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Faroe islands translated from Faroese - “Sheep Islands”. In English they are called Faroe Islands. They represent a separate island group and are not known to many tourists. Not everyone will immediately answer the question of where the Faroe Islands are on the world map. But nevertheless, they are of interest to travelers, as they represent a corner untouched nature and peace.

In contact with

Faroese Parliament and Government

About the Faroe Islands, Wikipedia reports that they are located in the northern part of the Atlantic between Iceland and Shetland Islands related to Scotland. It is impossible to give a clear answer to the question of which country the Faroe Islands belong to. On the one hand, they are part of, on the other hand, since 1948, they have independently resolved almost all issues of state policy, except for foreign and defense.

The Faroes have their own legislative body - parliament (Løgting), which represents 6 political parties . It has 33 members. And also the executive body is the Landsstüyri and the only court. There are two representatives from the Faroes in the Danish Parliament.

The Faroe Islands, although related to Europe, are not part of the European Union. They are not an independent entity in terms of international law and sign treaties jointly with Denmark. Representatives of individual parties advocate complete independence of the Faroe Islands from Denmark.

Capital, population

The main port of the Faroe Islands, the city of Tórshavn is the capital of the country. It is located on the island of Stromoy (area 373.5 sq. kilometers), in its southeastern part. About 20 thousand people live in the capital.

The entire population of the country has about 50 thousand people. The main language is Faroese, the vast majority of residents are Faroese (about 90%). Behind them come the Danes, Icelanders and the British. Surprisingly, Russians also live here. In 2011 there were 55 people.

Culture, traditions of the Faroe Islands

The main religion is Lutheranism, but there are also Christians. There are many architecturally interesting churches from the Middle Ages.

The distinctive culture of the islands - literature, music, dance - is based on closely intertwined local and Danish traditions. Folklore and jazz festivals are often held in the Faroe Islands.

Oulavsjoka

The main holiday is Oulavsöka, which takes place July 28-29. It is named after Olaf, the saint who introduced Christianity to Norway.

The festival program includes:

Slaughter grind

An integral part of Faroese social culture is the slaughter of black pilot whales. This event mainly takes place in the summer, not of a commercial nature and organized by communities. Anyone can take part in it, but mostly men do it, and women only watch.

This fishery has historical roots. It is due to the fact that, due to climatic conditions, vegetables and grains grow poorly on the islands, so for centuries the population had to meat and fat are needed, including pilot whales. About 950 heads are harvested annually, which provides 500 tons of meat and fat and accounts for 30% of the total amount of meat products produced on the islands. These products are not exported, are not sold in stores, they are consumed by families.

The fishery has faced criticism and radical action from animal rights and marine conservation groups. They consider it cruel and not caused by a vital necessity. At the same time, local whalers talk about its economic importance.

Butterfly shawls

Sheep farming is developed in the Faroe Islands. They are also famous for the fact that hand-knitting shawls from the wool of local sheep is common here. These products differ from other types of shawls and scarves in a very unusual shape, similar to the shape of a butterfly. This design has practical significance. Thanks to it, the shawl remains on the shoulders while moving, even if it is not tied.

Faroe Islands Climate

Wikipedia says that the climate in the Faroe Islands is temperate maritime. Winters are warm and summers are cool and humid. The warmest month is July with a temperature of 0–4 °C, and the coldest month is January with a temperature of 11–17 °C. Up to 2 thousand mm of precipitation falls per year. It mainly rains, which occurs for about 9 months a year from September to January, and there is frequent fog on the islands.

The archipelago is washed by the Gulf Stream, a warm sea current, due to which the coastal waters have a temperature of +10°C throughout the year. This factor significantly softens the climate and helps create optimal living conditions for marine life, including fish and plankton.

Geography of the Faroe Islands

The area of ​​all Faroe Islands is 1395.74 square meters. kilometers.

They are located at a distance:

• to Copenhagen – 1117 km;
• up to – 675 km;
• to Iceland – 450 km.

In total, the Faroe Islands archipelago consists of 18 large islands, large quantity small and isolated rocks. The largest from the group northern islands is Bora, which is quite densely populated (about 5 thousand people), and has an area of ​​95 square meters. kilometers. It is home to the second largest city in the Faroe Islands, Klaksvik.

On the island of Esturoy there is the highest point of the Faroe Islands - Slattaratindur Peak, whose height is 882 meters above sea level. There are fjords along all the islands, so their coastline is very indented. The land surface is mostly rocky, consisting of basalt. Here high slopes alternate with plateaus. They are separated by deep gorges.

Fauna and flora of the Faroe Islands

Due to strong winds that blow constantly, there are few forests here. But strong conifers, maple and ash still grow, and lichens and moss, and heather are also very common.

