About how Tórshavn lives, and about how... Today I will focus on organizational issues of the trip: transport and visa, hotels and communications, movement around the islands.

Trip planning and routes

The Faroe Islands can be called an exclusive destination, because... neither the small number of flights, nor the small number of hotels, nor the short season make it possible to accommodate a large number of tourists here. Therefore, the Faroe Islands are hardly a destination for a spontaneous trip, so the sooner you start planning your trip, the better.

To plan routes and things to see, it's handy to use the Visit Faroe information site. You can get a card at the tourist office at the airport. Personally, my route included:

How much time to allocate:

As always, it all depends on what you want to see. To generalize, I will say that 2 days is definitely not enough, 10 is perhaps a lot. 4-5 days seem optimal to me.

How to get there

The most convenient way is through Copenhagen, from where Atlantic Airways operates 2 flights a day to the Faroe Islands. Travel time - 2 hours. Tickets cost from 400 euros return. The demand for the route is high, flights are full, especially during the season, you can’t expect significant discounts, because... This is the only airline that flies here.

The same Atlantic Airways connects the Faroe Islands with Iceland, Norway and Scotland, so it will be possible to organize a Denmark-Faree-Iceland tour, for example.

Visa

The Faroe Islands require a separate visa, which is issued at the Danish Consulate in Moscow. The documents and registration procedure are similar to Schengen; more about them. However, no one checked my visa either on the way there or on the way back - it remained outstanding.

Time to visit

The best time to travel is from May to early September. July 28-29 is the holiday of St. Olaf, for which Faroese from all over the world come to the Faroe Islands. If you want to see it, then you should buy tickets as early as possible, at least a year in advance, and start looking for a hotel the same time in advance.

Hotels and apartments

The Faroe Islands are not a destination where people go for designer hotels and excellent service. I lived in two hotels, Hafnia in the center of Tórshavn, the capital of the Faroes, and in Foroyar, located a couple of kilometers from the center. The first one looks like a hotel in the Russian outback; Its advantages include the availability of hot water, internet and clean linen. The second one is much newer and nicer; it was where, for example, Bill Clinton stayed. The price, of course, is higher. You can check the prices using the links above.

Other accommodation options on the islands are small guesthouses (search on booking.com), as well as apartments and rooms for rent through. The selection is limited and prices are high. From a geographical point of view, it doesn’t really matter where you live in the Faroe Islands, because... Everywhere you will go by car, that is, there is no point in getting attached, for example, to Tórshavn.

Weather

The Faroe Islands are not very cold, quite damp, windy and cloudy all year round. I was in May, it was about +7, I was wearing a light down jacket. You will definitely need waterproof boots, a waterproof jacket with a hood, gloves, and a warm sweater or sweatshirt, even if you are traveling in the summer. The weather changes every 15 minutes, so you should dress in layers to be able to undress or warm up as needed. An umbrella and a raincoat are essential items.

Transport

Without a car there is not much to do in the Faroe Islands, although I know people who have traveled around the islands by bus or hitchhiking. There are several car rental counters at the airport. Also on the islands there is a selection of companies ready to make a tour for you with fishing, helicopter rides, and tracking. A short list of them. You can find out about other methods of transportation. Taxis on the islands are expensive, and it is not wise to use them for long trips around them. If you order, for example, a taxi to the airport, do it at least a day in advance - the taxi driver will gather several people from different hotels into one car and take everyone to the address, which will be much cheaper.

Money

In the Faroe Islands you can pay with cards of the main payment systems, Danish and Faroese kroner (1 to 1). If you pay in Danish kroner as change, you will receive Faroese kroner. When returning to Denmark, it makes sense to exchange them for Danish kroner, because... On the mainland you are unlikely to accept Faroese currency.

Connection

A SIM card can be purchased at the information desk in the arrivals area. For a limited number of calls and 1 GB of Internet, I paid 250 CZK (multiply by 7.5). Coverage in most places is quite decent, in most cases 3G, sometimes dropping to GPRS. There is wifi in cafes, restaurants and hotels, as well as at the airport itself.

