks and along the dramatic cliff line to bring you up close to the many species of seabirds that nest and forage in this rugged untouched setting.

Vestmanna Bird Cliff Tours run from May to September and cost 295 DKK per adult (€39.50) with just five daily departures during peak season. These trips are operated by the Vestmanna Tourist Centre and can sell out months in advance during busy periods so be sure to book your trip well in advance to avoid disappointment.

Check availability of the Vestmanna Bird Cliff Tours here and here .

Not much of a twitcher or saving yourself for Mykines? You might prefer to skip Vestmanna altogether and push onto Torshavn instead.

As you peel away from Sorvagsvatn, keep an eye out for the vibrant red-roofed church of Sandavágur and if you still feel the need to stretch your legs, follow the small road out the back of the village to begin the short walk to the gnarled spike of Trøllkonufingur, the Witch’s Finger, a key player in one of the Faroe’s most told legends.

Day 2   |   Mykines or Kalsoy

Mykines is an essential stop on any Faroe Islands itinerary, but getting there isn’t always so easy.

This remote western isle is home to some of the archipelago’s most striking landscapes, but without a doubt its biggest draw are the thousands of puffins that nest here during the summer months.

From May through August, there are two daily ferries departing from Sørvágur at 10:20 a.m. and 4:20 p.m, returning from Mykines at 11:05 a.m. and 5:05 p.m. Tickets are 60 DKK (€8) each way and should be purchased in advance as crossings regularly fill up. You can buy your tickets here .

The alternative is to arrive by helicopter which makes the trip just four days a week, however, as this is used as a form of public transport for locals, tourists are only able to book tickets one way meaning you will still need to either arrive or depart by ferry and this often requires you to stay overnight on the island.

As a protected wetland area, all visitors to Mykines intending to explore beyond the village are required to pay a hiking fee of 100 DKK (€13) that contributes to the maintenance of the island. Though not essential, it is also recommended that visitors be accompanied by a guide. The hiking fee must be paid here , or you can book a guided tour here .

Note that many of the organised tours to Mykines include the ferry ticket and/or hiking fee so be sure to check what is covered before booking.

Now, while all this might sound rather straightforward, trips to Mykines are frequently cancelled at short notice due to wild weather, while persistently poor conditions may force hiking through sensitive areas (such as the puffin colonies) to be temporarily suspended.

For this reason, whether you’re visiting the Faroe Islands for 3 days or 10, I’d highly recommend trying to visit Mykines as soon as possible so that if your trip is cancelled you’ve still got enough time to reschedule.

If you’re visiting during summer and the weather behaves, a trip to Mykines is an absolute must! But if you’re not or it’s not, then I’d suggest heading to the northern isle of Kalsoy instead (skip ahead to Day 4 of this Faroe Islands itinerary for details).

Difficulties aside, those lucky enough to actually get to Mykines can expect an incredible day beginning with a journey past rocky archways fending off bursts of ocean spray and the impressive ridgeline of Tindhólmur before sticking close by the towering cliffs of the island.

The ferry trip is only around an hour but seas can be choppy so those prone to seasickness might consider taking something to avoid feeling queasy for the rest of the day.

Arriving on the final days of August, I’d been apprehensive that the puffins may have already begun to move south, but I really needn’t have worried. I was greeted by a mind-boggling display of the clumsy birds circling overhead en masse and it only got better from there.

Don’t miss the hike to the distant islet of Mykineshólmur and the lighthouse that marks the Faroe Island’s westernmost point. From the harbour, it’s about a 3-hour return hike up steep hills, across open meadows and tiny bridges and, best of all, between the frenetic hillsides where you’ll find the puffin’s burrows.

This area is a fascinating hum of activity with birds constantly coming and going, flouncing through the air and returning with beaks full of glassy-eyed fish for their pufflings hidden safely within their nests.

It’s easy to lose hours here, sitting, watching and photographing these beautiful creatures, but please, please be sure to stay on the path and do not disturb the birds or their burrows. Lingering too long or too close to their nests will also make them more reluctant to return so try to be mindful of your surroundings at all times and don’t be a nuisance for the sake of a photo.

As you make your way back to Torshavn, take a detour along Oyggjarvegur, a scenic mountain pass, and venture up the hair-raising Mjørkadalur road for sunset, or stop in at the viewpoint above Norðradalur.

These high points along the pass are blasted with incredibly strong winds and are often the first to recieve snow and the last to lose it so be extra careful when driving along these narrow roads and opening your car doors.

Day 3  |  Streymoy and Eysturoy

After two fairly active days in the Faroe Islands, it’s time to spend some time behind the wheel meandering from one beautiful village to the next.

Leaving Torshavn, take the coastal road through the fjords, gazing up at the verdant green walls that cast a perfect watery reflection on a calm day, before turning onto the narrow buttercup road toward the ridiculously picturesque village of Saksun.

On my first Faroe Islands trip, this was a place I returned to over and over again, to wander across the hillsides, to watch the ethereal bay fill with water and to wait for the entire valley to be bathed in soft golden light. It’s also possible to walk around the bay to the beach beyond at low tide, just be sure to keep an eye on the tides.

Next up, head to the northernmost village of Streymoy, Tjørnuvík. Caught between a patchwork of iridescent green and a horseshoe bay of black shores and turquoise water, it’s an impossibly pretty setting and if you’re lucky, you may even be greeted by the comforting scent of freshly toasted waffles in the centre of town.

If you’re in need of some adventure and have some extra time on your hands, there’s a steep trail which leads over the mountains all the way back to Saksun, but it’s also possible to just hike to the ridgeline which affords spectacular views over the village and the dramatic folds of the peninsula. It’s a challenging hike, especially in the knee-deep snow that I encountered, and takes about 2 hours to the top following a combination of post markers and rocky cairns.

Also keep an eye out for Risin and Kellingin , two jagged sea stacks perched off the coast of Eysturoy.

Continue onwards to Gjogv, taking it slow along the spectacular mountain pass that swings around Slættaratindur and stopping at the viewpoints to explore a little further on foot.

At the village, it’s time to don those hiking boots again and hopefully catch another glimpse of some puffins. Though they’re nowhere near as abundant here as you’ll find on Mykines, if your trip to the western isle is cancelled or the ferries have finished running for the year, Gjogv is the next best option to view these wonderfully clumsy, pot-bellied birds.

Stop in at the pretty marina to marvel at the impressive rippled mounds of the northern isles before clambering up the grassy path toward the cliffs above the village.

Gjogv is also a rare place in the Faroe Islands outside of Torshavn where you’ll find a cafe so if you’re in need of some warmth before or after your walk, stop in at Gjaargardur Guesthouse . Reservations are now essential so be sure to book ahead (thanks to a kind reader for passing along this update!)

Since my first visit to the Faroe Islands when tourists were few and far between and the tiny village parking lots were virtually always empty, the situation these days is quite different. Many of these villages have very small populations, some numbering in the single digits, and the presence of even a few dozen tourists can certainly be felt and has been a source of tension for some locals.

I’ll admit that on this first visit I did a fair bit of aimless wandering across the landscapes, unsure of where the properties began and wilderness ended. But with the increasing number of visitors, it’s important to be respectful of the property boundaries that exist (i.e. don’t deliberately climb over fences) and particularly considerate of the residents’ privacy in these tiny villages.

This also goes for driving along the narrow single-track roads that lead in and out of these villages. Don’t just stop in the middle of the road for the sake of a photo, use the stopping bays appropriately and try not to drive at a snail’s pace to enjoy the view while some poor local sits patiently behind you attempting to make it home in a timely manner.

By this point in the day, time is probably seriously getting away from you. The long Arctic summer days can make it all too easy to forget the clock and try to use up every moment of daylight, especially when the weather is good. If the skies are clear don’t hesitate to drive a little longer as the evening light that gets cast across these islands is nothing short of spectacular.

If this is the final day of your Faroe Islands holiday, take your time making your way back to Torshavn via the rather exciting zigzag roads down to Funningur and Oyndarfjørður before cutting back across the island.

On a longer Faroe Islands trip, you’ll have time to explore the stunning northern isles and dedicate a day or two to setting out on foot. If you’ve followed the 3-day itinerary, I’d also recommend relocating to a new base in the north of the archipelago for a few days to cut down on driving time. Head there directly from Gjogv rather than returning to Torshavn.

Day 4   |   Kalsoy

Kalsoy, the long thin island shaped like a witch’s bony finger, is perhaps the most famous of the northern isles and is home to the iconic Kallur Lighthouse that sits perched on the very tip of the peninsula offset by a wildly impressive backdrop.

Catch one of the morning ferries across from Klaksvik to Syðradalur to begin the drive to the northern village of Trøllanes. Prepare for plenty of spooky tunnels that cut through the island’s peaks and epic views as you zoom along the narrow fjord.

In the village, set off through the little red gate and follow the rambling sheep trails north into the countryside for the 45-minute walk to the lighthouse. This area is known for its violent winds and torrents of mist that roll across the escarpment so be sure to bring warm clothing and keep a close eye on the trails if the fog descends. Trust me, it’s far too easy to get funnelled off on the wrong tiny trail.

After your hike, backtrack to Mikladalur and stroll down to the wave-soaked rock platform to visit Kópakonan, the selkie woman who pays homage to perhaps my favourite Faroese folktale and the curse that she put upon the island. You can read all about it here .

Day 5   |   Kunoy + Viðareiði

Make your way north to Kunoy, a tranquil tangle of tiny laneways, white-washed homes and rolling countryside that is best explored on foot.

After wandering about the town and taking in the views across the chiselled face of Kalsoy, follow the dirt track uphill to discover a rare feature of the archipelago, the forest of Kunoy. A well-laid path snakes through the lush grove leading to the wilderness beyond.

Next, cross over to Bordoy where you’ll find the tiny village of Muli located on the far northern tip of the island. It’s supposedly abandoned, though was certainly in use when I visited, and you’ll find a small cascade, a number of old stone ruins and plenty of birdlife on the grassy path that extends out past the village. The desolate potholed drive to get here is also beautiful. 

On both visits to the Faroe Islands I found myself in the late afternoon winding my way to the beautifully situated village of Viðareiði in the hopes of climbing the enormous Villingardalsfjall. But after mornings filling with lazy strolls, soaking up the views and stopping every few minutes by the roadside for yet another photo, on both occasions I arrived far too late in the day to actually attempt the hike.

This tiny community has one of the most dramatic settings in the archipelago with a striking white church perched on the cliff’s edge backed by a craggy pyramid of rock. The best views, however, are found from above, gazing down on the scene.

The 4-hour hike up Villingardalsfjall is steep and requires a good deal of rocky scrambling, but if you’re short on time like I was, even an hour’s climb up the uneven slope will offer up a spectacular vantage point.

Day 6  |  Torshavn and …

By this point in your trip, chances are that things haven’t quite gone according to plan. Perhaps a spell of wild weather stole away the views, a cancelled ferry put an end to your day trip or the epic hike you wanted to take was shelved for another day. So, I’d suggest reserving this penultimate day in your Faroe Islands itinerary as a contingency day.

Slowly make your way back to Torshavn, returning to the places you may have missed along the way, the villages you just need to take a second glance at or the hikes you were forced to put on hold.

Spend the afternoon exploring the charming Faroese capital. Stroll around the harbour where colourful boats bob two and fro and fishermen sell their catch of the day, get lost in the tiny knot of the old town where grass-roofed homes and white window frames are in full supply and take refuge in the galleries and cosy cafes hidden between the city streets.

If you’ve somehow been lucky enough to experience a rare week of good Faroese weather and have no need or desire to slowly amble your way back to the city, consider taking a day trip to Nolsoy instead. Set just 20-minutes from Torshavn, this brightly coloured village provides a warm welcome and that ‘country’ feeling without actually having to go all that far.

The 6-hour return hike to the lighthouse on the island’s southern tip is a beautiful way to spend a sunny day, though bear in mind that thick fog has a habit of sweeping across the peninsula at a moment’s notice. Check the ferry timetable for Nolsoy here .

Day 7   |   Hike Fjallavatn and the Seastacks

With the famous hike along Sørvágsvatn already behind you, you may be surprised to learn that just a few short kilometres away lies the far less visited Fjallavatn, another Faroese lake that is perhaps even more impressive.

Rolling meadows, a hidden black sand beach, a thunderous waterfall and the quintessential Faroese cliff line rising from the ocean set the scene for an epic day of hiking.

The 13 km return hike to Fjallavatn begins beyond Vatnsoyrar and hugs the shore of the lake before emerging at an impressive panorama of angular peaks, wild ocean and a relentless stream of waves crashing against the black beach below. It’s rugged and remote and certainly one of the most beautiful views in the Faroe Islands. For the full guide to hiking Fjallavatn, see here .

Next, travel the short distance to the outskirts of Sørvágur to begin the hike to the sea stacks along the south coast of Vagar. It’s a relatively short walk, just 2 km each way, but as it passes through private property it’s best done with a guide. I did the hike with Jóhannus from Reika Adventures who is a wealth of information about the islands and their many hilarious quirks.

With three extra days carved out in your Faroe Islands itinerary, you’ll have time to explore the often overlooked but incredibly beautiful southern isles of Suðuroy and Sandoy.

Day 8 + 9   |  Suðuroy

The Faroe’s southernmost isle gets far fewer visitors than its much more famous northern neighbours but I’m here to let you in on a little secret, it’s absolutely spectacular and the perfect place to wrap up your Faroe Islands trip.

Truth be told, I was greeted by some truly awful weather down here. The perpetually gloomy skies and hideous combination of wild winds, sleet and heavy snow meant that hiking was all but out of the question and many of the most scenic drives simply became impassable.

In the brief moments of calm sunshine though, the landscapes dressed in glistening white and bound by the jet-black cliffs was something quite special.

Catch the morning ferry across from Torshavn which should get you to Suduroy around midday.

Over the next two days, if the weather is on your side, hit the trails with a hike to Hvannhagi , a protected lake cradled beneath an impressive wall of rock that is rumoured to be one of the islands’ most impressive natural features, and follow the road north for a glimpse of Hvalba and Sandvik from where you can set off on foot to explore the rugged sea cliffs of the west coast.

If you’re more confined to your car, take the scenic coastal drive down the east coast to Vágur and wind your way up the pass that climbs high over the hills between Sumba and Lopra toward the weather station and the base of the near vertical incline of Beinisvørð. Wander along the cliffs here for some excellent bird watching opportunities – the winged creatures put on quite a show swooping and sailing between the rocky cracks – and, if you dare, attempt the ridiculously steep climb to the island’s highest point which offers up unparalleled views over the majestic folds of Suduroy.

Push onwards to Akraberg Lighthouse, the isolated southernmost point of the Faroe Islands that gazes across the windswept ocean, before backtracking through the charming village of Sumba and onwards to Tvøroyri to catch the ferry.

Don’t miss this more in-depth guide of things to do in Suduroy to help plan your visit.

Day 10   |   Sandoy

Set a short ferry ride from Streymoy, Sandoy’s compact size, charming villages and sprawling beaches make it a wonderfully easy day trip from Torshavn, and because it seems to be left off so many people’s itineraries, it’s also an excellent place to explore without the crowds.

Get an early start on one of the first ferries of the day from Gamlarætt to Skopun. Weaving out of the tiny village you’re immediately thrust into the rolling countryside peppered by glassy lakes and before long you’ll be yearning to pull over to take a few snaps. Wind your way to the beautifully situated Dalur on Sandoy’s southern tip before slowly making your way back to catch the ferry, stopping at each village and pretty view as you go.

If you’ve got some extra time on your hands, it’s also worthwhile setting off to explore on foot. The trails climbing above Dalur and beyond Skopun offer up excellent views.

For more details on how to spend your time on Sandoy, check out this guide .

Back on Streymoy, Kirkjubøur is just a 5-minute drive from the ferry terminal and home to a traditional Faroese village of red window frames and grass-roofed houses as well as a collection of historical sights – the ruins of Magnus Cathedral, St Olaf’s Church and Kirkjubøargarður, one of the oldest inhabited wooden houses in the world.

You’ll find plenty more information about how to get around the Faroe Islands in this post , but for this itinerary, it’s definitely best to rent a car. If you’re not a driver, you could also theoretically use a combination of public transport and day tours. See this roundup of the best Faroe Island tours .

Vehicles can be picked up from the Vagar Airport or Torshavn. As always, be sure to read the insurance policy carefully before setting off as it might be a little different than what you’re used to.

Generally in the Faroe Islands, there’s no option for zero excess and each piece of damage is charged individually, whether it’s a tiny ding or a more serious collision. Third-party insurance is a good idea, just in case.

Compare car rental prices here.

Unsurprisingly, this remote collection of islands wedged in the North Atlantic is not the most budget-friendly destination, but there you will find a range of accommodation options to suit most budgets.

For a 3-day visit, I’d recommend staying in Torshavn where you’ll have access to plenty of restaurants and won’t have to bother with packing up and moving every day. For longer stays, I’d suggest picking a handful of bases from which to explore – Vagar, Torshavn and somewhere in the northern isles make the most sense depending on your chosen itinerary.

For those on a tight budget, hostels and Airbnbs present the best value, especially those with guest kitchens, while hotels offer up modern facilities often paired with stunning views of the Faroese landscapes.

These are all places I’ve used during my visits.

Torshavn  |  Hotel Føroyar  |  An excellent mid-range choice boasting spectacular views from its perch above town. The sumptuous buffet breakfast is exceptional and rooms are modern and spacious. Check rates and availability here.

Torshavn  |  Kerjalon Hostel   |  A clean spacious hostel with comfy beds and a fully equipped kitchen. Run by Hotel Føroyar and located just next door. Last I heard this was under renovation but should be up and running soon.

Vagar  |   Giljanes Hostel   |  Facilities are fairly basic here, but it’s one of the few budget-friendly options on the islands where you’ll find a large guest kitchen and lounge area along with a beautiful view across the bay. Check rates and availability here.

Nolsoy  |  Airbnb   |  This beautiful, bright house provides a wonderful refuge on Nolsoy and though it isn’t strictly locally run, the friendly owners can give you plenty of interesting insights into life on the islands.

Norðragøta  |  Airbnb   |  This big house with a fully equipped kitchen and comfy lounge area was a perfect base to explore the northern isles. Hosts are friendly and full of stories about their homeland.

Suðuroy   |  Hotel Bakkin   |  Located in Vágur, this simple but comfortable hotel includes breakfast. Check the latest reviews on TripAdvisor , or for rates and availability enquire  here . Suduroy also has plenty of great options listed on Airbnb .

Considering visitors don’t get a great deal of opportunity to interact with locals on the islands, using Airbnbs actually provides a rare chance to get a local perspective on life on the islands, on tourism, on amusing cultural quirks and advice on how to actually pronounce the places you’re visiting because, trust me, between the accents and intonations you’re probably not saying anything right.

They often tend to be far more economical and offer up the chance to stay somewhere truly atmospheric, like a charming countryside cabin or grass-roofed home in the wilderness.

New to Airbnb? Sign up here  and receive up to $30 off when you make your first booking.

Visiting The Faroe Islands Without A Car | The Best Day Tours For Your Visit

A Visitors’ Guide To Suduroy | The Faroes Spectacular Southern Isle

A Short Guide To Sandoy | The Faroes Quaint And Beautiful Southern Isle

Hiking To Fjallavatn, The Faroe Islands Other Lake

A Complete Beginner’s Guide To Travelling the Faroe Islands

23 Amazing Things To Do In The Faroe Islands

10 Things to Know Before Visiting the Faroe Islands

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Faroe Islands Itinerary Suggestions for 3-9 Days (+Map & Practical Tips)

By Author Jurga

Posted on Last updated: January 23, 2024

The Faroe Islands is a place of rugged landscapes, harsh weather, and unspoiled natural beauty. Europe’s best-kept secret, little known and unexplored, waiting to be discovered by those who know how to appreciate it.

We learned that the literal translation of the Faroe Islands actually means the Sheep Islands . This alone was enough to convince us to visit these remote islands with countless shades of green, millions of birds, and indeed, more sheep than people….

Do you also want to visit the Faroe Islands, but are not sure where to start? In this post, I’m sharing our complete Faroe Islands self-drive itinerary for 9 days . It covers all the most beautiful places that you shouldn’t miss in the Faroe Islands, as well as some less-visited locations and incredible hidden gems.

In addition, I’m also sharing the best Faroe Island itinerary suggestions for 3, 4, 5, 6, or 7 days . You can find those at the bottom of the article.

If you love the outdoors, adventure, and quiet places where time seems to have stood still, then you probably know how increasingly difficult and challenging it is to still find a travel destination that ticks all these boxes. Faroe Islands is such a place, and it’s closer and easier to visit than I always thought it was.

How much time do you need for the Faroe Islands?

While you can see the main highlights of the Faroe Islands in 4-7 days, staying a few days longer makes for a more relaxing trip and gives you an opportunity to visit remote islands and also do some hiking. As a minimum, I suggest you spend 4-5 full days in the Faroe Islands.

Many people travel to the Faroe Islands for just a few days, but we wanted to explore the main islands to the fullest, and so we spent 9 full days in the Faroe Islands 11 including travel days.

TIP: If you are visiting the Faroe Islands for the first time and are not sure where to start, you can also opt for organized tour packages . They include daily tours to the best places in the Faroe Islands and you can just stay in Torshavn during the whole trip.

The most popular option is this 6-day tour package that covers all the main highlights of the Faroe Islands. All you have to do is book your Torshavn accommodation and a tour package, and they’ll pick you up for a different tour every morning.

Another great option is this new all-in 8-day package that, in addition to all tours, also includes Torshavn accommodation, airport transfers, and more.

How to use this Faroe Islands itinerary

You can use our Faroe Islands travel itinerary for inspiration and make sure to also check our suggestions for any trip. But keep in mind that you’ll have to make your own trip itinerary as a lot depends on available accommodations and also on the ferry timetables .

To help you plan your trip, we included a handy MAP for searching all available hotels and Airbnbs for your travel dates . You can find it at the bottom of this article.

For more practical information , please check our first-timer’s guide to visiting the Faroe Islands .

I also created a map indicating all the places mentioned in this post. It should help you get a better idea of where everything is and plan your own Faroe Islands travel itinerary. See below.

How to use this map:  Use your computer mouse (or fingers) to zoom in or out. Click on the icons to get more information about each place. Click the arrow on the top left corner for the index. Click the star next to the map’s title to add it to your Google Maps account. To view the saved map on your smartphone or PC, open Google Maps, click the menu and go to ‘Your Places’/’Maps’. If you want to print the map or see it in a bigger window, click on ‘View larger map’ in the top right corner.

TIP: The Faroe Islands are a paradise for hikers and some of the most beautiful places can only be reached on foot, so pack your hiking gear and explore. Here you can read more about 5 spectacular hikes that you shouldn’t miss in the Faroe Islands .

If you click on the hike icons indicated in the map above, you’ll see a number by each hike. Those numbers correspond to the numbering used in the ‘Hiking in the Faroe Islands’ brochure issued by Visit Faroe Islands. You’ll be able to find this hiking brochure at all tourism information points and some hotels on the Faroe Islands.

Day 1: Streymoy Island: Saksun, Tjornuvik, Vestmanna

Streymoy Island is the largest of the 18 Faroe Islands, home to the capital city of Torshavn and to almost half the population of the Faroe Islands. But don’t worry, even here it’s quite easy to escape the people and get a good feel of what the Faroe Islands are all about.

Oyggjarvegur Scenic Road

The scenic road Oyggjarvegur , over the mountains above Torshavn, is a road you must drive at least once. Green mountains, spectacular vistas, fjord valleys under your feet, countless waterfalls… The scenery here is truly beautiful and you can call yourself lucky if you can experience it without mist.

It’s very likely that you’ll run into some sheep, but also wild geese. Faroese geese are extraordinary birds – they live here the whole year round and are extremely well adapted to the harsh environment.

We saw so many geese that, at first, we thought they belonged to someone. But no, these birds are wild and roam freely all over the islands. Since they have no natural predators, they aren’t very shy, so you are bound to run into some geese during your trip.

The tiny village of Saksun is considered one of the nicest places in the Faroe Islands, and a must in any Faroe Islands itinerary. Saksun is situated at the end of the valley overlooking a magnificent bay that is surrounded by steep mountains. It looks like a natural shelter from the ocean, yet the wind is very strong here and it’s the coldest place we have been to in the Faroe Islands. Even in summer, don’t forget your gloves and a hat!

Saksun is best known for its little church overlooking the bay and picture-perfect turf houses of a 200-year-old farm Duvugardar, which is now a museum. It’s such a peaceful sleepy little village and the time seems to have stood still here.

TIP: If you want to have this place all to yourselves, best come here first thing in the morning or in the late afternoon. The museum opens around 2 PM and that is also the time when the tour buses arrive.

One of the popular hikes of the Faroe Islands, Saksun – Tjornuvik hike starts by the waterfall just behind the turf houses. However, it’s a long hike that involves a serious climb and will take at least 2-3 hours one way, so if you are planning to do it, start early and count the whole day for just this area.

Alternatively, make a shorter walk along the Western side of the river (you can read all about this hike in our Faroe hiking guide – hike no. 5 ) and drive to Tjornuvik by car.

Practical information: Saksun has some minimal facilities – a bathroom, a cafe that is open for a few hours in the afternoon, and a kiosk selling some small snacks (it’s located at the first parking area, not by the church where all the tourists come – go figure).

Fossa Waterfall

On the way to Tjornuvik, just before Haldarsvik, you will pass the highest waterfall of the Faroe Islands, Fossa . The 140m waterfall tumbles down over two levels and looks very impressive in the pictures.

However, in reality, it’s so close to the road that you can’t truly appreciate its beauty unless you own a drone. Anyway, it’s just a short stop that doesn’t require any effort, so don’t miss it.

The waterfall is even more impressive if you come here when it rains. Actually, it’s amazing to see how much and how quickly the waterfalls change when it starts to rain in the Faroe Islands.

Tjørnuvík

The road to Tjornuvik is extremely narrow, but it’s really scenic, so you don’t want to drive fast here anyway.

The moment you turn the last corner, the picturesque little village appears in front of you – it’s a sight to behold!

There are many places in the Faroe Islands where you feel like you’ve reached the end of the world, Tjornuvik is one of them.

Tjornuvik is a somewhat bigger village than Saksun, and we were glad to see that there were more locals here than tourists (according to Wikipedia, there were 64 people living here 15 years ago, no idea how many people live there today).

The village has a beautiful beach that is supposedly a paradise for surfers. We didn’t see any surfers here but loved the peaceful beach overlooking two beautiful rocks along the coast of the nearby Eysturoy island.

The rocks are known as Risin and Kellingin , a giant and a witch. According to a local legend, they tried to drag the Faroe Islands to their home in Iceland, but the job appeared more demanding than they anticipated. While these night creatures were working hard, the sun came up and turned them to stone.

Practical information: Tjornuvik village itself is quaint and picturesque, but there is no tourist infrastructure here at all. The only restaurant in town has been permanently closed a week before our visit. Looking for a place to hide from the rain, we followed a sign for coffee and waffles and ended up in front of yet another closed door. The neighbors told us that the owner’s granddaughter was getting married that day.

The reason I mention this is so that you know what to expect when traveling around in the Faroe Islands. Adjust your expectations, travel well prepared, and you’ll have a wonderful time.

But if you forget to pack a picnic thinking that you’ll find something in these quaint little villages, keep in mind that the nearest cafe might be an hour’s drive away.

Vestmanna Bird Cliffs

Vestmanna bird cliffs is the most popular day trip on the Faroe Islands and takes you to the steep rocky coastline where thousands of birds nest in season. If the sea is calm, this is a great tour, and a possibility to see puffins.

Vestmanna boat trip only runs in high season, April to September, and usually just 2 or 3 times a day. In summer months, the boats are usually full, but even in the shoulder season, this is one of the most popular excursions that quickly sells out. So if you want to see the bird cliffs of Vestmanna, you have to book the boat in advance .

For the rest, there isn’t that much to do in Vestmanna, unless visit the Saga Museum, buy some souvenirs at the visitors center, or meet some of the cutest sheep of the Faroes…

Accommodation: Stay in Torshavn for the first 4 nights of this itinerary. We stayed at Hotel Føroyar , one of the best hotels on the Faroe Islands at the moment. Here you can find our complete updated guide to the Faroe Islands hotels .

Day 2: Streymoy Island: RIB62 Tour to Hestur Island, Kirkjubøur, Torshavn

Our second day on the Faroe islands was the proof that you shouldn’t let the weather influence your travel plans. It was pouring the whole morning and we were reluctant to even leave our hotel.

While it kept raining pretty much the whole time in Torshavn, the weather was very different in other places. One moment we were driving in complete mist, and then just a mile further down the road we would find open blue skies and sunshine…

We’ve been to many places where the weather is known to be unpredictable, but we have never experienced such instant fluctuations as in the Faroe Islands.

Before the trip, I often asked myself what to do in the Faroe Islands when it rains . My best advice to you is to pack a good rain jacket and just do what you have planned. Alternatively, just drive till you find better weather; it can be surprisingly close by. Or visit the city – you’ll have it all to yourself.

