Facts

The Faroe Islands - an autonomous region in the north

The Faroe Islands consists of 18 large and small islands, which are connected by tunnels, ferries and helicopter routes. The region is characterized by green hills and steep cliffs, abundant birdlife, sheep, and sea on all sides. The Faroe Islands is one of three autonomous regions in the north (Greenland, Faroe Islands and Åland Islands).

Since 1948, the Faroe Islands have been a self-governing part of the Danish kingdom. The country has its own legislative assembly, the Faroese Parliament ‘Lagtinget’ and its own flag.

Facts about the Faroe Islands - good to know

The weather in the Faroe Islands is changeable and impressive and something that’s respected in the Faroe Islands - just as beautiful, as it is capricious. Read more about the weather in the Faroe Islands HERE.

In the larger cities and in the airport there are ATMs where you can withdraw money with credit cards: VISA, Eurocard and Mastercard.

Faroe Islands are in GMT and thus the same time zone as London.

The only airport on the island is located on the island of Vagar. The Faroe Islands are just a one hour flight from the UK, Norway and Iceland., 2 hours from Denmark and approx. 4 hours from Southern Europe.

The Faroe Islands has one of the lowest crime rates in the world.

The Faroese are good at English so it's easy to talk to the locals and they are happy to help if you ask.

Experiences in the Faroe Islands

The capital is Tórshavn and is called the world's smallest capital - about 20,000 people live within the municipality.

Klaksvík is the second largest city with about 5,000 inhabitants.

The Faroe Islands are especially popular for its beautiful scenery. Read more about nature in the Faroe Islands HERE.

The Kirkjubøur settlement near Tórshavn, with its over 900 year old episcopal residence, is located in the south and is a very beautiful tourist destination. 

Each year there’s a popular music festival in Gøta named G! Festival. 

National Day is July 29, (Ólavsøka) Olaifest.

The Faroe Islands have a strong culinary tradition, which is influenced by their life on the islands with unique opportunities for fishing, sheep farming and bird hunting. On the gastronomic front, the Faroe Islands follow their Nordic neighbors experimenting with exciting foods.

The Faroese currency is called ‘króna’ and ‘oyra’ and corresponds to the Danish currency, but with their own banknotes which are beautifully illustrated by a Faroese artist..

Geography and the Faroe Islands

In the Faroe Islands the sea is never more than 5 km away.

The Faroe Islands cover 1,400 square kilometers.

50,000 people inhabit the Faroe Islands - about 20,000 of them live in the capital Tórshavn.

The Faroe Islands are situated in the Atlantic Ocean, approximately equidistant from Norway, Scotland and Iceland. The Faroe Islands consists of 18 separate islands, close together with fjords and sounds in between. Of the 18 islands only one is unoccupied: Litla Dimun. Read more about the Faroese cities and islands HERE.

Because of the steep cliffs, most settlements are in lowland areas close to the coast.

The highest mountain in the Faroes is the 882 m high Slættaratindur on the island of Eysturoy.

There are 113 km from the northernmost to the southernmost point, and 75 km from the westernmost to the easternmost point, equivalent to the size of Zealand in Denmark.

111 mountain peaks protrude more than 600 m above sea level, and 10 are over 800 meters tall - 6 of them located on the small island, Kunoy.

Enniberg on the island Viðoy is the northernmost point in the Faeroe Islands, and with 754 meters from the top straight down to the sea it is the highest promontory in the world.

Infrastructure

Faroe Islands have 600 km of good roads snaking around the islands over passes, on the edge of mountains, over bridges and through tunnels. Most are two-lane and paved. This means that you have ultimate opportunity to move around the Faroe Islands by car or motorcycle, in a landscape you otherwise can only dream about.

Get an overview of how to get around in our map of the Faroe Islands.

Atlantic Airways connects the Faroe Islands

Atlantic Airways is in charge of air routes to and from the Faroe Islands and national helicopter routes around the islands. For example the helicopter flies to Mykines with food for the locals on the island. The state subsidises helicopter tickets to remote islands, so people will not be forced to move away and the islands may retain their unspoiled charm.

Culture

The Faroe Islands have a rich cultural life. A natural consequence of nature, long winter nights and bright summer days. Read about Faroese culture HERE.

Business in the Faroe Islands

About 95% of exports from the Faroe Islands comes from fishing, much of which is salmon and trout farming.

The Faroese people = hospitality

The Faroese people are closely linked to their traditional way of life. This means that you will find the Faroese very hospitable. There has always been a tradition of helping each other, of inviting people in and offering food and company.

As a small island country in a big world, one needs to be innovative and willing to accommodate new things. The Faroese speak both English and Danish very well and therefore have ample opportunity to cooperate internationally, to learn and to travel abroad.

In this way, the Faroese population is both closely linked to traditions and prepared for the new.

A Faroese evening

Since ancient times it has been common for the family to sit and work by candlelight in the living room. The wool had to undergo numerous processes for it to be used to make clothing. To make the job and evening a little better, they told each other stories. Legends and myths were vividly told, and they sang songs together and for each other. In this way they got the job done, while the oral tradition was brought forward from ear to ear. The Faroese have always had a tradition of gathering to cultivate family, work, and cultural heritage.

