The Faroe Islands: 5 Things I Learned
by Michael Bennett, Ed.D. | Co-Founder of Explorer X
I recently returned from an 8-day / 7-night scouting trip to the Faroe Islands. For those of you who aren’t sure what and/or where the Faroe Islands are, you are not alone: Most people, if they have even heard of the Faroes, couldn’t find them on a map. Here is a little help :)
The Faroe Islands are an 18-island archipelago located due north of the United Kingdom, adrift between the Norwegian Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean. As some Europeans like to say, the Faroe Islands were created by those sailing from Norway to Iceland that were too seasick to make the full journey. The name ‘Faroe Islands’ means “Sheep Islands,” and for good reason: There are more sheep that live there now (about 80,000) than people (54,000).
Since 1948, the Faroe Islands have been a self-governing nation under the external sovereignty of the Kingdom of Denmark. This means the islands have exclusive competence to legislate and govern independently within a wide range of areas, such as trade, taxation, social security, and education.
The Faroes are an unfathomably beautiful place to visit. Here are 5 of my biggest takeaways from my time there.
1. The Faroe Islands are really beautiful.
The Faroe Islands are seriously, stunningly, breathtakingly beautiful. The best way I can describe them is this: If Ireland and Iceland had a baby, it would be the Faroes. With lush green pastures and rolling hills dotted with sheep, majestic cliffs and mountains (also dotted with sheep), and lakes, fjords, and waterfalls, you feel like you are walking through a postcard pretty much the entire time. Taking a bad photo of the Faroes seems like an impossible task.
2. The locals are welcoming and proud.
From dinner in the home of local farmers – be sure to check out Hanusarstova and enjoy dinner with Harriet, John, and their sheep (including the famous Elias) – to interacting with folks around town, I found the Faroese to be friendly and kind people who are proud yet humble.
Of course, life on 18 remote islands in the North Atlantic has its pros and cons: The simplicity is endearing and quaint, and the Faroes are a wonderful place to embrace the ‘slow travel’ mindset, reconnect with nature and loved ones, and take a much-needed deep breath of ocean air.
With that, you’ll also find many of the locals hold perspectives on things like whaling that are admittedly steeped in the long traditions and history of the islands but that can feel a bit outdated in today’s world.
3. The Faroes are surprisingly easy to get to … and get around
Atlantic Airways, the national airline of the Faroes, has regular routes to/from major airports throughout Europe, including Copenhagen, Reykjavik, Oslo, and Paris, making it surprisingly easy to get there. During the summer, there are even direct flights from New York’s Stewart International Airport (SWF).
Once you are there, getting around the islands is also a breeze: The roads are very well taken care of and there are even undersea tunnels that connect the islands (including an undersea roundabout!). Of course, ferries and boats are readily available and the friendly locals are always willing to give you directions should you lose your way.
4. Visit the Faroes in the Summer.
I was there in late-September, and while we had a sunny day or two, the weather was pretty much what you might expect from a bunch of islands in the North Atlantic in the Fall: Cold, windy, and wet.
For predictably nicer weather, traveling to the Faroes in June, July, and August is your best bet. Opportunities for hiking abound, there are some fun festivals, and with warmer weather and sunnier days, the summer is the perfect time to visit.
(Note: Late-May and early-September may also work.)
5. Add a stay in Copenhagen.
The Faroe Islands are absolutely amazing, but my experience was that after a week, I felt like I had seen and done pretty much all that I had set out to. It is, afterall, a very small country.
Since getting to/from the Islands almost always includes a stopover someplace, my recommendation is to take a few nights before and/or after to explore Copenhagen. It’s a world-class city with lovely little neighborhoods, great accommodation options, an incredible food scene, and some of the most beautiful people on the planet. (Seriously, 65% of the people in Denmark could be models.)
3—4 nights in Copenhagen sandwiched around a week in the Faroes sounds like the recipe for an incredible adventure!
Those are just a handful of the many things I learned about the Faroe Islands during my time there. If you have questions, want to learn more, or – better yet – want to begin planning your adventure to the Faroes, reach out to us to begin your Journey.
The Visit Faroe Islands website also has a ton of amazing information and inspiration for you!