RIB62 Tour to Hestur Island

One of the absolute highlights of our time in the Faroe Islands was a RIB62 speedboat tour to see the bird cliffs of Hestur island . I can’t compare the Vestmanna boat trip to the RIB62 speedboat tour, because we only did one. But at least at first view, the two tours seem to be quite similar in terms of what you get to see (even though the location is different).

There are several reasons why we chose the RIB62 tour. First, our kids love speedboat tours and none of us ever got seasick on them (as opposed to bigger boats). Second, a speedboat is small and can access areas inaccessible to bigger boats. And third, we just prefer the less touristy options and more off-the-beaten-path alternatives that are just as good or maybe even better than the most popular options chosen by big groups.

The tour lasts just 1,5 hours, so don’t miss it, even if you don’t have that much time in the Faroes. It’s a unique opportunity to visit the spectacular cliffs along the Hestur coastline, see puffins (in season), and admire some of the most unique landscapes you’ll ever see.

Kirkjubøur

Kirkjubøur , just a short drive or a 2-hr hike from Torshavn, is one of the oldest settlements of the Faroe Islands, dating from the Middle Ages. Kirkjubøur was the bishop’s residence for centuries and you can still see the ruins of the old cathedral, Muren, which was one of the finest churches of the Nordic countries back in the 14th-15th centuries.

What still stands is St Olav’s Church, built in 1111, and the King’s farmhouse (the oldest inhabited house in Europe); both can be visited. The church is actually still in use and has services on the first Sunday of the month.

Apart from admiring picturesque Faroes turf houses, you can also make a short walk along the coastline. Even in the rain, it’s a very enjoyable short visit.

Tórshavn

End your day in Torshavn , the capital city of the Faroe Islands. Not to be missed is the oldest part of town called Reyn with narrow passages and a few turf houses. Don’t expect much of it though – it’s really just a few houses. The main landmark of Torshavn is the historic Tinganes area – one of the world’s oldest courts dating from the 9th century.

The Torshavn city center is rather small and compact, so you don’t need a lot of time to see it all. Other places of interest include the Skansin area by the harbor and the Torshavn Cathedral . It might not look like much from the outside, but you really have to see its wooden interior!

One of the liveliest locations in town is the little Vagsbotnur harbor with quaint colorful buildings and several cafes, pubs, and restaurants. This is probably the best place in the whole of the Faroe Islands for food, drinks, and a lively atmosphere. A great way to end your day.

Day 3: Nolsoy Island

Nolsoy Island , just off the coast from Streymoy Island, can be reached by ferry from Torshavn. The ferry ride takes just 20 minutes, but ferries run just a few times a day, so keep that in mind when planning your itinerary.

The island has just one tiny village, so you don’t need a car to visit Nolsoy. Leave the car at the hotel, or, if it’s too far to walk to the ferry, at the free car parking lot behind the ferry and bus terminals. The other car parking areas near the harbor have strict time limits, which you’ll probably not be able to adhere to when visiting Nolsoy.

If the weather is extraordinarily beautiful, you can hike all the way to Nolsoy Lighthouse. It’s a 5-6 hour walk (13-14 km total), so keep the ferry schedule in mind if you decide to go all the way to the end. Alternatively, do just the first part of the hike – the climb is steep, but the views are really nice.

Nolsoy village itself is really picturesque, but apart from a short stroll between the colorful houses, there is not that much to do here for day visitors.

There is a tiny visitor center on Nolsoy Island. They can arrange a guided tour of the village, or some coffee and waffles. For guided tours, it’s best to call them in advance.

TIP: If you take an early ferry back to Torshavn, you could opt to do a horse riding tour close to town . You have to book it in advance, as people in the Faroe Islands don’t seem to like last-minute bookings, even if the tours aren’t full.

Day 4: Viðoy and Borðoy Islands

Time to explore the Northern islands of the Faroes! The furthest island that you can easily reach by car is Vidoy, about 1,5 hrs drive from Torshavn.

You could do it as a day trip, but I recommend staying in Klaksvik for one night and visiting Kalsoy Island the next day as well.

Viðoy Island – Villingardalsfjall/ Enniberg Hike

Villingardalsfjall hike on Viðoy island is probably the most spectacular hike of the Faroe Islands. From the trail, you have phenomenal views over all the Northern islands such as Fugloy, Svinoy, Bordoy, Kunoy, and Kalsoy. Not to be missed!

Practical information: This hike will take you a good part of the day (more information in our Faroe hiking guide – hike no.1 ), so make sure to pack a picnic.

Borðoy Island – Muli and Klaksvik

There is just one road going through Bordoy island and if you drive all the way to the end of it, you reach a tiny village called Muli. The road is really scenic, so it’s a nice little detour.

Muli village itself is not more than a few houses dating from the early 19th century. The sign at the village says that it has been abandoned in 1992, so I guess the people that we met there were using them as vacation houses.

You can make a few very short walks here. One of them leads to the gorge, the other one to a sheepfold along the coast, where you have a nice view over the coastline.

Klaksvik, the fishing capital of the Faroes, is the biggest town of the Northern islands. In addition to its famous brewery, it also has all the facilities that you may need, including shops, restaurants, and also a few accommodations. It’s the best place to stay for exploring the Northern Islands.

Accommodation: Stay in Klaksvik for 1 night. Accommodation here is very limited. We stayed at Eysturland Lodge .

Day 5: Kalsoy Island

Kalsoy Island is not connected to the other islands and the best way to get there is by taking a car ferry from Klaksvik. Keep in mind that the ferry is tiny (it can squeeze 17 small cars at best). Furthermore, it only runs a few times a day.

In high season you really have to arrive at least an hour in advance (that’s why it’s best to stay in Klaksvik and not drive from Torshavn). We arrived about 50 minutes in advance and were the 16th car in the queue and so you can imagine our relief when we could board. The next ferry was 6 hours later…

Update: Recently, I saw that it was possible to prebook a spot on the ferry in advance. So be sure to check the official website of Faroe Islands ferries and if it’s possible, definitely book in advance!

Kallur Lighthouse

The main reason to come to Kalsoy Island is the spectacular scenery on the island’s most northerly point, Kallurin.

It requires some hiking to get to Kallur Lighthouse , but apart from the fact that it’s muddy and slippery, it’s not a very demanding hike (more info in our best hikes of the Faroe guide – hike no.2 ). The views here are rewarding and well worth all the effort that it takes to get here.

Good to know: There is now a fee that you’ll have to pay in order to hike to the lighthouse. More and more landowners in the Faroe Islands are now charging tourists for hiking through their land.

Mikladalur – Kópakonan

One more highlight you shouldn’t miss on Kalsoy island is the statue of a Seal Woman (Kópakonan) in Mikladalur village. The coastline here is stunning too.

My advice is not to linger on the island longer than necessary and get back to the harbor well in time for the ferry. It was so busy on the day we visited that despite arriving more than an hour before the ferry, we ended up waiting for the next one. Hours wasted sitting in the car… Luckily, we had some snacks and our e-readers.

TIP: Probably a better way to visit Kalsoy would be to leave your car in Klaksvik, take a ferry as a foot passenger, and then a small local bus that seems to follow the schedule of the boat. From what I understand, this bus drives all the way to Trollanes where the hike to Kallur Lighthouse starts. I’m not sure what happens if there are no places on this minivan, and I don’t know if it makes any other stops, like Mikladalur. But it’s definitely worth inquiring about this option at the visitor’s center.

Depending on how much time you have on this day, you might be able to drive some of the scenic roads described in the itinerary on the next day. We spent so much time waiting for the ferry that we ran out of time and therefore drove straight to our accommodation in Gjogv.

Accommodation: You could either stay in Klaksvik one more night or drive to your next destination. We stayed in Gjaargardur Guesthouse in Gjogv – one of my favorite accommodations of this trip.

Day 6: Eysturoy Island: Gjogv, Slættaratindur, Oyndarfjørður, Elduvik

Gjogv is one of the places you shouldn’t miss in the Faroe Islands. It’s such a quaint little village in a beautiful setting.

There are hiking trails available here. As a minimum take a very short walk to and a bit around the gorge, it’s such wonderful scenery. In season, you’ll see puffins here, but they are usually quite far away.

TIP: If you’re in Gjogv around lunchtime, try some pancakes at the Gjaargaardur Guesthouse.

If you drive to Eiði from Gjogv, you’ll pass some of the highest roads of the Faroes. No wonder that this area is often covered in clouds, and it was also the case when we visited. If the weather is nice, you can hike to the top of Slættaratindur , the highest mountain of the Faroe Islands.

Eiði village itself isn’t really that interesting from a tourist point of view. We thought we might be able to see the beautiful rock formations Risin and Kellingin that are just off the coast near Eidi, but you can’t really get close to them or even see them from the village. They are best visible from Tjornuvik on Streymoy Island.

The nicest places on Eysturoy island, we found, are the roads leading to Gjogv, Elduvik, and Oyndarfjordur , so I suggest you drive them all. These scenic drives are not about the destination, but rather about the roads themselves. One exception – Elduvik village is actually quite scenic and worth a short visit.

In the afternoon we drove back to Torshavn where we took a ferry to Suduroy island (see the schedule here ). It’s a big car ferry and we were told that it’s never full. But just in case… we arrived well in advance, parked the car in line at the ferry terminal, and went for a short walk in the city.

Accommodation: We stayed 2 nights on Suduroy island . The accommodation we stayed at is not available at the moment and other options are extremely limited. So you’d have to see if there’s anything available on the private rental market if you plan to visit this island…

Day 7: Suðuroy Island

One of the best things to do on Suduroy Island is Hvannhagi hike near Tvøroyri. It’s a rather long hike, but one that gives you a true feeling of remoteness. The landscape around Hvannhagi is so special!

Don’t miss Akraberg Lighthouse , the southernmost point of the Faroe Islands. Just be careful here – the whole area is surrounded by steep cliffs with a sheer drop to the ocean deep below.

The area around Hvalba and also around Sandvik is really nice to see too.

One of the hidden gems of the Faroe Islands can be found near Sandvík. It’s a tiny nameless wooden bridge over a nameless gorge with incredible views. It’s not easy to find, but if you do – it’s definitely worth it!

Drive the bumpy road Heiðavegur in Sandvik all the way to the end. There is a fence on this road, but the locals told us that it’s ok to drive through it (don’t forget to close it, otherwise the sheep might run away). At the very end of the road, you can leave the car and climb the hill following white poles with a rope, then turn right where the poles end. Continue towards the ocean for 10-15min and you’ll find the little bridge.

TIP: The western coastline near Sandvik is the best place to be at sunset. Follow the Heiðavegur road as described above, but instead of driving all the way to the end, stop where the road is closest to the ocean. From there you can walk just a few steps for the most amazing views.

Alternative suggestion: Visit Sandvik and this beautiful sunset spot the evening when you arrive in Suduroy (day 6 of this itinerary). Stay just one night on Suduroy and head back to Torshavn in the evening. Don’t forget to check the ferry timetable. This will give you more time to explore Vagar island the next day.

Day 8: Vagar Island: Trælanípa Hike, Gasadalur, Mulafossur, Trøllkonufingur, The Nix

In the morning we took a ferry back to Torshavn and drove straight to Vagar island . We left this island for the very end of our trip, because it’s close to the airport. Also, there is a toll for driving the tunnel between Vagar and Streymoy, so it’s best not to drive through it too many times if not necessary.

Trælanípa Hike

The hike from Miðvágur to Bøsdalafossur waterfall and Trælanípa mountain is one of the most beautiful and by far the most popular hike in the Faroe Islands. You can read all about it in our Faroe hiking guide, hike no.3 .

TIP: It’s best to come here late in the afternoon if you can – the light for photography is best at sunset and there will be fewer people.

Good to know: There is now a 200 DKK hiking fee that you have to pay (cash) in order to access this area.

Trøllkonufingur

Trøllkonufingur – the Troll woman’s finger – is a big rock along the coast of Vagar island near Sandavágur. There is a sign to a viewpoint, so you can’t really miss it. It’s also well visible from the road at the trailhead of Trælanípa hike.

Gásadalur and Múlafossur

Gasadalur is a tiny village, just like many others on the Faroe Islands, stuck between the mountains on one side and steep cliffs and the ocean on the other. In the past you could only get there by boat, on foot, or by helicopter; now there is a tunnel connecting Gasadalur to the rest of Vagar island.

The main reason to visit is to see the beautiful waterfall Mulafossur , probably the most photographed waterfall of the Faroe Islands. Don’t miss it – the coastline here will take your breath away!

The Nix in Sørvágsvatn or Leitisvatn

On the way to the airport, you’ll notice an interesting piece of art – a horse in the middle of the lake Sørvágsvatn/ Leitisvatn. It’s called Nix and is a mythical water creature that wants to lure people into its underwater world.

There are several stories and legends surrounding Nix and locals could tell you more about it. But the statue is just next to the main road and worth a short stop anyway.

Accommodation: We stayed on Vagar island for the last two nights. It’s close to the airport and also the best location for a day trip to Mykines . There is just one hotel on this island and a few private accommodations. See the accommodation map here .

Day 9: Mykines Island

We left the very best for last. Mykines island is one of the most beautiful places of the Faroe Islands and it really should be included in any Faroe Islands itinerary.

We had really bad luck with the weather and visited Mykines in the pouring rain. Nevertheless, it’s one of the most unique and beautiful places I have ever been to. I can’t even imagine what it would look like on a sunny day with blue skies… I’d go all the way back to the Faroe Islands just to explore Mykines in good weather.

As if green hills, charming turf houses, and spectacular scenery are not enough, there is one more reason to visit Mykines Island. Puffins . Mykines is home to thousands and thousands of puffins that come to nest on the island every summer. It must be the best place to see puffins in the world!

One of the nicest things to do is hike Mykinesholmur all the way to Mykines lighthouse. This hike brings you past the puffin colony and has incredible views all the way. Unfortunately, a big part of the hike was closed when we visited (due to the weather and dangerous conditions), but even then it was worth it.

Keep in mind that Mykines is an extremely popular place to visit in the Faroe Islands, and Mykines ferry is also the only one of all official ferries that you can (and have to) book in advance. Nowadays, there is also a shuttle boat to Mykines , which makes it so much easier to visit!

TIP: The easiest way to get to Mykines without having to worry about practicalities is by booking a guided tour to Mykines . Most tours include the ferry, hiking fee, a local guide, and a packed lunch. Just note that some tours start from Sørvágur harbor, but some tours include transportation from Torshavn as well.

There aren’t many accommodations on the island, but it is possible to stay there if you really want to. In that case, inquire at Visit Faroe Islands for more information.

Most people come to Mykines for the day. The ferry schedule is such that it gives you about 5 hours on the island, which is enough if the weather is nice and much too long if it rains.

TIP: You can find more practical information for your visit to Mykines in our Faroe hiking guide – hike no.4 .

Faroe Islands Itinerary Suggestions

Below you can find some suggested Faroe Islands itineraries for shorter trips, from 3 days up to a week. Read on!

3 Days in the Faroe Islands

• Day 1: Torshavn, Kirkjubour, Saksun, and Tjornuvik.
• Day 2: Boat tour to Vestmanna or Hestur island and Trælanípa hike on Vagar island OR Kalsoy island and Gjogv.
• Day 3: Mykines island. Visit Mulafossur waterfall in the evening.

4 Days in the Faroe Islands

• Day 1: Torshavn, Kirkjubour, Saksun and Tjornuvik.
• Day 2: Kalsoy Island and Gjogv.
• Day 3: Boat tour to Vestmanna or Hestur island and Trælanípa hike on Vagar island.
• Day 4: Mykines island. Visit Mulafossur waterfall in the evening.

Faroe Islands 5 Days Itinerary

• Day 2: Northern islands. Villingardalsfjall hike on Vidoy. Klaksvik.
• Day 3: Kalsoy island and scenic roads on Eysturoy island.
• Day 4: Gjogv, boat tour to Vestmanna or Hestur island and Trælanípa hike on Vagar island.
• Day 5: Mykines island. Visit Mulafossur waterfall in the evening.

TIP: If you have 4-7 days in the Faroe Islands and don’t want to worry about planning the best itinerary, driving, or ferry schedules, consider a multi-day tours package . All you have to do is book a hotel in Torshavn and the local guides will pick you up every morning and drop you off back at your hotel every evening. It’s the most relaxing way to see the best of the Faroe Islands for those who rather take it easy and let someone else do the planning.

6 Days in the Faroe Islands

• Day 2: Nolsoy Island. Maybe horse riding in Torshavn.
• Day 3: Northern islands. Villingardalsfjall hike on Vidoy. Klaksvik.
• Day 4: Kalsoy Island and scenic roads on Eysturoy Island.
• Day 5: Gjogv, boat tour to Vestmanna or Hestur island and Trælanípa hike on Vagar island.
• Day 6: Mykines island. Visit Mulafossur Waterfall in the evening.

TIP: If you have at least 6 days in the Faroe Islands and don’t want to worry about planning the best itinerary for your trip, consider this 6-day small group Faroe Islands tour package . They pick you up from your hotel in Torshavn every day and take you to a different part of the Faroe Islands each day. It’s a great way to see the best of the Faroe Islands without planning or worries.

One Week in the Faroe Islands

• Day 3: Day trip to one of the other islands, e.g. Suduroy if the ferry schedule allows it.
• Day 4: Northern islands. Villingardalsfjall hike on Vidoy. Klaksvik.
• Day 5: Kalsoy Island and scenic roads on Eysturoy Island.
• Day 6: Gjogv, boat tour to Vestmanna or Hestur island, and Trælanípa hike on Vagar island.
• Day 7: Mykines island. Visit Mulafossur Waterfall in the evening.

Compare Hotels & Short-Term Rentals in the Faroe Islands

Using the map below, you can compare hotels and short-term rental accommodations in the Faroe Islands . You can zoom in and out for various islands.

Simply insert your travel dates and group size, and you’ll see the best deals for your stay. Check it out!

So, this is our Faroe Islands itinerary and suggestions for a shorter vacation. I realize that planning a self-drive trip to the Faroe Islands can look really overwhelming at first, so if you have any questions, please also check our practical guide to the Faroe Islands .

If you still don’t find an answer, don’t hesitate to leave a reply below and I’ll try to help.

READ ALSO: Faroe Islands Hotels & Tips for Where to Stay

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Thursday 16th of May 2024

Hi, Thanks so much for the detailed blog, very helpful! we are planning to stay in the Faroe Islands for 6 days, of which 2 travel days, so only 4 full days. do you recommend staying in the same place each night (and if yes; where?) or would it be best to change locations every night?

Kind regards, Isabelle

Hi Isabelle, staying in Torshavn is probably best for such a short trip. If you are booking for this summer you may not even have many other options anymore. For more information please read this guide: where to stay in Faroe Islands.

Saturday 20th of May 2023

Hi there! Just passing through to thank you for all the content! Just finished my trip to the Faroe and your posts helped a lot :)

Monday 22nd of May 2023

Glad to hear that, Leticia. Happy travels!

Thursday 29th of September 2022

Thanks for the detailed info! From what you wrote, Sundory Island seems to have more scenic landscape and beautiful view than Nolsoy Island. But on your 6 day itinerary it doesn't have Sundory Island but Nolsoy Island. I am a little confused. We are more into wild landscape than colorful house. Would you please advise? Thanks.

Second, those ferries would run even in raining days and bad weather?

Saturday 1st of October 2022

Hi Camille, Suðuroy island is indeed very beautiful. However, if you look at the map, you'll quickly realize that it's much trickier to get there than e.g. to Nolsoy island which is just next to Torshavn. Depending on the boat schedule, you may need to plan 2 days for Suðuroy and also spend a night there. If you can get a very early ferry there and a late one to get back, it could be done in a day too - it all depends on the ferries and on what you want to see/do. Also, there is not that much accommodation available and if you don't bring your car with you, it's tricky to get around and actually see much. So it requires more planning and more time. And that's the main reason why I wouldn't recommend it if you have less than a week in the Faroe Islands. As for the ferries, it depends on the ferry and on the weather. The biggest ferries usually have no problem unless it's some exceptionally bad storm, whereas smaller ones (like the one to Mykines) could get canceled if the seas are very rough. But definitely not just because of some rain. Hope this helps.

Monday 25th of April 2022

Hi Jurga, your blog on Faroe islands is so detailed and comprehenisve with all the site maps of various places of interest. I don't think I need to read any other Faroe islands guides after seeing your blog. Every thing I need to know can be found right here. By the way, I'll be making the trip with the wife this August, the same time you were there I think. We are a retired couple in our sixties (me 67 and the wife 62) so we don't plan on doing too many hikes. Right now, I don't have any question for you just yet as I'm still going through the blog and will re-read some more time. We plan to spend 5-6 days at Faroe islands but could extend if necessary. Our intenerary will be based on your writing. Thank you very much for the information.

Tuesday 26th of April 2022

Thanks for your kind feedback, Kittiwat. Good luck with the planning and have a great time in the Faroe Islands!

Joanna Mendoza

Thursday 24th of March 2022

Hi!I'm so glad to have come across your blog! I wanted to ask how we go from Torshavn to Nolsoy?This is our itinerary for June and would like to know if this is okay. 1- arrival, Kirkjubour 2- Mykines Day trip 3- Nolsoy Day trip 4- Saksun, Tjornuvik, Gjogv

Thank you. Joanna

Hi Joanna, yes, sure, your itinerary looks good. For Nolsoy, you just take a ferry from Torshavn harbor. It's very simple to get to Nolsoy - you get the ticket on the spot, and it takes just about 30min. Just keep an eye on the ferry schedule so that you don't have to wait too long. You don't need a car on that island; lots of walking. Have a great trip!

The Best Faroe Islands Road Trip Guide 2024: For 3, 5 and 8 Epic Days

• Updated on: April 1, 2022

This article may contain affiliate links.  For more information, please see our disclaimer  here.

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It’s hard to believe that a country with majestic landscapes like the Faroe Islands can be reached from mainland Europe in just a few hours. Thanks to modern transportation, the 18-island archipelago can be explored by more intrepid travelers than ever before. Whether you fly there from one of its neighbors or cruise the North Atlantic, planning a Faroe Islands road trip puts you on a crash course to adventure. 

Despite its remote location, the Faroe Islands have reliable infrastructure that help you move around the country with ease. Between navigable roadways and its small size, the Faroe Islands create an unforgettable road trip. That’s exactly how we decided to explore the Faroe Islands when we ventured there in October. 

You never have to drive far since most attractions are close by, and it makes for an incredible vacation. We did lots of hikes, saw the northern lights, slept near charming villages, and want to use our experience to help you plan an exciting Faroe Islands itinerary. Below, we’ve packed an 8-day itinerary with our favorite places in the Faroe Islands and provided 3 and 5-day alternatives if you’re short on time. 

Where are the faroe islands?

Between Iceland and Norway you will find 18 little islands popping up in the North Atlantic Ocean, the islands have the most unique shapes and sea cliffs. The Faroe Islands are part of Denmark but have their own government. The islands are connected with tunnels, bridges and some of them are only accessible by helicopter. Check out my guide: Helicopter Flights in the Faroe Islands to learn everything you need to know about this unique way of transport.

Video: Faroe islands itinerary inspiration

How many days do you need in Faroe Islands?

How many days you need on the Faroe Islands really depends on what you want to do, but I would suggest a minimum of 4 days and 7 days when you want to do some hiking or boat/helicopter trips. If you don’t know what to do or where to get in the Faroe Islands no worries, you can also book one of the tour packages from Guide to Faroe Islands. The most popular package is the Classic 6 day summer package of the best attractions in the Faroe Islands, for more information click here. So if you are looking for a stress free option and want to get the most out of your time, check out the packages.

How to get around the Faroe Islands?

The easiest and most common way to move around the Faroe Islands is by renting a vehicle and driving at your own pace. Most islands are connected by a dependable roadway system that consists of bridges, tunnels, and other engineering feats. By renting a car, you’ll have more flexibility when planning your Faroe Islands road trip. There are lots of car rental agencies on the Faroe Islands, and you can arrange the vehicle in advance or upon arrival.

If renting a car isn’t within your budget, public transport in the Faroe Islands is a reliable option. You can ride the bus between bigger cities and smaller villages, and multi-day Travel Cards save you extra money. Not only are Travel Cards usable on buses, but ferries are also included. The cards give you unlimited travel on buses and ferries for upwards of seven days (except Mykines).

For budget travelers, you can also get around by renting a bike when you’re visiting one of the bigger cities. Although you must travel at a slower pace (and pedal up some mountains), the quality infrastructure helps you reach most of the islands. Plus, the low amounts of traffic make it easier to navigate the roads while traveling on two wheels.

It’s also possible, and surprisingly affordable, to ride a helicopter to your next destination. In the Faroe Islands, helicopters are subsidized by the government and the price is reasonable compared to other countries. The only downside is you can’t do round trips since helicopter rides are meant for the locals and transporting goods. Just make sure to book a place to stay at the island you fly to if you arrange a helicopter ride .

How much does it cost to rent a car in the Faroe Islands?

As you maybe already know the Faroe Islands is not a cheap destination, so renting a car is also not cheap! I don’t have a specific car rental company I would recommend, instead I always use Rentalcars.com to compare and find the best price on your rental. To give you an indication you have to think about prices like:

Must Read: How to get Amazingly Affordable Helicopter Flights in the Faroe Islands

Gas stations Faroe Islands Map

Don’t worry about not having enough gas, as on the islands the distance between most gas stations is approx 15 kilometres. So if you are like me and always freaking out when the sign puts up, no worries at all. Below you will find a map you can open in Google to find the nearest gas station on one the the Faroe Islands.

Toll roads in the Faroe Islands

If you drive within your home country, you’re probably familiar with the concept of toll roads. Be prepared to encounter a couple of toll roads when driving around the Faroe Islands.

Part of the Faroe Islands roadway system includes two sub-sea tunnels and they both charge tolls of DKK 100 (around €13) round trip. One tunnel connects the Vágar Airport to the capital Tórshavn, and the other connects Klaksvík to Eysturoy. Most Faroe Islands itineraries, including ours, will take you there and the toll fees must be paid.

Don’t worry about paying the toll fare when you go through the tunnel. Instead, you’ll pay them at one of several petrol stations or online . You must pay the bill within three days of driving through the tunnel or else the car rental company will receive it.

Things to know about driving in the Faroe Islands

In the Faroe Islands, the rules of the road generally follow those of mainland Europe, though there are some differences. Here’s what you need to know:

• Speed limit : 50kmph in built-up/urban areas and 80kmph on main roads. You might not see many speed limit signs, just keep your eyes open for the signs that indicate urban areas. While this might seem slow, the sheep, fog, and windy road conditions mean you’ll seldom get a chance to go faster!
• Headlights : Must be on at all times, day and night, and especially in tunnels.
• Don’t drink and drive : The maximum blood alcohol limit is 0.5%, so don’t do it!
• Seatbelts : Must be worn by all passengers.
• Age: The minimum age of a driver is 18 years old.
• Drive on the right-hand side of the road .

Road Conditions

While the Faroe Islands are famed for their harsh climate and rough but beautiful terrains, the roads are actually really well maintained. Smooth tarmac is common and the vast majority of routes are well signed. This makes driving in the Faroe Islands pretty easy.

You’ll often find yourself on one-track roads, though passing places are plentiful. Occasionally, you’ll come across some older roads that are gravel rather than smooth tarmac, though these are normally only in small villages. There are a number of twisty roads that wind up hills and mountains. Take them slow, as they’re wonderful!

Should you fear the Faroe Islands Tunnels?

A number of tunnels make it easier than ever to traverse the mountain ranges, and there are even two that run underneath the sea connecting the islands. For the most part, Faroe Island tunnels are pretty modern, well-lit, and with two lanes. However, there are a few older tunnels that are unlit with just 1-lane to be aware of.

Honestly, driving through these Faroese tunnels can be pretty scary if you’re not used to them. Though if you know what to expect, they’re not that bad. Having said that, they’re the number one spot for accidents and scrapes among tourists, so beware! The northern islands of Bordoy, Kalsoy, and Vidoy are notorious for these old tunnels, but follow these rules and you’ll be okay.

• Keep your lights on at all times, but don’t use full beams if you see a vehicle approaching.
• Reduce your speed when you enter and take it easy — the walls and ceiling aren’t smooth, and the width can vary throughout the tunnel.
• Look out for the signs at the entrance of the tunnel to see who has right of way. The black vehicle has right of way and the red one must give way. Normally, if the passing places are on your right, you’ll have to give way.
• You’ll find regular passing places every 100 meters or so. If you’re required to give way, hold tight in the passing place until all oncoming vehicles have passed. Then, take care as you pull out, keeping an eye on the walls. Each passing place is numbered, counting down until you reach the end of the tunnel.
• If you end up in the nightmare situation of meeting a truck in a narrow tunnel, it’s your responsibility to give way regardless of what the sign says. Don’t freak out, the trucks take extra care in the tunnels as well!

