An area undeservedly forgotten by Russian tourists, characterized by a harsh climate, is located at the very edge of the world, but vacationers who have been here admit that for the sake of amazing scenery it is worth dropping everything and going on an exciting journey.
A corner lost on the edge of the earth
However, not every person will show where the Faroe Islands are located on the world map. Even though they are part of Europe, most people won't find them on the globe. Such remoteness from civilization benefited the place, lost in the Atlantic Ocean, which has preserved its pristine nature and originality.
Finding the Faroe Islands on a world map is quite difficult, especially for those who have never heard anything about them. Located between Iceland and Great Britain, they are in the North Atlantic. Officially belonging to Denmark, the Faroe Islands are a small state with an area of 1,399 km2. The archipelago consists of 34 municipalities, and the islands are home to more than 100 towns and villages.
Green oasis on our planet
Repeatedly, the Faeroe Islands, which have virtually no trees, have been recognized as the cleanest on the planet. Emerald meadows and a unique landscape attract not only brave tourists, but also photographers who capture the amazing beauty that just begs to be featured on magazine covers.
The archipelago, recognized as the most picturesque in the North Atlantic, is a rocky area. The steep banks are steep and very high, but it is the numerous hills that attract travelers and collectors who photograph unusual landscapes.
Descendants of the Vikings
It is known that the first settlements appeared in the territory where the Faroe Islands are now located in the 8th century. Initially, the Scots lived here, but they soon left the region due to raids by Old Scandinavian warriors. For many centuries, the area served as a transit point for the Vikings, who considered that this region was very suitable for them and took root here. The modern inhabitants of the Sheep Islands (and this is how the name of the archipelago is translated) are the descendants of glorious heroes who have inherited the will and strong character from their courageous ancestors. The Faroese cherish ancient traditions and lead a unique way of life. They are even proud of their old-fashioned style: instead of lawnmowers, they have sheep, and the men cover the roofs of their houses with turf with green grass.
The population of the Faroe Islands is almost 49 thousand people. These are people who have maintained a good relationship with nature and care about it.
Whose archipelago?
In the 19th century, the lost corner for which Denmark and Norway fought became Danish. After World War II, the islands wanted to gain independence, but the government of the southernmost Scandinavian country granted them partial sovereignty.
So who owns the Faroe Islands? No researcher will give a definite answer to this question. Formally, the Queen of Denmark is considered the head of the archipelago, but all processes taking place on the islands are led by the High Commissioner. In terms of international law, the Faroe Islands are not an independent entity. The local parliament (Løgting) consists of 33 deputies who are vested with special powers. Representatives of six political parties decided not to join the European Union.
The Kingdom of Denmark, in whose parliament two representatives from the archipelago sit, helps the islands financially, resolves issues of justice and defense, and the Faroese government independently deals with issues of public policy, except for foreign ones. To this day there is talk of gaining independence from Denmark.
Climate and weather
As noted earlier, not every person accustomed to comfortable holiday conditions can withstand the harsh nature of an exotic place. The weather in the Faroe Islands will not be to everyone's liking. The sun rarely shines here, it often rains heavily, but even in clear weather strong winds blow. Maximum precipitation falls between September and January, but snow is a very rare occurrence in the archipelago.
In summer, the temperature does not rise above 17 o C, and lovers of the sun and warmth will be disappointed with their vacation. Therefore, for those who prefer to soak up the snow-white beaches, it is better to go to the Maldives or the Bahamas. The water around the islands does not warm up above 10 o C, and fashionable swimsuits and sunglasses are not useful here.
In winter, the cold reigns, which penetrates to the bones due to high humidity, so at this time tourists do not visit the archipelago, where the weather changes so often.
Administrative center of the islands
Tórshavn, the main port of the archipelago, is the capital of the Faroe Islands, home to about 20 thousand inhabitants. Without visiting her, acquaintance with this amazing region will be incomplete. The Old Town is considered the most interesting place, and tourists admire the pretty colorful houses that transport you into a real fairy tale.
