When you travel the world for a living, the reality is that sometimes destinations start to blur into one another. Big cities start to feel the same; this beautiful beach looks just like the last beautiful beach; and grand churches and cathedrals start to lose their awe factor.
But then, every once in a while, you travel to a new place that's so unique and so breathtaking that you know there will be no chance of it feeling like “just another” destination.
The Faroe Islands were like that for me.
Located roughly halfway between Norway and Iceland, the Faroe Islands are made up of 18 rocky, volcanic islands in the wild North Atlantic. They technically are an autonomous part of Denmark – meaning they use the Danish Krone and are officially “part” of Denmark according to the UN – but they feel worlds away from the bustling streets of Copenhagen.
In fact, the total population of the Faroe Islands is only about 50,000.
The speak Faroese (which is close to Icelandic, meaning good luck pronouncing some of the place names) and have their own government. They even issue their own passports.
And, as the locals would probably tell you, there's absolutely no chance of confusing the Faroe Islands with Denmark – or any other Scandinavian country, for that matter. It truly is a place that stands out all on its own.
Not that I didn't *try* to compare it to other places I've been, of course. On my first day on the island of Vagar, I exclaimed on Snapchat that the Faroes are “like Iceland on crack.” You have the steep green mountains and craggy coastlines that resemble parts of Iceland – except that's pretty much ALL you have in the Faroe Islands.
Breathtaking view after breathtaking view.
After spending a week in the Faroes, they still reminded me a bit of Iceland (and parts of Northern Norway, too). But the Faroe Islands are so much more than just a “mini Iceland;” they are unique in so many ways – and definitely deserve a spot on your travel bucket list.
Watch this Faroe Islands video:
6 reasons to visit the Faroe Islands
I have a lot to share with you about my time in the Faroes, but for now I thought I would lay out all the reasons why I think you should visit.
I'm well aware that these islands get bad press every single year (and if you don't know why, just do a quick Google search and you'll soon find out). But I think it's extremely unfair to judge a place on one thing that people don't like. I mean, do we paint all of Thailand with the same brush because of elephant riding, or say all of the United States is awful because of Donald Trump? (Some people probably do, but that's not really fair.)
So we're not going to talk about that right now. Instead, I want to show you all the things that are really spectacular about the Faroe Islands.
1. The scenery
There are no arguments anyone can make that will convince me that the Faroe Islands don't have some of the most stunning scenery in the world. It's just a visually striking place, with green mountains and shaggy sheep; crashing waterfalls and colorful little villages.
You could use all the cliche travel writing phrases to describe the Faroes: quaint villages nestled at the foot of breathtaking mountains and fjords… a hidden gem of a place… But the thing is that you wouldn't be lying.
The Faroes also have some fantastic hiking opportunities – with even better views, of course.
I didn't do anything crazy, but even the easy 3-hour hike up to Trælanípa was epic. There are sea cliffs, a waterfall, and a lake that looks like it's floating above the sea. Not bad for less than half a day of walking!
2. Ease of travel
Despite the fact that most people probably can't find the Faroe Islands on a map (if they even appear on your map – on some maps they don't!), they're not actually as remote as you might assume.
Yes, the Faroes are in the middle of the ocean, but you can get easy flight connections these days from places like Copenhagen, Bergen, Reykjavik, and more. (I flew from Bergen in less than 1.5 hours.)
Once you get there, it's incredibly easy to get around with a rental car. Signs are easy to read, tunnels and bridges connect the main islands and make travel times short, and roads are all paved and well-maintained. (Some roads are admittedly very narrow and winding, but the quality of them is still very good.)
I was actually pleasantly surprised by just how easy it was to get around in the Faroes. You do need a rental car to truly explore all the best nooks and crannies, but the actual act of traveling is super easy.
RELATED: Road Tripping in the Faroe Islands: Where to Go and What to Know
3. Incredibly welcoming people
Maybe it's because they haven't been inundated with tourists yet, but I found Faroese people very welcoming to me as a tourist. These people are hardy (you have to be when you live in a place with such changeable weather!) and hard-working, but also love good food and drink. They also are very passionate about their home.