Sheep own the roads

One thing you’ve probably heard about the Faroe Islands is that sheep massively outnumber people. Anyone who has done a Faroe Islands road trip can testify! They’re everywhere, and an unspoken rule of the road is that they have priority. In some areas they’re very bold and will wander the roads, while in others, they can easily be spooked. As such, always drive slowly past them, and be patient — spend the time checking out the scenery! If in the unfortunate event you do hit a sheep with your car, you’re required by law to contact the police.

Beware of parking restrictions

Driving in the Faroe Islands also mean that you have to park your car every now and then. Parking is pretty restricted in most of the larger towns, such as Tórshavn, Klaksvík, and Runavík. You’ll need a parking disc in some areas, which must be displayed in the bottom right-hand corner of your windshield. Check with your rental company to see whether a parking disc is included and opt for one if you anticipate street parking at all. However, there are also paid car-parks, and most accommodation comes with free parking, giving you a great opportunity to stretch your legs and explore your surroundings on foot.

Camping the Faroe islands

Wild camping is illegal in the Faroe Islands as all land is private property, click here to get an overview of all the campsites in the Faroe Islands. P.s. make sure you have a really wind residence tent with you.

How much does the Faroe Islands cost?

I would say the prices in the Faroe Islands is like Scandinavia, so it’s expensive! However you know there are always ways to keep the costs as low as possible, to give you and idea here some examples.

Pricing examples

8-day faroe islands road trip.

Day 1 – Explore Tórshavn

Driving Time (from Vágar Airport) – 45 mins

Driving Distance (from Vágar Airport) – 46 km

*Alternatively, you can arrive directly to Tórshavn by ferry*

Tórshavn is the capital of the Faroe Islands and the place we recommend starting your road trip. Located on Streymoy Island, the quaint city of around 20,000 residents oozes Faroese charm the moment you arrive. Its colorful old town, Tinganes, features turf-roof houses and cobblestone walkways.

You’ll see lots of boutique shops, art galleries, restaurants, and historic sites when wandering through town. Check out the Tórshavn Cathedral and the Nordic House to learn more about Faroese culture and the local history. Close to the port, the Skansin fortress dates to the 16 th century to ward off pirates, and you’ll find artillery from WWII.

Before resting for the night, make the short trek to the Svartafoss Waterfall that cascades against moss-covered rocks. You’ll find plenty of cozy accommodations near town, especially on AirBNB , that are close to nature paths and within walking distance of the city center.

Day 2 – Drive to Klaksvík & Visit Kallur Lighthouse

Driving Time – 1hr 10 mins

Driving Distance – 74 km

Klaksvík is the second-largest town in the Faroe Islands located on the northern island of Borðoy. Surrounded by rising mountain peaks, it’s among the most picturesque towns anywhere in the archipelago. A short hike to the Klakkur summit gives you an exhilarating view overlooking the town and the nearby mountains.

The hike to Klakkur takes roughly 30-40 minutes from the parking lot but bring a jacket due to the fierce wind at the top. In the distance, you’ll see Kalsoy and Kunoy Islands against the shimmering fjords below. Don’t be surprised to spot sheep or birds on your way to the summit.

Since you’re already in Klaksvík, this is the perfect chance to catch the ferry to Kalsoy Island to begin the hike to Kallur Lighthouse. If you visit the Faroe Islands during the summer, it’d be wise to make this your first activity of the day. The lines to catch the ferry can be ridiculously long, and it’s imperative to arrive early. 

Once you leave the ferry, drive just past the village of Trøllanes to begin the hike to the lighthouse. This Faroe Islands hike was our favorite when we visited in October, and the dramatic views from the cliffside take your breath away. Lush, green fields surround the lighthouse, and the cliffs drop precipitously into the Atlantic below. 

The hike only takes around 1.5-2 hours but does require nearly 1,000 feet of elevation gain. Unless your trip is during winter, you’ll have plenty of daylight to wander around Klaksvík. You’ll often find entire apartments that are pretty cheap to rent in town on AirBNB , so you save money for other activities on your Faroe Islands itinerary.

Must Read: Your Guide to the Kallur Lighthouse Hike – Kalsoy, Faroe Islands

Day 3 – Head to Gjógv

Driving Time – 45 mins

Driving Distance – 44 km

Drive to the tip of Eysturoy to reach the beautiful village of Gjógv and its natural harbor. The town gets its name from the 200 ft gorge, and residents have thrived for centuries by fishing. Turf-roofed cottages adorn the landscape above the gorge, but many buildings are empty due to the dwindling population of less than 50.

Gjógv rests on a small inlet, and the surrounding mountain peaks give you a day’s worth of hiking trails. The harbor itself is among the most beautiful sights in the Faroe Islands and a testament to the locals’ productive use of the rugged terrain. When you explore the harbor’s natural scenery, you’ll notice a ramp used to haul boats to escape rough surf conditions. Don’t miss the Gjógv incline railway that transports vessels from the gorge to the boathouses in the village. 

It’s easy to unleash your adventurer’s spirit while staying in Gjógv, and there are several dramatic viewpoints to check out. Venture over the hills towards the Ambadalur Valley for sensational views along the rugged coastline. This hike will take you towards Búgvin, the highest sea stack in the Faroe Islands at 188 meters. The initial climb from the village is steep, but the pathway gives you glimpses of various seabirds on the cliffside. 

If you head east from Gjógv, you’ll reach the Tyril and Middagsfjall mountain peaks. Whichever summit you wish to climb, the reward is an incredible vantage of Funningsfjørður. After a full day of wandering Gjógv and its nearby scenery, you can rest either at a comfy accommodation or the nearby campground . 

Day 4 – Hike to Slættaratindur

Driving Time – 10 mins

Driving Distance – 7 km

Spending the night in Gjógv gives you an ideal position to climb Slættaratindur, the highest peak in the Faroe Islands. The mountain stands at 880 meters and ranks among the most exhilarating hikes in the country. We attempted to summit the mountain during our trip in October, but the weather wouldn’t cooperate with us. The path became extremely icy, and we didn’t want to risk a life-threatening fall from the mountain.

With ideal weather conditions, the hike is suitable for most individuals and easy for seasoned trekkers. Eiðisskarð, the mountain pass between Eiði and Funningur, marks the beginning of the trail. As you make the ascent, you begin to see the mountains dotting the Faroese landscape. Just make sure to watch out for the stones that create a hectic scramble to the flat summit.

The views from Slættaratindur let you admire the whole country from above, and you might even see Iceland in the distance on a sunny day. If you’re planning your Faroe Islands itinerary during the summer, you might be able to join a cherished local tradition. The locals hike Slættaratindur on June 21 st , the longest day of the year, to watch the sunset and sunrise only a couple of hours later.

The 3.6-mile loop trail should take around 2.5-3 hours to complete, but it’s understandable to take longer to soak up the views. This is the only activity we scheduled for the day, and you can take your time enjoying the magnificent views from the roof of the Faroe Islands. Since Gjógv is a short drive from Slættaratindur, you can stay at the previous night’s accommodation before continuing your Faroe Islands road trip.   

More hikes: 5 most incredible hikes of the Faroe Islands

Day 5 – Vestmanna Sea Cliffs Boat Trip

Driving Time – 1 hr

Driving Distance – 65 km

The Vestmanna Sea Cliffs offer some of the most dramatic vistas anywhere in the Faroe Islands. Towering cliffs more than 600 meters high soar above you while you sail through sparkling grottos between the rocks. The remote location of the cliffs gives thousands of seabirds the perfect spot to nest after traveling across the Atlantic.

A Vestmanna boat tour provides the best vantage of the majestic cliffs, bird colonies, and sea caves. Your vessel departs from the town of Vestmanna, and the ocean vistas here are spectacular. Before your tour departs, visit the Saga Museum that delves into the entire history of the Faroese people living on the archipelago.

The ride to the sea cliffs is a harrowing journey that takes you between narrow passages and beside sharp rock walls. Fierce waves crash against the rocky faces, and you’ll see birds hovering above the cliffside. The bird species you’ll find include puffins, guillemots, plovers, sparrows, and razorbills.

Your trip takes roughly two hours, and the weather can be extremely unpredictable. The wind is often brutal, and the temperature can be miserable at any time of year. After returning from your voyage, you can spend the night at the nearby Vestmanna campground .

Day 6 – Hike to Lake Sørvágsvatn

Driving Time – 30 mins

Driving Distance – 31 km

Prepare for your mind to be blown once again when hiking to this awe-inspiring lake on the island of Vágar. Less than a 10-minute drive from the airport, Lake Sørvágsvatn is the largest lake in the Faroe Islands. However, it’s earned global fame due to the mind-blowing optical illusion that fools onlookers.

The trailhead starts near the town of Miðvágur, and you’ll hike towards the Trælanípa sea cliffs. Once you reach the coastal viewpoint, it appears that the lake hangs above the ocean. However, that’s just your mind playing tricks on you, and the immense cliffs make the lake appear higher than it is. 

The path runs along the lake’s shoreline, and you’ll find the Bøsdalafossur waterfall gushing into the ocean. It should only take around 2-2.5 hours to complete the 4.3-mile loop, but it’s one of the easier hikes on our Faroe Islands itinerary. Just make sure to wear waterproof hiking boots since the trail is often wet and muddy.

Take your time snapping incredible photos since the Gilja n es campground is only a 5-minute drive from the lake.

More about Sørvagsvatn: Your Guide to the Sørvágsvatn Hike – Vágar, Faroe Islands  

Day 7 – Sail to Mykines

Driving Distance – 10 km

The island of Mykines is the ultimate puffin watching experience in the Faroe Islands. For this activity, you’ll have to leave the car near the village of Sørvágur. If hanging around the puffins is high on your bucket list, the summer is your only option. Just make sure to pay attention to the weather forecasts since it’s common for all transport to the island to get canceled. 

You can reach Mykines by boat or helicopter, and it’s imperative to book your ticket well in advance. Many tourists visit the island to see the puffins during summer, and tickets often sell out. We recommend riding the boat since you’ll sail past the Tindhómlur and Drangarnir islets for more glimpses of the rich birdlife. 

The boat’s name is Jósup, and the vessel sails to Mykines every day from May 1st to August 31st. You can book tickets here , but always watch the forecast to ensure the weather cooperates. To hike around the remote landscapes of Mykines, you’ll have to pay a hiking fee. 

Once you step foot on the island, you’ll be speechless from its dramatic coastline, turf-roofed houses, craggy cliffs, beautiful lighthouse, and a puffin-watching bonanza. For the total package, consider booking a Mykines tour with a local to learn about the island’s captivating history. 

Expect the Mykines trip to be an all-day affair, and we advise returning to your Giljanes campsite. There’s a Mykines campground , but it would be risky due to the chance of being stuck on the island due to inclement weather. 

Day 8 – Visit Gasadalur & Depart

Driving Time – 25 mins

Driving Distance – 19 km

For the last day of this Faroe Islands itinerary, you’ll stay on Vágar to visit the picturesque village of Gasadalur. The tallest peaks on the island engulf the town, and you’ll get a few more glimpses of Mykines from afar. Colorful houses rest a short walk from the cliffside and offer sensational ocean vistas. 

Driving to the village is unique since it includes a passage through a tunnel that provided the first roadway connection to other parts of the country. The remote location has preserved Gasadalur’s charming appeal, and it’s the perfect place to end your trip. 

While you’re in Gasadalur, don’t miss the enchanting Múlafossur waterfall that tumbles off the rocky cliff. The panoramic views of the waterfall are stunning, and the Árnafjall mountain towers above the village. Some of the best images from the Faroe Islands to complete your road trip. 

If you’re leaving from the airport, Gasadalur is the perfect last stop since it’s on the same island. To catch a ferry from the Tórshavn port, you’ll have to drive nearly an hour to catch your ride.

Also Read: 7 adrenaline kicking adventures in the Faroe Islands

Faroe islands 3 day itinerary

Day 2 – Drive to Klaksvík & Visit Kallur Lighthouse

Day 3 – Visit Gasadalur & Depart

Faroe islands 5 day itinerary

Day 3 – Hike to Slættaratindur

Day 4 – Vestmanna Sea Cliffs Boat Trip

Day 5 – Visit Gasadalur & Depart

How to get to the Faroe Islands?

Despite its location in the North Atlantic Ocean, the Faroe Islands are easily accessible by land or sea from several European countries. Atlantic Airways and Scandinavian Airlines are the two airline companies that offer flights to the Faroe Islands. You can catch direct flights from places such as Bergen (Norway), Reykjavik (Iceland), and Edinburgh (Scotland).

If you prefer a boat tour to the Faroe Islands, then sailing across the North Atlantic is an adventurous way to reach the archipelago. You can ride a ferry to the Faroe Islands from either Denmark or Iceland. Smyril Line offers regular ferry service to the Faroe Islands and the slow journey lets you experience the thrill of cruising in the wild waters of the Atlantic Ocean. For more information about Smyril Line, click here.

Check out: 15 Must Known Reasons to Visit the Faroe Islands

What is the best time of year to visit the Faroe Islands?

The best time to plan your Faroe Islands road trip will depend on the specific activities you wish to do. Do you wish to hike? How about the northern lights? Maybe you’re trying to find the best month to do both? The weather and sunlight will vary drastically throughout the year, and you should plan your road trip accordingly.

If your main objective is to have tons of sunlight for recreational activities, summer is the ideal time for you. The longer days of sunlight are more suitable for hiking, kayaking, bird watching, and other outdoor fun. For our October Faroe Islands road trip, we didn’t have as much sunlight, but we witnessed the mesmerizing northern lights.

Unless the northern lights are a must-see for your Faroe Islands road trip, the summer (June-August) is the best time to visit. You’ll have more hours to explore the archipelago’s rugged landscapes and will spot more wildlife than closer to winter.

Read more: Best time to visit the Faroe Islands

Faroe islands tour package

If you prefer a well organised trip, you can book a package tour from 2 to 2 weeks on this website. Guide to Faroe Islands is amazing and unique because it’s all managed by local people, so really the guides are incredible. I met the owner of the company and people with a passion so big as he has is so nice to see. The love for the culture, nature and all other activities is what really makes your trip.

FAQ faroe islands travel itinerary

Do they speak english in the faroe islands.

The national language is Faroese and the seconds language is Danish. Yes people on the Faroe Islands also speak English, I was surprised how many people spoke English during my visit.

What currency does Faroe Islands use?

Danish Krone and Faroese Krona.

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Save this post on your Pinterest account in your ‘ Faroe Islands Travel board ’ and find it back easily next time.

Thanks for checking out our 8-day Faroe Islands itinerary. Hopefully, this has provided the information you need to plan an unforgettable vacation to one of Europe’s incredible and underrated travel destinations. If you have travel experiences from the Faroe Islands, or if you have a question, please leave a comment below.

Don’t forget to check out the Faroe Islands Travel Guide for other ideas when you visit the Faroe Islands and other spectacular locations around the world. For more travel tips and inspiration, check out more of my travel tips .

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7 day faroe islands itinerary [perfect road trip].

In March 2024, we spent a full 7 days exploring the Faroe Islands.

Along the way seeing, arguably the very best things to do in the Faroes .

We spent weeks planning the trip in the run-up so as to not miss anything.

And then took time to explore the islands top to bottom in our own car.

To discover even more unique hidden sites that exist.

And below is an absolutely EPIC week-long itinerary for visiting the Faroe Islands .

Based on all of the things we did ourselves; this is easily one of the most jam-packed, yet awe inspiring road trips you can have anywhere in Europe.

Let’s get straight into it …

Note: You can follow these days in any order; so I advise pre-booking any necessary tours/ferries on days that are available first and then working the rest of the days around those.

Travellerspoint

A Quick (very important) note

The below itinerary is very full on and, chances are, the weather will be terrible at least one day you are in the Faroe Islands .

For that reason I recommend prioritizing the things you want to see most right towards the start of the itinerary.

That way, if you have washout weather for one or two days, then you can push your lesser priority things out of the itinerary and still get to see everything you need to do.

If the weather is perfect, then it’s 100% possible to do everything below in 7 days. 

Otherwise, if you think you need 7 full days, then I actually recommend staying in the Faroe for more like 9 days , so that you have that big of wiggle room.

Day 1: Mykines

If you want to see puffins when in Faroe ( which I’m guessing you will ), then you’ll want to take a visit to Mykines.

This island in the very north western part of the Faroe Islands is the best place to go puffin spotting. But be aware that they are only here from the end of April through till September.

Full disclosure, we didn’t actually get to see the puffins, as we were in Faroe in the last week of March so they hadn’t arrived yet (but instead saw them in Iceland 2 weeks later).

If we were only going to Faroe (and not Iceland straight after) then we would have adjusted our trip time so as to be sure we could see them as this is one of the highlights of visiting this region of the world.

To see them here, you can’t drive the whole way to the island of Mykines, but will instead need to take a tour or get the ferry over and back on your own.

If you choose to take the ferry, then you will first need to head to the harbour of Sørvágur in Vagar and take the ferry. It takes 45 minutes to reach the island and there are a limited number of ferries throughout the day so I 100% recommend booking .

You can check the timetable and book here .

When there you can hike to the Mykines Lighthouse and spend your day taking in the fresh air and bird watching opportunities. To be sure of any recent closures on the island and what you can and cannot do here, I recommend reading this guide by the “Destination Management Organization” for the islands of Vágar and Mykines.

Alternatively, a great option is to book a pre-booked trip that handles your transport there and back, and perhaps even comes combined with a different activity. 

Some examples of the top rated tours for visiting the Puffins in Faroe include:

• Private sightseeing tour - This tour takes you around the epic Drangarnir sea stacks and includes seeing the puffins around Mykines.
• Fishing tour - This is actually in a different part of the Faroe Islands, but allows you to see puffins as a part of it
• 5.5 hour day tour to Mykines - This complete day tour includes everything you need to embark on a trip for the day to Mykines without needing to stress anything.

Day 2: Vágar

Next up, we have the wonderful island of Vagar! 

You will have already seen part of this if you went to Mykines the day before.

Vagar is one of the more popular areas of the Faroe Islands, and there are quite a few awesome attractions to see there! 

This will be a fairly big day so as always, it’s best to start out earlier, just in case the weather plays havoc with you at certain times of the day . 

Your first stop should be the Witch’s Finger trail . This is a fairly easy walk that takes around 25-30 minutes each way, but leads to a beautiful viewpoint of the witch's finger! 

The tale goes Trøllkonufingur is the finger of a witch who came to throw the Faroe Islands to Iceland. When she came to the sea south of Vágar, the sun came up and she was turned into stone and fell into the ocean.

Be wary that this walk can get very windy, so I wouldn’t recommend flying a drone. 

It’s also free! There is limited parking (enough for 4-5 cars), and there are no toilet facilities. 

Next up, is “Slaves Cliff” , also known as the “Lake Above The Ocean ”. This is one of the most popular hikes on the Faroe Islands , which also means it’s a paid hike! 

This can really frustrate some people, but it is what it is!

However on this particular hike, it does include a briefing on the area with some fun facts and a hot drink from a machine. 

The cost is 200 Danish Krone per person (which is around $30 at the time of writing). 

The hike itself is easy enough and there were some steep areas, near the end, but it is an absolutely beautiful walk. It should take you around 2 hours round trip (but may take a little longer if you’re going to be taking lots of pictures, relaxing at the top with a picnic or even flying a drone!). 

The last sight to check out on day 2 is Múlafossur Waterfall & The Iconic Gasadalur Village. Thankfully, this isn’t an overly long walk (you may be starting to feel tired at this point!). 

You park at the village car park and can walk down, it’ll take about 10-15 minutes. 

This is an ICONIC photo of the Faroe Islands , and you’ll likely have come across this spot countless times as you’ve been researching! 

Well finally you can see it, and you’re allowed to fly a drone (woohoo!)

Oh, it’s free too! 

After this day, head back to your accommodation, relax and pour yourself a well earned drink! 

Day 3: Streymoy

Day 3 of your Faroe itinerary is going to take you to one of the most popular (and beautiful!) places on the Faroe Islands! 

This is the village of Saksun.

Saksun stands out as one of the most enchanting spots in the Faroe Islands, offering a serene atmosphere where time seems to slow down. 

Nestled above a breathtaking lagoon, the village is renowned for its distinctive setting. Towering mountains and numerous waterfalls add to the charm.

Lots of people visit  Saksun primarily to capture the charm of its quaint church, check out the Dúvugarðar Museum & Café , and embark on scenic hikes in the area. 

One of the most popular trails is the route leading to the "Black Sand" Beach, which also showcases the stunning Pollurin Waterfall.

This was one of my favourite “hikes” (it’s more of a walk, there’s very little incline), but there is a hiking fee of 75 DKK per person. 

Note: when we visited in March 2024 the turnstile had been removed. I have no idea for how long, this may have just been for winter. So if it does reappear on your visit, do drop a comment and let us know! 

The walk will take anywhere between 45 minutes to 1 hour and 30 minutes depending on your pace and just how much time you spend taking magical photos. 

Something important to note here is that you can only walk out on the black sand beach when the tide is out, so make sure you check tide times before you embark on your adventure. 

After you’ve finished visiting Saksun, it’s time to hop back in your car and head north to Tjørnuvík, which is actually the hot spot to do surfing in the Faroe Islands ! 

If you’re feeling adventurous and brave, there is a surf shop there where you can rent all the equipment you need (but it is seasonal).

Even if you don’t want to surf, it’s definitely worth visiting this quaint little town for the epic beach and wave views. Plus, there’s a random little cafe in town (located in a locals home) which serves the best waffles. 

I can’t vouch for this because it was closed when we visited, but Google Reviews indicate great things! It opens May to October and you can find out more here .

On your way out of Tjørnuvík and back to base camp (your hotel), you can stop at the tallest waterfall on the Faroe Islands, named Fossa ! 

It’s not very big if we’re comparing it to the majority of waterfalls in the world, but it’s pretty, easy to see, and worth stopping and grabbing some pictures. 

After your day of sightseeing the northern part of this island, it’s time to head back down to the capital for the evening. 

This is a perfect time to wander around the “old town” of Tinanges located in Torshaven. 

It’s quite a small area, but very picturesque with its red houses with grass-top roofs. 

There are also a number of bars and restaurants in the area where you can finish your day by grabbing a bite to eat! 

Day 4: Eysturoy

On day four of this Faroe Itinerary, things are going to be more focused on the journey, rather than lots of activities and walks, but first we’re going to head straight north towards Eiði. 

They have quite a cool football pitch here which makes a great drone shot (it was covered in snow when we were there), but the town itself is beautiful and has some amazing views.

After a quick stop there it’s time to drive around to Gjógv, which is a beautiful harbor town with amazing views, wonderful walks, and viewpoints.

You can check out the natural harbour, get some pictures by “Queen Marys Bench”, then head to the local cafe in town for a local beer, or coffee! 

The drive here is very picturesque as goes over a sort of mountain pass, so just be careful in the winter! 

From there it’s time to drive to the Gongutúrur / Hvithamar Trailhead, which we actually couldn’t do due to poor visibility and lots of snow, BUT, in the summer this will be a lovely trail with wonderful views and should take you around an hour to get to the two viewpoints (it’s a little over a mile!). 

Once you’ve stretched your legs, it’s then time to take a beautiful mountain drive towards Funningur viewpoint. 

You can opt to drive down into the town itself, as they have a very picturesque black church by the water, otherwise, it’s still a lovely viewpoint from the road above! 

This entire island offers so many amazing views, and we literally just drove around the entire island (it doesn’t take long, remember the Faroe Islands aren’t very big!). So another viewpoint I can suggest you drive to would be Fuglafjørður Viewpoint.

Day 5: Kalsoy, Kunoy, Borðoy & Vidoy

Get ready for perhaps my favourite day of this entire 7 day road trip !

It sounds pretty full on, covering 4 islands in one day; but just remember that you aren’t seeing every single island to its fullest.

Instead, I recommend planning your day largely around the island of Kalsoy.

This is a thing, a long island that doesn’t have a lot to do there. But what it does have, is awesome!

It is home to one of the best hikes you can do on the Faroe Islands which is the walk out to Kallur Lighthouse at the northern tip. It’s an incredibly scenic point, with insane views looking back in front of the lighthouse at the gaping cliff edge.

But better still, it is at this spectacular point where you can visit James Bond’s grave. Yep, spoiler alert! This is where he is buried.

After this hike, you head back down towards the southern end of the island with a stop off at Mikladalur. Which is home to the infamous Seal Woman (infamous at least in Faroe folklore!).

Not only is this a truly breathtaking spot, but the statue (and story) are sited to behold and take in.

In the summer months there is a cafe at this point which is open. And there is also a super cute Airbnb here . I fell in love with this and really wish I had booked a night here in advance. 

These are the main things to do on the island, but they are things I would not recommend skipping on a trip to Faroe. 

The only thing you need to be aware of is how to get to Kalsoy. You can either turn up (I would not recommend this) to the ferry port and wait to board. Or better still simply book in advance .

I believe this is quite new for 2024, as when we turned up there were people just waiting in their cars and could have been left queuing a long time to board. You can find out more information about this process in our other guide on best things to do in the Faroe Islands .

I recommend prioritising this day with Kalsoy first and with whatever time you have left, check out the other islands of Kunoy, Borðoy & Vidoy.

Vidareidi Viewpoint is nice and, if you have time, there is a mountain hike you can do from here which seemed to be very highly rated (the weather was pretty horrendous by the time we reached here).

With only 7 days in the Faroe we were (like you will be) limited in what to do and prioritise so I’m sure there are things on these islands worth doing but that we simply didn’t have time to discover. 

But the drive around them was truly lovely in and of itself.

Day 6: Sandoy

What an epic island this is!

This was an amazing day for us, with a lot of very unexpected sites to see . Largely because the island is (comparatively) so underdeveloped for tourists.

In December 2023, the Sandoyartunnilin opened, officially connecting Sandoy to the rest of the Faroe Islands road network. 

Instead of needing to take a ferry to reach the islands, you now have the ability to quickly drive here, with the tunnel itself being a pretty epic thing to drive through.

I mean, we’ve driven a lot of tunnels over the years, but when you consider how small the Faroe Islands are in terms of population, then you realise these deep sea tunnels are actually pretty epic feats of engineering.

They are still building out the tunnel networks all across the Faroe, and you will see evidence of these on the island of Sandoy, such as when heading across to the small isolated community of Dalur.

The drive here was wonderful and, though there’s not much to see when you reach it; the drive itself is what makes a quick stop here all the more special.

The same goes for the equally small and isolated community at Skarvanes.

One of the few “things to do” on Sandoy is the Caféin á Mølini which, unlike most other cafes on the Faroe, is open almost all year round.

It’s a charmingly remote and old fashioned cafe situated with some lovely views and with wonderful staff.

Another thing to check out when on Sandoy is the world’s largest blue mailbox ! Pretty random I know, but worth a visit seeing as you’ve already come this far.

Ultimately, for me at least, this day of your Faroe itinerary is all about driving as many little roads as you can (or want to), visiting small communities that remain much like they have for generations.

There are some cool photography opportunities, as well as some hikes if you fancy. In fact, it’s possible to hike all the way across from Skarvanes to Dalur (our two favourite places on Sandoy).

Day 7: Suðuroy

Don’t be sad, but it’s the final day of your 7 day Faroe Islands itinerary! 

It’s the final day, but you’re ending with the furthest island! 

This is the *one* island we did not do on this itinerary, and it was my fault (Cazzy), we had just come off a 3 day ferry ride, and I didn’t want to get on another 2 hour ferry each way….

BUT if you want to visit the most remote, non-touristy island of the Faroe Islands, then this is the place to go. 

You can get the ferry there and back in one day, so start early. 

Whilst there are no specific attractions to visit on the island (other than checking out the churches), this island will offer you amazing views at every turn. 

But definitely, the most popular thing to do on the island is to visit the southernmost village of Sumba and the Akaraberg Lighthouse. 

To assist you better on your final day, this blog post offers ood insight on the things to do there! 

But to help with logistics, this is how you get there: you need to take the ferry Smyril, which has several daily departures from Tórshavn. The sailing time is 2 hours and the trip is an experience on its own. You’ll actually pass by one third of all the Faroe Islands on your way to Suðuroy. 

So it kind of acts like a sightseeing tour too! 

Here is a link to the prices for passengers and cars . 

You can also get a helicopter (which is pretty cool), and you can check out the timetable and book here . 

What is the best way to get around the Faroe Islands?

If you’re reading this guide, then I’m going to assume you’re happy enough driving your own vehicle.

Yes, this exact itinerary can be followed using public transport and tours, but it will naturally take longer to achieve and you probably won’t be able to squeeze absolutely everything in.

But for the purpose of this guide, I’m assuming you are happy to either:

• Bring your own vehicle with you

Renting a car

In the case of the first, I recommend using Rentalcars to find a vehicle. For all road trips that we do (which is a lot!) We always search for a rental vehicle through Discovercars and Rentalcars.

Between them, you are covering all your bases and best placed to get an amazing deal, as well as the best choice available.

Or to save even more time, check out my in-depth rundown on the best car rentals the Faroe Islands have to offer.

But in the case of the Faroe Islands, Rentalcars reigns supreme in terms of vehicles on offer and companies they work with, so I recommend doing a search with them. Discovercars 

In terms of vehicles itself, the roads in the Faroe Islands are very high quality (for the most part), and at times a little narrow in some of the older settlements. 