The administrative center, founded in the 10th century, is located on the island of Streymoy, and here you need to stay at least for a few days. Art galleries, a historical museum, cozy cafes and restaurants, fashion shops - all this will allow you to experience the amazing flavor of the capital of the Faroe Islands.
The luxurious and high Fossa waterfall is recognized as the most beautiful miraculous landmark of Tórshavn.
A unique lake on the edge of an abyss
The main attraction of this lost corner is considered to be its virgin nature, which is perfectly preserved due to the harsh climate and remoteness from the civilization of the Faroe Islands (Denmark). High cliffs, emerald fields, endless ocean, gray mists and lacy clouds almost touching the ground leave no one indifferent. Even the most discerning travelers speak with admiration of the landscapes of this wonderful region.
Vagar Island attracts the attention of tourists with an amazing body of water, the beauty of which defies description. Located on a stone platform, it seems to float in the air without falling off the edge of a high cliff. Hanging Lake Sorvagsvatn (Faroe Islands), located above sea level, is a sight that is difficult to forget. Travelers who admire a natural monument only in photographs often think that this is a professional photomontage, and in fact the body of water lies on different planes with the Atlantic Ocean. And only after visiting the attractive region do many understand the uniqueness of this masterpiece.
The clear waters of the lake flow into the ocean through a waterfall hidden in the rocks with the unpronounceable name Bossdalsfossur.
Local Attractions
The Faroe Islands consist of 18 islands, one of which is completely uninhabited. There are no people living on Tindholmur, although scientists suggest that many centuries ago they did live here.
Streymoy Island, which is the largest, is loved by all fishing enthusiasts.
Nolsoy is famous for its huge number of seals.
Sandoy delights tourists with its luxurious landscape: there are beautiful sand dunes here.
Fugloy, whose name translates as “bird island,” is indeed a favorite of birds. Various representatives of birds settle on high cliffs.
Mycines Island is famous for the fact that only 13 people live on it. This is the quietest corner you can only dream of.
Esture is a picturesque place connected by a bridge to the island of Streymoy. Deep fjords create an unforgettable landscape. Mount Slattaratindur rises here with a height of about 900 meters.
On Rinkusteinar, the main natural attraction is two huge stones rocking on the waves. Local residents believe that the boulders are Viking longships, and that once upon a time an evil sorceress turned warships into boulders.
Kalsoy is an island whose coastline consists of rocky cliffs. All settlements here are connected by numerous underground tunnels. To the north is the famous Katlur Lighthouse.
Historical monuments
Munkastovan Monastery is the oldest architectural monument of the Faroe Islands. The landmark survived a terrible fire that raged in the city in the 17th century. Munskastovan survived only thanks to the stonework.
Local residents call the historical fortress Skansin the most peaceful on our planet. The defensive structure protected against pirate attacks, and now delights tourists with an excellent panorama that opens from the observation deck.
Diving and fishing
Divers flock here to explore the underwater world. Where the Faroe Islands are located, there are several dozen dive points, as well as the only diving center, and even beginners can test their strength here.
Fishing is a real passion of the indigenous population, and many tourists head to the water in the company of locals who offer valuable advice. This is an unforgettable experience and a unique opportunity to see magnificent landscapes. You can go out to sea on a fishing boat and cast a fishing rod where you can never reach from the shore. This is a real adventure that remains in the memory forever.
What else can tourists do?
You can go on a boat tour of the caves and attend a concert of local musicians in the underground kingdom.
Extreme sports enthusiasts who want to tickle their nerves choose scuba diving or kayaking.
Where the Faroe Islands are located, hiking trails are very popular. However, be careful, because in dense fogs you can get lost, falling behind the group, or fall off a steep cliff. There is even an old legend that says that lonely travelers are thrown off the cliff by the so-called hidden inhabitants - huldufolk. Mystical creatures in gray clothes that merge with the stones live in the rocks and are unkindly disposed towards the lost.