The fauna of the Faroe Islands is represented by large colonies of Arctic birds – guillemots, harp seal rookeries, and it is also rich in fish - cod, herring, halibut.

A breed of sheep called Faroese lives here, hence the name of the island. Sheep of this breed appeared in the 9th century and became an integral part of the local tradition. Their image is on the Faroese coat of arms. The breed is mainly raised for meat, but, as mentioned above, wool is also used for the production of shawls.

Facts from the history of the Faroe Islands

• Until the 14th century, the Faroe Islands belonged to Norway, then Norway and Denmark owned them jointly. And since 1814 the islands became Danish. Their inhabitants are descended from Scandinavian peoples, and their language is from ancient Norwegian dialects.
• During World War II, the Faroe Islands were taken under British military control. This happened in 1940 after Nazi troops invaded Denmark. After this, the island's elected body Logting achieved the power to pass laws, and the flag of the Faroe Islands received official recognition. In September 1945, the occupation regime was lifted.
• In 1946, a vote was held among the island population, as a result of which parliament announced secession from the Kingdom of Denmark. However, the Danish government did not recognize this decision and temporarily suspended the work of the Faroese parliament. As a result of the parliamentary struggle, an agreement was signed in April 1948, according to which the islands were given sovereignty, with restrictions on the conduct of foreign policy. Two delegates to the Danish Parliament were elected from the local parliament.
• In 1984, the Faroe Islands were declared nuclear weapon free zone. Today it houses a NATO radar complex and a Danish naval base.

Transport in the Faroe Islands

There are sea, automobile transport and aviation with one airport – Vagar.

Aviation

The national air carrier, Atlantic Airways, provides regular service to:

• Norway – Stavanger and Oslo;
• Denmark - Billun, Aalborg, Copenhagen;
• Iceland - ;
• Great Britain - London, Aberdeen, Shetland.

Between Tórshavn and remote islands With a small number of the population, helicopter communication is carried out on an ongoing basis.

Sea communication

Due to its island location, the main mode of transport is sea. Ferries run between the islands. The national sea carrier is Smyril Line. The marine terminal is located in Tórshavn.

Motor transport

In total there are about 500 kilometers of islands highways. Most of them are mountain serpentine. Since the second half of the twentieth century, large tunnels have been built here, which connect individual settlements with each other. The longest road tunnel is the Noroya tunnel.

How to get to the Faroe Islands

The best way to get to the Faroe Islands is by plane to the capital Tórshavn with a transfer:

• via Denmark from Copenhagen or
• via Norway from Bergen or Stavanger.

In summer, you can travel from Bergen, Norway, to Tórshavn by ferry.

Note! To get to the Faroe Islands Russian citizens you will need it, which is issued by the Danish Embassy in the consular section. It must be marked “valid for Faroe Islands”.

Sights of the capital Faroe Islands

The city of Tórshavn was founded in the 10th century and named after the god of thunder and lightning - Thor. Tórshavn is a picturesque, thriving city. It is unlike other capitals. His dignity is not majestic buildings, and the untouched surrounding nature of amazing beauty and a sense of solitude and peace.

Here it is Main Cathedral , which, like most churches on the islands, belongs to the Evangelical Lutheran Church. It was built in 1788 and then rebuilt. It became a cathedral and the bishop's residence in 1990. It contains such unique items, like a baptismal font dating back to the end of the 16th century, and a crucifix from the beginning of the 18th century.

And also in the capital there is a Lutheran Western Church. It is 40.5 meters high and is the tallest building in the entire archipelago. The year of its construction is 1975. The base of the church building is made of basalt stone, on which there is a dome in the form of a pyramid made of glass and copper. In front of the entrance to the church there is a monument to Sigmundur Brestisson, who began the Christianization of the population of the islands, for which he was killed in 1005.

It is also worth paying attention to the ancient monastery Munkastovan, built in the 15th century and surrounded by stone walls. It was completely preserved despite the fire in the 17th century.

Another attraction of the capital is the main island Historical Museum . It presents examples of applied art, objects of worship, rural life, and household utensils that have been preserved since the times of the Vikings. And also marine accessories: fishing gear, navigation tools and ship models.

The main cultural center of Tórshavn is Nordic House. Its roof is covered with peat. It contains: concert hall, conference room, art gallery, library. Here, on summer nights, so-called Faroese evenings are held for tourists.

Faroe Islands attractions

The most mountainous of all the islands Faroe is Kalsa. Its western coast is continuous with steep cliffs. There are four small settlements on the island, which communicate with each other through a system of tunnels. There are many caves and underground galleries here, for which Kalsa is also called Flut, that is, “flute”. In the north of the island there is the Katlur lighthouse, near which you can see picturesque cliffs and a naturally formed sea arch.