So any vehicle will do, though having an all-wheel drive vehicle will perhaps be favourable if you plan on visiting in times where snow is due (which is a lot of the year). We went in March and having an all-wheel drive with all-season tyres proved to be a wise decision! 

If you’re wondering about driving an electric vehicle in the Faroes, just scroll down for my notes below on this.

Bringing your own car

It is entirely possible to drive your own vehicle over to the Faroe Islands, and that’s exactly what we did!

Our week in the Faroe Islands actually formed part of a longer 6 week trip which included a full month exploring Iceland.

There is a ferry (sort of like a mini cruise in fact) that goes from Hirtshals in Denmark and takes 2 days to reach the Faroe Islands.

It then calls back in the Faroes a week later at the same time and takes 1 more day to get to Iceland. The return journey from Iceland to Denmark then takes 3 days.

It’s important to note that you can also bring campers to Faroe, and there are limited campsites around the islands to stay at , saving the need for hotels.

Learn more about how to do this through the Smyril Line website here .

Important notes about tunnels & tolls in the Faroe Islands

Driving in the Faroe is an absolute pleasure. They have wonderful roads mostly throughout and it is all scenic. Literally 100% of the time.

But the best part is the sheer scale of the tunnel projects they have undertaken here. Almost all islands are now connected by either bridges, or underwater tunnels. 

And many of the islands themselves have tunnels bored through the mountains to enable remote communities to connect with the rest of the infrastructure.

In fact, when we were there we saw half a dozen other tunnels being built to further connect communities (sometimes with even just 10 or 20 homes in them).

The engineering is incredibly impressive, but perhaps none more so than their underwater tunnels. There are 4 of these, with the most recent one connecting the island of Sandoy being completed only in December 2023.

All of the mountain tunnels and bridges are free to use, but the 4 sub-sea tunnels are tolls, with prices typically around 100 DKK each way .

If you are driving your own vehicle over to Faroe, then to pay for these; you need to sign up via the link on this website here and enter your number plate and car details. They will then register your number plate when you drive through and automatically bill you (usually 24 hours later).

If you rent a car, then I believe that all rental firms handle this process for you and bill you after (you should double check this with your provider).

Driving an electric car in the Faroe Islands

We drove our Tesla Model 3 over from the UK and, I must admit, I was a little apprehensive about the charging network setup in the Faroe Islands.

In the end, I needn’t have been as there are surprisingly quite a few chargers now, all across the Faroe on all of the major islands.

The network isn’t as good as mainland Europe, and there are no Tesla superchargers anywhere. In fact Tesla maps aren’t supported on the Faroe yet. 

You can view the map screen and it all loads perfectly well. We have premium connectivity and the Netflix and YouTube loads are no trouble, but you can’t use navigational maps. Which was strange, but maybe it will change soon.

Anyway, the largest charger you will find (at least as of 2024) are 150kw ones. The fastest charge speed we got out of these was 75kw. As an idea of time spent charging, we spent an average of around 1 hour a day to recharge our vehicle after the day of exploring from our base in Torshavn.

This wall until (after 5 days!) we realised our hotel had destination chargers at them. You can read more about this and other facilities on offer in our review of the Hilton Garden Inn Faroe Islands here .

It was a little frustrating to discover so near the end, as they are at a further end of the car park and only recently installed. But so cheap! At only 2 DKK per Kwh, these are probably the cheapest chargers we have ever found , anywhere yet for our car.

On the chargers throughout the rest of the islands, the going rate at the time was 2.24kwh, which is still insanely cheap (at least by UK standards).

To use the charging network in Faroe you need to use this website here . Sign up for an account and pre-deposit money before charging as this is how you activate and use any of the chargers. 

For more guidance or questions on using an EV in the Faroe Islands, use this website here .

Where should you base yourselves for a Faroe road trip?

The Faroe Islands are still relatively small and the longest drive from Torshavn to the top of the lands is still less than an hour.

So really, you can base yourself pretty much anywhere and be able to make this itinerary work.

For us, we chose to stay at the Hilton Garden Inn , just on the outskirts of Torshavn.

The reasons for this being:

• They offered an all-inclusive package of breakfast + dinner and we simply weren’t fussed on struggling to find affordable vegetarian food out and about every night
• It’s well located if we did want to head into Torshavn any evenings to mix things up
• They had a gym and solid reviews, and you typically know what you’re getting with a Hilton

I did explore the idea of staying in a few places spotted around the islands, but as we knew that each day would be pretty big and full of driving and exploring, I didn’t fancy also having to haul our luggage from place to place.

It ended up being a really amazing choice (not least when we discovered the on-site electric chargers!).

But having our meals already sorted each night meant that when we got back we still had an hour or two to focus on writing these (hopefully super useful) guides for you to read; rather than letting them all build up.

You can read more in our review of the Hilton Garden Inn Faroe .

Alternatively, I recommend using Booking.com and Airbnb to find accommodation that suits your style and preferences. There are lots of choices from hotels to self-catered cute and quirky holiday lets. The only place I will say to check out is this place here .

I was tempted to book a night or 2 here but didn’t and kinda wish I had! You will see it either way on day 5 of this itinerary.

One final thing …

When planning any itinerary through the Faroe Islands (be it 7 days or 2 days or 3 weeks), there is one thing you have to contend with …

The weather.

The Faroe Islands are famous for how quickly the weather can change, but also how dreadful and treacherous it can be for days at a time.

We visited in March and our first 3 days were each entirely different. One being cold but extremely windy. The next calm and mild. The next day absolutely horrendous snow, and then the next day gale force winds and rain.

It even depends on which part of the islands you are on!

It's mad how the south end of a small island that takes 15 minutes to drive can be calm and blue skies, but completely misty and rainy in the north.

So you tend to factor this into any itinerary you do build. The above 7 day Faroe itinerary is full on, but leaves no room for error.

Instead I would recommend panning a 6 day itinerary and cutting out something or squeezing a few bits into one day. That way, if one day is a total washout, it does mean that you can still pick up and use your day in hand to make sure you still get to see everything you wanted.

Or better still, do the exact 7 day itinerary above, but stay for 9 days . Then when you do get bad weather you have peace of mind knowing you can have the day off to chill and unwind.

Now over to you …

Do you have any recommendations that you think my Faroe itinerary missed?

Or perhaps any questions you need help with in planning your own road trip on the Faroe islands?

Let me know in the comments below.

Other guides you may find useful:

• Best things to do in the Faroe Islands
• Best car rentals in the Faroe Islands
• Hilton Garden Inn Faroe Islands review

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The Faroe Islands: A 7 days itinerary with puffins and route map

When my friend and I went through a bunch of travel catalogues to decide where to go and saw a photo of a group of puffins on a cliff it was settled. This bird crazy lady had to go to the Faroe Islands!

The Faroe Islands are simply one of Northern Europe’s most beautiful places. When the fog rolls down from the green hills, it is hard not to be captivated by the special Faroese magic.

In this guide I have collected my favourite things to see on the Faroe Islands, a 7 days itinerary including the route on a map. And lots of other information about car rental, flights and accommodation. And of course – the most important thing! How to spot puffins!

Where are the Faroe Islands?

The Faroes are located in the North Atlantic Ocean between Iceland and Norway. The Islands are part of the Kingdom of Denmark but are self-governing. They consist of 18 little islands (the word oy – means island) most of which is connected with bridges and tunnels.

Car rental on the Faroe Islands

There are many options for renting a car in Vágar Airport. Besides the many international companies you’ll find several local ones too. We rented a car at the local Unicar.

Driving on the Faroes is fairly easy. The roads are good and the traffic very sparse. Besides not hitting one of the many free roaming sheep the only challenge is the narrow tunnels.

Day 1: Thousands of puffins at the island Mykines

After landing in Vágar Airport we picked up our car and started our road trip. We drove straight to the ferry bound for the island Mykines. The weather was amazing, the ferry trip was beautiful and when we arrived at this little charming and sparse populated island we started the hike to the lighthouse at the southern tip. Lots of steep cliffs and beautiful views. The puffin colony was on the half way and I was not disappointed. There were hundreds of them and they were not especially shy.

At the southern tip there was a beautiful view of the whole island and a gannet colony on a cliff – but out of reach for my camera. Late afternoon we sailed back to Vágar island and stayed at Hotel Vágar. Our room had the largest windows and I could just sit and watch all kinds of birds on the rocks outside.

Note: If the weather is bad enough it is not possible to sail to and from Mykines so don’t plan this trip at the end of your vacation – you might miss it or get stuck out there!

Car rental – the cheapest I could find

Hotel Vagar – lovely hotel right next to the airport

The ferry to Mykines – need to be booked in advance at this website

The helicopter to Mykines

Day 2: The Gasadalur waterfall

We really enjoyed that first day of sunshine as we knew the weather would turn worse the next days. We drove to Gásadalur and it stormed and rained like mad. When we stood above the waterfall the water just blew right back up in our faces. The view is still beautiful regardless of the weather but the rest of our plans just rained away that day.

Day 3: Vestmanna, Saksun and Tjørnuvík

We left out hotel and drove through the tunnel to Streymoy and on to Vestmanna where we sailed out to look at the bird cliffs. We sailed into caves and through arches and it was great fun.

In the afternoon we drove onwards to the town Saksun and later Tjørnuvík both situated on the northern coast of Streymoy.

After our trip around northern Streymoy our road trip continued to Eysturoy and the town Fuglafjørður where we stayed in a private bed & breakfast.

You can find B&B’s around the islands here

Day 4: the northern islands – Kalsoy and Vi ð oy

I wanted to see the northern islands because they are the most remote and dramatic of all the islands. We visited Vi ð oy, Bor ð oy and Kalsoy in one day.

Timetable for the ferry to Kalsoy

Day 5: Gjovg

We left out lovely B&B and set sails for Tórshavn. But first we drove north through the highest mountain Slætteratindur and after a few hair needle turns we landed in the town with the odd name Gjógv.

Day 6: Tórshavn and Kirkjubøur

In Tórshavn we stayed in Tora Guesthouse . A little old and worn but cheap after scandinavian standards (around 70 euros per night). From here we took a trip to Kirkjubøur – a pretty little town with historic buildings and a museum that by the time we visited also housed a petting lamb and a calf. The rest of the time we relaxed in cafés in Tórshavn, drinking hot chocolate and trying to keep warm. Tórshavn is a very small capital with only  little to see, but remember to take a walk by the harbour with the old red buildings that still houses the Faroese government.

Here is a list of places to stay in Tórshavn

Day 7: Trøllkonufingur – the witch’s finger

On our way back to the airport we managed to visit a few of those places that we missed on our second day – the one with the heavy rain.

Map of our route around the Faroe Islands

How is the weather? – best time to visit

Our trip was in early June. If you want to see the puffins on Mykines you need to be there in the summer from may until august. The rest of the year the puffins is out at sea. Most people visit the Faroes in summer when the chances of sunny days are greatest but you can visit the islands year round. In fall the green grass turns beautifully golden, in winter there can be snowfall but the warm gulf stream makes sure that it never really gets extremly cold. Regardsless of the season the weather on the Faroe Islands is changable with rain, fog and wind. In summer the average temperature is 11 degrees celcius – in winter 3 degrees.

How to get to The Faroe Islands

Flights to the faroes.

There are two airlines that fly to the Faroe Islands – Scandinavian Airlines and the local airline Atlantic Airways. You can fly non-stop from from Copenhagen, Bergen, Reykjavik and Edinburgh and the flight takes from 1-2 hours. You will land on the Island Vágar in Vágar Airport.

It is also possible to sail to the Faroes from Hirtshals in Denmark or Seyðisfjørðu in Iceland. This way you can bring your own car and travel in a slower and more sustainable way. The route is operated by Smyril Line.

You Might Also Like

Fossá – the tallest waterfall on the Faroe Islands – a travel guide

10 comments.

Do you think is a good trip to have with babies?! Like 3years old?!

Thanks for all the information! We want to visit the islands in mid-April, hope we can see puffins! As for the ferry to go to other islands, is it possible to get in with the rental car? Thanks!

Hi Raquel! If you want to see the puffins they are only on land from may until august – the rest of the time they are out at sea.It is possible to go to most of the islands with car through tunnels and bridges – you can sail to Suduroy with your car as well. There are a few little islands that you can only get to by foot with ferries or helicopters – hopes this answers your questions 🙂

when did you go?

Hi David! We went there in early june!

What a nice guide with beautiful pictures. We are going there next week.

Thank you so much Marianne! Oh lucky you!

Thank you for sharing! I’ve recently discovered these Island and am hooked! Your site is very helpful, so appreciated!

I am so glad you could use my guide Michelle! I am totally in love with those islands

Wonderful! Such an inspiration! I have been on most of the locations 15 years ago by boat and food, but never took pictures, and of course they wouldn’t have been so beautiful as yours, but at least I would have remembered where was what.. I suspect I will copy your trip next summer with my girlfriend… Thank you! Iben:-)

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Leisurely Linds

Luxury Travel Guides & Blog

Adventure Travel , Europe , Faroe Islands , Itineraries · July 19, 2024

Ultimate 5 day Faroe Islands Itinerary for First Timers

The Faroe Islands are a truly magical place with breathtaking views, endless outdoor adventures, and a great culinary scene. I am sharing our real life 5 day Faroe Islands itinerary with allll of the things we actually did and planned on our trip! 

The Faroe Islands are located near Iceland between the North Atlantic Ocean and Norwegian Sea. The volcanic islands are made up of 18 different islands mostly connected by an impressive tunnel system or a ferry. 

As a luxury travel blogger and foodie traveler, I was drawn to the Faroe Islands simply to eat. The islands have a blossoming culinary scene thanks to Michelin-starred KOKS.

With their location surrounded by sea, the Faroese are known for their salmon farming and diversity in seafood. You will see all kinds of unique things on the menu like monkfish, caviar, and sea urchin. In addition, they are also farmers so you’ll see lots of meat like lamb and limited vegetables due to its harsh conditions.

The real draw though is the unparalleled natural scenery perfect for hiking, nature lovers, and adventure seekers. There is nowhere quite like the Faroe Islands and its remote location.

This 5 day itinerary for the Faroe Islands will make sure you see all the top things on your trip while tasting the local flavors. 

Table of Contents

5 Day Faroe Islands Itinerary Overview

First, I will share an overview of what this itinerary entails and then dive deeper into each day. As someone who has been there recently, these are all the best things to experience and my favorite restaurants.

The adventure begins!

• Arrive to FAE
• Pick up Rental Car
• Mulafossur Waterfall
• Traelanipa Hike & Bosdalafossur Waterfall

Dinner at Barbara Fish House

See the puffins at Mykines.

• Day trip to Mykines to see the puffins
• Explore Torshavn
• Dinner at the Tarv

Roadtrip around the Faroe Islands

Fossa Waterfall

Tjørnuvik beach.

• Lunch at the Irish Pub
• Wander Torshavn

Dinner at Raest

See the Kallur Lighthouse in Kalsoy!

• Day trip to hike Kallur Lighthouse

Dinner at ROKS

• Drinks at Mikeller Tavern

Depart the Faroe Islands

• Breakfast and Coffee
• Optional visits to Sandavágur and Witches Finger Trail
• Return Rental Car

Faroe Islands Day 1 – Explore Vagar Scenery

On your first day, you will arrive to the airport to pick up a rental car then begin sightseeing in the Faroe Islands!

Vagar Island is where the airport is located so it makes the most logistical sense to see a few sites while already there. Assuming you have a morning to midday arrival flight, you will make the following stops. Of course, if your flight arrives too late, you could always pivot this to the day you leave or any other day.

Arrive to Vagar International Airport (FAE)

You will arrive at the small airport Vagar International Airport. If you are hungry, they have a cafe with fresh sandwiches and really good coffee – they even serve it to you in real mugs. 

Pick up rental car at airport

Next, pick up a rental car to begin the adventure. It’s located outside of the airport exit but right next door. We used Enterprise, but there are several other companies.

Pro tip: Make sure to pay the extra $10/day for wifi. Service is not the most reliable and we were able to carry this with us everywhere!

Visit Mulafossur Waterfall

The first stop will be Mulafossur Waterfall, which is only 15 minutes from the airport. It is one of the most iconic places in the islands and for good reason. It provides a stunning view as the water tumbles off a cliff into the sea below. In the background, you have a mountain view and a small village called Gasadalur.

There is a lookout point not far from the road. This is a short walk and can take 10 minutes or 30 – really depends on how much you love it!

Traelanipa Lake Above the Ocean Hike & Bosdalafossur Waterfall

Next, is a beautiful stroll along Lake Sørvagsvatn until you reach the top of the cliff where you are treated to an unbelievable view. It is essentially an optical illusion which makes it look like the lake is floating above the ocean.

From there, head down the other side of the cliff to see the Bosdalafossur Waterfall as it flows directly into the ocean.

Plan for this easy hike to take 2 hours roundtrip.

There is a hiking fee payable at the trailhead. It is $30USD/person. You will find a small cafe with coffee, drinks, snacks and facilities.

Check into your hotel

Next up, you will leave the island of Vagar and head to your accommodations. More on where to stay in the Faroe Islands at the end.

Dinner is at the intimate Barbara Fish House restaurant housed in a historic building with wood floors and stone walls.

There is a set menu and you can choose 3 or 4 courses. You also have the option to choose a fully vegan menu. Enjoy dishes like smoked salmon, ceviche, monkfish, fish soup, and dessert a la carte. 

Drinks at Mikkeller Tavern

After dinner, have a night cap. We loved Mikkeller Tavern. It is a popular brand of craft beer in Denmark, but they also serve cocktails and wine. The space is very cozy with board games and cards making it a fun spot for a night cap or afternoon drink! 

Faroe Islands Day 2 – See the Puffins on Mykines

Day trip to Mykines to see the Atlantic Puffins

You might be convinced to visit the Faroe Islands solely for the chance to get up close with the puffins . I certainly was! You will find the puffins on Mykines (pronounced me-chin-ness) which is their nesting area during the summer months.

The hike to the lighthouse is super remote with stunning views of the sea and of course, you will pass hundreds of puffins along the way.

Mykines can only be reached via ferry. It’s super busy during the summer so you may book in advance here or reserve the speed boat here . 

There is a hiking fee of $30USD/person which can be paid online. Wait until the day of to pay the fee incase your ferry trip is cancelled due to inclement weather. Read more about that in my full guide to the Faroe Islands. This trip is often cancelled due to treacherous conditions in the area.

Relax at the hotel afterwards

After a busy day, you will probably want a shower and to relax at your hotel for a bit.

Dinner at The Tarv Grill

The Tarv Grill has a large space right in the heart of Torshavn in one of the colorful buildings. There is outdoor seating if the weather is nice, but we liked the charming interior. It is very rustic, but with modern touches in the decor. The menu was extensive, but you have to try the Faroese salmon here.

Faroe Islands Day 3 – Road Trip

Today, you will take a drive all around the islands exploring some of the best villages and waterfalls.

Road Trip Around the Islands

Driving around the islands is half the fun so be sure to add it to your Faroe Islands travel itinerary ! The views are incredible everywhere you look and this is an amazing way to take it all in! Here is where you want to make stops.

Saksun is one of the most spectacular places in the Faroe Islands. You drive along a two lane road as a stream rolls by. Once you arrive, it feels like you have reached the middle of the Earth – somewhere so isolated, but overwhelmingly beautiful.

There’s a historic old church, an easy trail down to the beach, and one of the most gorgeous waterfalls.

You can also do a longer 3 hour hike to Tjornuvik from Saksun. It’s a popular hike, but you do need to plan how to get back to your car or you will be doing a 6 hour round trip hike!

Next, you will make a quick stop at Fossa Waterfall as you make your way to Tjørnuvik. It’s a gorgeous water feature that flows underneath the main road and into the sea. You can make the short climb up to the top or view from down below.

Tjørnuvik is a popular beach for surfing and viewing the sea stacks of Risin and Kellingin in the distance. 

It is narrow road to reach Tjørnuvik, but once you come around the bend, its breathtaking. There is a waterfall flowing through town onto the black sand beach . It feels like you’ve truly reached the end of the world, as so many places in the Faroe Islands do.

Note: as you make the drive, there will be a stop light. It feels like you are stopped forever for no reason. There is reason: Around the bebd, there is a one way road and the light controls the traffic. Just keep waiting!

Gjogv literally translates to “gorge” and that is what it is. A quaint village on a gorge that leads into the ocean. It’s located on the island called Eysturoy. 

Late Lunch at the Irish Pub Torshavn

After a fun morning, have a late lunch back in Torshavn. We actually really enjoyed the Irish pub! It is exactly what you would expect from an Irish Pub – crispy fish and chips and cold beer.

Wander through Torshavn

Torshavn is the capital town in the Faroe Islands featuring a colorful downtown along the marina. It’s a great place to stroll around, have some ice cream, check out the shops, and relax. 

Raest is known for their fermented foods and authentic Faroese style of cooking – like wind drying their meats! Expect a menu with lots of unique items like whale and meats like lamb. 

Faroe Islands Day 4 – Hike to Kallur Lighthouse

On day 4 of your Faroe Islands Itinerary, you will hike to the Kallur Lighthouse on Kalsoy island.

Hike to Kallur Lighthouse in Kalsoy

The hike to Kallur Lighthouse on Kalsoy is one of the most beautiful hikes in the Faroe Islands. You’ll begin in the village of Trollanes (translation: “where the trolls live”) where there are public restrooms and a little cafe serving coffee & waffles. Then, you will head up the side of the mountain until you reach the lighthouse. 

You will book a guided tour for the trip to Kalsoy. You must take a ferry to reach the island and it only allows a few cars at a time. It’s best to book a guided tour which allows you to be a passenger on the ferry and then provides your transportation once on the island.

Read more about this hike and why you should book a guided tour here . 

Pro Tip: Pack a lunch. The Hilton Garden Inn prepared us lunch boxes with sandwiches, an apple, and a water to go! You could also grab some open-faced sandwiches from Bitin to take with you.

🇫🇴 Book the Famous Kallur Lighthouse guided hike !

ROKS is the sister restaurant to KOKS , a Michelin starred restaurant on the island. This is a must do in the Faroe Islands for foodies.

You will want to book well in advance and expect to prepay the menu. You can choose from two menu options – “nearly ashore” or “totally on the rocks” which are both fully seafood with one offering additional courses. We did nearly ashore and it was the perfect amount.

They have tons of wines by the glass and encourage you to try different ones to pair with your meal vs getting a whole bottle.

* Note : The sister restaurant KOKS is currently closed as they are hosting a pop-up in Greenland while their new home in the Faroe Islands is under construction.

Faroe Islands Itinerary Day 5 – Sandavágur & Depart

On our last day in the Faroe Islands, you will return your rental car and depart the islands. Depending on your flight time, you may be able to squeeze in a few activities on the way to the airport. Here is what I suggest.

See the Church in Sandavágur

Sandavágur is a village on the island of Vagar and means “sandy”. There is a stunning church that is worth a stop to see.

Hike the Witches Finger Trail

If you have time for a hike, the Witches Finger Trail is also in Sandavágur on the way to the airport. It is an easy hike to the end of cliff that looks like a witches finger. There is not an entrance fee. You park in the parking area and walk the one hour loop.

Depart Faroe Islands

Return your rental car and arrive to the airport for your flight.

Faroe Island Itinerary Travel Map

Use this map for planning out your trip to the Faroe Islands! You’ll see why I have laid out the itinerary in this way for convenience of driving.

How Many Days Do You Need in the Faroe Islands?

Personally, I did not feel like we needed more than 5 days in the Faroe Islands. Sure, you can do some serious hiking and spend time exploring all 18 islands if you want. However, we saw the highlights and combined this trip along with a few days in Denmark .

How to Get to the Faroe Islands

The Faroe Islands are super remote, but easily accessible from many places via their main airport, Vagar Airport (FAE) . Since it is right next to Iceland, many US flights will connect via Reykjavik. If you are traveling from Europe, there are ample direct flights from Denmark, Norway, UK, and Paris. 

As of August 2023, there is a brand new nonstop flight connecting North America and the Faroe Islands! It will fly weekly from New York Stewart International Airport departing on Wednesday and returning on Tuesday making it perfect for a 6 night trip! It is scheduled to run through October for the peak season. Book via Atlantic Airways.

Where to Stay in the Faroe Islands

While there are many islands you can stay on, I recommend setting up home base in the main town of Torshavn on Streymoy . You will have easy access to all the things to see and do, but be walking distance to restaurants in the evenings. There are nicer hotel options and plenty of house rentals. 

If you want to be super remote, I think an airbnb would be a great option. You will want to plan to grocery shop and have most meals at home since you would have long drives to restaurants at night. It would be the ultimate in isolation.

Best Faroe Islands Hotel Options

I’m all about a luxury hotel or trendy boutique property. However, the Faroe Islands are still pretty undiscovered and do not really have that yet. These are the two nicest hotels on the islands that I would recommend.

Hilton Garden Inn Faroe Islands

The Hilton Garden Inn is super stylish with authentic Scandinavian design elements. It’s super sleek throughout the lobby and bar area and even has a grass roof! 

The rooms are very efficient, have windows so you can feel the fresh air, and feature Smeg appliances – refrigerator and tea pot! The rooms are clean and the beds are comfortable – two major factors for me. 

We loved having coffee in the market – they have a Jura coffee maker – if you know you know!

We chose it for the location which is in walking distance to the restaurants. Still about a 15-20 minute walk, but we enjoyed seeing the neighborhoods as we strolled.

I do not normally spring for a Hilton when there’s something more local, but it is fairly new, had great reviews , and a better location.

Hotel Foroyar

The Hotel Foroyar is perched on a hillside overlooking Torshavn with panoramic vies. They recently opened an annex building with all new rooms and suites. They also recently added the Ress Spa which would be ideal after a long day hiking in the cool weather.

We considered staying here, but after reading reviews determined it was not the best location for the few days we had planned. It is not walkable to Torshavn, but is a great option if walking to restaurants is not important to you! 

Faroe Island Airbnb Options

I think it would make for a really authentic experience to stay in a home with a grass roof in the Faroe Islands. Many of these are completely isolated so would be a very unique experience where you could really disconnect!

This one is amazing, located in Klaksvik – the second largest town.

I meannnnn, how adorable??

Faroe Islands Packing List

Here’s a comprehensive packing list tailored for exploring the Faroe Islands’ stunning hiking trails:

• Waterproof Jacket : Essential for unpredictable weather conditions.
• Waterproof Pants : Keep dry on wet and muddy trails.
• Sturdy Hiking Boots : Provide ankle support and grip for uneven terrain.
• Moisture-Wicking Base Layers : Keep you comfortable by managing sweat.
• Insulating Mid-Layers (Fleece or Wool) : Stay warm in cool temperatures.
• Breathable Outer Layers : Protect against wind and rain while allowing ventilation.
• Warm Hat and Gloves : Shield against chilly winds, even in summer.
• Jeans and Sweaters: Perfect casual wear for dinners.

Gear and Accessories:

• Backpack : Comfortable to carry essentials and extra layers.
• GPS : Essential for navigating Faroe Islands’ sometimes challenging trails. You should be able to rent one with a rental car. Phone service is poor!
• Water Bottle : Stay hydrated with a reusable, eco-friendly option.
• Snacks : Pack energy-boosting snacks for sustenance during hikes.
• Sunscreen and Sunglasses : Protect against strong UV rays, which can be deceiving even in cloudy weather.
• Camera or Smartphone : Capture breathtaking landscapes and memories.
• Travel Adapter : Ensure your electronics stay charged with European plugs.
• Cash : Useful for smaller purchases and in remote areas where cards may not be accepted.
• Portable Power Bank : Keep devices charged for navigation and photography.

Continue Planning Your Faroe Islands Itinerary

Checkout more of my travel tips for the Faroe Islands to plan the perfect vacation.

Best Hikes in the Faroe Islands for Amazing Views

Faroe Islands Travel: Everything You Need to Know

The Best Restaurants in the Faroe Islands

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Lindsey shares personal travel experiences from vacations she plans and pays for herself. She writes honest luxury hotel reviews, destination guides, foodie favorites, and some of the best beaches around the world from visiting over 20 countries. Lindsey has a degree in Travel & Tourism Management and works full time in the hospitality industry in addition to curating LeisurelyLinds.com. She lives in Charleston, SC with her husband and new daughter. Follow along on instagram .

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The Ultimate 10 Day Faroe Islands Itinerary – With Map

Home > Faroe Islands

Are you planning to visit the Faroe Islands and don’t know where to start planning for your Faroe Islands itinerary? I get it – there are 18 islands, countless beautiful locations and so many tunnels it’s hard to plan a good itinerary on your own. This is why I did all the research for you and comprised it all in the ultimate itinerary for the Faroe Islands!

Faroe Islands itinerary

The Faroe Islands is the perfect destination for nature lovers, hiking enthusiasts, photographers and those on a hunt for unique and unexplored destinations. The Faroe Islands are an autonomous territory of the Kingdom of Denmark and home to just over 53,000 inhabitants, but you’ll definitely meet more sheep than people when you visit the Faroe Islands, which makes sense since the country itself has actually been named after sheep (old Norse Færeyjar, which literally means Sheep Islands) and could very well be called The Sheep Islands.

