Do you like the landscape in Iceland, Norway or Ireland? Then you'll fall in love with the Faroe Islands! Though this beauty comes with a price tag a road trip to experience the best sights and things to do in the Faroe Island is totally worth it. With this article I tell you my top tips when traveling the Faroe Islands including a suggested itinerary for your trip.
Not only are the Faroe Islands located halfway between Norway and Iceland, they also have a lot in common in matter of natural beauty. Though the 18 islands are part of Denmark they are an autonomous self-governing country. The best way to get to know the islands with its impressive cliffs, bays and mountains is to rent a car and do a road trip through the 5 main islands as those are connected with tunnels and bridges.
The islands of Vágar, Streymoy, Eysturoy, Brodoy and Vidoy are in many ways the center of the country as the majority of the 50.000 inhabitants are living and working here. Also for tourists it makes sense to spend most of the time there and combining it with side trips by boat or helicopter to the remote islands.
Overall I'd recommend spending at least a week to experience the Faroe Islands with all its facets. You can use the map on the right to plan your route as I marked all spots I describe in this article on there.
1) Mulafossur Waterfall in Gásadalur (Day 1)
After flying in to the airport near Sørvágur (in most cases you'll arrive around lunchtime) and picking up your rental car you should head for the first highlight and the Instagram spot on the Faroe Islands. The viewpoint which offers the best photo composition is located shortly before the entrance to the village on the left hand side (15mins by car from the airport).
What many people don't realize: the waterfall is called Mulafossur – Gásadalur is the name of the village located right above it. If you are lucky you can enjoy a clear view to Mykines and see the Árnafjall (mountain behind it, with 762m the highest on Vágar) without clouds.
2) Hike to the cliffs of Trælanípa & Bøsdalafossur Waterfall (Day 1)
With Trælanípa the next Instagram Hotspot is waiting for you on the first day, too. Like the Mulafossur waterfall also these famous cliffs are located on Vágar island. The starting point for the hike can be found near Miðvágur southwest of the airport (20mins by car from Gásadalur).
The hike to the cliffs takes approximately one hour and I recommend solid hiking boots for the muddy parts but also to be more safe on the rocky cliffs. When standing on the cliffs you'll have an extraordinary view as the lake Sørvágsvatn is located about 40m above sea level and seems to be floating above the sea. Impressive!
Please make sure to always keep at least 1m distance to the edge of the cliffs as there have been a number of tragic accidents in the past (often loose gras grows over the edge and makes it look like solid ground). I also recommend a local guide (my guide Jóhannus was great) to get to the best photo spots and to learn more about the interesting stories and history (the cliffs name translates into “slave's peak” as slave's got thrown off from here). Afterwards you should head westwards to see the Bøsdalafossur waterfall.
Accommodation: As your base for tonight and the upcoming days you should choose the capital Tórshavn – this way you don't need to pack & unpack every day. Tórshavn also offers the best touristic infrastructure regarding Cafés and Restaurants. Find specific recommendations below!
3) Sea Kayaking (Day 2)
The second day starts with another fun activity. Depending on the weather and your kayaking experience you can choose from several spots – your local kayak guide will pick the right one for you.
As I was lucky with the weather I was able to paddle right at the coast of the capital. I used the kayaking company NAX who brought everything needed to the spot – my guide Hans not only got me to improve my kayaking skills and knew the best spots to paddle; he also could give plenty of information about the Faroe Islands in general.
4) Road trip to Tjørnuvík & Gjógv (Day 2)
The majority of things to do in the Faroe Islands are accessible by car. Therefore I suggest using the afternoon of day 2 to do a road trip to the north of the islands Steymoy and Esturoy along the panoramic “buttercup routes” (marked in the free map you can grab at the tourist information).
You can find the best views at the cute village of Tjørnuvík (make sure to hike a bit upwards to get the angle from the image below), in Saksun, along the serpentine road from Funningur to Gjógv and in Gjógv.
Accommodation: if you have more time you should consider staying at the Gjaargardur Guesthouse Gjogv for 1-2 nights to add an extra hike to your itinerary (e.g. to the top of Slættaratindur, at 880m the highest mountain in the Faroe Islands).
5) Hike to Enniberg (Day 3)
Regarding to locals the hike from Viðareiði to Enniberg via the Villingadasfjall is one of the most beautiful hikes in the Faroe Islands. The view from the northernmost point of the Faroe Islands is simply incredible. On clear days you can see altogether 3 of the big islands with Bordoy, Kunoy and Kalsoy from here.
With 841m the Villingadalsfjall is the 3rd tallest mountain of the islands. At first this doesn't sound high but you need to consider that you'll be starting your hike just a bit above sea level. The ascend is partly steep and rocky followed by a narrow path along the ridge to get to Enniberg. Altogether you need physical fitness and you shouldn't be too afraid of heights for the last part – but you'll be rewarded with a great panorama!
Though you can do this trek on your own I recommend getting an experienced guide in case of bad weather and low visibility. I got surprised by fog on the top and was happy to have trekking legend Pól Sundskarð as my guide with me, he also offers several other treks on the islands!