Restaurants

Definitely not to miss KOKS at the Foroyar Hotel and Hafnia in the hotel of the same name - they both represent new northern cuisine. I also liked the sushi bar Etika and an excellent fish restaurant Barbara. All these places are in Tórshavn.

In principle, everything is clear to you about the flight: there are no direct flights from Russia and it is best to fly through one of the Scandinavian countries. How to do this more profitably will depend on when you are planning your trip and how long before departure you start looking for tickets. But if we talk about daily flights, they operate only from the airport of the Danish capital of Copenhagen, and not once, but two or three times a day. Flights from other countries take place only a few times a week, and in the winter they almost completely stop.

The situation with accommodation is ambiguous. Please note that the country does not have the usual star rating for hotels; instead, the following categories are used: “Deluxe”, “Superior” and “Standard”. This feature is a consequence of the fact that the hotels are located on small islands and are buildings that are no more than two floors in height, while the service provided in them can be described as limited. Therefore, before booking a hotel, you need to pay attention not only to its appearance, but also to the list of services provided. As has already been correctly noted, the cost depends on the season. The lowest prices can be found in winter, but this is far from the best period for visiting the islands, both in terms of transport accessibility and in terms of accessibility to attractions. Small hostels and guest houses offer a minimum of services at reasonable prices, but such housing is suitable only for unpretentious tourists who plan to spend most of their time traveling and on excursions.

Nutrition will be more difficult due to harsh climatic conditions. The country is rich in fish, so you can take a fishing rod with you and solve the problem of food yourself. But before fishing, you need to clarify whether fishing is allowed on a particular body of water there on a free basis or whether you need to purchase a special license (it can be purchased at any tourist center). Alcoholic drinks are sold only to persons over 18 years of age. Light beer is sold in any shops, cafes and restaurants, but for stronger drinks you will have to go to specialized stores, which are located in relatively large settlements. You can find such stores by the Government Monopoly sign. Also, strong drinks can be found in other places (cafes, restaurants, nightclubs) that have the appropriate license for this.

If you are going on a trip with friends, then you should think about renting a car, but if you are alone or alone, then it is better not to even consider this option and limit yourself to traveling by public transport (you can get all the necessary information in the same tourist centers).

Take your packing for your trip seriously, as if you forget something, it will be much more expensive to buy locally. Regardless of the season, it is worth taking a waterproof jacket with you, which will come in handy at any time of the year. A warm sweater, comfortable, waterproof shoes, hats, scarves and sunglasses will not be superfluous.

When traveling around the islands, it is advisable to have a hot drink, regular drinking water and some high-calorie food such as chocolate or dried fruit in a small backpack. If you are planning to visit remote areas, you must notify the tourist office so that if something happens, they can promptly begin searching or provide some assistance.

If you need to constantly be in touch, then the best option would be to buy a local SIM card. There are two main mobile operators in the Faroe Islands: Kall P/F and Foroya Tele, which offer approximately the same conditions. Domestic operators have extremely unfavorable conditions. You can purchase a local SIM card at hotels, gas stations, and post offices. Those who do not need a connection, but only occasionally need the Internet, can use an Internet cafe. Many hostels, guesthouses and hotels provide free wi-fi, but not everywhere.

It is not customary to leave additional tips on the islands; usually they are already included in the bill and when ordering, immediately add 5 to 15% to it.

When making purchases over $48, you can expect a VAT refund. To do this, such purchases must be made in stores that have Tax Free notice signs (usually they are located at the entrance to the store or at the checkout). All you have to do is keep the receipt and show it at the appropriate counter at the airport.

The Faroe Islands are located in the north Atlantic, in the open ocean, significantly north of Scotland. Officially they belong to Denmark, but in fact life on the Faroe Islands is subject not so much to the Danish crown as to its own laws and rules. Tourists are not welcomed here by azure waters, luxury hotels and well-trained bartenders serving colorful cocktails to vacationers on the beach. The nearest inhabited coast is Icelandic, and it is located 450 km away. But if you're looking for a place to get away from it all, the Faroe Islands are perfect.

