The Faroe Islands are a small group of 18 volcanic islands situated out in the northernmost region of the North Atlantic between Scotland, Iceland, and Norway. They were originally settled in 625 by Irish monks who lived as hermits. It must have been a lonely existence indeed, and perhaps it demonstrates just how powerful a force religion can be, and what it can drive its followers to do.
Your Faroe Island adventure kicks off with the trip itself! Most travelers choose to fly, despite – or for some – because of the landing at the tiny landing strip at Vagar Airport. The descent through the low cloud cover, navigating a route between the high peaks, is said to be an experience in itself. It sets the tone for the adventure to come.
If that sounds a little too daunting, Smyril Lines offer a more leisurely route from Hirtshals north by ferry up along the coast of Norway before heading west into the Atlantic Ocean and out to the Faroe Islands. The ship offers fine dining in a choice of restaurants, a spa, football pitch, cinema and more, so the 33 hours on board fly by in a flurry of activity and, before you know it, you´ll find yourself standing on the deck enjoying the view of charming Thorshavn as you sail into port. Traveltalk features travel blogs and travel tips from these beautiful, rainy islands with their mild climate and stunning vistas.
The Faroe Islands, Danish: Færøerne, or the Faeroe Islands, is a North Atlantic archipelago located 320 kilometres (200 mi) north-northwest of Scotland, and about halfway between Norway and Iceland. It is an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark. The islands have a total area of about 1,400 square kilometres (540 sq mi) with a population of 52,110 as of January 2020.
The terrain is rugged; the climate is windy, wet, cloudy, and cool. Temperatures average above freezing throughout the year because of the Gulf Stream. As a result of the moderation and the northerly latitude, summers normally hover around 12 °C (54 °F). Average temperatures are 5 °C (41 °F) in winter. The northerly latitude location also results in perpetual civil twilight during summer nights and very short winter days.
Between 1035 and 1814 the Faroe Islands were part of the Kingdom of Norway, which was in a union with Denmark from 1450. In 1814 the Treaty of Kiel transferred Norway to the king of Sweden, on the winning side of the Napoleonic wars, whereas the king of Denmark, on the losing side, retained the Faroes, along with the two other historical Norwegian island possessions in the North Atlantic: Greenland and Iceland. The Faroe Islands have been a self-governing part of the Kingdom of Denmark since 1948, controlling most areas apart from military defense, policing, justice, currency, and foreign affairs
Capital: Thorshavn
Population: 48,199 (2015)
Currency: Danish kroner linked to the Euro, Faroese krona.
Official languages: Faroese, Danish.
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We hope you´ll enjoy this tale of Cruising the North Atlantic to get a glimpse of the endearing and colorful puffins.
Traveling by sea to Faroe Islands in the Atlantic
Whales, sea parrots and sheep in the middle of the road
12:05 PM
Map over Faroe IslandsGet inspiration for your next vacation by exploring endless travel choices from Traveltalk!
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