To the north of the village of Skarvanes there is a sea rock of original shape Trötlkonufingur, which means "Troll Woman's Finger". It really resembles a graceful long finger.

The least mountainous of the Faroe Islands is Sandoy, on which sand dunes are located. There are two lakes with clear water here. A colony of guillemots has settled in the west. There is a church on the island. A view of Sandøy is featured on the Faroe Islands 1000 kroner note.

On the island Fugloy, or Bird Island , there are cliffs with a height of 450 to 620 meters. They descend from plateaus located on picturesque mountain ranges and are completely covered with a carpet of Arctic grasses and mosses. These cliffs are home to numerous colonies of seabirds, numbering many millions.

The Danish Embassy in Russia issues citizens, upon special request, a Schengen visa with a special note: “Valid for entry to the Faroe Islands.” "Where is it?" - we are perplexed. The small one, it turns out, also has colonies. True, not tropical, and not far from the metropolis. Well, let's say, not exactly colonies: the islands have their own parliament, which decides virtually all state issues, except for foreign policy and defense. Read about where the Faroe Islands are, what this archipelago is, who inhabits it, etc. We will try to tell you about the natural attractions of the region and how you can get there. You will also learn Interesting Facts about the history and nature of the archipelago.

Where are the Faroe Islands

Locals call their archipelago Förjar. Translated, this means “sheep islands.” Breeding these small ruminants, along with fishing, has long been the backbone of the local economy. Now the sheep population numbers about eighty thousand individuals. Eighteen islands form an archipelago in the North Atlantic Ocean called the Faroe Islands. Where is this in more detail? Between Scotland and Iceland. Reykjavik is approximately 450 kilometers from the Faroe Islands, 650 kilometers from the coast of Norway, and 1,117 kilometers from the capital of Denmark, Copenhagen. In this northern region, the population is small and nationally homogeneous. Even the capital, Tórshavn (Streymoy Island), has a population of only nineteen thousand people. The second largest city, Klaksvik, has five thousand inhabitants. And there is also an island where only one person lives permanently. This is Koltur. Others have 6-11 inhabitants. Faroese make up 91.0% of the total population. Another 6 percent consider themselves Danish. For obvious reasons, there are quite a few immigrants in this region.

Climatic characteristics

Where the Faroe Islands are located, the weather does not please residents with cloudless skies and warm sunshine. The climate here, due to the high latitudes, is quite harsh. Strong winds blow all year round, which is why the landscapes on the archipelago are treeless. There are only artificial plantations of coniferous trees, mountain ash and maple. In winter it is downright cold and damp. However, the Gulf Stream prevents the water off the coast from freezing and even maintains its temperature within +10 degrees. In summer the air warms up to only fifteen, and it rains 280 days a year. Most precipitation falls from early autumn to January. Fogs here are not uncommon, but the norm of life.

Nature and relief

All eighteen islands are indented by fjords coastline. Because the archipelago is part of the Atlantic Rift Ridge protruding above the water, their topography is very mountainous. Most high point- Slattaratindur Peak, which is located on the island of Esturoy, has been unsuccessfully attempted to be conquered by climbers for decades, although its height is only 882 meters above sea level. The Faroe rocks were composed of basalt rocks back in the Cenozoic era. The most mountainous island - Kalsoy - consists entirely of sheer cliffs. Therefore, tunnels were dug between the four small settlements for travel. For this, as well as for the huge number of caves and sea grottoes, it was nicknamed “flute” (Flyut). And the least mountainous is Sandoy. Where the Faroe Islands are located, you wouldn't expect to see sand dunes, but they still exist. On Sandoy you can also admire beautiful lakes and enjoy excellent fishing.

Story

Humanity learned exactly where the Faroe Islands are located approximately 700 years ago. The first settlers on this archipelago covered with sparse vegetation were immigrants from Scotland. But already at the beginning of the 9th century they were ousted by the warlike Vikings. For a long time, the Faroe Islands were a transit point between Scandinavia and Iceland. Until the end of the 14th century, Norway ruled the archipelago. After this, she shared her dominion over the islands with Denmark. In 1814, the latter became the sole owner of the archipelago. When Nazi troops began occupying Denmark, Great Britain, represented by the Prime Minister, dared to retaliate. In April 1940, an English cruiser embarked on a roadstead in the port of Tórshavn. The islands were never captured by the Germans. In 1945, the British left the archipelago. In 1946, a plebiscite was held on the Faroe Islands' secession from Denmark. Parliamentarians were invited to Copenhagen for negotiations. As a result, an agreement was reached on very broad autonomy within the Kingdom.