In one of its publications, National Geographic magazine named the Faroe Islands the best islands in the world. It seems that even their residents themselves more than agree with this characterization.

How to get to the Faroe Islands

By plane to Tórshavn with a transfer through Denmark (Copenhagen) or Norway (Bergen or Stavanger). The most popular local transport in the Faroe Islands is, naturally, water, and you need to travel between the islands by ferry. In summer, you can also take a ferry from Bergen to Tórshavn.

Visa

The Faroe Islands are not part of the Schengen area. To visit these territories, it is necessary to obtain a national Danish visa, valid for entry into the Faroe Islands, in addition to the regular Danish Schengen visa. If the tourist already has a valid Schengen visa from another country, it is enough to apply for a national Danish visa with a note on entry to the Faroe Islands. The list of required documents and the process of obtaining a visa to the Faroe Islands is identical to the process of obtaining a Schengen visa to Denmark.

Search for flights to Copenhagen (the closest airport to the Faroe Islands)

A little history

In total, the Faroe Islands include 18 islands, and all but the last one, Little Dimun, are inhabited by people. The first inhabitants appeared on the islands around the 8th-9th centuries; Then the Vikings saw the islands and for some time served as a transit point on their sea expeditions. The Faroe Islands were once divided between Norway and Denmark, but at the beginning of the 19th century they were completely taken over by the Danes. During World War II, the islands were occupied by Great Britain in response to the German capture of Denmark (this did not affect the course of the war in any way). The next year after the end of the war, the Faroe Islands were about to secede from the Danish kingdom, but that was not the case: the most that the islanders achieved was partial sovereignty.

In one of its publications, National Geographic magazine named the Faroe Islands the best islands in the world (this is a consolidated expert assessment of half a thousand specialists in the tourism industry). It seems that even their residents themselves more than agree with this characterization. Despite the fact that the economy of the islands rests, figuratively speaking, on sheep and herring, the weather is gloomy, and fuel and other essential items have to be purchased on the mainland five hundred kilometers away, the standard of living in the Faroe Islands is one of the highest in the world. And almost all the islanders are ardent patriots who optimistically paint their houses in different colors in spite of the gloomy weather and gray skies.

Due to fishing taxes unacceptable to local residents, the Faroe Islands have not yet joined the European Union.

Faroese cuisine

Traditional Faroese dishes, dense and simple, are all quite interesting, but by modern standards they cannot be called healthy. Although local dishes, for obvious reasons, are often prepared from fish, the Faroese themselves prefer fatty and unsalted meat, in particular lamb, and potatoes from vegetables. However, recently more and more European establishments have been opening in large populated areas. So you need to look specifically for traditional restaurants to try smørrebrød (a sandwich with butter and meat, eaten with cutlery) for breakfast, dried cod soup and lamb kidneys for lunch, and puffin rhubarb pie for dinner and potatoes.

Weather in the Faroe Islands

The climate here cannot be called mild: in summer it usually does not get warmer than +15 °C, it rains about 280 days a year, and the winds blow almost constantly. Therefore, there are few trees on the islands - solid rocks and moss, but there are a lot of carved picturesque fjords, bays, bays and mountains.

In winter, the islands are very wet and particularly cold. But the Gulf Stream washing them prevents the coastal waters from freezing and even maintains their temperature at about +10 °C. This season, when there are no people around and the water is especially clear, is considered ideal for diving enthusiasts.

3 things to do in the Faroe Islands:

1. Buy and bring home to your grandmother several skeins of local first-class sheep wool for knitting. This can be done at almost any grocery store.
2. Get to the town of Skopun on Sandoy Island, where the largest mailbox in the world is located. This is a huge blue structure several human heights, against which you should definitely take a photo (alas, the box is non-functional).
3. Try local dried meat and fish snacks: whale meat and lamb in the Faroe Islands are dried in a dozen different ways, sometimes for a year.