Accommodation: for tonight and the following days in Gøta I recommend staying in Klaksvik or the camp ground of the festival in Gøta (only on the weekend of the G! Festival).
6) G! Festival in Gøta (only in July) (Days 4-5)
Though being one of the 2 largest festivals on the islands the G! Festival is without any doubt one of the coziest festivals I have ever experienced. Since 2002 the festival is usually being held in July for 3 days in the tiny town of Gøta. You can relax in hot tubs or the sauna right by the beach and experience a wide variety of music at one of the 3 stages. The headliners in 2017 featured famous artists like MØ, Bilderbuch and Alphaville.
For me the best part of it was the concept that all artists and some guests get the chance to stay with local families during the time of the festival. Apart from this the whole setting surrounded by the beautiful landscape of the Faroe Islands is truly unique!
the best way to get to know the culture!
7) Alternatively: Hike to Sigatindur, Gøta (Day 4)
If you are not in the area for the festival you should take on the hike to Sigatindur which is overlooking Gøta and offers a great panoramic view to the bay of Gøta as well as to the island of Kalsoy.
The trail to the viewpoint can be found if you head up the mountain right behind the tiny harbor of Gøta. It takes about 3 hours depending on your level of fitness.
Accommodation: As you are taking the ferry to Mykines on the next morning you should either stay in Tórshavn or on the island of Vágar.
8) Puffins & Lighthouse hike on Mykines (Day 5/6)
Apart from the beautiful coast the Faroe Islands are well known for their big population of Puffins – one of the colonies can be found on Mykines. On a hike to the lighthouse in the west of the the island you will come across many different birds making it a paradise for landscape photographers and ornithologist alike. Definitely one of the must things to do in the Faroe Islands!
Due to its remote location there are only 11 permanent inhabitants on Mykines, even in summer there are only 2 ferries a day from Sørvágur depending on the weather. Find more information about the ferry schedule and prices on the website of Visit Faroe Islands.
9) Traditional Faroese cuisine with locals (Day 6/7)
The local cuisine is better than many think – a “heimablídni”-dinner is a great way to experience it. If you decide to go for it you'll have a very exclusive dinner right in the home of a faroese farmer family – a very special cultural experience.
Beside the authentic farm to table experience you will learn a lot about the life and customs on the islands. I was warmly welcomed by Anna and Óli in their beautiful home in Velbastaður (see video).
Find more information about this experience on this website. Highly recommended!
Accommodation: I recommend staying in Tórshavn for the last few days of your trip. Find recommendations below.
10) See the islands from above (Day 6/7)
The fastest way to get around in the Faroe Islands is by helicopter. There is a network of scheduled flights to altogether 10 Helipads which are fairly cheap (costs ranging between 12€ and 50€) and offer a different view.
Nevertheless you should consider that you can only fly one way on the same day, roundtrips are not possible. Therefore you should choose a destination where you plan on staying for at least 2 nights which is a bit further out to enjoy a longer flight (e.g. Tórshavn to Suðuroy). Alternatively you can fly one way and take a ferry back.
Prices and a detailed schedule can be found on the website of Atlantic Airways.
Video: Road trip & Things to do in the Faroe Islands
As always I also filmed an episode for my YouTube channel. In the video you can find all tips and things to do in the Faroe Islands mentioned above:
How to get there & Accommodation
I flew from Hamburg via Copenhagen to Vágar Airport with SAS and Atlantic Airways. The route via Copenhagen is the most common, but there are also connections to London, Iceland and Barcelona on specific days of the week – make sure to check the website of Atlantic Airways.
To get around – I highly recommend renting a car. The company I rented a SUV from is called 62°N and is one of the major car rentals on the islands.
In Tórshavn – beside using AirBnB (see below) I stayed at the Hotel Tórshavn, a solid mid-range 3* hotel with reasonable prices (for Faroese standards). If you are more into modern design hotels and don't mind spending more you should look into 4* Hotel Føroyar. Find more Options on the Tórshavn overview page of Booking.
AirbnB – is by far the cheapest alternative in the Faroe Islands and offers quite a selection on the main islands with some neat places. With this link you'll get a 30€ discount on your first booking on AirBnB!
More Tips & Things to do in the Faroe Islands?
Have you been to the Faroe Islands yourself? Do you have any recommendations and things to do in the Faroe Islands you want to share with us? Feel free to put them into the comment section below!
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Beautiful islands. Sadly, they are also home to barbarians who slaughter hundreds of dolphins and whales every year for fun, and invite the children to watch. Please boycott.
I thoroughly enjoyed this article and video. Seems like a fantastic and diverse country to visit, which I’ll be doing in August 2018. The main goal is to cycle most of the roads during this time and do those hikes as well. Thanks for sharing.
Hey Steve, thanks for this article. Can you let me know the public transport scene on the island? As i don’t drive, how affordable are the buses or ferries? Can the Mulafossur Waterfall be explore on a day trip if one is staying near the airport?