Best Faroe Islands Tours & Holidays 2023/2024

Go ahead and pinch yourself… the Faroe Islands are really this beautiful.

Nestled halfway between Scotland and Iceland in the wild North Atlantic, the Faroe Islands take natural beauty to a whole new level. The 18 volcanic islands that make up the Faroes are packed with jaw-dropping coastlines, wonderfully rugged mountains, inky fjords, idyllic waterfalls and quaint towns where locals live in traditional grass-roofed hamlets. Join your Intrepid leader to discover what makes the Faroes one of Scandinavia’s hidden gems. From following in the footsteps of Vikings in the quirky capital city of Tórshavn and sampling traditional local food to visiting a colony of Atlantic puffins and hiking up sheer clifftops to drink in the views, the Faroe Islands feel entire worlds away from anywhere else on earth.

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Highlights of the Faroe Islands

Marvel at Lake Sørvágsvat

It’s no wonder Lake Sørvágsvatis one of the most photographed places in the Faroes. Located at the top of a giant cliff that plunges into the ocean, this is Mother Nature’s version of an optical illusion. Certain angles either make it look like the lake hangs hundreds of feet above the sea or sinks below it. Hike up to the opposing cliffs for breathtaking views of the lake and watch the water tumble over the cliff edge into the swirling waves below.

Discover Tórshavn

Epic landscapes may be the star of the show in the Faroes, but it's well worth spending some time in the capital city of Tórshavn. From the rich Viking history and narrow laneways in Old Town to the bustling harbour and colourful streets lined with grass-roofed houses, it's no wonder Tórshavn is known as one of the quirkiest cities in the world. Explore the city on foot, check out the local galleries and local markets or simply watch Foarese life go by in a cosy cafe or pub.

Puffins on Mykines Island in the Faroe Islands

See puffins on Mykines Island

Jump in a boat and sail over to Mykines Island to get up close to the island's puffin residents. Every year over 125,000 pairs of Atlantic puffins flock to Mykines in the warmer months to breed and nest in cosy burrows they build along the clifftops. Although the puffins take centre stage, you might also be lucky to see other seabirds soaring above the ocean including gannets, razorbills, cormorants, storm petrels, kittiwakes and fulmars.

Raest, a traditional food in the Faroe Islands

Try the local cuisine

Surrounded by the wild North Atlantic with harsh weather conditions and no native trees, the odds might seem to be against the Faroe Islands when it comes to food. The traditional cuisine consists of seasonal root vegetables (mostly potatoes, turnips, kohlrabi and rhubarb) and fermented meat and seafood (known as ‘raest’), which is hung in the open air and salted by the sea breeze. Expect to see menus full of creative takes on seabird, wild algae and turnip dishes, as well as western and international favourites.

Go kayaking in the North Atlantic

There’s plenty to see and do on land, but a kayaking adventure lets you see the Faroe Islands from a different perspective. Paddle into deep, echoey fjords and marvel at the soaring cliffs above you, drift past waterfalls and enjoy the refreshing salty spray on your skin, or row out into the open ocean to admire the otherworldly sea stacks and verdant colours of the islands from afar. If you're lucky, you'll get to watch seabirds diving into the sea to hunt for fish.

Skansin Fort on a hill beside the port of Tórshavn

Learn about Pirates in Skansin Fort

The Faroe Islands may be quiet and peaceful, but this wasn’t always the case. Skansin Fort was built to defend Tórshavn from pirate attacks in the 1580s. Most of the original structure was destroyed in 1677 by French pirates when the people of Tórshavn refused to hand over their oxen, sheep and other essential supplies during a raid. Enjoy a picnic by the picturesque lighthouse or walk up to the top of the fort for sweeping views over the port and the neighbouring island of Nólsoy.

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Faroe Islands FAQs

Do I need a COVID-19 vaccine to join an Intrepid trip in the Faroe Islands?

Everyone travelling on an Intrepid trip must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 as a condition of carriage. 

All travellers are required to produce:

Proof of COVID-19 vaccination
All children aged 5 to 17 years old must provide proof of vaccination (if eligible), proof of recovery or a negative COVID-19 test.
If you are unable to be vaccinated for medical reasons, you may apply for an exemption. Exemptions will be assessed on a case-by-case basis. To apply, you must provide a medical certificate from a medical professional.

In all cases, you must be fully inoculated. This means you must receive the full dosage of the COVID-19 vaccine and allow enough time for immunity to take effect. Each COVID-19 vaccine has different dosages and timeframes for inoculation, so please check the relevant medical advice associated with your vaccine.

Learn more about Intrepid's COVID-19 proof of vaccination policy

Where are the Faroe Islands?

The Faroe Islands is an archipelago of 18 islands located in the North Atlantic Ocean. They are nestled halfway between Iceland and the Shetland Islands just off Scotland.

Which country are the Faroe Islands part of?

The Faroe Islands is a self-governing nation under the sovereignty of the Kingdom of Denmark. Although people from the Faroe Islands are technically Danish citizens, the majority would identify as Faroese as they have a unique history, culture, language (Faroese) and parliament.

What language do they speak in the Faroe Islands?

Faroese is the national language of the Faroe Islands. It’s a Nordic language that came from the Norsemen who settled in the Faroe Islands during the Viking era and shares similarities with Icelandic and Middle Norwegian. Danish is the official second language and people learn it in school from a young age, as well as English.

Do I need a visa to travel to the Faroe Islands?

The Faroe Islands visa requirements are similar to Denmark's. If you require a visa for Denmark, then you will require one for the Faroe Islands. Visas for Denmark, Sweden and Norway are not required for passport holders of the European Union, Australia, New Zealand, USA and Canada. All other nationalities should check with the relevant authorities.

When you submit a visa application to a Danish Embassy, you must make sure the visa states that it is for the Faroe Islands. The Faroe Islands aren't part of the European Union or the Schengen Agreement, so a Schengen visa is not sufficient to visit the Faroes. You can visit the Denmark Government website for more information on visa requirements.

What should I pack for the Faroe Islands?

No matter what time of year you visit the Faroes, make sure you bring plenty of warm layers and a windproof/rainproof jacket. The weather is wet and unpredictable throughout the year, so it’s best to be prepared for all of the elements. You'll also need a comfy pair of shoes for walking, a day bag to carry your essentials, camera (you won't be able to put it down!) and one or two smart-casual outfits in case you want to go to for dinner in one of the fancier restaurants in the capital city of Tórshavn.

How do I get to the Faroe Islands?

Although the Faroe Islands are part of Denmark, they’re actually closer to Iceland and Scotland. To get there you’ll need to travel by boat or plane. There are direct flights to Vágar Airport on the island of Vágar (the only airport in the Faroe Islands) from several major cities in Europe including Copenhagen, Oslo, Barcelona, Edinburgh and Bergen. You can also take a ferry from Denmark or Iceland on the MS Norröna with Smyril Line.

Are the Faroe Islands accessible for travellers with disabilities?

Intrepid is committed to making travel widely accessible, regardless of ability or disability. That’s why we do our best to help as many people see the world as possible, regardless of any physical or mental limitations they might have. However, we’re always happy to talk to travellers with disabilities and see if we can help guide them towards the most suitable itinerary for their needs and where possible, make reasonable adjustments to our itineraries.

Learn more about Accessible Travel with Intrepid