Entertainment and attractions of the Faroe Islands

The main city of Faroe is Tórshavn on the island of Streymoy, and it is quite picturesque and specific. But, of course, those who travel to the Faroe Islands do not come to see the city's attractions. The main thing people come to the Faroe Islands for is amazing nature, solitude and the feeling that you are on the edge of the earth.

Tórshavn

The capital of the islands, Tórshavn, has a mixed atmosphere: partly port, partly metropolitan, partly even somewhat rural. Here it is worth visiting, first of all, the ancient monastery of Munkastovan, built in the 15th century and surrounded by a stone wall. In the 17th century, a major fire raged in the city, but the monastery escaped destruction. Also interesting is the main museum on the islands - the historical one, where various examples of applied art and worship, traditional household utensils and household items of villagers, fishermen and sailors are collected. The main cultural center of Tórshavn is the Nordic House, where there is a conference hall, a concert hall, a library and an art gallery. On summer nights, special educational events are held here for tourists.

Faroe Islands: Fugloy, Kalsoy, Sandoy

Attractions Faroe is each island separately, each with its own special nature, cute rural houses under multi-colored roofs (and often covered with turf and grass), coastal cliffs in a foggy haze. In some you will find ancient Lutheran churches, in most - numerous flocks of sheep in green meadows, and in all - the cleanest air and cold blue sky, not polluted by industrial enterprises, which are not here.

Many of the islands have earned special fame due to the characteristics of the landscape, climate, flora or fauna. For example, on Fugloy Island (“Bird Island”) sea birds nest in large numbers. Here, high, more than half a kilometer cliffs cut into the water, favored by millions of birds. The even more mountainous Kalsoy (“Pipe Island”) is surprising, however, not for its mountains, but quite the opposite - for its underground passages and caves. And the “flat” of all, Sandoy, is famous for something else: here you can admire wide sand dunes near the shore, and on the hill there are two beautiful lakes.

Faroe islands

Leisure

The island of Vioj is home to one of the highest cliffs in Europe, Enniberg, which climbers have tried unsuccessfully to conquer for many decades. And north of Skarvanes on the island of Kalsoy, the cape ends with a sharp prong sticking up - Tretlkonufingur, “Trollwoman’s Finger”. Amateur fishermen should go to the island of Streymoy, where Lake Pollur, the most fertile lake in terms of fishing, is located: there you can catch not only ordinary salmon, but also large halibut and eels. Vagar Island is famous for the Slave rock with a lake located high in the mountains: the water from it gushes over a rocky cliff near the village of Gasadapur and falls straight into the ocean, and together with the rocky ridge in the background and the village in the middle, all this is a spectacle that is definitely worth see. And on the island of Nolsoy there are large seal rookeries - also an incredible picture.

Vagar Island is famous for the Slave rock with a lake located high in the mountains: the water from it overflows over a rocky cliff near the village of Gasadapur and falls straight into the ocean.

Culture and customs of the Faroe Islands

The Faroe Islands' own culture developed far from European civilization and therefore has largely retained its exclusivity to this day. This is a bizarre interweaving of Danish and its own cultural heritage, which is well reflected in local folk festivals. For example, Faroese round dances are a very special phenomenon, without which not a single entertainment event is complete. You can see them, for example, at the festival of St. Olaf (Oulavsøk), who once baptized Norway, at the end of July, as well as at traditional rowing competitions between villages, horse competitions, and painting exhibitions. Oulavsöka embraces all the islands without exception, but in certain parts of the archipelago other festivals are held throughout the year - July Vestanstevna in the west, Noriyastevna in the north, Jouansöka in the south.

One of the specific traditions of the islanders, which causes at least ambivalence among guests of the Faroes, is the summer slaughter of whales.

Whaling

For more than a thousand years, the inhabitants of Faroe have been largely fed by whaling. Having discovered a school of whales (or rather, dolphins) entering the bay, they are surrounded by boats, driven to the shore and there, literally, they are killed with knives, causing all the water near the shore to change color. The tradition has drawn outrage from animal rights activists, but it is as characteristic of the local culture as round dances, and at the same time much more vital for a region whose only sources of income are, in fact, fishing, sheep farming and agriculture. Whale meat, a traditional and much-loved dish on the islands, is neither exported nor sold: it is eaten by the miners themselves, as in prehistoric times.

