Introducing the Faroe Islands, why they make a great walking holiday and what you’ll need to know to plan your own trip or book a hiking tour for the islands.
We spent two weeks hiking and driving Faroe Islands in 2019 and it remains our most memorable trip of all time. It is simply epic. This is the land of trolls and everywhere you look feels like a fantasy novel or movie. While Iceland is described as the land of extremes (fire and ice), the Faroe Islands feel less threatening and are a place of magnificent solitude. This is an introvert’s dream destination.
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Where are the Faroe Islands
The Faroe Islands are an archipelago made up of 18 volcanic islands, most of which are connected by undersea tunnels and bridges. You will find these islands by zooming in on a map north of the UK and halfway between Iceland and Norway. While the islands owe allegiance to Denmark, they are self-governing and celebrate their own unique culture and history. Their seat of government is in Tórshavn, which has a population of about 13,000, and their parliament (Løgting) is considered to be the oldest parliament in Europe.
"Once you get past that initial first stage of shyness and reserve, Faroe Islanders are a very warm, generous, friendly and hospitable people. Faroe Islanders are family-oriented, down to earth and have a high regard for tradition."
Why we love the people
The Faroese are a resilient people, you’d have to be to survive such a remote landscape, and they seem to have found a happy balance between maintaining their strong cultural identity while embracing the modern global world. Everyone we encountered spoke English but there were a few elders who didn’t speak it. Most young adults leave to attend universities throughout Europe and those that return bring new ideas and perspectives. We shared dinner with a young couple who returned from university to take over her family’s sheep farm. They also supplemented their income by selling artistic photos of their sheep and building a holiday cottage.
Why you should Hike Faroe Islands
Besides the fact that it’s GORGEOUS everywhere you look, you should consider a hiking vacation to the Faroe Islands because it’s unlike any other place in the world. This is a unique terrain and culture and even though it has caught the attention of influencers it’s still relatively untouched by tourism. It’s easy to reach via Copenhagen which makes for a great extension to your trip. Faroe Islands also have beautiful secluded beaches that are perfect for resting between hikes. Our favorite beaches were Kvívík, Tjornuvík and Sydrugota (which had hammocks).
Need to know for Hiking Faroe Islands
Hiking isn’t always free
Fees to hike a specific trail can cost anywhere from $30-$80 each. If you were to hike every fee-based trail it would cost about $180 per person. The good news is there are plenty of trails that are free and you won’t feel like you’re settling if you choose these routes. Our advice is to choose one fee-based trail and hike it with a guide.
Use GPX trail maps
When we hiked the Faroe Islands in 2019, we discovered the hard way that trying to navigate trails without a GPX map is unwise. The trails here aren’t always visible — most often they’re giant fields up a mountain with no discernable path. We got lucky one day when some locals allowed us to tag along on their walk. We missed another hike entirely because we could never find the trailhead. They’ve made improvements since then but hikers are still encouraged to rely on cairns and GPX files (which can be downloaded from Visit Faroe Islands).
Always be prepared
Weather is very unpredictable and food options are scarce, so always be prepared with waterproof clothing, food and water. The best towns for stocking up on provisions are Tórshavn and Klaksvik. Outside of these towns it gets difficult to find grocery stores or restaurants.
Steep cliffs await you
Eric has what I call a “healthy fear of heights” but if you suffer from a paralyzing fear then this destination is not a good choice for hiking. These are volcanic islands with the land shooting straight up from the ocean. Nothing is flat — be prepared for most of your walking to be on an incline. If you have weak ankles or you’re prone to shin splints (like me), you will want supportive boots and to STRETCH OFTEN!
It can be expensive
As with all travel, a hiking trip to the Faroe Islands can be costly if you stay in hotels, eat out for every meal and book guided excursions. It’s slightly less expensive than Iceland, however, and there are ways to save money.
- Car rentals are pricy if you want an automatic so shop around for deals, consider learning to drive a standard, or center yourself in Tórshavn and book day tours to see the rest of the islands.
- The islands are connected by undersea tunnels, several of which charge fees, so plan your itinerary to avoid passing through more than once.
- Lodging can be expensive and limited in the more remote areas but you can save money by staying in one place or thinking outside the box (like we did when we stayed in a converted boathouse).
- The really good restaurants are expensive (but worth it), so we recommend renting lodging with a kitchen so you can cook most of your meals yourself. If you’re going to splurge, book a dinner in someone’s home (called Heimablídni) — that way you experience the traditional food and way of life.