How to get to the Faroe Islands

The archipelago has only one international airport. It is located on the island of Voar. Its area is 177 km² and its population is three thousand people. Voar is connected to the capital and largest island of the archipelago, Streyma, by a five-kilometer tunnel dug under the seabed. Transport links between settlements are excellent. Old roads along mountain serpentines are now increasingly being replaced by underground tunnels. Ferry crossings Even the inhabitants of Mycines and Stour Duimun, whose population is eleven and six people respectively, do not allow themselves to feel completely isolated from the world. But tourists come here precisely to feel like they are on the edge of the earth, where the Faroe Islands seem to disappear into the boundless expanse of the ocean. You can get to the archipelago from (Denmark), as well as Bergen and B summer time The ferry runs. It sails from Bergen and arrives in the capital Tórshavn.

Culture

Existence at the “end of the earth” led to the emergence of very original traditions. Until the 18th century it was unwritten, but an ancient oral epic has survived. You can also admire a large number of medieval churches on the islands. Residents are very careful about their original culture and regularly conduct music festivals. Tourists should definitely buy products made from the excellent wool of local sheep, and also try dried cod and whale soup - specialties for which the Faroe Islands are famous. Football occupies a special place in the life of the islanders. The team was formed in 1930 and immediately lost to the Latvians. But the defeat did not disappoint the Faroese people. In 1988, FIFA accepted the team, and in the 1990s it was recognized by UEFA.

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 most the best islands in the world. It seems that even their residents 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. List necessary 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 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 sky.

Due to unacceptable local residents Fishing taxes The Faroe Islands have not yet entered 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 in large populated areas More and more European establishments are opening. So you need to look specifically for restaurants. traditional cuisine, to try smørrebrød (a sandwich with butter and meat, eaten with cutlery) for breakfast, dried cod soup and lamb kidneys for lunch, and puffin pie with rhubarb and potatoes for dinner.

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 on 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 because of the mountains, but quite the opposite - underground passages and caves. And the most “flat” of all, Sandoy, is famous for something else: here, near the shore, you can admire the wide sand dunes, 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 combination of Danish and native cultural heritage, which is well reflected by 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 on separate parts The archipelago also hosts other festivals throughout the year - July Vestanstevna in the west, Noriyastevna in the north, Jouansjoka 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 millennium, 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 caused outrage among 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.

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 collect several people from different hotels in one car and take everyone to the address, it 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.

The Sheep Islands are part of and located Atlantic Ocean to the north, or rather between the Shetland Islands and. The Faroe archipelago includes 18 islands, the largest of which is Borøy with a population of five thousand people.

Climate and weather of the Faroe Islands

The weather on the islands is greatly influenced by the warm Gulf Stream, which has a constant coastal water temperature of 10 degrees. The climate on the islands is marine, in summer daytime temperatures about 23 degrees, in winter about 2 degrees Celsius. It rains almost every day in the Faroe Islands, especially in autumn and winter.

How to get to the Faroe Islands

You can fly to the Faroe Islands with SAS via Copenhagen, or by ferry from the Danish port of Huntsholm, from the Norwegian port of Bergen, from Seydisfjörður in Iceland and from the Shetland Islands.

Visas to the Faroe Islands

The Faroe Islands have not signed the Schengen legislation and will have to obtain a separate visa from the Danish consulate. In general, the list of documents is no different from the documents for a Schengen visa; we note the high requirements for an official salary of at least 500 euros per month and cash support of 50 euros per day per person.

Faroe Islands Customs Regulations

Amounts over 15,000 euros must be declared; the import and collection of currency is not limited. You can import up to 200 cigarettes, up to 1 liter of alcohol or up to 2 liters of wine without paying duty. Goods and gifts are limited to CZK 2,500, food items to 3 kilograms.

Money in the Faroe Islands

The national currency is the Faroese krone; Danish kroner is also accepted. Banks are open from morning to 4 pm. You can exchange currency at the airport or in the city of Vaugar itself. We recommend taking international credit cards with you, which are accepted everywhere.

Holidays, excursions and attractions of the Faroe Islands

In the capital of the islands, the city of Tórshavn, the museum of history, archeology and navigation Foroya Fornminissavn is of interest; the city itself is reminiscent of Copenhagen. The Munkastovan Monastery, surrounded by stone walls, is also interesting, as well as the Nordic House Norurlandahus and the theater with a peat roof for the summer concert program “Faroe Evenings for Tourists.” Near the village of Skarvanes there is the rock “Finger of the Troll Woman” Tretlkonufingur, which rises above the sea.

Kalsoy Island has the highest mountainous terrain, so it can be considered the most picturesque with steep cliffs on which waves crash.

The islands of Vaugar, Strömö and Östurö are connected by an engineering marvel under the Västmannasund Strait with a tunnel up to 5 kilometers long.