I got to chat for an evening with Anna and Oli from Velbastaður, who host travelers for dinners in their beautiful seaside home. They served up things grown right on their farm, and chatted about everything from sheep dogs to whether they think that craft beer will take off in Tórshavn or not.
(You can book a similar dinner with locals here.)
I also met local musicians, local hiking guides, and even a politician in Tórshavn – all of whom were lovely.
4. Cool festivals
I happened to be in the Faroe Islands during one of its biggest summer festivals: the G! Festival, which is a music festival held on the beach each July in the village of Gøta. Yes, you read that correctly: a music festival on the beach!
“Summer” in the Faroes is subjective, of course, and I spent most of the festival wearing multiple layers and a knitted hat, but it was nonetheless one of the most beautiful festival settings I've ever seen. (And there are totally wood-fired hot tubs available if you really want to keep warm.)
The G! Festival also had a nice mix of international and local Faroese acts performing, meaning I was introduced to a lot of new artists! If you need a specific reason to visit the Faroe Islands, this would be a good one.
Some other popular annual festivals include the Ólavsøka festival (around the Faroese national holiday in late July) and Summer Festival (another music fest in August).
5. PUFFINS
The island of Mykines is only a 45-minute ferry ride from the island of Vagar, and in the summer the entire island is covered in birds – including thousands of puffins!
(And really, do you need any other reason to visit??)
RELATED: Hiking to See Puffins on Mykines
6. The fact that Instagram hasn't ruined it
Yes, I use Instagram myself to share and look at pretty travel photos. But it's impossible to ignore the fact that social networks like Instagram are contributing to certain destinations becoming congested with tourists trying to take the perfect selfie.
Iceland, for example, became Insta-famous because of its incredible landscapes, and now the country is struggling to figure out what to do with more tourists than it can handle.
The Faroe Islands don't currently have that problem. Even though the landscapes are incredible, the fact that the Faroes remain relatively obscure means that there aren't really a ton of tourists there. I visited the most-photographed waterfall in the Faroe Islands on two separate occasions in July (high season in the islands), and only shared the view with a couple of other people.
If you want to visit a place that social media attention hasn't ruined, head to the Faroe Islands. I don't think you'll be disappointed.
I'm not exaggerating when I say that the Faroe Islands are one of the most wild and beautiful places I've ever been. This tiny little island group zoomed up very high on my “favorite places” list, and I have no doubt I'll be recommending it to people from here on out.
So are you convinced? Who wants to go to the Faroe Islands now?
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Note: This post was brought to you as a result of the #MyFaroeIslandsHome campaign, created and managed by iambassador in partnership with Visit Faroe Islands. As always, though, all opinions are 100% my own.
Amanda Williams is the award-winning blogger behind A Dangerous Business Travel Blog. She has traveled to more than 60 countries on 6 continents from her home base in Ohio, specializing in experiential and thoughtful travel through the US, Europe, and rest of the world. Amanda only shares tips based on her personal experiences and places she's actually traveled!
The Faroe islands are truly awe-inspiring, Amanda! This is an awesome guide. How would you recommend exploring the scenery, on foot or by car?
Definitely by car – and I’ll be writing a road trip guide for the Faroes later this month!
I have visited Faroe Islands 2 years ago. It’s the best place to spend here 1 or 2 month in summer. Amazing place.
I would have loved to spend more time – I didn’t get to know Torshavn much at all, and there were plenty more views I didn’t get to see!
These photos will certainly put it on the Instagram map if you share them! I’m totally saving Faroe Islands, looks like a place that I would love. THE PUFFINS – they’re so cute they don’t even look real, your photos of them are amazing! The more I travel, the more I’m discovering that I enjoy scenery far more than cities and I love love love scenery that isn’t famous. Great post!
Haha so true – I’m not sure this place will stay “secret” forever! The scenery really is incredible. And I loved not having to share most places with any other tourists.
How about the annual slaughter of dolphins and whales that turn the water around the islands red with blood? That’s cool too…thanks but no thanks.
