A visit to the Faroe Islands has always been a dream of mine… ever since I discovered all about them many a year ago!
I’d love to tell you a long, romanticised story of how I longed to visit the Faroe Islands since I was a young boy…etc, but honestly, I only really knew they existed once I started travelling and boy, I’m glad I did!
From its rugged peaks, dramatic valleys and cliffside waterfalls, the Faroe Islands is a country that’ll be forever seared in my memory.
It’s one of those countries that you can’t believe exists until you visit it and once you do, it just sticks with you and won’t let you go (I’m already planning our return back so I can see the puffins or the Northern Lights – I’ll happily take either!).
The whole country is so rich in diversity (and a great deal of sheep) that it honestly deserves a spot on everyone’s travel lust list.
How to get to the Faroe Islands
The Faroe Islands are a short flight from the UK (approx 1.5 hours away from Edinburgh) and a couple of hours (approximately) from the Nordic countries, including Iceland.
You can fly direct with Atlantic Airways, the official airline of the Faroe Islands, and we took the train up from London, stayed a couple of nights in Edinburgh for a long-awaited catch-up with friends and carried on to the Faroe Islands! Edinburgh. It was the perfect excuse to rediscover the Scottish capital city, whilst enjoying lashings of Scottish food and wine!
If flying isn’t your thing, some cruises operate from many Nordic countries, and they regularly make planned stop-offs in the Faroe Islands en route to Iceland. Though it’s worth noting that the ships can’t dock under certain weather conditions, so fingers crossed for good weather if you decide to go by cruise ship.
What to pack
I’m my excitement for our trip to the Faroe Islands, I planned every minute detail on what I’d need to pack, squeeze into my luggage and wear for our epic adventure across the country! You can read my ‘Essential Packing List For A Visit To The Faroe Islands’.
The 11 most amazing sights you’ve got to see in the Faroe Islands!
There’s so much to see and do in the Faroe Islands that it’s hard to pinpoint a finite list! We managed to see so much when we visited, with every day filled with some of the most awe-inspiring sights I have ever seen!
To be honest, there’s a stunning sight everywhere you turn here – even the drive from the airport to the hotel is bound to leave you speechless and in awe of the islands.
These are the 11 sights you have to see when you visit!
1.) Saksun Church, Streymoy
Saksun Church is on the island of Streymoy, around 45 45-minute drive from the airport and an hour or so from the capital city of Torshavn. The village itself is made up of only a few houses and a multitude of sheep that keep watch over this timeless church that almost looks forgotten to the outside world.
Take a wander around the area and discover the dramatic inlet and beautiful scenery that surrounds this most beautiful of Faroese churches.
2.) Mulafossur Waterfall (Vagar Island)
Situated on the same island as the airport, Mulafossur Waterfall is easily reached by car (and a mountain tunnel or two).
3.) Lake Sørvágsvatn, Suduroy
Ever since I found out about the Faroe Islands, I knew I had to visit here. The lake itself is perched high on the edge of some of the highest cliffs on the island, which is relatively easy to discover after a 1 hr hike.
Standing at the very top of the cliffs was exhilarating and rather terrifying in equal measure! By the time we reached the cliff edge, my legs had turned to jelly and I gained a rather sudden fear of extreme heights – thankfully, all was worth it for that incredible view!
4.) Meet the locals
In the Faroe Islands, there are 2 sheep per person, so you’re more likely to bump into sheep here than you are people (statistically, of course). The best part about the sheep here is how they’re so perfect for the terrain. Seriously, you find them having from the edge of steep mountains and in places even human beings would refuse to tread!
While you’re here, you might even come across a few goslings (and not the Ryan type) too!
And don’t forget the puffins! We arrived too early for them, but like I said before, all the more reason to return!
5.) Horse ride across the tundra
Not long ago, Faroese horses were almost extinct, meaning that population numbers are still very low.
Famously stubborn, Faroese horses aren’t the most cooperative to ride, so everyone on the island (including me) rides the resident and placid Icelandic horses. After learning some more riding techniques, we even went proper full-on fast Hollywood-movie style galloping! First time too and so excited I wanna do it all over again!
6.) Tinganes, Torshavn
This old parliament ‘jetty’ of Torshavn is one of the oldest governing points not only in the country but in the world!
The governing clan used to meet here in Viking times to discuss how and in what ways to manage the islands. Nowadays, there are no Vikings to be seen, just lots of quaint buildings with ‘sod roofs’ (that’s grassy roofs to you and me).
Also, for one of the best hotels in the Faroe Islands, make sure to book this room at Hotel Føroyar. It’s right on the fringes of Torshavn and such a great place to base yourself as you explore the wider Faroe Islands.
7.) View the sea inlet at Sund, Streymoy Island
This ocean inlet is an epic vantage point, especially when the sea is still. In the fog, the whole landscape becomes magically eerie – something that made my adventure across Streymoy Island all the more dramatic…. and made for a pretty fantastic photo too!
8.) Discover the dramatic coast around Vestmanna
The best way to explore Vestmanna and its surrounding coast is by boat!
After grabbing our ticket from the village, we jumped on board and headed straight out to sea for 3 hours or so. Honestly, the views are incredible! The mountains and their sheer cliffs (complete with huge caves) made me feel as though we’d arrived on the set of Jurassic Park.
9.) Fossa Waterfall (near Nesvík, Streymoy Island)
I actually hadn’t heard of Fossa, the highest waterfall in the country, before visiting, but as soon as I did, I knew I had to visit. Around 35 minutes north of the capital of Torshavn, Fossa is a picture-perfect place to see the sheer power of Mother Nature.
10.) Syðradalur
There are a multitude of sea tunnels and mountain tunnels that link the Faroe Islands together, so when you’re here, get a car and drive across the ‘scenic’ older roads that are perched on the side of the valleys and shores themselves.
We did several of these roads, and they’re a perfect way to ‘get lost’ in the Faroe Islands. (Truth – the islands are too small to actually get properly lost here, so feel free to throw caution to the wind and go for a map-less route-less drive across the country!)
It was on one of the said drives to come across the pretty little town of Syðradalur, with beautiful views of the south-west of Streymoy Island.
11.) Watch the sunset over Tindhólmur
Tindhólmur is one of the many tiny uninhabited islands that surround the larger Vágar island. Its jagged cliff and almost vertical peak make this a great spot to watch the sunset, and it can easily be visited on the way back to the capital city from seeing Mýlfossur Waterfall.
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