Day 1 – Vagár Island: Arrival and visit Gásadalur

Get a sim card.

After you arrive at the airport, head to the information desk to buy a SIM card. We always buy a local SIM when we travel because we love having access to the map and all saved points of interest. It just makes travel easier if you don’t have to rely on WiFi while you visit Faroe Islands and do your Faroe Islands travel itinerary.

We bought 12GB and it cost us around 230 DKK ($34). You could just opt for a basic one for 100 DKK ($15) though. We usually pop the SIM in Mike’s phone (he has a double slot) and then he shares the hotspot with me. This way we don’t have to buy two SIM cards and can have more data for less.

Car rental in the Faroe Islands

Car rental prices are crazy in the Faroe Islands, there’s no secret about that. We had no idea what awaits us when we booked the (rather cheap) plane tickets, so we were definitely in for a surprise!

Since we also decided to visit the Faroe Islands two weeks before arriving, this also meant a lot of cheaper rental cars were already booked up, which left us with the most expensive choices. 

So my best tip is to create your Faroe Islands itinerary and book a car rental early ! As soon as you book your flights, get the car. You will need it every day and I do not recommend you travel around the Faroe Islands without a car. We scoured the internet for a rental place that’s not on Google maps yet since all the bigger websites had prices as high as 1400 DKK ($2000) for 10 days. We finally found a small rental and got an older car for 5000 DKK ($730) for 10 days. The rental price was probably higher than what the car is worth, but we wanted to save money instead of getting a luxury car.

If you’re out early with the booking, you can also check out this car rental page and find a rental for as little as 645 DKK a day.

Drive to Gásadalur – Your base in Vágar

The drive from the Vágar Airport to Gasadalur is only 20 minutes, but do make sure you get something to eat before you head there. There’s a supermarket in Sørvágur, but if you happen to arrive on a Sunday when everything is closed, then head to the gas station and get something to eat there.

We got groceries for breakfast, simple lunch to take hiking and something to cook on the evenings when we are in the Airbnb. There are not a lot of restaurants in Vágar, especially if you’re not so keen on seafood.

In Gásadalur we stayed in one of the very few Airbnb’s in this village and this was our base for two nights while exploring the island Vágar.

On the first day of this Faroe Islands itinerary, you will stay right next to the famous Mulafossur Waterfall. You can easily photograph it when you arrive, but also during sunset or sunrise. For more tips on what to do in Gásadalur visit this article . Spoiler alert: you can even spot puffins here during summer!

Day 2 – Bøur Village, Trælanípan Lake, Sandavagur Village, Trøllkonufingur and The Nix

After breakfast in your accommodation, you’ll start your journey bright and early and head to Bøur Village. This is just a simple photography stop on your Faroe Islands itinerary, so you’ll need a max of 30 minutes here. Don’t forget to stop by The View cottages as well, the views from there are spectacular!

As you walk through and photograph the beautiful views, make sure you are respectful of people’s privacy here and not photograph into the windows.

After the short stop at Bøur village, head towardsTrælanípan for a hike to one of the most beautiful views on this entire Faroe Islands itinerary!

Parking is free, but the entrance for the hike is 200 DKK per person since 2019. The hike to Trælanípan is very easy and even suitable for children so you can’t skip this on your Faroe Islands itinerary! The path is quite flat up until the last bit where there is some uphill. Once you reach the top you will be able to see the lake above the ocean. For best photos bring a wide-angle camera. We also had some coffee with us and had a little fika on the top.

You will need, together with photos, approximately 2,5 hours for the trip to Trælanípan.

After you are done here, make the drive towards Sandavagur to see the Faroese church. From here, continue the 5-minute drive towards Trøllkonufingur. Once you park your car, there is a short and easy walk towards the viewpoint of Trøllkonufingur.

Now that you’ve seen all these beautiful places, drive back to your accommodation in Gásadalur and visit The Nix statue on the way. It’s a wire statue of a horse, peeking out of the lake.

The second day of this Faroe Islands itinerary starts off quite easy, but with plenty of scenic views – hope you enjoyed it!

Day 3 – Hike to Drangarnir or Dunnesdrangar, head to Torshavn on Streymoy Island

Drangarnir hike.

Today you can choose based on your activity levels (and availability). A hike to Drangarnir was something we weren’t able to do since we weren’t there on the right day, but I really hope we can visit again and go there! The hike there is on private land so the guide is the landowner, you can be fined if you walk here without permission. You can book the hike for Wednesday, Saturday or Sunday here .

The hike to Drangarnir is very difficult and quite expensive, at $75 per person for 5-6 hours. If you want to take the easier trip there, then you could also book a boat trip there, which will take you a lot less time (and effort).

Dunnesdrangar hike

If you’re not up to the Drangarnir challenge, then something even more beautiful awaits on Vágar island – Dunnesdrangar ! This hidden gem is now becoming more recognized and lands on many people’s Faroe Islands itinerary. You now have to book a hike in advance and you can do it right here . The hike here is easy, guided and takes about 3 hours both ways.

Dunnesdrangar was my ultimate favorite thing to do on this Faroe Islands itinerary. It was absolutely beautiful and we were the only ones there (together with a new friend Cat who we met in the parking lot). 

After you are done with either option, head to Tórshavn. The journey to Tórshavn from Vágar takes about 45 minutes and you will be driving through a tunnel. This Faroe Islands itinerary is planned so you’ll only need to drive through each tunnel once (there and back). This tunnel fee is 100 DKK and you can pay it online here .

Tórshavn

Book a place close to the marina in Tórshavn, this way you can park at the big parking lot which is free most of the time. Head to the supermarket for some groceries for the upcoming days and get ready for an adventure around the city.

Stroll around the marina for a bit before heading out to a restaurant. This is the only place you can really eat out so if you are craving something this is where you can get it! See all my tips for restaurants and more things to do in Tórshavn here .

Day 4 – Streymoy Island: Saksun to Tjornuvik hike

Have a hearty breakfast today because the hike you have coming up today is tough! Begin your day early and drive up to Saksun to hike to Tjornuvik . You can park your car here and try and hitch a ride back once you make it to the other side (what we did). There is no convenient public transport to take you back to your car after the 4-5 hour hike.

If you are not much of a hiker, then I have an even better suggestion for you (what I wish we did): go to Saksun and take pictures of this stunning village from the bottom. It really is not better from the top and in my opinion, this hike is not worth the trouble.

Then hop into your car and drive to Tjornuvik. There you will want to go higher up for that amazing viewpoint of the village. The hike up here is difficult, but it’s worth the trip! Then head back down, hop in your car and you’re done! The path in between the villages is super foggy, there’s not much to see and unless you’re really into hiking it’s not worth it. Thank me in the comments 😉

After you’re done with both, look at some villages you pass. There are plenty of beautiful spots on the way back to Tórshavn.

Day 5 – Day trip to Sandoy island

If you’re keen on exploring some not-so-touristy islands in the Faroe Islands, then make sure you plan a day trip to Sandoy. It’s easily reachable with a ferry from Gamlaraett to Skopun.

Book the ferry here , with a car spot for 160DKK for the car with driver +40 DKK for each passenger in the car. The ferry ride takes about 30 minutes and I recommend you take one in the morning at 8 am, see the schedule here .

I wrote a detailed guide to Sandoy and the best things to do there in this article . Since Sandoy is not so big, you only need about 6 hours there, which means you can head back when it’s still light outside. If you manage, then visit Kirkjubour Village – it’s very charming! If you don’t manage today, then you can also do it the day after.

Day 6 – Kirkjubøur Village, head to Eysturoy Island and hike from Oyndarfjørður to Elduvik

If you didn’t manage to visit the charming Kirkjubøur Village yesterday, then head there this morning after breakfast. This village is Streymoy’s most southern village and also the Faroes’ most important historical site. Here you will see a church, charming houses and ruins of the Magnus Cathedral from around 1300. It was one of my favorites on this Faroe Islands itinerary.

After that drive towards the town called Gøtugjógv for checking into your new accommodation. You could pick another location on this island, we chose here because of its central location. Head to the supermarket which is located here and get some food for your meals.

Since the hike from Oyndarfjørður isn’t tough or long, you can easily do this before the day ends as well. On this hike, you will some beautiful views of the villages and the neighboring islands.

There is a pretty cool tunnel with a roundabout between Streymoy and Eysturoy and it costs 200 DKK (both ways) to cross it. Make sure you take the right turn towards the right side of Eysturoy.

TIP: In case you only have a week to visit Faroe Islands and aren’t too keen on making plans and transport yourself, here is a 6-day organized summer tour you could also take!

Day 7 – Eysturoy Island: Hike to Slættaratindur, see Risin og Kellingin, Eiði, and Gjógv village

Hike to slættaratindur.

After breakfast, get ready for hiking to the tallest peak in the whole Faroe Islands, and Denmark! The path up might be steep and requires some stamina, but it is by no means difficult.

The peak is at 880 meters and you should have a wind jacket (very windy and foggy at the top) and proper shoes here, especially if the weather turns sour. The hike to Slættaratindur will take about 2 to 2,5 hours and you’ll have plenty of time to see the rest of the beautiful places on this island.

View of Risin of Kellingin

This is a short stop and you’ll see the large parking lot and the view of these two sea stacks on the way to Eiði. The name Risin og Kellingin means The Giant and the Witch and is related to an old legend.

Eiði and Gjógv village

Drive past Eiði village and take in the charming Faroese views.

After that make your way to Gjógv village and stroll, take photos and enjoy a cup of coffee. If you’re visiting at the right time of the year (summer), you’ll even see puffins here! Hard to choose which are the prettiest villages on this Faroe Islands itinerary, right? 

Day 8 – Visit Klaksvík, Viðareiði, then head to Hvannasund on Vidoy Island

Today you are checking out and driving towards Vidoy island. You will drive through the last paid tunnel here, this one costs 100 DKK both ways. But that doesn’t mean that’s the end of tunnels – quite the opposite! This part of the Faroe Islands is packed with tunnels and many of them are one-way, pitch-dark and a little bit scary if you ask me. But they’re wide enough and easy to drive through – I just wouldn’t walk there!

Make a stop at Klaksvík for some amazing views of the city hugged by hills, get some groceries (since this is the second biggest city in the Faroe Islands), see Viðareið and then head off to your next accommodation for a relaxing night in.

We booked a tiny cabin in Hvannasund and it was just perfect. You’ll be staying your last two nights here, while you explore all the things left on this part of the Faroe Islands itinerary.

Day 9 – Day trip to Kalsoy Island: Mikladalur, Kóppakonan, Kallur lighthouse

Start bright and early at 6 am and head to the ferry spot in Klaksvík that will take you all the way to the beautiful Kalsoy island. Make sure you are there early to secure a spot on the ferry since the space is very limited.

Kalsoy is most famous for the Kallur lighthouse hike and I was convinced it would be a tough hike – in reality, it wasn’t at all! The only place that scared me was walking across the steep path to see the lighthouse from the other side. Once you are done with the hike, slowly head back towards the ferry terminal and visit Mikladalur, Kóppakonan and take in all the sights on your last full day here!

Bear in mind that Kalsoy is also packed with tunnels, though all of them are free.

Day 10 – Head to the airport

Your last day of this Faroe Islands itinerary has arrived and you are off to the airport. You will make your way back through quite a few tunnels now, but none of them you will have to pay extra for. The fees are always charged only once, so in total (with this itinerary), you’ll be spending a max of 400 DKK for the three big tunnels.

Park your car at the airport for the rental company to pick up and you’re off!

Mykines – Optional

I know, it says optional when Mykines tends to be such a must-do on so many other guides. But quite frankly, the only reason we were interested in going there was to see the puffins. 

What no guide tells you (and I got this information straight from the Faroe Islands tourism office) is that puffins can be seen in many places in the Faroe Islands. Albeit, not quite as many as you can see on Mykines, but in our case, the extra fees and complications around going there simply weren’t worth the hassle.

If you however really want to go, then you must read all the things you must know before you book your trip to Mykines. 

I hope you enjoyed this Faroe Islands itinerary and if you have any questions, just ask in the comments below!

Faroe Islands Itinerary – Questions

How many days do you need on the Faroe Islands?

I found that the ideal time to spend in the Faroe Islands is 10 days. You could shorten your visit and visit fewer islands, but I would highly recommend to spend at least 7 days there. If you are short on time and only have a long weekend, then I suggest you spend 4 days on Vagar island. There’s so many beautiful spots there! I would say 3 days in Faroe Islands is too little though, unless you only want to see a handful of easy to reach spots.

Is Faroe island expensive?

The Faroe Islands are expensive and this is coming from someone who lives in Scandinavia. Car rentals are the highest expense we had, but they have some pretty steep hiking fees here too. I highly suggest you at least book your car well in advance because the longer you wait, the less cheaper options will be available.

Is it worth going to Faroe Islands?

It is 100% worth going to the Faroe Islands. It’s a beautiful place and I can’t wait to go back one day!

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How to Spend Three Perfect Days in the Faroe Islands

With charming new hotels and gourmet restaurants, the remote Scandinavian archipelago is ready for a new wave of visitors.

Jeanine Barone is an internationally recognized journalist with more than two decades of experience covering travel, wellness, food, wine, and more. Her work has appeared in major publications such as The New York Times , The Wall Street Journal , and The Washington Post .

There's a monumental beauty to the Faroes , a necklace of 18 volcanic isles in the North Atlantic between Norway , Scotland , and Iceland. Jagged cliffs drop into fjords, waterfalls spray toward the sky on gusty winds, and thick fog envelops stark moorlands (the Faroese language has 40 words for the meteorological phenomenon). It's tempting to get lost amid these landscapes while imagining yourself a shepherd or a Viking settler.

But with the recent debuts of smart hotels, gourmet restaurants, and charming cafés—plus a maze of roads, bridges, and tunnels connecting the islands—it's worth seeing what modernity has to offer, too. This road-trip itinerary winds around three of the archipelago's largest islands, combining sights that are new, ancient , and otherworldly.

Why Your Next Trip Should Be to This Sleepy Icelandic Town

Home to the main airport, Vágar Island has six villages, the smallest of which, Gásadalur, has only 10 full-time residents. You're here to see Múlafossur, a magnificent waterfall that drops 500 feet into the North Atlantic. From there, drive 20 minutes south to colorful Sandavágur, a village wedged between a frigid bay and the western slope of Trollkonufinger Mountain. After snapping photos of the town's red-roofed church, built during World War I, swing by Fiskastykkið ( entrées $16–$19), a café that serves Nordic specialties like hot-smoked-salmon salad with braised rhubarb. Spend the night in a traditional grass-roofed cottage at View to Drangarnar, Tindholm end Mykines ( house from $369), in the village of Bøur.

A 45-minute drive (part of which winds through a tunnel) brings you to the capital, Tórshavn, located on the island of Streymoy. Here, you'll find brightly painted houses and atmospheric pubs alongside sod-roofed dwellings and 19th-century churches. Browse traditional yet on-trend Faroese knitwear at Ullvøruhúsið , then stop by the National Gallery of the Faroe Islands to admire seascapes by renowned homegrown painter Sámal Joensen-Mikines. Enjoy a slice of wild-berry cheesecake in the sunny backyard of the Paname Café . Or splurge on a 17-course tasting menu at Koks (tasting menus from $310), a Michelin two-starred restaurant set inside a 280-year-old farmhouse on Lake Leynar. The restaurant uses regional practices of salting, smoking, and fermenting to concoct creative plates like steamed deep-sea crab with pickled-leek jam. After a day of sightseeing, retire at the Havgrím Seaside Hotel (doubles from $425), a former private residence recently transformed into an elegant coastal escape, with 14 rooms done up in shades of powder blue and cream.

Last month saw the unveiling of a new tunnel—complete with a light installation by Faroese artist Tróndur Patursson—connecting the islands of Streymoy and Eysturoy. Once you've arrived on Eysturoy, head north toward Gjógv, a quaint village named for the sea-filled gorge that runs through it. Order a glass of wine at Gjáarkaffi, a stone-walled café with bright red trim and picnic seating. Afterward, check in to your simple, homey room at Gjáargarður Guesthouse (doubles from $165), where there's live music and Faroese folk dancing every Wednesday evening.

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Our Faroe Islands Road Trip Itinerary

Published: September 16, 2023

Modified: December 27, 2023

by Milena Appleby

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Introduction

Welcome to the enchanting Faroe Islands, a hidden gem in the North Atlantic. This archipelago, consisting of 18 stunning islands, is known for its rugged landscapes, majestic fjords, and rich Viking history. It’s a place where nature reigns supreme, with towering cliffs, cascading waterfalls, and vibrant green valleys waiting to be explored.

With its unspoiled beauty and relatively untouched landscapes, the Faroe Islands have become a sought-after destination for nature enthusiasts and adventure seekers. From hiking along dramatic coastal cliffs to spotting puffins nesting on sea stacks, there’s no shortage of awe-inspiring sights to behold. And what better way to experience the wonders of the Faroe Islands than by embarking on a road trip?

In this article, we’ll take you on a memorable road trip through the Faroe Islands, sharing our suggested itinerary and highlighting the must-see attractions along the way. So buckle up, grab your camera, and get ready for an unforgettable journey through this picturesque Nordic paradise.

Note: Before embarking on your road trip, be sure to check local travel restrictions and guidelines due to COVID-19. It’s essential to stay informed and adhere to any regulations implemented by the authorities.

Day 1: Arrival in Tórshavn

Your adventure begins as you arrive in the charming capital city of the Faroe Islands, Tórshavn. Steeped in history and surrounded by breathtaking landscapes, Tórshavn is the perfect base for exploring the archipelago. Start your day by checking into your accommodation and getting settled.

Once you’ve unpacked, take a leisurely stroll through the narrow winding streets of the city center, known as Tinganes. This historic district is characterized by its traditional colorful houses with turf roofs, creating a picturesque setting that is truly unique to the Faroe Islands.

Make your way to the harbor area, where you’ll find Vaglið, a small lake known for its tranquil beauty. Take a moment to enjoy the serene surroundings and admire the reflections of the colorful buildings in the water.

Afterward, head to the historic Fort Skansin, located on a peninsula at the entrance of the harbor. This 16th-century fort offers panoramic views of the city and the surrounding coastline. It’s the perfect spot to capture some memorable photos.

In the evening, indulge in the local Faroese cuisine. Try the iconic national dish, Grind og Spik, which consists of pilot whale meat and blubber. Alternatively, sample fresh seafood, such as Atlantic cod or Faroese salmon, prepared in traditional Faroese style.

Before calling it a day, make sure to visit the Tórshavn Cathedral, the oldest church in the Faroe Islands. With its striking architecture and serene atmosphere, it’s a must-see attraction that reflects the island’s deep-rooted religious history.

After a day of exploring and immersing yourself in the culture and beauty of Tórshavn, rest up and prepare for an exciting journey ahead as you venture further into the Faroe Islands.

Day 2: Exploring Tórshavn

Today is dedicated to thoroughly exploring the captivating city of Tórshavn. Start your day with a hearty breakfast and prepare for a day filled with fascinating cultural experiences and stunning sights.

Begin your exploration by visiting the National Museum of the Faroe Islands. This museum offers a deep dive into the history and heritage of the Faroe Islands, showcasing artifacts and exhibitions that highlight the island’s Viking past and its unique traditions and culture.

Next, head to the Nordic House, an architectural gem designed by the renowned Finnish architect Alvar Aalto. This cultural center hosts various events and exhibitions throughout the year and offers a beautiful setting to appreciate contemporary Nordic art and design.

For a taste of local life, take a stroll through the charming neighborhood of Reyn, located just outside the city center. Reyn is known for its turf-roofed houses and stunning views of the neighboring islands. Enjoy the peaceful ambiance and snap some photos of the idyllic surroundings.

No trip to Tórshavn is complete without visiting the bustling Fish Market. Immerse yourself in the lively atmosphere as you browse through a wide selection of locally caught fish, seafood, and other fresh produce. You can even pick up some traditional Faroese delicacies to enjoy later.

In the evening, be sure to indulge in the vibrant local music scene. Tórshavn boasts a rich musical heritage, and there are plenty of venues where you can catch live performances ranging from traditional Faroese tunes to contemporary acts.

To cap off your day, head to Tinghússtovan, the seat of the Faroese Parliament. This historic building dates back to the 1850s and serves as a symbol of Faroese democracy. Admire its distinctive architecture and soak in the significance of this landmark site.

After a day of exploring the capital city, make your way back to your accommodation and reflect on the unique experiences you had in Tórshavn. Rest up and get ready for the next leg of your Faroe Islands road trip.

Day 3: Vágar Island

On day 3 of your Faroe Islands road trip, venture to Vágar Island, located west of Tórshavn. Known for its breathtaking landscapes and natural wonders, Vágar is a must-visit destination for any nature enthusiast.

Start your day early and make your way to the picturesque village of Bøur. This charming little village offers stunning views of the nearby islet of Tindhólmur and the famous sea stack, Drangarnir. Take a leisurely walk through the village, admiring the traditional houses and soaking in the serene atmosphere.

From Bøur, embark on a hike to the stunning sights of Gásadalur. This hidden gem was once one of the most isolated villages in the Faroe Islands, accessible only by foot or boat. Now, a tunnel connects the village to the rest of the island, but the remote and untouched beauty of Gásadalur remains.

As you make your way along the trail, be prepared to be mesmerized by the cascading waterfall, Múlafossur, which gracefully drops into the ocean. It’s a sight that will leave you in awe and is a photographer’s paradise.

After experiencing the natural spectacle of Gásadalur, drive to the town of Miðvágur, where you’ll find the famous Trælanípa (Slave’s Cliff). Embark on a hike to this iconic viewpoint, which offers breathtaking vistas of the sheer cliffs and the turquoise waters below.

As you explore Vágar Island, be prepared for sudden weather changes and dramatic landscapes. This is all part of the unique charm of the Faroe Islands. Make sure to wear appropriate clothing and gear for your outdoor adventures.

In the evening, head back to Tórshavn, where you can unwind and reflect on the beauty and wonder of Vágar Island. Enjoy a delicious meal at one of the city’s restaurants, savoring the flavors of the local cuisine.

Day 3 of your road trip will be filled with unforgettable natural wonders and stunning landscapes, leaving you with lasting memories of Vágar Island.

Day 4: Streymoy and Eysturoy Islands

On day 4 of your Faroe Islands road trip, get ready to explore the scenic wonders of Streymoy and Eysturoy Islands. These two islands offer a plethora of breathtaking landscapes, charming villages, and iconic landmarks.

Begin your day by driving to the village of Saksun, located on the northwest coast of Streymoy Island. This remote village is nestled in a picturesque valley and is known for its stunning natural setting. Explore the historic turf-roofed church and take a walk to the beautiful tidal lagoon, offering panoramic views of the surrounding mountains.

From Saksun, make your way to the village of Tjørnuvík, situated on the northern tip of Streymoy Island. This quaint fishing village is renowned for its spectacular view of the iconic sea stacks, the Giant and the Witch. Take a leisurely stroll along the black sand beach and admire the rugged beauty of the coastline.

Continue your journey by driving across the bridge to Eysturoy Island. Explore the charming village of Gjógv, located on the northeast coast. This tranquil village is famous for its natural harbor, which resembles a gorge (gjógv in Faroese). Take a hike along the cliffs for stunning panoramic views of the ocean and neighboring islands.

Next, head to the town of Eiði, known for its impressive rock formations, the “Two Giant’s Fingers.” These towering sea stacks are a photographer’s dream. Enjoy the scenic beauty as you walk along the cliffs and capture the dramatic landscapes.

As you make your way back to Tórshavn, consider making a stop at the village of Funningur. This historic village is situated in a picturesque fjord and offers stunning views of the surrounding mountains and the tranquil waters of the fjord.

End your day by returning to Tórshavn, where you can relax and indulge in a delicious meal. Reflect on the incredible sights you’ve witnessed as you prepare for the next leg of your Faroe Islands adventure.

Day 4 is sure to be filled with captivating landscapes and memorable moments as you explore the natural wonders of Streymoy and Eysturoy Islands.

Day 5: Road Trip to Sandoy Island

Day 5 of your Faroe Islands road trip takes you to the charming and tranquil Sandoy Island. Known as the “Sand Island,” this small but picturesque island is famous for its rolling hills, sandy beaches, and peaceful atmosphere.

Start your day by driving to the village of Skopun, the main entry point to Sandoy Island. From there, take a stroll along the beautiful sandy beach and enjoy the serenity of the surroundings. Marvel at the colorful houses dotted along the coastline, creating a postcard-perfect view.

Make your way to the village of Dalur, known for its stunning panoramic views and traditional Faroese turf-roofed houses. Take a moment to breathe in the fresh sea air and immerse yourself in the tranquility of the landscape. If you’re lucky, you may even spot some seals playing in the waters nearby.

Continue your journey to the village of Skálavík, where you can explore the rugged coastline and enjoy the untouched beauty of the Atlantic Ocean. For bird enthusiasts, this area is known for its abundant birdlife, including puffins and various seabirds.

Take a break and enjoy a picnic lunch along one of the scenic spots on the island. Whether it’s a secluded beach or a grassy hilltop with a panoramic view, find a peaceful spot to relax and savor the natural beauty that surrounds you.

Before leaving Sandoy Island, make a stop at the village of Sandur, the largest settlement on the island. Visit the local museum to learn about the island’s history and cultural heritage. Take a leisurely walk through the village, admiring the traditional houses and soaking in the laid-back atmosphere.

As the day comes to a close, return to Tórshavn with memories of the peaceful charm and natural beauty of Sandoy Island. Reflect on the serenity you experienced on this idyllic island as you prepare for the remaining days of your Faroe Islands adventure.

Day 5 is a day of relaxation and appreciation for the natural wonders of Sandoy Island, leaving you refreshed and rejuvenated for the next leg of your journey.

Day 6: North Streymoy, Kollafjørður, and Vestmanna

On day 6 of your Faroe Islands road trip, explore the northern part of Streymoy Island, as well as the scenic villages of Kollafjørður and Vestmanna. Get ready for a day filled with breathtaking landscapes, charming villages, and exciting adventures.

Start your day by driving north from Tórshavn to the village of Norðragøta, located on the northeastern coast of Streymoy Island. Here, you can wander along the scenic harbor, capturing beautiful views of the surrounding mountains and the Atlantic Ocean. Don’t miss the opportunity to visit the historic Ólavskirkja church, a local landmark that dates back to the 12th century.

Continue your journey to the village of Kollafjørður, situated on the southeastern coast of Streymoy Island. This picturesque village offers stunning views of the fjord and the mountains that surround it. Take a walk along the charming streets and visit the local church, known for its unique octagonal shape.

From Kollafjørður, drive to the village of Vestmanna, located on the western coast of Streymoy Island. This coastal village is famous for its mesmerizing sea cliffs, where thousands of nesting seabirds can be observed during the summer months. Embark on a thrilling bird watching boat tour to get up close to the impressive cliffs and witness the awe-inspiring bird colonies.

After the exhilarating boat tour, take some time to explore the village of Vestmanna. Visit the local fish market and sample some delicious seafood, or simply stroll along the harbor and soak in the peaceful atmosphere.

Before returning to Tórshavn, make a stop at the picturesque village of Leynar, located on the western coast of Streymoy Island. This charming little village offers a scenic beach and stunning views of the surrounding mountains. Stretch your legs and take a leisurely walk along the shore, enjoying the coastal beauty.

As you make your way back to Tórshavn, reflect on the captivating landscapes and charming villages you’ve encountered throughout the day. Rest up and prepare for the final day of your Faroe Islands road trip, filled with more incredible sights and unforgettable experiences.

Day 6 showcases the diverse beauty of the northern part of Streymoy Island and introduces you to the delightful villages of Kollafjørður and Vestmanna, leaving you with memories that will last a lifetime.

Day 7: Departure from Tórshavn

It’s the final day of your Faroe Islands road trip, and it’s time to bid farewell to the captivating beauty of this Nordic paradise. Spend your last day in Tórshavn soaking up the remaining sights and enjoying the vibrant atmosphere of the city.

Start your day with a leisurely breakfast and take a stroll through the city center, exploring any hidden corners or unique shops that you may have missed during your previous days. Immerse yourself in the lively ambiance, soaking in the energy and charm of Tórshavn one last time.

If you’ve missed any must-see attractions or landmarks, now is the time to visit them. Whether it’s the historic Kirkjubøur village with its medieval church ruins or the charming Nordic House with its inspiring architecture, make sure to check off the remaining items on your Faroe Islands bucket list.

Before you depart, indulge in a delicious meal at one of Tórshavn’s renowned restaurants. Sample more of the local dishes, savoring the flavors of the Faroese cuisine. Whether it’s fresh seafood, traditional lamb specialties, or delightful desserts, treat yourself to a memorable meal to conclude your Faroe Islands adventure.

As you make your way to the airport or seaport for your departure, take one last look at the beautiful surroundings and reflect on the incredible experiences you’ve had during your road trip. The majestic fjords, towering cliffs, and vibrant landscapes will undoubtedly leave a lasting impression.