Not everyone will be able to quickly show where exactly the Faroe Islands are on the map. At the same time, more and more tourists are going there. They are mainly attracted by the opportunity to take a break from noisy resorts, vibrant cities and city dust.

Located in the Norwegian Sea between Iceland and the Scottish Islands, the archipelago consists of 18 islands, of which 17 are inhabited. The population is 48 thousand. It is noteworthy that almost half of these people live in the capital or its suburbs. The Faroe region is considered bilingual. The official languages ​​are Danish and Faroese, which combines different West Scandinavian dialects.

To date, there are no direct air flights from Russia to the islands. Therefore, tourists have to change planes in Denmark or Norway. You can pre-book your flight ticket using the Internet. You can get from one island to another by several means of transport, including by ferry. For some tourists, it is most convenient to travel around the islands on a boat hired for an additional fee.

Although the Faroe Islands belong to Denmark, you cannot enter their territory with a Schengen visa. The refusal to join the European Union was deliberate and was associated with taxes on fishing. Therefore, to get to the archipelago, you need to apply for a visa, which will have a special note. There are special visa centers where you can do this in many big cities. However, most travelers prefer the services of travel agencies. All necessary documents are transferred to the agency, and then the employees hand over the completed visas to the clients.

Climatic and weather conditions

The islands are located in the central part of a warm sea current known as the Gulf Stream. Therefore, this place has a constant off-season. Throughout the year, the number of sunny days does not exceed 80, and the rest of the time it rains. In addition, even in sunny weather strong winds blow. The most comfortable time to visit the archipelago will be the summer months, when precipitation is rare.

The Faroe Islands have a fairly mild climate. Average temperatures for winter range from approximately 0˚C to +4˚C. Summer temperature is 11-17˚C. The rainy season lasts from September to January on the islands. Further, the archipelago is plunged into fog, which does not allow the rays of the sun to pass through.

Another feature: the water near the islands is perfectly clear, and its temperature, even in winter, does not drop below +10˚C. This creates ideal conditions for fishing and diving in winter.

Nature

For those who prefer a holiday surrounded by pristine nature, the Faroe Islands are an ideal option. Most of the territory is occupied by peat bogs, meadows and mountain ranges. Numerous lakes and fjords, gorges, cliffs and waterfalls will not leave anyone indifferent.

There are few trees on the islands, only occasionally you can see conifers, maples or mountain ash trees. Fauna connoisseurs can devote their free time on the archipelago to watching dolphins, seabirds, whales and seals. There are also incredibly large numbers of sheep grazing on the hills of these islands.

Sights of the archipelago

Of course, many tourists consider the main attractions in the Faroe Islands to be beautiful mountains and slopes with flocks of sheep, as well as compact towns and colorful roofs on houses.

Lovers of natural attractions will also appreciate the unique features of the different islands. For example, Streymoy is a paradise for fishing lovers. Here you can catch halibut, eels and even representatives of the salmon family. Nolsoy attracts tourists with its seal rookeries, and Fugloy with the fact that it is loved by millions of birds. And the northern settlement of Skarvanes is famous for a beautiful sea cliff called Tretlkonufingur, which translated means “troll woman’s finger.”

The archipelago also has a large selection of excursion programs. For example, this could be a visit to the capital and small villages or boat trips.

The capital of the islands, Tórshavn, is located in an incredibly picturesque area. Much of the village juts out over the fjord, offering stunning views of the mountains and steep cliffs. Tórshavn is a very quiet city. It is noisy only in the central square and on the piers.

The main attraction of the capital is the Munkastovan Monastery, built in the 15th century. It is noteworthy that the monastery, surrounded by a stone wall, is one of the few buildings that survived the great fire that raged in the 17th century.

Many will be interested in visiting the Historical Museum. Among its exhibits are ship models, fishing gear and agricultural implements, ranging from Viking times to the present day. Also here you can see items that local residents used in everyday life. There are also exhibits that are valuable from a religious point of view.

