ADVENTURE GUIDE: THE FAROE ISLANDS
Originally Published 6 December 2018
Our recent trip to the Faroe Islands for Simon’s birthday was the perfect relaxing break from the hustle and bustle of London. Our tired lungs were excited to breath in all that fresh mountain air and our eyes couldn’t decide where to look as every inch was postcard perfect.
Part of the Kingdom of Denmark, this beautiful collection of 18 islands is a visual mash up of the 3 countries that surround it (Norway, Iceland, Scotland) yet with a personality all of its own.
The never ending waterfalls and amazing views will mean you'll never stop snapping photos as you drive through the mist & fog on the mountain tops or the lush green valleys that hug the beautiful lakes and coastal cliffs. Sheep and geese lazily stroll along the road sides (and sometimes the road itself) while birds swoop overhead.
If you don't believe in fairytales after a visit to the islands then you probably never will.
Visiting in August was a perfect time to travel, not only was everything stunningly green, but the temperatures were higher (hovering around 10 degrees for whole trip) and the days were longer allowing plenty of time to get out and explore. Although we’re sure anytime of year would offer its own version of beauty! In fact Faroe Island Winter’s are fairly mild and offer a chance of glimpsing the Northern Lights too. However certain ferries and tours only operate in the high season (May-August) so thats something to keep when planning a trip.
WHERE TO STAY
We spent our first night at Hotel Vagar, a simple no frills 3 star hotel located just down the road from airport and in a perfect spot for exploring Vagr Island
The rest of our week was spent in a lovely AirBnB in Torshavn, the capital city. We’d highly recommend basing yourself here as this is a perfect location for reaching the other islands and also being close to restaurants, shops and tours.
HOW TO GET AROUND
We booked online with unicar prior to arrival and the process was simple and easy. We never actually met anyone from the company as the car was left for us at the airport but their email communication was efficient and friendly. We choose to add WiFi and it was great for using Google maps, a sneaky instagram scroll and checking in for our return flights etc
WHERE TO EAT
The islands aren’t exactly budget friendly! (Even a meal at the local Burger King cost us £50) So we suggest packing your own snacks and heading to the grocery store to stock up on the basics. However if you are after something delicious and a little bit special then we highly recommend; Ettika Sushi and Barbara Fish House (bookings recommended)
Playing “Pebble fetch”
WHAT TO SEE
There are endless beautiful spots to be found on the Islands, but we have put together our top 12 sights not to miss in this blog post
WHAT TO PACK
Head over to our Illustrated Packing Guide for tips on what to bring in your carry on
GOOD TO KNOW
One of the safest place you can visit, you’ll never have to worry about crime or theft. Even the dogs are friendly!
The roads are well maintained, but can be single lane in the side roads and its worth reading up about the road rules on the official tourism website (any one lane routes have plenty of pull out bays making it easy to pass other cars.)
Sheep have right of way so be ready for them to be in the middle of the road! and if you hit any you must notify the police right away
Bring plenty of snacks, we just packed some in our check in bag which proved cheaper and easier then finding an open grocery store.
If you want to eat at any of the restaurants it's well worth booking ahead
Public restrooms are well maintained and available in most towns
English is spoken widely and the locals are kind and helpful, but its always well worth learning a few local phrases
Danish kroner is interchangeable with Faroese kroner
You’ll need to pack a European plug adapter
The weather is changeable, make sure to pack layers.
If you are venturing out on a hike make sure someone knows where you are and pack a small bag of essentials like water, snacks and first aid
Have you visited the Faroes? Let us know in the comments
Simon and Jen
Ps See more Faroe Island spam in our Instagram highlights
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