Before you board your plane or ferry, consider picking up some souvenirs to remember your time in the Faroe Islands. Whether it’s traditional handicrafts, locally produced woolens, or unique Faroese artwork, take a piece of this enchanting destination home with you as a memento.

As you bid farewell to the Faroe Islands, carry with you the memories of the breathtaking landscapes, the warmth of the Faroese people, and the sense of adventure that you experienced during your road trip. While you may be leaving the islands, their beauty and charm will forever remain in your heart.

Safe travels, and we hope you cherish your time exploring the Faroe Islands for years to come!

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5 days in Faroe Islands: the perfect itinerary

• August 27, 2023
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Let me start by saying, if you have decided to visit Faroe Islands, you have got to be someone who loves adventure, is crazy about nature, can’t imagine a life without hiking, and prefers to stay away from the crowds. Faroe Islands aren’t easy to get to, and not cheap either, and while they’re one of the least crowded and most uninhabited territories that exist, you’ll see raw nature while you’re here and more sheep than people. Accommodations and hotels are far and few, restaurants are scattered and difficult to find, and you’re in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by rugged, unrivalled, striking beauty! 5 days in Faroe Islands are just not enough, even though the archipelago is fairly small, and easy to traverse from one end to the other.

Before we dive into the itinerary, start by reading all you need to know before visiting Faroe Islands here. While there are buses that connect one town to another, public transportation will only take you so far. Renting a car and driving is your best bet else be prepared to walk from the bus stop to your destination (or hitch hike, if you’re adventurous enough). Its next to impossible to cover so much ground in 5 days in Faroe Islands without a car, especially due to the unpredictability and instability of the weather.

Firstly, I highly recommend getting your accommodation in either the capital, Tórshavn or Vágar, two of the most commercialised towns in Faroe Islands. These are the areas where you’ll find maximum restaurants, shops, and groceries as well so unless you the sorts who wants to live in a completely disconnected, and remote location, you’ll find several cosy BnBs in these lively towns. The drawback of living in Vágar is that you will end up crossing the toll sub-sea tunnel every time you leave the island (3 out of 5 days, as per my recommended itinerary) and the tolls aren’t cheap!

We found an amazing accommodation in Vágar which was reasonably priced and perfectly located, right next to the harbour, offering an excellent view. It was cosy but well equipped with cooking equipment, an attached bathroom, and a bunk bed! Click here to book your stay at Kristjanshavn .

Most flights to Faroe Islands will arrive in the morning so you’ll have the full day to explore. If you’re travelling in the summer (July, August), you’ll have sunlight until 11 pm, which gives you a really long day! This was my first ever experience with midnight sun (well, dusk) and it was unique. Driving after dark isn’t really recommended because of the absence of any street lighting, so it’s good that the days last long enough for you to explore and get back to your base before night sets in.

Day 1: Streymoy Island, Kirkjubøur & Boat Trip

Start your day in the capital city of the Faroe Islands, Tórshavn , located on Streymoy Island. If you’re staying in Vágar, you’ll take the under-sea tunnel (and there’s a heavy toll for this but totally worth it) and get to the charming old town, Tinganes, with its colorful houses and historic buildings, in about 45 minutes. If you’re a history buff, then visiting the National Museum of the Faroe Islands might be of interest to you. This part of Faroe Islands is the most happening, active and crowded so if you wish to shop or buy souvenirs, this is the best moment to do it. This is also where you’ll find the most cafes, restaurants, and bars, so do take this opportunity to grab some Faroese cuisine while you’re here. Try local specialties such as fermented fish (ræst kjøt), Faroese lamb, and seafood dishes.

Hardly a 15-minute drive from here is the village of Kirkjubøur , located on the southern part of Streymoy. Here you can visit the ruins of the 13th-century Magnus Cathedral and the oldest still-inhabited wooden house in Europe, Kirkjubøargarður. This is your first day in Faroe Islands, so be prepared to be greeted by pristine, raw, untouched nature with hardly any souls around, but sheep. You can take a nice walk along the coast with spectacular views, especially if you’re lucky to have a clear day with blue skies. The Faroe Islands offer incredible natural beauty, so take the time to appreciate the landscapes and enjoy the peaceful atmosphere during your visit.

If the weather allows (yes, there will be a lot of mention on my blog of the unpredictability and dependence of the plans on the weather in Faroe Islands), take a boat tour from Tórshavn to the Vestmanna Sea Cliffs and caves, located on the west coast of Streymoy. These dramatic cliffs rise straight out of the ocean and provide nesting grounds for numerous bird species. The boat tour takes you through narrow straits and caves, offering a unique perspective of the cliffs. During the summer season, you will see a lot of puffins in their natural environment. The tour lasts for about 1.5 hours, runs in the afternoons, and costs about $60.

Alternatively, you can also consider taking a boat trip to Hestur Island that starts from Gamlarætt in Streymoy and lasts 1.5 hours. Very similar to the Vestmanna Sea Cliffs tour, this one also takes you to some cliffs around the Hestur Island, located in the west of Streymoy, where you can spot guillemots, puffins, black guillemots, shags, fulmars, and eiders. A couple of seal caves are there as well, that they will sail into if possible.

Lastly, if you have more time and don’t want to rush into a 90-minute boat tour, you can plan on visiting Nolsoy Island , located on the east of Faroe Islands, by a 30-minute ferry that runs several times per day from Torshavn to get you to this small, charming town, with less than 300 inhabitants. Home to several historical excavations that are believed to be dating back to Viking era, Nolsoy offers several possibilities to those looking to hike along the rugged mountains offering excellent coastal views. The ferry to Nolsoy Island, at the time we travelled, didn’t carry any cars. However, there were talks of a new car-carrying ferry starting soon, so make sure to check that before you go!

Important Note: Whenever taking a ferry from one island to another in Faroe Islands, do keep an eye out on the timetables as you do not want to miss the last ferry back. Most ferries allow cars on board, which is a great thing, however, many islands are so remote and lack proper facilities for tourists / guests which means if you get stuck without a way back, you’re likely to have to sleep in your car overnight or request a local to take you in for the night!

Day 2: Vidoy, Klaksvik & Kalsoy Island

On this day of your 5 days in Faroe Islands itinerary, you will visit Vidoy , the eastern most island of your trip and the northern most island of Faroe Islands. The island is home to the much-visited village Viðareiði , famous for the hike to Villingardalsfjall. The hike offers excellent views and while it’s moderately hard, it’s highly recommended for those who wish to enjoy stunning views of beautiful coastal mountains while perched up above one of the most idyllic villages of the Faroe Islands, Vidareidi.  The road trip from Vagar to Vidareidi lasts 1.5 hours and will take you through several inter-island, under-sea tunnels.

The trail begins at the top of road Vid Gard, in the northern part of the town Vidareidi, and while its only 3.7 miles, lasts about 4 hours due to the strenuous climb, after the first 2 kms. I recommend starting early on this day to allow enough time for both the hikes that are planned on this day.

Important tip: Remember to carry enough water, good shoes, protection from the rains and wind (which can unexpectedly hit anytime, and some snacks for energy. We carried ourselves a little picnic with a bottle of wine and food and a picnic mat, which was a brilliant idea.

In the afternoon, drive to Klaskvik , the second largest city in Faroe Islands and the throbbing heart of the northern islands. Here, you will find several restaurants to have your lunch at (make sure to be there during usual lunch hours as several restaurants shut down after 3 or 4 pm). This is also where you will catch your ferry to Kolsoy Island in the afternoon.

This ferry to the island of Kalsoy departs from the port in Klaksvík and arrives at Syðradalur on Kalsoy after 20 minutes, allowing cars on board. Departure times are seasonal, and you should check the timetable online . Once you arrive on Kolsoy Island, head to the trailhead of the hike to Kallur Lighthouse , which is to the far north of the island and about a 20-minute drive from the ferry port. I am not exaggerating when I say that this was my favourite hike in all of Faroe Islands!

Offering breathtaking views of the surrounding ocean and cliffs, the hike to Kallur Lighthouse is considered moderately challenging and the trail is approximately 3.5 kms (2.2 miles) long, with some uphill sections and uneven terrain. It typically takes about 1.5 hours to reach the lighthouse, depending on your pace and fitness level, and the trail takes you through stunning natural landscapes, green slopes, rocky terrain, and several grazing sheep along the way. The trail eventually leads to a spectacular viewpoint overlooking the lighthouse and the iconic sea stacks called "The Witch and the Giant." I was rendered speechless when I arrived at this location, with the magnanimity of the landscapes and the feeling of being so little in front of mother nature.

This is also where the James Bond movie – No time to die, was shot! Ironically, at the end of this movie, James Bond doesn’t make it back home (and this is the first movie where this happens), and the cliff right across the lighthouse is where you can find his tombstone, commemorating the famous spy’s life.

Important tip: Remember to keep enough time in hand to make it back to the last ferry out of Kolsoy as there are no accommodation options on the island.

Day 3: Eysturoy Island & Saksun

It is likely that you’ve had enough adventure on the day before, so the third day in your 5 days in Faroe Islands itinerary can be kept a little bit lighter. On this day, you can visit Eysturoy Island, about an hour’s drive from Vagar. This location is not too far from Klaksvik, the town you visited on the day before. Eysturoy Island offers a captivating blend of natural beauty, cultural heritage, and outdoor activities, and two of the popular villages to be visited here are Gjógv and Eiði.

A small village located in a stunning natural harbor, Gjógv is known for its picturesque scenery, cliffs, and the distinctive sea-filled gorge (gjógv in Faroese) after which the village is named. It's a popular spot for those looking for easy hiking options. You could visit the historical Gjógv church, and then the gorge, which is the main attraction. A flight of steps enables you to walk down to the landing place for boats. If you take a walk along the bank of the gorge, you will get a first-hand look at puffins in and around the cliffs. Since you are keeping it easy on this day, you can take a walk along the bank of the gorge, then uphill along the coastline until you reach a sheep house at the top. From here you have a spectacular view of the bird cliffs. The walk only takes about 45 minutes and will offer excellent views. A café right at the bottom near the gorge is a wonderful place to relax and grab a drink!

From here, head to either Eiði or Tjørnuvík , another tiny peaceful village tucked in a deep valley on the banks of the North Atlantic Ocean. If you’re heading to Tjørnuvík from Eiði or Gjógv, take a quick stop at the Fossa Waterfall on the way. If you’re in the mood for an adventure, hike up to the second level of the Fossa waterfall, less than 1.5-mile round trip, that provides epic ocean views, wildflowers, and a chance to get up close and behind this awesome double-tiered waterfall. The trailhead is literally on the coastal road (parking is the only issue as there isn’t any close by).

You can then continue your road trip to Tjørnuvík. If you’re in the mood for another hike, venture into the mountains and go hiking between Tjørnuvík and Saksun, a 3-hour easy path. Else, just walk around this quant village and engross in the tranquillity of this remote isle.

End your day at Saksun . While Saksun is a part of Streymoy Island, where you’re visiting on Day 1, it’s likely that you’ll have more time on this day to visit it, and it’s also on the way back from Eysturoy Island to Vagar. This rural picturesque village was my favourite because of the green grass/ moss covered roofs and the lake sheltered between the mountains, which make for a fantastic photoshoot. The bucolic simplicity of this small village, overtaken by the sheep, makes it an absolutely must-visit on your 5 days in Faroe Islands itinerary.

After Saksun, head to Torshavn for dinner or back to Vagar. If you’re heading to Torshavn, take the scenic route: Oyggjarvegur road, known to be the filming location for several movies due to its breathtaking beauty.

Day 4: Vagar Island

Finally, this is the day to explore Vagar Island! There’s a lot to do and see on Vagar so if you are short on time and don’t have 5 days on hand, plan your itinerary in a way that you do not miss Vagar.

Vagar is home to my second favourite hike in Faroe Islands (after Kallur Lighthouse): the Trælanípa trail to Bøsdalafossur waterfall. However, you can start the day by visiting another short and easy walk to see an interesting rock formation called Trøllkonufingur (that translates to ‘the troll’s finger’). You can drive the narrow road that leads to the site or just take the short walk from the village center after parking the car there. You don’t need more than an hour for this walk.

From here, head towards the Trælanípa/Bøsdalafossur trailhead, and on the way, you will the The Nix , a horse in the middle of the lake. According to a Faroese legend, his sinister horse-shaped beast lures unsuspecting passersby to mount him, only to drown them in the lake. While this is just a legend, it’s an interesting and quick stop to see this installation of the aquatic monster from the Scandinavian folklore.

Continue to Trælanípa/Bøsdalafossur trailhead car park in Miðvágur. This is where the easy 2-hour hike along the Lake Sørvágsvatn starts (it costs about $30 per person to enter). Known as the ‘floating lake above the ocean’, this is a highly photographed hiking trail because of the optical illusion that the lake creates from a certain point (if you walk up to Trælanípa cliff) of it hanging above the ocean. Once you reach the stunning and famous floating lake viewpoint, you can continue the hike to Bøsdalafossur, the waterfall which flows from Lake Sørvágsvatn into the North Atlantic Ocean.

End your day by visiting this yet another Windows Wallpaper location - Múlafossur Waterfall. You can drive to the village of Gásadalur, right up to the waterfall, so there is no hike involved in this. The views are absolutely stunning, and the village, although quite small, has a few cafes and restaurants where you can grab a hot chocolate or a drink to spend sometime in this area.

Day 5: Mykines Island

To be honest, I regret leaving this to the last day because the weather was inconducive to visiting the island. However, knowing how unpredictable the weather can be on Faroe Islands, there’s only so much that good planning can do. One has to be flexible to last minute change in plans – and the possibility of certain plans being cancelled.

A small and remote island, Mykines offers a unique and diverse landscape. The island features steep cliffs, rugged coastline, green valleys, and rolling hills, creating a breathtaking backdrop for nature enthusiasts and photographers. One of the most iconic landmarks on Mykines is the Mykinesholmur sea stack, a towering rock formation that stands majestically off the coast. During the summer months, the island is known for its rich birdlife, and the population of puffins that call this island home. On can observe the puffins up close in Mykines; in fact, they can even walk through hoards of these birds without scaring them off, something that’s rare in any other part of Faroe Islands. This is also why Mykines is sometimes referred to as the Puffin Island.

The only catch is – there are 2 ways to access this island, either a ferry or helicopter, both of which can stop any moment due to bad weather. The ferry to Mykines operates from Vagar and takes about 45 minutes. However, you’ll be surprised at how cheap it is to fly by a helicopter to this island! Helicopters are a lot more reliable too, in bad weather, as ferries have a higher chance of being cancelled.

As explained to us by a local, helicopters to Mykines are cheap ($40 per person) because they are used as the primary transport for the locals and goods between the islands and are thus financed by the taxpayers’ money. Due to how cheap they are versus the convenience they provide, helicopter seats tend to get sold out and must be booked at least 2 weeks in advance, especially during the peak travel months in summer.

In Mykines, famous for its pristine and untouched beauty, one of the highlights is the hike to the Mykines Lighthouse, which sits on the westernmost point of the island. The hike takes you along rugged coastal cliffs, offering stunning views of the surrounding ocean and bird colonies. Make sure to to wear sturdy footwear and be prepared for changing weather conditions while exploring the island. It’s a challenging route of about 3.5 miles and takes about 3 hours to complete.

Drangarnir Sea Arch

Important note: If you take the ferry to Mykines, you will cross one of the most famous rock formations in Faroe Islands, known as the Drangarnir Sea Arch. An impressive 230 feet tall rock formation that rises straight out of the North Atlantic Ocean forming a sea arch, can be visited in several ways - it is visible by the ferry to Mykines, or by a boat tour from Vagar Island, or a gruelling hike which can take an entire day and rates high on the challenge level. If your ferry to Mykines gets cancelled due to the weather, you can still consider visiting this gigantic sea arch through the boat tour.

Click here to read about Everything you need to know before travelling to Faroe Islands.

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Faroe Islands Itinerary & DIY Travel Guide: 5 Days (More or Less)

by Aileen Adalid Itineraries , Faroe Islands 54 comments

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Growing up in the islands of Batanes in the Philippines, I am no stranger to natural terrains and formations that can easily take anyone’s breath away. In fact, I’m quite hard to please when it comes to such things; but of course, this does NOT mean that I do not appreciate nor acknowledge the beautiful sights that I see in my travels — because I do! However… in order for me to be in utter awe and wonder, the landscapes must be far incredible. (Faroe Islands Itinerary)

To date, there have only been a few places that have made me feel this way and on top of that list would have to be the far-flung yet stunning Faroe Islands.

Right from the moment that I landed there, I felt as if I was sucked into a grand fairy tale — everywhere I looked, there would be something that will draw my breath in awe, as I constantly question myself if I was still on Earth.

Yes, it was that majestic and surreal.

It might still be an understatement to say that the Faroe Islands are a natural masterpiece; but either way, it is my hope that you will see the outstanding beauty of this place in the flesh!

With that said, I bet you have this now on your travel bucket list and it would be my pleasure to help make your travel planning easier. So, with this post, I give you the ultimate travel guide for the Faroe Islands — complete with info, tips, resources, things to do, and an itinerary that you’re free to customize depending on the length of your stay or the style of traveling that you will do.

Table of Contents

Faroe Islands Facts

Before we go on, let me give you some quick and basic facts about the Faroe Islands…

• TRIVIA : One of the inhabited islands, Koltur, has only one resident! …Or two, because I keep seeing conflicting info online; but some of the locals said that there’s only one left there. Maybe they were talking about 1 family which are these 2 residents. .
• TRIVIA : The Faroese language is said to be one of the North Germanic languages and it is closely related to Icelandic and the now extinct Old Norse Language. Anyhow, English is widely spoken especially by the younger ones. .
• The sheep are taking over. The nation’s symbol is the ram, and rightly so because the Faroe Islands are  packed with 70,000 sheep!!! Remember how there are about 50,000 people living here? Without a doubt… they’re outnumbered! And as a tourist, you’ll certainly find sheep as your typical surrounding companion — much like I have.

Faroe Islands Travel Guide

» quick travel planning.

• Top tours & experiences
• Find flights to the Faroe Islands
• Visa requirements
• Best hotels & hostels
• Travel insurance (5% discount)
• Stay connected

– – –

» Best Time to Visit the Faroe Islands

The weather here can be quite unpredictable. It’s common to somewhat experience all 4 seasons in just one day! But yes, generally, sunny days here are rare because the islands are mostly windy, cloudy, and chilly.

For starters, expect cool summers (with an average temperature of 13°C) and mild winters (with an average temperature of 3°C). I went here in the summer around the end of June and the days can have long hours of sunlight with the sun setting after 11PM or even later. The longest day will be on June 21 spanning at almost 20 hours. As for winter, it can be as short as 5 hours — imagine that!

With all that said, it’s best to visit the archipelago around June to September to enjoy the green scenery. Don’t forget to pack your jacket

• WINTER: Dec to Feb
• SPRING: March to May
• SUMMER: June to Aug
• AUTUMN: Sept to Nov

» Getting in to the Faroe Islands

By air.  There are currently 2 airlines that fly to the Faroe Islands. First is Atlantic Airways which has 2 flights per day from Copenhagen, Billund, Aalborg, Bergen, and Reykjavik. Flights cannot be booked through travel websites so you’ll have to book directly on Atlantic Airways website  here . The other one is Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) which just started having daily flights to the Faroes.

By sea.   Smyril Line’s ferry,  M/S Norröna, sails to the Faroe Islands from Hirtshals in the north of Denmark and from Seyðisfjørður in Iceland. It doesn’t sail as frequently though so make sure to check its website for the scheduled departures.

» Where to Stay (Faroe Islands Accommodations)

The central city of Tórshavn is where you will find most of the accommodations and it’s a strategic place to base yourself for all your adventures around the islands. Of course, it can get cheaper if you get places outside of  Torshavn, but for the best capital picks, they would be the following:

Luxury :  Hotel Foroyar Mid-Range:  Hotel Hafnia  or  AirBnB Budget :  Kristjanshavn  or  AirBnB

» How to Get Around the Faroe Islands

By car.  Driving your own car is highly recommended (to make the most of your time) and you can arrange a rental online before your arrival on the islands. Rest assured, you can rent a car (from small cars to SUVs) on-the-spot when you land at the airport since there are stalls there by Sixt, AVIS, HERTZ, and Unicar. Once you start driving around the Faroe Islands, be mindful of the driving conditions and rules because for instance, there are one-way tunnels in the islands and you have to make way for incoming vehicles (you can find all the details here ).

By bus.  The main inter-town bus they have is called Bygdaleiðir and they’re easy to spot since they’re big and in the color of dark blue. To see the complete timetable of the buses, go  here . It helps to note, however, that public transportation is expensive in the Faroe Islands, so it’s best to buy a travel multiple-ride card beforehand with Strandfaraskip Landsins (the mother company of Bygdaleiðir) at the airport or at the main bus terminal in Torshavn. This travel card already covers busses and ferries around the islands except for Mykines Island and can cost 500 DKK ($70~ / Php 3,500~) for 4-days or 700 DKK ($100 / Php 4,900~) for 7 days.

By ferry or by helicopter. Since this place is made up of islands, some are not connected by roads so you’ll sometimes need to hop on a ferry. The schedules for this can be found on Strandfaraskip Landsins.   If a helicopter ride seemingly sounds expensive to you, don’t worry! Here in the islands, the service is subsidized by the government so it’s quite cheap and it is serviced by Atlantic Airways (see the timetable  here , and remember, booking in advance is mandatory). With these affordable helicopter rides, I say take advantage of them — especially if you haven’t experienced riding a helicopter before, this could be quite a fun experience.

By bike .  Some districts like the capital, Tórshavn, can be explored on the city or sports bikes. You can rent these from Visit Tórshavn which is located in Steinatún in the city center. The cost for a day can start at DKK 150~. To book, just send an e-mail to [email protected] or call (+298) 302425.

» Packing Guide

If you’re coming around May to September to the Faroe Islands, you should pack for chilly weather so your bare essentials should be a sweater, a raincoat, and a set of good comfortable (hiking) shoes. If you’re like me who can get cold quite fast, go and pack a warm hat or even some gloves just in case!

Of course, if you visit around winter or the colder months, your clothing essentials will be different.  The same goes for when you’re coming here mainly to camp or hike.

» Visa for the Faroe Islands

Even if the Faroe Islands are connected to the Danish immigration policies, as I’ve already mentioned above, there are some different factors to take note of. So…

• If you come from a Nordic country:   showing off your document of identification with a photo is enough to enter the islands.
• If you come from an EU (European Union) or Schengen country: if you’re an EU citizen, you may enter with just your ID card with a photo. However, EU residents are not part of the entry scheme because you must be a citizen (so for instance, it follows that if you have a Danish residence permit, you still need a visa to the Faroes). If you have a Schengen visa or Danish visa, it is NOT applicable for entry to the Faroe Islands — you still need to apply for a separate visa that is specific to the islands (the requirements will be similar to obtaining a Danish visit visa ).
• If you are of any other nationality:   naturally, you need to apply for a Faroe Islands visa (remember: NOT a Schengen visa) at the Danish embassy in your country of residence — unless your nationality is exempted from getting a Danish visa then you can enter the Faroe Islands.

» Faroe Islands Currency

Króna (kr) is the currency of the Faroe Islands and it is issued by the central bank of Denmark. It’s not a separate currency but a local issue of banknotes denominated in the Danish krone.

• How to best exchange your currency? Either exchange it at a bank or at a money exchanger in your home country or in the city center. Better yet, just withdraw from an ATM with your debit/credit card — however, you must do one big withdrawal to minimize fees with your bank. Speaking of cards, a lot of the establishments accept credit cards but it’s always advisable to have cash on hand because a lot of smaller shops do not accept international credit cards.

» Cost of Travel in the Faroe Islands

To give you an idea for your Faroe Islands itinerary, you should expect to travel in the islands with an average daily cost of about USD $60~ per person on a budget, or at least $150~ if you want to experience more comfort in activities, tours, hotels, and more. (Values below show low budget to medium budget ranges).

• Hotels: $25 to $65 USD / day
• Food: $17 to $40 USD / day
• Fun: $10 to $30 USD / day
• Transport: At least $10 for local transportation

» Local Tour Operators

In case you don’t like to DIY your trip and you want to have someone take care of everything for you, I suggest that you book through local operators in order to help support the Faroese economy. Some of them are as follows:

» Helpful Norwegian Phrases

The official language of the Faroe Islands is Faroese which is a Germanic language that descended from Old Norse. Since they are within the Kingdom of Denmark, the locals also speak Danish. Rest assured, most of the people can speak English (sometimes even German and Norwegian). All in all, it doesn’t hurt to learn a few of the local phrases.

• RELATED READ: Best translation apps for travel

Hello : Halló  (hahloh) Thank you: Takk fyri  (Takk fi-reh)  or Takk ( Takk) Yes : Ja  (Ya) No : Nei  (Ney) Goodbye : Farvæl  (Far-vyel)

I’m sorry : Orsakið meg  (Or-sha-kee mey) Excuse me (getting attention):  Orsaka  (Or-sha-ka) Excuse me (begging pardon): Umskylda  (Um-shil-da) How much does that cost?:  Hvat kostar tað?  (Kvat kost-ar tay?) Is there someone here who speaks English?: Dugir nakar her eingilskt?  (Du-cheer nak-ar her ain-gilsk?) Help!: Hjálp!  (Yolp!) Cheers!: Skál!  (Is-kol!)

Faroe Islands Itinerary

NOTE: The following section is in a tabbed format; so, in order to see the next day’s contents, just click the headings below.

Explore parts of Vágar and Streymoy Islands

After you land and pick up your rental car at the airport, I highly advise that you don’t go straight to Tórshavn yet (which is likely where your accommodation will be) because there are some nearby spots around the airport that are worth looking into!

You might be thinking, “ I can visit those later! ” — sure you can, but the thing is… they’re quite far and to save time, I think it’s best that you visit them ASAP while you’re in the vicinity because they can be quite far from everything else. Otherwise, you can visit them on your last day on your way to the airport, depending on your scheduled flight back.

◘◘ Visit Sørvágsvatn Lake

If you want to see one of nature’s mind-blowing  ‘optical illusions ‘, make sure that you drop by Lake Sørvágsvatn (also called Leitisvatn) as a part of your Faroe Islands itinerary.

It is the largest lake in the Faroe Islands and it has been dubbed the “ lake over the ocean ” — this is because if you go up a certain angle, it will appear as though the lake is floating directly above the ocean! The lake is just 40 meters above sea level with a magnificent waterfall at the end of it that’s called Bøsdalafossur.

To get here, set your GPS and near the location or by the church in Miðvágur, you will find signs to “Trælanípa/Bøsdalafossur”. Follow these signs until you find a parking spot. You will then find a gate and you must start walking from here to the south towards the ocean by following the gravel path. The hike takes about an hour (one way) and in order to get to the spot that shows the iconic ‘illusion’, you must go to the southern tip (not on the southwest end of the lake).

You will know if you’re in the right place when you see 3 small sticks sticking up or if you see a steep hill. ( Doesn’t matter if you end up at the wrong vantage point because every angle is stunning here! But if you really want some more specific instructions, go to this page and scroll to pages 36 to 37. )

◘◘ Drive to Gasadalur to see Mulafossur Waterfall

This is yet another iconic landscape in the Faroe Islands which is just an 18-min ride away from Vagar Airport. As you will see from the photo above, the Mulafossur Waterfall is a grand sight! It is nestled within this small village of Gasadalur and there are 2 ways to see it: with minimal effort and with some effort.

What do I mean by this?  You can see this glorious spot by car as you do some short walking from the main road; or if you’re a dedicated hiker, you can do a hiking trail that the villagers used to take before the car tunnel was built.

TRIVIA : Gasadalur used to be one of the most isolated places in the islands. Residents had to hike through 700-meter mountains just to get in and out of the village! After the car tunnel was built, access to the town got a lot better, but to date, the residents here still number at only 18!

Since I didn’t have much time (and a bit tired from my flight), I opted to just drop by here with my car as I enjoyed the waterfall and do a bit of strolling in the village itself. If you want some more detailed tips for this place, like how to find the trail that leads to this vantage point and how to do the longer hiking trail itself, check out my guide found here:  Gasadalur & its Mulafossur Waterfall

◘◘ Check in to your hotel

The central city of Tórshavn is where you will find most of the island’s accommodations and it’s a strategic place to base yourself for all your adventures around the islands. But of course, it can get cheaper if you get places outside of  Torshavn, but for the best capital picks, they would be the following:

Luxury :  Hotel Foroyar Mid-Range:   Hotel Hafnia  or  AirBnB Budget :  Kristjanshavn  or  AirBnB

I stayed over at a guesthouse with a local though and unfortunately, it’s not really a place you can book — but I wish it was because the house was in the traditional style and it was so cozy with a great view of the sea and a river!

◘◘ Explore the village of Saksun

Like a natural amphitheater, Saksun is a splendid remote hillside village that is known for its serene atmosphere. The place where it lies now used to be a deep inlet in the sea (fjord) and during low tide, you can walk along the lagoon’s sandy shore which is found at the foot of the village.