I don’t think that would be considered a reason “to go.” But, as I mentioned in the post (because I DO actually do my research), I wanted to focus on things about the Faroe Islands that most people don’t know about. Do I like the fact that they still hunt and eat whales? No. But it’s also not my culture, and I also don’t think that one negative thing should be the ONLY thing people know about this destination.
Every country I visit has something “bad” to it if you look closely enough. I’ve been to Thailand even though I do not support elephant riding. I’ve been to Spain even though I don’t like bull fighting. I’ve been to Cambodia even though I definitely do not support child sex trafficking. I promote travel in the US all the time, despite the fact that we have issues with gun violence, drugs, and even child trafficking right here.
If you want to boycott the Faroe Islands because of whaling, that’s fine – but I personally don’t regret going.
So beautiful. This is definitely high up on my list of places I want to go. And, I love how as you mentioned, it hasn’t been ruined by over-tourism/over-Instagrammed.
I’m not sure it will remain so under-touristed for long (we travelers seem to over-discover everywhere these days), but for now it’s still quite empty compared to similar countries!
Wow, this was a great read and you’ve totally convinced me to visit. As someone fond of hiking, it looks like a great place to explore. Such views! I also love that everyone was stripping down to their beach wear as soon as the sun came out. Gotta take what you can get! Haha
If you love hiking, this is definitely a place you need to visit! The views are just insane.
I have been dreaming of the Faroe Islands for years. It looks like a place unlike any other. I’m so glad you got to experience it!
It’s been on my list for a long time, too, and I’m so happy I got the chance to spend time there. It was even better than I expected it to be!
This place has always been high on my list, especially after my trip to Iceland a few years back. I kick myself for not making my Iceland trip longer so I could have fit in a trip here, but ah, next time for sure! This is my ideal travel destination. I just love the greens and bright pops of color on the houses. Thanks for sharing!
It’s a beautiful place – sounds like you’ll have to make another trip to this part of the world! 🙂
I love this post. We have been eyeing up the Faroe Islands for a few years now, but you just bumped it higher on our list of places to visit. It would be wonderful to see the Faroe Islands while they’re still an off-the-beaten path destination. Can’t wait to hear more!
The Faroes would be right up your alley, Julie! And yes, it’s still very much off-the-beaten path, which makes it even more exciting.
I’ve heard nothing but good things about the Faroe Islands. One day, I’ll get my stuff together and go there!
Oh I’ve heard plenty of bad things (just check out my current Twitter feed), but they’re all from people who have never been and who get really upset about the fact that they still kill whales there. But after going myself, I can confidently say it’s a beautiful place and I would highly recommend a visit!
Clearly adding another destination to my “must see” travel list… So stunning! Also curious how it compares to Iceland, since I was just there (though I managed to keep that fairly low-budget by doing mostly free stuff – hiking and sight-seeing – and staying in hostels).
Prices are similar to what you’ll find in Iceland and Norway – but there are far fewer options for sleeping and eating in the Faroes. You won’t find many hostels, and outside of the capital restaurants can even be difficult to come by!
Faroe Islands look simply awesome! Wild and beautiful. I love the little, yellow flowers on the grass everywhere… and the Puffins look so cute. 🙂 I am glad that you added the point that it’s easy to travel to. I think that’s important.
Yes! I think most people assume the Faroes are really remote, but they’re not really that far from other places in Europe!
This place looks awesome and these are the best reasons for putting this place on the bucket list, and last but foremost for me, that sheep is creepy. Thanks a lot for telling us about this place.
Haha I’m glad people agree the sheep is creepy! I thought so too, but I still liked the photo.
That sheep is definitely creepy, but the puffins improve the cute factor of your post 🙂 I would love to visit the Faroe Islands! How does it compare to the prices in Iceland? I found Iceland to be quite an expensive destination & I wonder if the Faroe Islands are the same.
Hahaha creepy sheep. Yes, the prices are similar to what you’ll find in Iceland – the Faroes are also an isolated island group and have to import a lot of things!
Yes, I would love to visit the Faroe Islands! I’m based in Europe right now but unfortunately only have so many vacation days and so much money 🙁 But sometime in the future for sure!
They are definitely worth it! (But also not cheap, so it’s certainly a destination to save up for.)