The House of Server Countries is also definitely worth a visit. There is an art gallery and a concert hall, and on summer evenings educational events are held for guests of the archipelago.

After a walk through Vidarlund Park, it is worth going to the Art Museum to see delightful examples of painting and sculpture.

If your trip to the archipelago is in July, you should plan your vacation so that you are sure to be on the islands on the 28th-29th. During this period, local people nationally celebrate St. Olaf's Day. According to tradition, celebrations include ceremonial religious and dance processions, art exhibitions, and rowing and equestrian competitions.

Gastronomic nuances

National cuisine has a close relationship with the climate of the archipelago. The two main ingredients that are used in preparing various dishes are lamb and fish. Gourmets visiting the Faroe Islands should definitely try local delicacies such as sheep's head and whale meat. No less interesting is ruyskjet (meat that has been dried for several months) and skärpiket – meat that has been dried for more than a year and is consumed without any processing. Often the same cooking method is used for drying fish.

Those tourists who prefer traditional cuisine should order fried lamb at the restaurant. You can also try puffins (this is the name of small birds), stuffed with sweet dough, served with potatoes and sweet berries.

It may surprise many that rhubarb is added to food everywhere here. Another interesting feature is that there are practically no fish shops on the islands. If the islanders want to cook fish, they catch it themselves, and after cooking they serve it with a side dish of rice or potatoes.

It is worth noting that the most popular drinks on the islands are coffee and tea. Locals often add herbs that grow on mountain slopes to tea. Alcoholic drinks are officially permitted from the age of 18. However, if light beer can be purchased everywhere, then low-alcohol drinks, strong dark beer and wine can only be purchased in government stores and in restaurants that have a special license.

Lunch at a regular restaurant will cost approximately $30. In higher-level establishments it will already be $45-50. The most budget-friendly snack option can be found in local cafes.

Where to stay?

After arriving in the capital, you can check into a three-star hotel. For example, it could be "Streim" or "Tórshavn". For those who like more comfortable conditions, “Hafniya” and “Feroyar” are suitable. It is worth noting that all hotels offer tourists rooms with private amenities. Also provided is transfer from the airport and back, free access to Wi-Fi. Hotel rates start from $120. Although you can get a seasonal discount.

A more economical accommodation option is a hostel or guest house. The most popular are “Bládýpi” and “Skansin”, but you should book rooms in them several months in advance. There are also mini-hotels on the islands where you can spend the night and have breakfast. Accommodation prices depend on the time of year and start from $80.

For tourists who prefer relaxing close to nature, campsites are available. Local residents value order very much, so campers are required to maintain cleanliness and thoroughly clean before leaving.

Main types of entertainment

​ There are many varieties of fish in coastal waters. Therefore, not only local residents, but also tourists are fond of fishing. By the way, according to the laws, any fish can be exported from this country if its length exceeds 30 cm.

​ The Faroe Islands are extremely interesting for wreck divers. After all, you can find sunken ships here. And near Nolsoy Island, divers like to watch how seals live underwater.

​ Those who cannot imagine a proper holiday without nightclubs should visit the capital’s “Rex” and “Eclipse”. However, it is worth considering that only young people aged 18-25 are allowed into the second club.

What to buy?

The most popular souvenirs are items made of wool, wood and ceramics. Due to the climate, the islanders cannot imagine their life without woolen clothes and accessories. Therefore, here you can always buy a stylish sweater, hat or gloves at an attractive price.

It is worth considering that from Monday to Thursday, most stores are open from 9:00 to 18:00. On Friday, the working day is often extended by another hour. But on Saturday everything closes earlier, and Sunday is a day off.

1.​ The most optimal transport for getting to the archipelago is an airplane. But there is only one international airport - Vagar, located near the village of Sorvagur.

2.​ To travel around the islands, you can rent a car. It will cost at least $60 per day. To rent, you must be over 20 years old, have a credit card and an international driver's license.