Sheep are everywhere
Seriously, you better love these fluffy hooved beasts because they outnumber people in the Faroe Islands. They will be your constant companions on every hike and drive and if you’re lucky, you will see one fly (slight hyperbole but we did see one leap off a cliff over our car).
Best Faroe Islands Trails
The hiking guide on Visit Faroe Islands site makes it easy to find the perfect trails. You can search by island, difficulty level, duration and distance. Walking notes are included as are GPX files, transportation, photos and an image showing where the trail begins (wish this had existed when we went). These are our favorite hikes but please note there are a LOT of amazing trails not listed here.
Bøur to Gásadalur, Vágar Island
1.7 miles
This trail is rated difficult and I can attest. From the start it is steep and rarely flattens out, but when it does the views are glorious! The day we hiked this trail it was raining heavily so we couldn’t complete the last section down to Gásadalur. If this trail is too difficult you can still see some amazing views by driving from Bøur to Gásadalur, which offers a great viewpoint of the Múlafossur waterfall.
Saksun to Tjørnuvík, Streymoy Island
4 miles
It’s difficult to pick a favorite hike for Streymoy, the largest of the islands, so we chose this one because it’s considered a classic Faroese hike and it connects two of the prettiest villages. We suggest ending with Tjørnuvík so you can indulge in some waffles, coffee and friendly conversation. For a less trafficked route, consider Hosvik to Leynavatn which doesn’t have food at the end but it’s truly a lovely walk
Elduvík to Oyndarfjørður, Eysturoy Island
2 miles
This trail is rated difficult but we didn’t find it that hard, other than the fact that we hiked it backwards and thus had trouble locating the trailhead. You do walk along the edge of a steep drop off, however, which is why we caution those who are afraid of heights.
Haraldssund to Skarð to Kunoy, Kunoy Island
6.5 miles
If we return to the Faroe Islands, it will be to hike this trail with a local guide. Rated expert level for its difficult terrain and tricky navigation, this route promises breathtaking views, a slice of Faroese history and a rare “gorge within a gorge.”
Hvalba to Trongisvágur, Suduroy Island
3.4 miles
We love this hike for the views you get of the island and the fact it ends in Trongisvágur where you can rest and enjoy several options for food. Another good option that’s similar in distance is Trongisvágur to Fámjin.
Accessible Trails and Hidden Gems
There is a beautiful nature preserve on the island of Eysturoy called Vistarheimið that has easy flat paths around a lake. For a hidden gem, look for Kunoy Park on the northern island (located uphill from the Kunoy Church), which offers a quiet path through a rare patch of forest. Both are perfect for those seeking accessible trails.
Hiking Tour Operators for Faroe Islands
When selecting a multi-day tour operator for Faroe Islands, look closely at what’s included and excluded. There are special costs that don’t exist elsewhere, such as tunnel fees and trails that require a fee or paid guide. Keep all of this in mind when comparing prices.
Several walking holiday companies cover the islands but we always prefer choosing local operators so that’s who you will see in this list below.
Go Local
Ok this one’s a splurge but if you have room in your budget to spend a night on Mykines Island with the puffins and a delightful sunset hike and meal with owner Oda Wilhelmsdóttir Andreasen, then you may count yourself blessed.
50 Degrees North
While not based in Faroe Islands, this award-winning destination specialist focuses exclusively on the Arctic and northern regions of Europe so they’re an excellent regional choice if you wish to combine Faroe Islands with neighboring countries. They offer guided and self-guided options, some of which combine Iceland.
REMÓT Travel
For luxury or personally crafted multi-adventure trips in the Faroe Islands, this is your tour operator of choice! They offer guided hikes, dining with locals, fishing, horse riding, artists, sailing, yoga and more.
62ºN
This Faroese company has been in business for over 50 years and can handle every aspect of travel to the islands. They offer self-guided, guided and custom group tours and are an excellent choice for hiking in the Faroe Islands.
Further Resources
Visit Faroe Islands
The official tourism site for Faroe Islands and where you should start before even considering hiking here. Everything you need to know to plan your own trip or determine whether or not you want to book a tour is here.
Bakkafrost Salmon
If you’re like us and fall in love with Faroe Island salmon, this is the company who can supply your fix! You might get lucky and find it in your grocery store (we’ve seen it in Vermont) but most likely you’ll have to order online. We’ve ordered from them without any issues.
For details and photos of our 2019 trip, start with Introducing the Faroe Islands then read the other six posts here.