Whilst here for your Faroe Islands itinerary, as one of your things to do, make sure you check out the village’s church and Dúvugarðar, a farm that houses 300 ewes — which also functions as a museum.

◘◘ S ee Fossá waterfall

This is the largest waterfall in the Faroe Islands at a height of 140 meters. Located near the village of Haldarsvík, this waterfall has two cascades that fall down to the sea.

If I may share a tip, it’s best to come here after some heavy rainfall because that’s when it becomes even more spectacular!

TRIVIA: Fossá in Faroese means “river with waterfalls”

◘◘ Dine at Barbara

As the night falls, you can choose from an array of restaurants that speckle the city of Tórshavn; but if I may suggest, go and dine at Barbara Fish House ! It has a great menu that consists of Faroese seafood dishes; plus, the place itself is quite charming given that it is built into the rocks.

Discover Kalsoy and Gjógv

Rev up your car,  wear good shoes, pack up some food, and sail to the nearby island of Kalsoy for your Faroe Islands itinerary!

You can spend a whole day here exploring its various sights. If you still have time by the end of the day, you can drop by the charming village of Gjógv.

◘◘ Take the ferry to Kalsoy

Kalsoy is like a flute-shaped island due to its thin shape. You can reach it by ferry along with your car by driving from Tórshavn to the port of Klaksvík (this is a 1-hour drive).

It’s best to catch the first or earliest ferry to Kalsoy’s Syðradalur port so that you’ll have enough time to explore the island. To check the timetables, see  this page   (take note of the departure times as well so you can time when you will have to drive back to the port).

Note: it’s not possible to book in advance so you have to pay on the spot (DKK 160 for one vehicle), and if you’re coming with your car, make sure you arrive there 15 minutes before departure.

Once on the island, there’s no need for maps because there is but just one highway with lots of tunnels — make sure that you watch out for sheep because they can come up anywhere and block the road, seemingly seeking some sort of showdown.

First up on your list for this day of your Faroe Islands itinerary, I recommend that you go straight to the north to Trøllanes not only to see the surroundings of the village but to also hike up the mountains to see Kallur lighthouse because the view here is superb. I actually had a hard time finding the trail that leads to this place because there are no signs that lead me to it. Thankfully, my companion and I saw a tour group by the road who were headed to the lighthouse and they gladly invited us to join them.

Basically, somewhere on the road before the village, you will find a small red gate along the fence. This is closed but you can open it — most of the gates on the island are closed not for people, but for sheep.

Once inside, you just have to climb up the hill in the north direction until you see the white Kallur lighthouse . With this in mind: make sure to wear good and comfortable hiking shoes! Rest assured, the climb up isn’t that hard but it can get a bit steep.

On the way back, make sure that you stop by the village of  Mikladalur  to visit  Kópakonan , or the “Seal Woman”, which embodies one of the popular folktales in the islands. Made of bronze and stainless steel, it stands above a rock near a waterfall with a great backdrop of the mountains and the sea. The legend that surrounds this is quite sad and dark though and you can read all about it here.

TIP: Pack your own lunch and snacks because I had a hard time looking for a restaurant in Kalsoy. There was a canteen in Mikladalur but it only served snacks.

◘◘ Visit Gjógv

Just an hour away from Tórshavn, this is the northernmost village on Eysturoy island.

Nominated by the Nordic Council for the Nature & Environmental Award in 2014, this well-preserved town is nestled by mountains on all sides and filled with traditional houses that are made of timber and turf roofs. For those who are fond of hiking, there are also several trails for you to do here!

What’s one thing that you absolutely must NOT miss? it would be the natural harbor that they have which is a picturesque gorge.

◘◘ Dine at Aarstova

Once you’re back in the capital, have some more classical Faroese dishes — but this time around, try some fine dining at  Aarstova !

All About Mountains

The way I see it, the Faroe Islands is a hiker’s dream paradise! In fact, almost all of the best landscapes can be seen via hiking.

But for those who don’t have the stamina for such things (like me) , don’t fret because there are hiking trails that are at an easy level.

Though of course, if you could push yourself — by all means, do so! I have done a difficult hike up the mountain of  Villingardalsfjall , and I was so glad that I pushed myself to do it even if my legs were about to give way. After all, the view that I saw up high was one of the most jaw-dropping landscapes that I’ve ever seen in my life!

» READ: Hiking Trails in the Faroe Islands

Anyhow, if you think you can’t really do any moderate to high-level hikes during your Faroe Islands itinerary, you can spend this day visiting the villages of Saksun or Gjógv if you haven’t managed to do so in the past few days. You can even revisit the past spots I’ve mentioned if the weather became a lot more favorable for this day.

◘◘ Go up Slættaratindur

(Hiking difficulty: medium) Towering at 880 meters, Slættaratindur, or “flat summit” is the highest mountain in the Faroe Islands so it’s an absolute must-see!

According to Guinness World Records, this is the world’s longest sight line because due to the light bending effects of the atmosphere, the largest glacier in Iceland called Vatnajökull can be seen from here on a clear day (aside from the fact that you can have awesome views over the whole Faroese archipelago).

For complete hiking instructions, go to this page and scroll to page 22 to 23.

◘◘ Conquer Mt. Villingardalsfjall

This is the hike that I was talking about — as a non-hiker, this has been one of the most difficult hikes of my life but also one of the most rewarding (together with Norway’s Trolltunga ) !

The whole hike to the top takes 3 to 4 hours with a distance of 6 kilometers yet at a steep height of 841 meters. I can talk on and on about this place, but I think it’s best that you read my blog post below to read more about my experience as well as to see the other views you will witness from its summit:

RELATED READ: Hiking Faroe Islands’ Stunning Mountain of Villingardalsfjall

◘◘ Go on top of Sornfelli Mountain

Good news: this does NOT involve hiking so it’s a great addition to your Faroe Islands itinerary.

The top of this mountain plateau near Hotel Føroyar can be reached by car and reaching its amazing viewpoint will only take you a 30-meter walk.

A Mykines Kind of Day

Mykines island is a favorite in the Faroe Islands!

For your Faroe Islands itinerary, you’ll need a whole day for this mostly because the transportation to the island usually only happens in the morning and the ride back in the afternoon. Regrettably, when I visited here, the weather wasn’t good. In fact, once we arrived at the island, we were stranded in a small cafe together with other tourists as we waited for the heavy rain and strong winds to pass.

It still ended up as a great day though because we met a lot of interesting individuals — one of which was a well-known harp player from Ireland who was on tour at that time and who gladly played songs for everyone. Still and the same, before leaving the island, my companion and I braved the rain so that we could at least glimpse at the cute puffins that live on the cliffs!

Anyhow, it’s my wish that you get a good day so that you can see the great sights below.

◘◘ Explore Mykines

There are 2 ways to reach Mykines for your Faroe Islands itinerary: by boat or by helicopter .

Remember how I said that helicopters are subsidized by the government of the Faroe Islands? With that in mind, I highly suggest that you take a one-way helicopter trip to this island by booking in advance! I say one way because Atlantic Airways’ helicopters mainly service a round trip route to Mykines in the mornings only from Vagar Airport — so unless you want to spend a night here or two, then feel free to book that round trip ticket.

To see the complete timetable, see this page.  For the boat or ferry, timetable can be found here .

Once you’re on the island, you can hike from the old turf-roofed-filled village to the lighthouse which is at the western end of the islet of Mykineshólmur.

If it’s summertime, make sure to visit some clifftops to see an endless sea of cute puffins nestled in the burrows. After all, this is called the “paradise of birds” so take advantage of this fact and do some birdwatching while you’re there!

As you wait for your ferry back to Torshavn, take your time exploring the small village. One important thing to take note of though is that if you take a helicopter to the island from Vagar Airport, the ferry will land somewhere else and it’s at the port of Sørvágur — so if you parked your car at the airport, you have to do a 20-minute walk back, or you can take the 300 bus . (Details here ).

TIP: Much like Kalsoy, it’s advisable to pack your own lunch and snacks. There’s a small cafe in the middle of the village but it mostly serves light food. NOTE:  Just recently, a new policy has been set that tourists have to pay DKK 100 to travel to the Mykineshólmur lighthouse for maintenance of the birdlife and nature on the island. This fee includes a certified guide to ensure that everyone sticks to the path and not disturb any of the local fauna. For more information, you can contact the Visit Mykines office.

◘◘ See Kirkjubøur

Assuming that it’s summer, by the time that you come back to the main island, it will still be light outside so if you could, make a stopover at  Kirkjubøur .

One notable attraction that you must see here is the huge black building at the center of the village that is called Kirkjubøargarður. It’s arguably the oldest inhabited wooden house in the world with over 17 generations of the same family that’s living there (there are sections that are turned into a museum). It even once housed the episcopal residence and seminary of the Diocese of the Faroe Islands.

You could also visit the old churches that they have such as Magnus Cathedral and Saint Olav. And if you go by the shore, you will see two old stone houses.

Before capping the night, while you’re already in the area…

◘◘ Have dinner at KOKS

I highly recommend this restaurant since I have dined here myself!

What’s special about KOKS ? Well, it has been awarded the best restaurant in the Nordic countries in 2015 by the Nordic Prize; plus, it is also the first and the only Michelin star restaurant in the islands.

As a stop on your Faroe Islands itinerary, you’ll love how this restaurant only uses local ingredients, plus it is in a private house that has been turned into a guest room. It also has an open kitchen where you can watch the chef and his assistants cook (but there is a bigger kitchen in the back).

Dining here is obviously not cheap, but if you have the money to spare, I urge you to give it a try. I’ve dined all over the world and this is one of the best places I’ve eaten in. Besides, they surely know how to do pairings!

Basically, dinner here is a tasting menu and you can choose to pick your own drinks or choose their wine pairing or juice pairing set — YES! You read that right, juice pairing!

This might sound boring to you but their juice pairings were simply phenomenal. I never thought that fresh juices can be mixed in such ways that would perfectly complement a dish.

Aaaah… simply put: I hope you get to try it to experience a truly gastronomical feast.

Explore the rest of Tórshavn

We’re now on the last day of your Faroe Islands itinerary and I think it’s time to fully explore and enjoy the main capital of Tórshavn.

Let yourself get lost in the city’s small streets; if not, you can take your pick from the array of activities below as some of your things to do in Faroe Islands…

◘◘ See Tinganes and the center of town

Tinganes is an area where you can see a beautiful clutter of red wooden houses.

These are one of the oldest parliamentary meeting places in the world that once functioned as meeting places for Vikings. Today, it houses the office of the prime minister. You will rather find the Faroese parliament — the Løgting (‘Law assembly’) — a few streets down.

What’s great about this area too is that there are enough signs and plaques to explain the history of the place.

◘◘ Shop for souvenirs at Öström

Go over to the waterfront and you will this store that’s housed in an old factory building. They sell products made on the islands such as traditional clothes, wool sweaters, postcards, posters, and other design products.

For sure, it’s worth looking into during your Faroe islands itinerary!

◘◘ Try horseriding

You can experience a magnificent horseriding experience in and around Tórshavn and you can do it with the tour provider, Berg Hestar , who uses Icelandic horses.

The experiences vary in difficulty and price range but take note that it’s only allowed for 7 years and older. To protect the horses, there’s also a weight limit of 95 kilos. To book your spot(s), check their website here.

◘◘ Sail with RIB62 to Hestur

This experience will grant you a unique perspective on the Faroe Islands as you sail by the most remote and breathtaking sights that the islands have to offer — one of which is to circle around the nearby island of Hestur .

RIB62 tailors tours upon request every day of the week so feel free to contact them for inquiries. (Departure for this boat tour is from Gamlarætt which is 15 minutes away from Tórshavn).

Wondering where to dine in the Faroe Islands or the local dishes that you must absolutely try? . Check out this blog post to find out: Top Faroe Islands Restaurants .

Booking Essentials

TIP: It’s a good idea to crosscheck the prices with other popular travel insurance providers like World Nomads and HeyMondo (as my reader, you get 5% off)! . However, take note that a travel insurance’s affordability typically means lesser coverage; so please always ensure that you read the fine print in order to decipher which travel insurance company is the right fit for you and your trip!

The Best Tours in the Faroe Islands?

Come and check out this list of the top things to do in the Faroe Islands which features the best activities and tours!

It’s clear to see with this Faroe Islands itinerary that the area has an untouched beauty that’s worthy to be seen and explored! I guarantee you that it is the kind of place that will fit your fancy, NO matter the kind of traveler that you may be.

Besides, it’s a destination that a lot of travelers have NOT heard of yet, so why not be one of the “forerunners” who will sing its praises? In that way, the Faroe Islands could soon be known by more people, thereby paving the way for its popularity — which they so rightly deserve!

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This is a great itinerary with all of the island’s highlights. I’d love to come back to tackle Slættaratindur – the weather was terrible when we wanted to ascend it, so we skipped it.

If you plan an coming back, I can really recommend the hike to the abandoned village of Skarð on Kunoy. It’s such a unique place and feels even more remote than most places on the Faroe Islands.

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The Ultimate 3 Day Itinerary for the Faroe Islands for Amazing Views & Cute Sheep!

In case you couldn’t tell from all my posts, I LOVED spending 3 days in the  Faroe Islands and I highly recommend visiting! 🙂 The landscapes were amazing to photograph, and it’s the most remote place I’ve visited so far. I would have stayed for a week (or longer), but we didn’t have that much time to spare. If you’re short on time like us, this is the ultimate 3 day itinerary for the Faroe Islands to make sure you see everything from a black sand beach to the Hanging Lake, plus lots of cute sheep 🙂

3 day itinerary for the Faroe Islands

The Faroe Islands are smaller than you think and the drives between towns are pretty short!

Day 1 in the Faroe Islands

Our first stop was  Kirkjubøur ! It was about an hour drive (plus a little more since we stopped on the side of the road to take photos) and it’s right outside Tórshavn. Kirkjubøur might have been my favorite place because the scenery was beautiful, they had adorable Highland cows, and it was packed with history! We saw the oldest wooden house in the world (it’s 900 years old and it’s been used by one family for 17 generations!), the ruins of a Medieval cathedral from the 1300s, and a little church built in 1111.

If you like history, you CAN’T miss Kirkjubøur!

Time spent: 1-2 hours

What I would recommend doing differently: Nothing that I can think of! It’s small so you don’t need to spend more than a couple of hours there.

Tórshavn is the capital of the Faroe Islands, and it’s such a cute city! It’s about a 15 minute drive from Kirkjubøur, so it’s easy to go back and forth between those two towns. We checked into our B&B before walking around the town. The place we stayed wasn’t in the “downtown” area but it was just a 15 minute walk to get to the main sights.

We walked to a monument to get views of the city, walked to a fort from 1580, walked along the colorful harbor, and got dinner and drinks downtown. We leisurely walked around and stopped for photos (of course), and we saw most of the city in a couple of hours before calling it a night.

Time spent: 4-5 hours including dinner and drinks, plus overnight

What I would recommend doing differently: I would have spent more time in Tórshavn! Since it’s the capital, there are museums and things to do right outside the city, so if we had more time, I would have liked to have checked those places out (plus we got there in the late afternoon and many places were closing). If you are short on time like we were, I do recommend walking around the city for a few hours!

Day 2 in the Faroe Islands

So Matt and I wanted to do the hike to the lighthouse on Kalsoy, and to get there, you have to take a ferry from Klaksvík. We wanted to make sure we got to that area in plenty of time so we wouldn’t miss the ferry since it doesn’t come that often, so since we got there really early, we had a lot of time to kill. Kunoy is right outside Klaksvík and it has one of the only forests in the country!

We explored Kunoy and did the short hike to the little forest. The hike has some beautiful views of the cliffs and the water! Since most of the islands are barren, it was pretty cool to get to see a little forest.

What I would recommend doing differently: Since it’s such a small village, there isn’t really much you could do differently!

In Klaksvík , we got in line for the ferry to Kalsoy and still had a lot of time to kill (we were serious about not missing that ferry!). We got some coffee at a cafe and walked around the harbor. Since we didn’t want to get too far from the ferry line and our car was parked in line so we couldn’t drive around the city, we just stuck close to the harbor.

Time spent: 2 hours

What I would recommend doing differently: I would explore more of the town! It’s the second largest city in the Faroe Islands, so there’s more than just around the harbor where we were.

Kalsoy was one of my favorite places in the Faroe Islands! We did the hike to the Kallur Lighthouse and saw the famous Seal Woman statue. The sheep were adorable and the views were INCREDIBLE! If you have the time to get to Kalsoy, I definitely recommend it.

Time spent: 3.5 hours

What I would recommend doing differently: Because of the ferry schedule, we were tight on time, so I would recommend taking an earlier ferry so you don’t have to rush.

A lot of people use  Tórshavn as their home base in the Faroe Islands because there aren’t many places to stay in other cities, but since we were tight on time, we wanted to stay in a place along our drive.  Gjógv had a guesthouse, and it was the perfect place to stay! But the drive there is NOT for the faint of heart, and it was pretty nerve-wracking. If you’re a confident driver and not afraid of heights, Gjógv is a great place to stay and explore! The town is really pretty, and there are some hikes you can take for some beautiful views.

Time spent: 2 hours exploring plus overnight

What I would recommend doing differently: I would have liked to have spent more time there so we could have done a hike that took longer.

Day 3 in the Faroe Islands

Fossá and saksun.

After the spending the night in Gjógv, we set off for  Fossá and Saksun . Fossá is the tallest waterfall in the Faroe Islands, and it’s right off the side of the road so it’s really easy to get to!Saksun is a little village with grass roof houses and a black sand beach, which I had never seen before! There are a few black sand beaches in the Faroe Islands, but Saksun’s is unique because it’s in a lagoon. If you’re up for another nerve-wracking drive, I definitely recommend Saksun!

What I would recommend doing differently: Since we were tight on time, we only did the hike down to the black sand beach. There is a hike up the cliffs that takes more time, so I would have liked to have hiked it if we had the time!

The Hanging Lake

Our hike to the Hanging Lake was not an easy one. We got lost and confused, but we made it in the end and it was SO worth it! The views are amazing (even the ones we saw when we were lost!), and the hike wasn’t too hard, once we knew where to go. The lake is just a few minutes away from the airport, so it’s easy to do when you first get to the Faroe Islands or right before you leave (like we did).

Time spent: 3-4 hours

What I would recommend doing differently: Follow my guide so you don’t get lost like us! And wear hiking boots!

I LOVED everywhere we went, and I wouldn’t have skipped any of the spots we visited! 3 days in the Faroe Islands was a bit tight and we didn’t have much wiggle room in our schedule, so I think 4 days would have been easier. I also really wanted to see the puffins on Mykines but that would have been almost a whole day trip, so I’ll have to go there the next time I’m in the Faroe Islands (because I WILL be back!). One of my favorite bloggers Megan Starr also has some posts on other places in the Faroe Islands that I didn’t get to go to if you’re looking for more towns to visit! No matter what, you can’t really go wrong with any spot in the islands 🙂 I hope my 3 day itinerary for the Faroe Islands helps you plan your trip!

For more trip planning for the Faroe Islands:

What to Pack for the Faroe Islands (Including What I Should Have Packed!)

Everything You Need to Know Before Visiting the Faroe Islands!

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22 Comments on The Ultimate 3 Day Itinerary for the Faroe Islands for Amazing Views & Cute Sheep!

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The Faroe Islands have always intrigued me and after reading your post, I want to visit then even more. Beautiful photos and your itinerary is really helpful. Thanks

I hope you can go soon! 🙂

Ahh, I’ve never been here but it’d be awesome to get to explore someday! The sheep photos are adorable!

It’s an amazing place to explore!

Oh my goodness even the cows are fluffy! I’m in love! 🙂 Thanks for being transparent about the “what to do differently”!

The cows were so cute! 🙂

These islands look so mysterious and beautiful! I have to visit!

They’re definitely worth a visit! 🙂

The sheep are SO cute. I just love animals. This made me want to travel so bad. I really appreciate your tips. 🙂

They’re even cuter in person! 🙂

What a great post! And very helpful, too, as I’m looking at trying to get to the Faroe Islands next year. The scenery is stunning and those sheep! How far in advance would you recommend hiring a car and booking accommodations? Thanks for sharing!

That’s awesome! I have a post coming out in a week with details about cars and hotels and everything, but I would recommend booking at least a month in advance!

It looks beautiful! Your posts makes me want to visit 🙂

Thank you! 🙂

I’m dying to go to the Faroe Islands! It looks so dreamy to me ???? Do you think 3 days there was enough?

It’s an amazing place! 3 days was pretty tight, so I would recommend at least 4!

Oh my goodness these photos are incredible! I’ve been dying to get to the Faroe Islands and your post is adding to my wanderlust. Thanks for sharing so much great information – I’ll be using it as a guide for when I finally make it there!

Thank you! 🙂 I hope you can go soon!

WOW your photos are so amazing! I’ve been dying to go to the Faroe Islands so I was super excited to see this post! I especially loved all your photos of the cute cows and sheep. Can’t wait to use this itinerary, thank you for putting it together!

Thank you! 🙂 I hope it helps for planning your trip!

Beautiful, Julia!!

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3 Day Itinerary in the Faroe Islands

Looking for a 3 day itinerary in the Faroe Islands? Where should you go, if you have 3 days to spend in the nature-filled island group? What should you definitely prioritise Here are the best places to visit when you have 3 days to spend in the Faroe Islands . Using this itinerary will make your dream trip a reality!

• Browse a wealth of  Day Tours  in the Faroe Islands
• Read about  What to Pack for your Faroe Islands vacation
• Find the Top 10 Tours in the Faroe Islands
• Get to know 18 Things for your First Trip to Faroe Islands

Hidden in the wild swells of the North Atlantic Ocean lies the the Faroe Islands. This rugged archipelago is a must-visit destination at least once in your lifetime.

You can easily spend a week in the Faroe Islands and more. Nevertheless, thanks to a brilliant road tunnel network , exploring the Faroe Islands for three days will let you see quite a lot of unbelievable sights.

Attractions Included in the 3 Day Itinerary in Faroe Islands

This 3 day itinerary will make sure that you visit these attractions in the Faroe Islands. All attractions mentioned here can be reached by car within one hour from the capital.

Múlafossur Waterfall

• Trøllkonufingur
• Oyggjavegur

Fossá Waterfall

All attractions here will set your wanderlust free. And there is another great thing about these jaw-dropping spots. You will never elbow your way through hordes of tourists as there are very few travellers around.

This itinerary is for those who want to tick boxes when visiting the Faroe Islands for 3 days. You want different scenery, from sea stacks, waterfalls to impressive mountains: check! You want a taste of North Atlantic city life in the capital: check! And you want to sail beneath sheer basalt cliffs in a comfortable boat: check!

Stay in Tórshavn

Tórshavn is a great place to relax. As the capital in the Faroe Islands this is where most visitors stay during their visit in the Faroe Islands. For your 3 days itinerary in the Faroe Islands, we recommend you to check in at one of the hotels in Tórshavn .

Everything in the Faroe Islands is easy to reach. Find yourself a good hotel and enjoy your stay in this remote country with a base in Tórshavn.

It takes 40 minutes to get from the only airport in the Faroe Islands to Tórshavn. You can either rent a car at the airport, take the public bus from there, or you can go for a taxi transfer from Vagar Airport to Tórshavn .

Day 1: Tórshavn and Vestmanna

Discover the vibrant city of Tórshavn . Go for a stroll along the charming and still-inhabited turf-roofed homes nestled along winding, narrow pathways in the old Á Reyni district.

This part of Tórshavn takes you hundreds of years back in time. Tórshavn has a great number of living reminders of the past that bring a unique energy to the city. You can feel the historical flash backs in the city centre where new and old stories are nestled side by side. Take a look at this Tórshavn Walking Tour for a guided experience in the capital.

​You will stand on stones that Vikings used to walk on a thousand years ago. While you are in Tórshavn go visit the old bookstore at Vaglið, where you will find the best souvenirs and you can enjoy a fresh roasted coffee in Panamé in the same building as the bookstore.

• Read the Ultimate Guide to Tórshavn

Besides serving great coffee in cosy surroundings, you will also find a selection of locally brewed beers in Panamé. From inside the café you will have a good view of Tingið which is the Parliament in the Faroe Islands .

Shopping in Tórshavn

And remember to drop by the legendary clothing brand Guðrun & Guðrun in Niels Finsens gøta where you can find your very own hand knitted jumper. Guðrun & Guðrun is a popular brand among people in the Faroe Islands.

The clothing brand was established by two women named Guðrun. Both founders still run the business which flagship store lies in Tórshavn. Their aim is to use primarily woollen yarn in their products. This is that makes Guðrun & Guðrun such a quintessential part of Faroe Islands’ design.

The Faroe Islands are known for their organic sheep skin. The wool is unique and has been adapted to the harsh climate in the Faroe Islands.

You will fine some shops in the city centre selling sheep skin. These soft sheep skins come in many colours. From black to white, mixed colours, and more.

Boat Tour in Vestmanna

Use the latter half of the day in Vestmanna a 30 minutes’ drive from Tórshavn. Here you can go for a boat trip to the Vestmanna Sea Cliffs with departure in the afternoon. The one and a half hour boat trip starts from the harbour in Vestmanna.

The sea cliffs lies along the coastline north of the village. Weather permitting, you will sail into caves and see the spectacular birdlife along the route. Boats to this amazing attraction run from April to end of October and is a great adventure to include in your 3 day Faroe Islands itinerary.

Day 2: Vágar Island

​The island of Vágar has loads of attractions. One of the must-do activities in the Faroe Islands is to hike to the famous floating lake. The view towards the lake from Trælanípa is an optical-illusion that can be difficult to believe exists before you see it with your own eyes.

The lake has two different names, Sørvágsvatn and Leitisvatn, and this natural wonder is definitely worth a visit. The lake looks like it is elevated far above sea level. However, the lake is no more than 90 feet or 27 metre above the ocean.

The Floating Lake Leitisvatn

The word Trælanípa might seem like a bit of a mouthful for travellers. It is a traditional word in the Faroese language and means The Slaves Cliff. 

It is said that the name originates from the Viking age when slaves were pushed off the craggy cliff and straight into the cold North Atlantic waves. Those things belong to the past. Today, standing at Trælanípa will bring you stunning vistas in every direction.

Enjoy the majestic scenery of Trælanípa. The steep cliff in front of the lake together with the right camera angel makes the lake look as if it is sitting way above sea level.

When you are at Trælanípa, make sure to walk along the coastline in a northern direction. After only a short hike, you will get to the waterfall Bøsdalafossur .

Bøsdalafossur Waterfall

Bøsdalafossur empties directly into the North Atlantic Ocean. It is a great place to soak in the raw nature. If you hike in waterproof boots and the river that becomes Bøsdalafossur is not too large then walk even further to the rock wall Geituskorardrangur . It is a really short walk from the waterfall.

Head to the famous waterfall Múlafossur in the charming village of Gásadalur. This is an iconic spot and a stunning place to visit and a must in any 3 day Faroe Islands itinerary.

When you drive through the tunnel leading to Gásadalur, a valley is waiting for you with the most spectacular view over the small village nestled between high mountains. The tunnel to Gásadalur is narrow but really good.

Another way to get to this amazing attraction is by hiking from the nearby village of Bøur to Gásadalur. In Bøur you will also see the stunning Tindhólmur. It is an absolutely beautiful three hour hiking trip which takes you through valleys, up mountain slopes and to incredible streams. The hike is demanding.

The visual impact is immense. The valley ends at a precipitous brink more than 300 feet or 100 metre above the sea; in crossing this brink the river Dalsá becomes the magnificent Múlafossur waterfall.

• Find the best Faroe Islands car rental
• Read about 9 Things to know before you Hir e a Car in the Faroe Islands

When in Gásadalur, follow the tail to the spot where you will get an amazing view of Múlafossur. This unique waterfall looks great in all kinds of weather. If it is raining or the fog is thick, this is a must-see place in the Faroe Islands.

The Rock Formation Trøllkonufingur

Trøllkonufingur or the Troll Woman’s Finger is a beautiful rock formation located only 2 kilometres from the village of Sørvágur. Drive into the village and follow the sign to Trøllkonufingur.

You will only need to walk the last couple of hundred metres before you get a nice view of the 1026-feet-high or 313 metre needle by the island of Vágar. When enjoying the view of Trøllkonufingur, you will also see sheer rock cliffs behind this attraction and also on the nearby island Streymoy in the background.  

Day 3: North Streymoy and North Eysturoy

​Streymoy is the largest of the Faroe Islands. Due to its central position it is also the principal island. As the channels separating Streymoy from Vágar and Eysturoy are narrow, these three islands often appear as a continuous land mass.

This is the mainland. With the bridge across Sundini connecting Streymoy Island to Eysturoy Island and the sub-sea tunnel under Vestmannasund to Vágar Island, this is the main area in the Faroe Islands.

The Mountain Road Oyggjarvegur

There are good roads all over the island group. This includes mountain road leading from Tórshavn to the villages up north. Take the picturesque route known as Oyggjarvegur as this is a beautiful passage to the spectacular sights found further north.

There can be dense fog during the summer and this can make driving difficult. So take care! Also during winter from late October to late March there can be some challenges with the Oyggjarvegur road being icy.