3.​ Tourists who prefer public transport can purchase maps with routes and schedules at Steinatún kiosks.

4.​ Traveling to the Faroe Islands is quite expensive. But when leaving the country, if you have a receipt from stores operating under the Tax Free system, you can return VAT. But only if the purchase amount in the receipt exceeds $48.

5.​ It is not customary to leave a tip on this archipelago. Staff remuneration is most often immediately included in the bill.

6.​ You can fish if you have a license, which is sold at tourist offices. If a tourist wants to take his fishing gear, he must sanitize it in advance.

7.​ The climate in the Faroe Islands is very changeable, so you must take warm clothes and several pairs of comfortable shoes with you on the road.

Visa information

To obtain a visa in Moscow, you can contact the Danish Embassy. You must have with you:

• ​ 2 photographs;
•  completed application form;
• ​ foreign passport (its expiration date must expire at least 3 months after the expiration of the visa) and its copy;
• ​ national passport and its copy;
• ​ insurance policy (coverage amount cannot be less than 30 thousand €);
• ​ bank account statement;
• ​ confirmation that the hotel has been booked;
• ​ certificate from place of work or study.

Or simply the Faroe Islands - an archipelago located in the north Atlantic Ocean, almost halfway between Iceland and Great Britain. It belonged to Denmark until 1948, when an agreement was concluded giving the Faroe Islands limited sovereignty.

The Faroe Islands have the status of an autonomous region of the Danish Kingdom with independent governance in all matters except foreign policy and defense. The distance from the metropolis in a straight line is about 1,000 kilometers.

• The closest areas are the sparsely populated areas of northern Scotland (Shetland Islands - 260 km) and Iceland (450 km)

Attractions

Of the 18 islands that make up the archipelago, only one is uninhabited - Litla Dimun (with an area of ​​about 0.8 km2). And this is worthy of surprise - given, in general, not the most hospitable weather conditions.

The population of the other 17 islands (Bordoi, Esturoy, Fugloy, Hestur, Kalsoy, Koltur, Kunoy, Mykines, Nolsoy, Sandoy, Skuvoy, Stora Dimun, Streymoy, Suduroy, Svinoy, Vagar, Vidoy) ranges from 2 (Koltur) to 21 thousand inhabitants (Streymoy).

It is simply necessary to look at all the diversity - it is a unique attraction in its own way. Perhaps the most sparsely populated and unlittered corner of Europe in Europe! The roads in the Faroe Archipelago are of excellent quality, and the landscapes even have something unearthly about them.

There will be no need to be distracted by castles and other palaces - they have never been here. All attention to the green hills, rocks growing from the icy sea, sunrises and sunsets, fogs and other natural delights.

There is enough air and prospects here - believe me, a trip to the Faroe Islands is no worse than a trip through the Norwegian fjords (even an expensive pleasure) or discovering a distant one!

Description

Tórshavn was founded in the 10th century in the southeast of Streymoy and named after the god of thunder and lightning, Thor. The name literally means “Thor's harbor”.

The Faroe Islands are a self-governing parliamentary democracy within a constitutional monarchy. The head of the country is the Queen of Denmark.

As an autonomous part of the Kingdom of Denmark, according to the law on local self-government, the archipelago has its own supreme legislative authority - the parliament (Løgting) and the government (Landsstuyri). There is always a royal auditor (ombudsman) present in parliament.

However, he is entrusted with only an observational function. Also two representatives of the islands are permanent members of the Danish parliament, the Folketing.

The local economy is based on fishing and fish processing, small boat conversion and folk crafts. The GDP of this sparsely populated country is over $2 billion, which makes the Faroese very wealthy people (annual per capita income exceeds $45 thousand. Unemployment is about 5.5%, which is explained not so much by the rosy state of the economy as by the migration of young people to Denmark.

Large islands

Streymoy (374 km2) is the largest and most populated (about 21.5 thousand inhabitants). Almost half of the country’s population lives on the “island of currents”. The capital of Faroe Islands, the city of Torskvan, is also located here. The terrain is hilly, with the highest point being Kopsenny Peak (789 m).