The Faroe Islands - Sports and culture

Football and rowing are especially popular in the Faroe Islands. Rowing is officially the islands' national sport, and you can experience the youth training throughout the spring until the Olaifest in Tórshavn, where the major championship will be held.

In all respectable villages you will find a football field. In some places the ball goes into the sea if the kick is off, but the pitch is there. The Faroe Islands have their own national team and is quite successful in spite of its very small population, even though they obviously don’t stand a chance against the big teams.

Animals and people in the Faroe Islands

The Faroese have developed methods for hunting and fishing through the ages. They have made themselves proficient in retrieving birds' eggs from cliff ledges at heights of several hundred meters and catching flying birds in nets. They have cared for their sheep and herded them in at the end of summer.

They have paddled out in small wooden boats to fish for their own use, and to barter for other necessities such as grain and sugar. Working as a fisherman in the cruel and changeable weather could be dangerous, and a good knowledge of the sea, weather and rocks has been essential.

Hunting in the Faroe Islands has always been about collaboration. The children have been taught by their parents, and have been taken along from childhood and in that way become a part of the daily work.

Today, fishing is still the most important industry in the Faroe Islands and Faroese fish and shellfish have a fine international reputation because of high quality.

Faroese culture - get close to an unspoiled people

An unspoiled group of islands, isolated in the Atlantic. Hard rocks, green hills and plenty of fish, sheep and birds. Dark winter nights and endless summer days. The Faroese culture came from this. A culture characterized by being able to adapt to nature. Surviving from what is available and making the best of it when it is dark outside.

Faroese culture is a rich blend of a deep love of traditions and curiosity about the new. Consequently, the Faroese culture is also filled with contrasts between what’s new and what’s been passed down through the generations from parents to their children.

Faroese music

For the Faroese, music is an important part of being together. There is a strong tradition for playing music when they are having fun together. Compared to how many people live in the Faroe Islands (about 50,000), there is a great pursuit of music and musical events. In every village, no matter how small, you will find a choir, a band, a music group or an orchestra.

This is reflected in music festivals such as the G! Festival and the Summer festival. Also in the Hoyma festival, which is a very popular festival taking place regularly in February and March. The doors are opened to a private home, and an artist will be invited to play a very intimate concert for a small audience.

Some Faroese artists have attracted attention both in the Faroe Islands and internationally. Of these, the biggest musical export is the charming and melancholic Teitur. He sings in English and manages to convey a small part of the Faroese soul. In addition, people like Eivør, who reinterprets folk music, and names like Tyr and Orka who are successful also outside the Faroe Islands. Stanley Samuelson is very famous in the Faroe Islands, and has set famous Faroese poems to music. He has enriched Faroese culture for many years and still do.

Live music events in Tórshavn are especially taking place in the Nordic House, where there are traditional productions, classical music and more. Tórshavn has its own symphony orchestra, appearing in the capital and playing with international guests.

Fashion - Faroese knitwear and design

Faroese fashion is especially on the world map thanks to Sarah Lund of ‘The Killing’ wearing a sweater from the Faroese designer duo Guðrun & Guðrun. They focus on the traditional materials and patterns that the Faroese have worn on their sweaters for generations. They have a shop in Tórshavn, where you can see their classic sweaters and their more innovative collections.

You can experience Faroese fashion and design in the pedestrian zone in Tórshavn and in Østrøm, which is a shop by the harbor. Østrøm is a design shop with everything from dresses to butterflies. Emphasis is on aesthetic products, craftsmanship and innovation. There are earrings of fish skin, beautiful crafts and high quality designer clothes.

Gastronomy - get a taste for the Faroese nature

Trees do not grow in the Faroe Islands, and it is very hard to grow fruits, vegetables and grains because of the weather. Like everything else, the Faroese food tradition was created by the opportunities they have had over the years. This means that fish, whales, birds and sheep dominate the traditional Faroese dishes. And they have specialized in preserving the meat so they have been able to survive when there was not much to eat.

Today, ancient traditions are still maintained, but the Faroese import all conventional food from supermarkets in Denmark.

Gastronomically, the Faroe Islands are in no way stagnant. In Tórshavn, you have ample opportunity to taste ambitious Nordic cuisine at restaurants such as Barbara Fish house, Ræst and Aarstova.

Art & Traditions

Traditionally, crafts have been the stronger art in the Faroe Islands, but visual arts are coming along and you can experience this in the National Art Gallery.

‘St. Olavs dag’ is The Faroese National Day and is celebrated on 29 July. Comprising a number of traditional festivities, boat racing, music and national costumes, it is an experience that remains in a good place in your heart. Read about Olaifest HERE.

Currency in the Faroe Islands

In the Faroe Islands the currency is called Króna and the Faroese króna is the equivalent of the Danish krone. The only difference is that the Faroe Islands have their own banknotes. The coins are the same as Danish coins, and you can use Danish banknotes everywhere in the Faroe Islands.