The Oyggjarvegur passes through Mjørkadalur – the foggy valley – with high mountainsides. A turfed roof large enough to provide grazing for a cow or two helps the only jail in the Faroe Islands blend with the scenery. For prisoners this is quite a satisfying place to be. The turf-roofed jail is a pleasing sight and shows how well the traditional style suits large buildings as well.

Head from Oyggjavegur towards Hvalvík where a road branches off to the north-west through the long Saksunardalur. It is surrounded by high mountains with several waterfalls.

Secluded Hamlet Saksun

The small village of Saksun is a romantic place drawing people from everywhere. It is shut in by towering mountains peaks that give to Saksun a certain mystery, a feeling of untouched remoteness.

The entrance to Saksun is very narrow. Through the narrow inlet called Ósin you reach the round pool known as Pollur, which is so shallow that, when the tide is out, it is possible to walk dry-shod across it in places.

From Saksun head back to Hvalvík and further north. You are now heading towards the largest waterfall in the Faroe Islands, the impressive Fossá Waterfall . It so happens that the waterfall is just beside the road to Tjørnuvík and you will litterally cross the the bridge over Fossá Waterfall. 

There is a rank just beside the bridge. Stop for a moment and enjoy this extraordinary waterfall with its two levels. Fossá Waterfall is one of the biggest attractions in the Faroe Islands.

Fossá Waterfall is often included on guided day tours in the Faroe Islands . This attraction is highly recommended and will give you the rare opportunity to drive over a cascading waterfall on rainy days.

Remote Settlement Tjørnuvík

Now let the road take you to Tjørnuvík. This is one of the favourite places to visit. Enjoy the scenic view of Risin og Kellingin – the Giant and his Wife. Soak in the scenery and the chilled environment in this northernmost village on the island of Streymoy.

Until the coming of the modern road, Tjørnuvík was a world apart. Surrounded by high mountains and facing the Atlantic, the sound of the surf drown any other sound.

Continue your journey to Eysturoy Island. As soon as you get to the islands after crossing the short bridge from Streymoy Islands, turn left to Norðskáli .

Lunch on Eysturoy Island

This seaside settlement is home to a hidden food gem in the archipelago. Make sure to stop by Sjógæti tucked next to the ocean.

Sjógæti has a seafood shop with local fish products and more. If you arrive here around lunch time, go for the best Fish & Chips on the island. You will even find a fish burger on the menu!

The Faroe Islands are known for excellent seafood. Moreover, there are other delicacies worth trying from tasty lamb shoulder to traditional fermented food. The umami taste found in the fermentation will definitely challenge some travellers! Check out this Faroe Islands Food Guide for more details.

Most restaurants in the Faroe Islands are located in the capital Tórshavn. So stopping in the small place of Norðskáli for some local produce is a great way to enjoy a lunch in th ebackcountry.

Sea Gorge in Gjógv

Now, take the route further north to the village Eiði and from there to the jaw-dropping settlement Gjógv . A wide valley slopes down to the cluster of houses in Gjógv.

Here you can experience the famous gorge, which can be seen from both the village and also from the higher location nearby after a short walk on a great path. A lovely stream runs through the valley which gives this place a unique charm.

After you enjoyed Gjógv for a while, head to the scenic settlement Funningur . This place is home to a traditional black painted church roofed with sod.

Now, take the fjord road along Funningsfjørður . Continue in a southern direction, take the underwater tunnel Eysturoyartunnilin and only minutes later, you are back in the capital Tórshavn.

Are you prepared for your 3 day itinerary in the Faroe Islands? Press here to find everything worth visiting in the Faroe Islands.

The Complete Guide to Travel Safety in Faroe Islands

The Best Winter Itinerary for Faroe Islands

Mikines – Best Artist in the Faroe Islands

Spectacular 7.5 Hour Streymoy Island Day Tour

Panoramic 6 Hour Tour to Mount Slættaratindur

The Classic 4 Hour Tour of Vágar Island

Travel With a Local | Go As You Please

Tórshavn City E-bike Sigtseeing Tour

The Photography Tour | Vágar Highlights

Wonderful 6 Hour Tour of Vágar Island

Classic 7 Hour Northern Isles Tour

Mykines Shuttle Boat

Spectacular 10.5 Hour Northern Islands Day Tour

Amazing 1.5 Hour Rib Boat Tour to Cape Enniberg

Breathtaking 6 Day Guided Summer Package of Faroe Islands

Spectacular 12 Hour Suðuroy Island Day Tour

Direct 45 Minutes Taxi Transfer from Tórshavn to Vágar Airport

Personal Photographer Tour

Exciting 2 Hour Combined Boat Tour & Hike to Drangarnir Sea Arch

The Private Day Tour | Faroe Islands

4 Day Winter Package | Best of Faroe Islands

Unforgettable 7 Day Summer Package of Faroe Islands

Amazing 6 Day Self Drive Tour of Faroe Islands

Spectacular 8 Hour Eysturoy Island Day Tour

Inspiring 6 Hour ‘Lake Above The Ocean’ Tour

Private 4 Hour Sailboat Tour to Nólsoy Island

From Tórshavn: Sandoy Island Full-Day Tour

Must Do Trælanípa & Drangarnir Tour

The 4 Day Photography Tour | Faroe Islands Highlights

Best 8 Hour Private Mykines Day Tour

Refreshing 3 Hour Boat Tour including Fishing

Tranquil 4 Day Winter Trip of the Main Faroe Islands

The 5 Day Photography Tour | Faroe Islands Highlights

5 Day Winter Package | Tour the Faroe Islands

Original 1.5 Hour Vestmanna Sea Cliffs Boat Trip

Quick 45 Minutes Airport Transfer from Vagar Airport to Tórshavn

Captivating 12 Hour Tour to Suðuroy Island

Majestic 7 Hour Tour to the Northern Islands

Incredible 3 Day Faroe Islands Highlights Package

The Photography Tour | Eysturoy Highlights

Historic 6 Hour WWll Tour of the Faroe Islands

Thrilling 7 Hour TROM Sightseeing Tour

Spectacular 8 Hour Vágar Island Day Tour

Vibrant 4 Hour Viðoy Island Tour

Affordable 5 Hour Kalsoy Island Evening Tour

3 Waterfalls in 1 day | Múlafossur, Fossá & Saksun Waterfalls

The Photography Tour | Northern Islands

Norðradalsskarð, Sornfelli & Kirkjubøur | Private VIP Tour

Unique Puffin Safari Boat Tour

Unforgettable 1 Hour Boat Tour to Drangarnir

Thrilling 4 Hour Ásmundarstakkur & Rituskor Tour

Captivating 2 Hour Nólsoy Island Sightseeing Boat Tour

Private Airport Transfer to/from Vagar Airport

Essential 7 Day Faroe Islands Self-Drive Package

From Tórshavn: Kallur Lighthouse on Kalsoy Island

Exceptional Afternoon Boat Cruise From Tórshavn

Outstanding 7 Hour “See It All” Faroe Islands Tour

Scenic 7 Hours Sandoy Island Day Tour

Essential 6 Hour Highlights of Vágar Island

Refreshing 7 Day Summer Package of the Faroe Islands

From Tórshavn: Sunset Sailboat Cruise

Unique Boat Tour to Drangarnir

3 Day Summer Self-Drive | Sea Cliffs & Uncrowded Villages

The Pick Me Up tour | Faroe Islands

Classic 6 Day Summer Package of the Faroe Islands

Best 7 Hour “All You Can See” Tour

Private 7 Hour Kallur Lighthouse Experience

Top-rated Faroe Islands Highlights Tour

Epic 8 Day Summer Self Drive Tour of Faroe Islands

Engaging 2.5 Hour Tórshavn in a Seashell Tour

Unbelievable 6 Hour ‘Floating Lake’ Tour

James Bond Sightseeing Tour

Beautiful 8 Hour Tour to Mykines Island

Private Cruise Shore Excursion in Faroe Islands

The Classic Faroe Islands Day Tour

Striking 8 Day Summer Package of the Faroe Islands with Top Attractions

Unforgettable 10 day self drive tour of faroe islands with top attractions.

Stunning Hvannhagi Hike on Suðuroy Island

Mountainous 5 Hour Northern Islands Tour

Unbelievable 5 Day Summer Vacation Package of the Faroe Islands

Famous 1.5 Hour Kalsoy Island Rib-boat Tour

8 Places to see Turf-roofed Houses

The 12 Most Amazing Outdoor Activities in the Faroe Islands

Faroe Islands Holiday Bucket List | 9 Ideas for An Epic Trip

My Self-Drive Faroe Islands Itinerary

Table of Contents

Why Travel to the Faroe Islands?

My friends and I fell in love with Iceland’s unique landscapes, active adventures, and relative lack of tourists at the time (but certainly not now). For this trip, we wanted a similar but unique adventure. Like Iceland, the Faroes are born from volcanic action, but unlike Iceland, the volcanoes in the Faroes are no longer active.

The Faroe Islands also offer many hiking and animal adventures and are easy to explore by car. I saw pictures of its waterfalls, sea stacks, and green cliffs and knew this was where I wanted to celebrate.

Where are the Faroe Islands?

The Faroe Islands lie between Iceland and Denmark in the middle of the Atlantic.

The country is under Denmark’s external sovereignty but has its own unique government, language, culture, and money.

When to Visit the Faroe Islands

Part of my attraction to the Faroe Islands is the large number of puffins. Puffins live on the ocean most of the year but come to cliffs to breed. July is baby season, so we came to see when most puffins were hanging out on the cliffs as the parents were actively feeding their pufflings. Pufflings only leave their nests on the day they fly away to start their oceanic adventures.

Like Iceland, the weather in the Faroes never gets very warm. A lovely day is sunny in the high 60s, but you must visit in the summer to get this.

How to Get to the Faroe Islands

The majority of flights to the Faroe Islands depart from Denmark and Iceland. Atlantic Airways has infrequent flights from New York City.

There are also ferries that travel from Iceland and Denmark to the Faroe  Islands.

How Long to Spend in the Faroe Islands

It takes a while to get to the Faroe Islands from the US. We wanted to be sure to see everything we wanted to experience in the Faroe Islands.

We stayed for eight days in the Faroe Islands. This was a good amount of time, as many days were rainy, and this timeframe gave us flexibility. On the other hand, the landscapes are all quite similar. Each village has grass-covered houses, sheep and grass-covered hills, and a coffee waffle house. If I did the trip again, I would stay for one week.

Driving in the Faroe Islands

Driving in the Faroe Islands is pretty simple if you are used to driving on the right side of the road. The roads are well-marked and smooth, and the street directions are generally obvious.

Large tunnels connect the islands and are generally two-laned. There are a few one-way tunnels like the one to Gásadalur, but even that was simpler than I expected. There are a lot of rotaries, so make sure you understand how to use them before you visit.

The Faroe Islands are smaller than the smallest US state, Rhode Island, so they are a great place to settle in one or two locations and take day trips.

Faroe Islands Itinerary

Most of our days in the Faroes included at least one long hike. For this reason, you may want to split some days up. I planned our days based on how close things were to each other.

Day One- Múlafossur,  Gásadalur and Lake Sørvágsvatn (or Lake Leitisvatn)

When you see pictures of the Faroe Islands, you most likely see these two attractions. I will write a whole post about this day, so subscribe (in the sidebar>>>) to hear about it when I do.

These attractions are close to the airport, so I recommend visiting them when you fly in or out. Even better, do one on each day.

Múlafossur in the village of  Gásadalur

Fossur means waterfall in Faroese, so Mulafossur is a waterfall that is a short free walk from the charming village of Gásadalur. Read about how to best enjoy Gásadalur.

Lake Sørvágsvatn

This lake is beautiful and calm and appears to be floating above the ocean. You must take a substantial hike (paid) up a grassy mountain to see that.

You can have dinner that night at Restaurant Fiskastykkio on Vagar. However, unlike in southern Europe, restaurants on the Faroe Islands close very early.

That night, we drove to the Gjaargardur Guesthouse in Gjógv. Thank God for the long daylight hours, as the drive to Gjógv is a little sketchy, with ditches on both sides of the road. It was the only road in the Faroes that made me feel that way.

Although we headed to Gjógv, I recommend heading first to Tórshavn, the capital city of the Faroe Islands. I am recommending this for two reasons. The primary reason is to visit the Tjóðsavnið, or Faroe National Museum, at the beginning of your trip. The second is to end your trip in such a magical place as Gjógv.

Day 2  in the Faroe Islands, Tórshavn

Spend the first half of your day at Tjóðsavnið. The ticket includes entrance into the main museum covering the country’s culture and natural history, an old farmhouse, and a whaling museum. I recommended this at the beginning of your visit because this museum answered many questions that I had been pondering our whole trip.

Alternatively, save this visit for the first rained-out day, which you will likely have many of. Speaking of this, pack your waterproof rain pants and lightweight rain jacket for this trip.

You can spend your afternoon exploring the rest of Tórshavn, particularly the waterfront, fort, and the Tinganes, the oldest part of town with buildings from the age of the Vikings and which now houses the government.

We had some excellent meals in Tórshavn, all of which required reservations. I recommend going to Katrina Christensen, Barbara, and The Tarv. We also went to the Michelin-starred Roks, and it was the favorite meal of one of the ladies, but I wasn’t as impressed considering the steep price.

Another meal I would highly recommend is a meal in a Faroese house. We had a fabulous experience with Sabina at Fjordcottage. First, she explained all about the dress and culture of the Faroes at her home on Eysturoy. Then we enjoyed every culturally Faroish food and drink you can imagine. Her email is [email protected] so that you can book the experience yourself.

Day 3 Faroe Islands: Mykines

For a big reason, this day must be planned early in your trip. The cheapest way to Mykines is by ferry. Not only does the ferry sell out up to six months in advance, but it also gets canceled 30% of the time in the summer due to weather. You will understand why when you take this trip and see the only harbor on the Mykines. You can book your ferry here . You also must pay for a guided hike on this island. The ferry leaves from Sørvágur on the island of Vagar.

This island ends in cliffs, making it the perfect spot for birds to nest in. People flock (pun intended) to get up close and personal with more puffins than you can imagine. If you are a birder, the island also has other unique species.

The place where you park for the ferry is also where boat trips leave to see the fascinating rock formations of Drangarnir. Book your boat tour to see Mulafossur, Drangarnir, and more!

Day 4 Faroe Islands- Kalsoy and Hot Tubs

Kalsoy is another beautifully hilly, sheep-covered island with a hike to a lighthouse. I will write about our day in Kalsoy soon.

After Kalsoy, stop by the public pools and saunas in Klaksvík (Klaksvíkar svimjiholl).

Day 5 Faroe Islands- A farm tour and hike southern Eysturoy and a quick visit to Nolsoy

We spent this day at a sheep farm, Hanusarstova . For a fee, Harriet opens her house and farm, which overlooks the water, to visitors. The farm is in the small town of Æðuvík, on Eysturoy.

We met her sheep, Faroese horses, chickens, Faroes border collies, and ducks. Luckily, it was the shearing season when we were there, so we helped shear a sheep and bottle-fed some lambs.

She then treated us to coffee, delicious cake (of course, one of which contained rhubarb), and stories of being a farming family in the Faroe Islands. We loved everything about this activity and learned a lot!

After that, we explored more of this area with small hikes around Lake Toftavatn and Nes Vindmøllepark, a windmill-covered hillside with views of Tórshavn.

That evening, we visited Nolsoy Island, just a short ferry ride from Tórshavn.

We found the people in Nolsoy very friendly. We had dinner at the famous bar Maggie’s, which often has live music. We had dessert at the town’s coffee shop, which is on the water and is also the island’s tourist office. There, we had a thought-provoking discussion about the government with a member of the country’s parliament.

Day 6 Faroe Islands- Saksun and Tjørnuvik

Later, I will write about my day in these two small but unique villages.

And finally, spend your last days relaxing in a village with gorgeous hikes and views.

Day 7 Faroe Islands- Gjógv

Gjógv means gorge in Faroese, which goes through the small town, which is tucked between mountains. It was my favorite village that we visited in the Faroe Islands. It has cliffs with puffins and great hikes, and I will also write a separate post about my time here.

Money in the Faroe Islands

During my visit to the Faroe Islands, I only needed cash once, and she accepted US dollars. The Faroe Islands use Faroese króna, which is very hard to convert in the United States. It is equivalent to Danish Krones. Credit cards are widely accepted, even in the smallest towns. I recommend only exchanging a small amount of money.

The Faroe Islands are truly as beautiful and untouched as the pictures portray and an easy and replenishing place to visit. Although the islands offer enough stunning views and hikes for a more extended visit, we felt that we got a decent slice of the Faroese way of life, and the trip was a success for us all.

If you liked it, please share it. Thank you!

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Chris Arnade Walks the World

Walking Faroe Islands (part two)

Transcendent natural beauty in a nation that gets things done.

(Part one is here: Walking Faroe Islands )

The natural beauty of the Faroe Islands is an embarrassment of riches, with so many splendid views, so many spectacular vistas, so many impossibly charming villages nestled around narrow harbors beneath cliffs, all of it decorated with sheep, waterfalls, and rainbows, that attempts to list the must-see “scenic spots” is a rather silly exercise that degrades the transcendence, but does send tourists off on mad dashes from island to island, check-list in hand.

The handful of other visitors on my improbable direct flight from Newburgh, NY to the Faroes all had some version of this list, as well as a tour-guided heavy itineraries, which I didn’t, and so I began to feel maybe I was wasting an opportunity, flying in too blind, too ignorant, and I was going to miss out on sites I needed to see.

By the end of my first few days here, and after my first walk out of Tórshavn and across Streymoy Island, I knew that feeling was silly, because there’s no walk in the Faroes that isn’t rewarding, and if you have the luxury of time, then it’s far more relaxing, fulfilling, and enlightening to take a scattershot approach of what to do in the Faroes, which is what I did after my sore back healed.

So for the last ten days I’ve woken up early, looked at the bus schedules , spent fifteen minutes on OpenStreetMaps , and then somewhat randomly chose a destination, and after an hour and half bus ride, where the views from the windows alone are worth the ticket price, spent the day hiking along small roads, trails, and pathways, before returning for an evening in Tórshavn.

What you see when you do that is how extensive, integral, and essential to the world-view of the Faroese the landscape they live in is. It has shaped them, and they in turn have transformed eighteen seemingly adversarial (geographically and meteorologically) islands into a nation 1 that works.

The public bus/ferry system, which enabled my wing-it approach, is evidence to the Faroese competence: A network that allows you to get to almost all of the places people live, no matter how remote, on islands scattered over five hundred square miles, without a car.

Connecting all these islands, each a layered undulating vertiginous mound of eighty- million-year-old lava, separated by cold tempestuous seas, isn’t an easy task, but the Faroese have done it. The public transport map, which looks like the London metro system was shattered by a meteor, the bits falling like pick-up-sticks, and nobody bothered to fix them, highlights how skillful an accomplishment it is 2 .

The system is great for tourists but that’s not the reason it exists, or who uses it most. It’s built for locals, mostly school children, and riding a bus, especially right before school starts, and right after it ends, means being surrounded by chattering teens heading to the mall 3 , or younger kids getting off at solitary bus shelters, bounding off alone into the distant tiny cluster of homes. Like in most of the rest of the world, other than the US, children in the Faroe Islands are surprisingly independent, navigating the world without a parent hovering nearby.

By the end of my first week here I began to agree with my cab driver from the first hour after I arrived, which is the human built infrastructure is as, if not more, impressive than the natural beauty, and while I doubt few would want a guided tour of it, you could easily compile a list of the top ten Faroese engineering marvels.

Near the top would be the conspicuous projects, like the three-mile sub-sea tunnel with a round-about in it, since it connects three different islands. But it’s the more mundane projects that impressed me most, such as the power lines strung improbably high, arching across fjords, cliffs, and mountains, that keep all the islands electrified, and the network of cell towers, found on every fogged-in peak that looks impossible to reach, much less build something on, that mean no matter where you are you always have five bars.

The Faroe Islands is super efficient and functional, and given the geography, climate, and location, that’s a testimony to human adaptability, and more particularly the competence of the Faroese.

The infrastructure cost, shared by all, including the twenty-five thousand who live in Tórshavn, is a testimony to Faroese egalitarianism, since every citizen, no matter where they choose to live, has the resources to thrive. That means de-ruralization, the pull towards clustering in the“big” city, isn’t being accelerated in the Faroe Islands by policy as it is in other parts of the world, and so someone whose family has lived for over seven-hundred years in the tiny town of Kunoy, forty miles and three islands away from Tórshavn, can continue to live there, without a crippling degradation in basic services.

That egalitarianism also shows up in the data economists and policy types focus on, where the Faroe Islands is deemed by those on the left as having a tax system that’s “the best on the earth” , which contributes to them also having the lowest income inequality in the world, at least according to the favorite inequality metric of economist s.

You don’t need data to see how how integral a “we are all in this together” communal-ism is to Faroese national pride. Walking around, talking to people, you’re struck by how few differences there are, in wealth, appearance, and attitude. Everyone seems firmly entrenched in the working middle class, with none of the extremes found in the rest of the world. Gone are the pockets of debilitating poverty, as well as the gated enclaves of ostentatious wealth. Also gone, is the the “Hey, look at me, look how different I am” style, attitude, and ideology that dominates so much of the West, especially the US.

Everyone is generally the same, and that uniformity, which others might see as verging on creepy, I saw as refreshing, because it isn’t built entirely around race or ethnicity. There are minorities in the Faroes, a smattering of of Asians (Thai, Filipinos, and Chinese), Africans (Ghana, Nigeria, and Uganda), and Eastern Europeans (Bosnians, Albanians, Serbians), who have come for some combination of work, marriage, study, and sports (handball), and then quickly integrated themselves into Faroese culture, both by learning the language, and by becoming contributing members to the nation. I saw the same at the small Catholic church 4 , where at least half the congregation are immigrants, most now citizens.

That last bit, learning the language and becoming a contributing citizen, is an unwritten requirement to being accepted in the Faroes, enforced by the same unifying forces that percolates underneath any long lived small-town culture: Join the tribe, or leave.

None of the immigrants I talked to (about thirty) had anything negative to say about their experience in the Faroes, unless it had to do with the dreary weather, the boredom, and the dark winters, which is a complaint I heard a version of from everyone, no matter how many generations their ancestors had been there.

That physical and cultural homogeneity is the only reason I discovered there was an international football match happening in Tórshavn , when on a Friday night I spotted four swarthy athletic dudes in matching monochromatic track suits, with North Macedonia patches, in the popular Irish pub.

They stuck out, especially since there weren’t any cruise ships, or visiting military ships, docked at the harbor fifteen yards away 5 , which brought friendly questions from the regulars, as well as from the bartender, who was originally from Serbia.

Of course I had to go to the Faroe Islands versus North Macedonia match, one of the oddest pairings possible in Europe, to see who would be crowned champion of the obscure mountainous nation cup, but mostly because there isn’t a lot else to do on a Saturday in Tórshavn, other than go for a hike, and my back was still sore.

While the game wasn’t a sell out (had it been, one eighth of the country would have been there) the crowd was enthusiastic, despite the Faroes being a world soccer punching bag 6 , the team you attempt to run up the score against for goal differential tie-breaking reasons. Given the size of the country, and that most of the players have day jobs, their bottom basement position isn’t surprising, but they continue to play on, as an independent nation, another mark of their national pride.

I’d intended to maximize the absurdity factor by sitting with whatever North Macedonian fans I could find, but while walking towards them (a group of maybe ten sitting near the teams bench, all draped in flags), I passed by the Faroes cheering section and had to stay there, because as they say, “when in the Faroe Islands, do as the Faroe Islanders do.”

That “adapting to the local cultural norms” included drinking lots of beer at the game, then heading to the local dive bar (Tórshøll) to keep the “Yeah, we tied North Macedonia!” party going. I stopped at doing shot after shot 7 of the locally popular Fisk, described by a visiting Canadian as “Fisherman's Friend cough drops in liquor form.”

Turning down shots bought by very drunk men became a regular weekend thing for me, because while the Faroese don’t go out to bars much, when they do go, they go very hard and become even more friendly and charitable. That included the seventy year old Ríkaldur (I think that was his name), a “sailor,” who boated into Tórshavn twice a month from Svinoy, an island with at most a hundred people, where his relatives have lived “for forever,” who thought that my turning down a free drink meant I was mentally ill.

While they drink a lot, what the Faroese don’t do very much of is hike, since most don’t see the point. While they recognize the beauty of their country, they’re always surrounded by it and don’t feel the urge to complete a scenic checklist.

They approach nature very differently than tourists like me, happy to exist in it and be part of it, since it’s part of who they are, rather than something to visit with the intent of having an experience. That contrast, between nature being something you're part of, for the sake of simply being part of it, as opposed to something to go into to marvel at, and then document your marveling at it, was especially stark on my walks in the Faroes, which began to explain why I felt so much more fulfilled on my seemingly goal-less hikes.

Then, five miles into a rather arduous walks, when I was resting at a particularly scenic spot, enjoying the view, the sheep, and the accomplishment, a car sped up, came to a stop with a shower of dust, the doors flung open, and five people in shiny hiking gear hopped out, snapped photos, and then they jumped back into the car, and drove on, coating me, and the few remaining sheep, in another cloud of exhaust and dust.

Watching scenes like that, as well as what Martin had said early in the week about not needing to ever take a picture when hiking , started making me feel ludicrous for carrying along my camera and snapping so many photos.

That shouldn’t be the point of going into nature, especially since the photos don’t capture the majesty of the scenes, whose impressiveness and scope is impossible to convey in a single frozen frame. So I tried switching to video, which at least gives a better sense of the vastness of the beauty, but even that falls far short.

As I’ve written before, after my walk along England’s south coast , nature is the most foundational art form, in the sense of Walter Benjamin ’s concept of aura as defined in his essay “The Work of Art in the Age of its Technical Reproducibility,”

"even the most perfect reproduction of a work of art is lacking in one element: Its presence in time and space, its unique existence at the place where it happens to be."

Natural beauty is pure aura, pure “presence in time and space,” pure “unique existence at the place where it happens to be.” You can’t reproduce nature, certainly not with photography, and not even with videos, since both fail to capture the sublime, majestic, and “the aura” I saw and felt during my walks.

Not only is nature perhaps the purest form of art, it also, like in the Faroes, rises to the meaning-making level, with place imbued with a transcendent, religious, form of importance, providing the people living there with a sense of metaphysical purpose.

The Faroe Islands is special, all the residents say that. It’s unique, all the tourists say that, but not only at a material descriptive level, but also at a spiritual level, which is perhaps why so many young people I met there have no intentions of leaving, despite a lot of obvious economic reasons they might want to.

I started asking every Faroese I met if they intended to stay (all said they did), and how many members of their high school graduating class were still in the country, and the answers were all about ninety percent. While most do go to Denmark to study, the majority return, after a few years, or as they get older and realize they miss their home.

I was initially surprised by that answer, but the longer I stayed, the more I understood it. The Faroe Islands, to get corny and cliched, really is a magical place.

As Ríkaldur, the drunk sailor from Svinoy, said to me when I asked him if he’d ever thought of leaving, after looking at me like he was now sure I was completely off, “Why da hell would I go and do that?”

(I’m trying to keep a few more posts free — so please, if you can, subscribe, since when I paywall them I get way more paid subscriptions, and I’d rather not do that!)

Finally nailing down rough dates (give or take a few days) for my upcoming Asian trip:

Oct 3rd - 7th: Seoul (getting over jet lag and hanging in LP bars)

Oct 7th - 21st: Vientiane and maybe another Laotian city

Oct 22 - Nov 8th: Phnom Penh Cambodia

Nov 9th- Nov 18th: Walking Japans southern coast, from Kumamoto to Fukuoka, then taking a ferry to Busan Korea.

Nov 19th - 24th: Busan/Seoul

As always, if you are in the area, I would love a walking companion for a day, or a drinking buddy for a night. Or both!

If you are around, then please reach out to me in the comments, or via email.

Also, please considering hitting the paid subscription button, so that I can keep more of these posts free!

Until next week!

Yes, Faroe Islands is not exactly an independent nation. It is a territory of Denmark, but one with a great deal of sovereignty. Denmark does support the Faroes economically, sending roughly 1,500 per person in aid, but the Faroese also runs a current account surplus, and honestly might be better off without the aid, and the obligations it brings.

The website also has one of the best photos I’ve ever seen , since it perfectly captures the experience of taking buses across the Faroes.

There is one single mall in the Faroes, and it has a Burger King, which on rainy days is packed.

While their team might suck (understandably), Tórsvøllur stadium is beautiful. Another engineering marvel that senselessly integrates into Tórshavn and it’s austere backdrop.

When you are in Tórshavn you can tell, without looking at the harbor, if there are cruise ships or military vessels docked there, because their presence changes the dynamics of the city. Hundreds of visitors will do that to a town of only 20,000. Think of fleet week in NYC, but on a much higher percentage scale.

One of my guardrails in life is never doing shots. Consequently I’ve now turned down more drinks across the world by very drunk old men than I can count.

The church is tiny, but lovely.

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