Esturoy (286 km2) is the second largest and most populous (about 10.5 thousand inhabitants), literally translated as “eastern island”. A road bridge was built between Streymoy and Esturoy. The highest point in the country is located here - Slattaratindur Peak (882 m).

Vágar (177 km2) is the third largest island by area with a population of approximately 2,785 inhabitants. The only international airport in the archipelago, Vagar, is located here.

Suduroy (163 km2), literally translated as “southern island”, is inhabited by about 5 thousand inhabitants.

Geography and climate

The Faroe Islands have rugged, rocky terrain with several low mountain peaks and a steep, rugged coastline replete with long fjords.

The archipelago does not have particularly high mountains, and there are no large rivers or lakes. Although if you look at the photo, it seems that the entire archipelago is a series of mountains and valleys. The highest point of the Faroe Islands is on the island of Esturoy - this is the peak of Slattaratindur (882 m above sea level).

A distinct maritime subarctic climate prevails. The general character is determined by the influence of the Atlantic Ocean, and in particular, the North Atlantic Current. And although the warm Gulf Stream somewhat softens the cold, summer here is usually cold: the average air temperature in July is +11-+17 °C.

Winter is very mild for these latitudes. In January, the thermometers show from 0 to + 4 °C.

Cloudy weather prevails all year round, with rain, strong winds and fog. And the sun is perceived as a gift.

When to go

The best time to visit the Faroe Islands is from May to October. July and August are the peak tourist season, and since you won’t be able to swim anyway, get here in late May or early June. Prices are lower, and there are many fewer curious people!

You may ask: why not go in winter, if the Gulf Stream warms the islands and the weather is generally very mild (ideally calm Christmas and New Year)? And we will answer: a very short day and a high probability of inclement weather. In summer, on the contrary, the duration of daylight hours reaches 19 hours and... go for a walk - I don’t want to!

Where to stay

Tórshavn and its surrounding areas offer the widest choice of hotels and individual apartments. Even on New Year's, you can find options from 65 € per night, but generally the price is 80-100 €.

How to get there

The easiest way to fly to the Faroe Islands is from Copenhagen - after all, Denmark remains a metropolis and is obliged to provide good transport accessibility for (partially) its own citizens.

Vagar Airport is the only one in the archipelago, located on the island of the same name. The latter is connected to Streymoy and Tórshavn by a highway, laid, among other things, through an underwater tunnel. Distance - 45 km.

During the day, bus No. 300 runs regularly (schedule: www.ssl.fo/en/timetable/bus/300-torshavn-airport-soervagur/). You can also get there by taxi. Next, it is wiser to rent a car to fully enjoy the local scenery.

A Schengen visa is not applicable here (this is if you run into passport control, which was previously very rare for domestic flights) - you need a national Danish one with a special stamp giving the right to visit the islands.

However, there are a lot of stories about trips through Schengen on the Internet - let us remind you that, most likely, you will fly here from Copenhagen, and you will be allowed into Denmark with a multiple visa from any country that is part of the agreement.

There are only two ways to arrive and both are quite obvious.

1. By plane from Denmark, Great Britain, Norway, or Iceland. Local Faroese airline Atlantic Airways flies to airports in Copenhagen and Aalborg, Oslo and Bergen, even London. Flights depart from Kastrup, for example, up to 5 times a week. This is in the summer - less often in winter
2. Ferries also go to the Faroe Islands from Denmark. They depart from the port of Hirthals in the north of the Jutland Peninsula twice a week in summer and once in winter. The operating company is Smyril Line, there is only one ferry, Norröna. Unfortunately, the pleasure is not cheap: traveling back and forth with a car will cost from 236 euros out of season!

Visa

Please note that theoretically a regular Schengen visa may not be enough to visit Faroe Islands: Denmark requires not only a national visa, but also a separate stamp to visit the archipelago.

Passport control used to be a rare occurrence and therefore a regular European multiple visa was sufficient. But now, due to the influx of refugees, it is better not to risk it and get the coveted mark in advance.