Exchange to Faroese króna

Faroe Islands have their own banknotes. It says "Føroyar" on the special Faroese banknotes. They are decorated with pictures painted by the Faroese artist Zacharias Heinesen. The motifs are Faroese animals and landscapes.

Prices in the Faroe Islands

Prices in the Faroe Islands are similar to those in Denmark, but in some cases a little more expensive. This is due to the Faroe Islands being relatively isolated, and the prices are accordingly. Goods such as cigarettes, alcohol etc. are slightly more expensive than in Denmark.

Map of the Faroe Islands

The Faroe Islands is an archipelago in the North Atlantic, consisting of 18 islands. The archipelago is located in the Atlantic Ocean midway between Scotland, Norway and Iceland, and not far north of the Shetland Islands.

Of all the islands only Lítla Dimun is uninhabited.

As you can tell from the map, there is a good road network in the Faroe Islands. The latest tunnels are less than ten years old and enables you to drive directly to Gásadalur with the beautiful waterfall or Klaksvik, which is the main town on the northern islands. Mykines and the southern islands Suðuroy and Sandoy are reachable by ferry or helicopter.

Experience the Faroe Islands in a short time

Nothing is very far away in the Faroe Islands. If you have a car, you can easily get around to places you would like to experience. The drive from Vágar Airport on Vágoy to the capital Tórshavn, which is located on the island of Streymoy, takes 45 minutes. From there you can drive to Klaksvik via Eysturoy, and through the tunnel to Borðoy in about 45 minutes. From Tórshavn, you can also drive to the impressive and authentic village of Gjógv on the north end of Eysturoy in an hour.

Generally, the Faroe Islands are so well connected that you can reach most of the islands in an hour. So off you go! And remember, in the Faroe Islands the trip itself is always part of the journey. The Faroe Islands are full of surprises. The landscape and nature is constantly close by when you move on the winding roads through the mountains, past the sheep between the waterfalls.

The Faroe Islands by car

Having a car could be an advantage if you want to enjoy greater freedom and maybe make a stop in a village you would not otherwise experience. If you are into motorcycles, it is obvious to experience the islands with the wind on your face. Read about renting cars and motorcycles in the Faroe Islands.

Public Transport

Buses and boats may be necessary to get around the islands. Going by bus or boat, we recommend that you pay a visit to the local tourist office, which can help you with tickets and schedules. Atlantic offers these helicopter routes in the Faroe Islands.

(Click here to download .pdf map)

Weather in the Faroe Islands

When you visit the Faroe Islands, you will find that the weather up there is not like what you are accustomed to. More unpredictable, more rough and more magical. A weather constituted by the islands' location in the North Atlantic, in the middle of the Gulf Stream. Of the islands' formation and the steep, high cliffs. This means that it doesn’t really get cold in the winter, and that it doesn’t really get hot in the summer.

Be prepared for a bit of everything

It is said that in the Faroe Islands you can experience all seasons in one day. The weather often changes, and it is amazing to see how calmly the locals take it. If you drive through heavy winds and rain, you are very likely to hear a Faroese say: The sun probably shines on the other side of the mountain.

It is important when you travel to the Faroe Islands that you prepare for a bit of everything. It's a good idea to bring:

A wind and waterproof jacket. There is a high probability you will experience both.

A warm jumper or sweater. Or you can buy a Faroese woolen sweater - they wear them for a reason.

A good pair of boots or wellies, so you do not get wet or cold feet

A hat for when you go sailing and bird watching

Sunglasses, when the sun shines or breaks through the clouds

Binoculars, if you are a nature lover and want all the details.

Sunscreen for summer, when the sun is up almost around the clock.

Winter in the Faroe Islands

In several villages in the Faroe Islands, the sun is hiding behind the mountains for up to three months during the winter, and the Faroese traditionally celebrate its re-appearance in the sky with ‘solkaffe’ - a village event of sun, fun and coffee. In return, the sun is very present in the summer with almost 24 hours of daylight.

Summer in the Faroe Islands

Like most other places, summertime is weather at its best. This is where the Faroese really have the opportunity to get out and enjoy life at sea, in nature and in the villages. There will be tables set up in the port of Tórshavn, the G-festival is on the beach in Gøta and it’s very lively on the water and islands.

Fog in the Faroe Islands

The weather in the Faroe Islands is moody and snow, storm and fog can help dictate whether something is possible or not. The Faroese have adapted, and it's part of their culture. If it's too foggy you cannot drive or the helicopter cannot fly, and that’s just the way it is.

Especially the fog can hit hard and lay like a heavy, thick blanket over the countryside and if there’s no wind, it settles. If you are out hiking in the mountains and the fog descends completely on you, it is very important that you be careful and move cautiously. If you have no visibility, the best thing to do is wait for the fog to clear and you can safely move on.

Fresh air

The air in the Faroe Islands is remarkably fresh. It is carried into the islands from the Atlantic Ocean, and is filled with salt from the sea. The Faroese take advantage of this air to dry their fish and mutton. They do this in small outbuildings that have little spaces between the wall boards, allowing the wind to blow through. These small outbuildings are found throughout the islands. They are called hjallur (pronounced: Tjadlur)

You can follow the weather in the Faroe Islands HERE.