In summer, a large number of tourists come to the islands to watch the colorful event and take part in it. At the end of July, the cheerful Olafsöka festival takes place, coinciding with the archipelago's national holiday. Residents dressed in beautiful costumes take to the streets of Tórshavn (Faroe Islands), musicians give concerts, and there is a cheerful atmosphere everywhere.
Heaven's Gate of the Archipelago
In the 60s of the last century, the archipelago was occupied by Britain, and the airport built on the Faroe Islands was used for military purposes. For more than 40 years, the spacious building stood abandoned, and only at the beginning of this century it was modernized: the capacity of the heavenly gates is now 400 thousand passengers per year.
Located a few kilometers from the village of Sorvagur, on the island of Vágar (Voar), the airport operates both domestic and charter flights to Europe. In addition, it is connected by helicopter to the entire archipelago.
The building has a waiting room, a medical room, luggage storage, several cafes, and a duty-free shop. You can also rent a car here.
Faroe Islands: how to get there?
Russian tourists dreaming of enjoying the stunning scenery of untouched nature should know that there are no direct flights from Moscow to the archipelago. First you will have to fly with a transfer to Norway or Denmark, and only then get to the only airport on the islands. Despite the remoteness, it is very easy to get to the Faroe Islands from the megacities of Northern Europe: the flight takes only two hours. And there is a ferry between the islands, the services of which you can use, and a helicopter will help you get to the most remote places.
To visit the Faroe Islands, which is an autonomous region, Russians require a special island visa (Schengen is not suitable). Despite the fact that the exotic place officially belongs to Denmark, the islands live by their own laws. To ensure that your trip is not overshadowed by anything, you will have to take care of a visa in advance. Its processing is handled by authorized visa centers in Moscow, Vladivostok, St. Petersburg, Kazan, Samara and other large cities. The consular fee is approximately 1,500 rubles, but depending on the exchange rate of the Danish krone, its cost may increase. The visa processing time ranges from eight days to two months. If you use the services of a travel agency, its employees will prepare all the documents themselves.
Where to stay?
The Faroe Islands, where time flies unnoticed, provide tourists with comfortable conditions for relaxation. You can stay in three-star hotels offering comfortable rooms, or choose more budget options in hostels and guest houses. Those who like to live in tents will be able to settle in special campsites, but they will have to remove all garbage before leaving. In addition, there are convenient accommodation options for those who come for several days: bed and breakfast hotels.
Those who are planning to travel on their own should book rooms 2-3 months in advance. Prices depend on the tourist season, as well as the time of year. But don’t forget about warm clothes and special shoes for walking in the mountains.
The Faroe Islands have many natural attractions that every traveler should see. Here are the most interesting of them.
The Faroe Islands are not the most popular tourist destination. This land is sometimes also called “the end of the world”, because not every person is able to find the Faroe Islands on the map. But the Faroe Archipelago can rightfully be called one of the most beautiful places on our planet. There are excellent conditions for hiking here. And the landscapes are striking in their diversity: from rocky cliffs to heather-covered heaths; from crystal clear waterfalls to snow-capped mountain peaks.
Faroe Islands - attractions
We have found 6 places and points of attraction, which will definitely be enough for your first visit to see the most interesting places in the Faroe Islands. And get your own impression of the grandeur and beauty of the archipelago, located in the ocean - somewhere halfway from Denmark to. By the way, the Faroe Islands and all their natural attractions are under the jurisdiction of Denmark.
1. Tindholmur Island
It is a small island located between the larger islands of Vagar and Micenes. It is interesting because it has a pointed mountain peak that occupies almost the entire area of Tindholmur. A stunning view of this small piece of land opens from the settlement of Bour, which is located on the neighboring island. But the best way to view Tindholmur is from a helicopter or ferry. You can visit the island itself, but excursions to Tindihölmur are only available in the summer.
The pointed peak of the island of Tindhölmur - the symbol of the Faroe Islands
2. Gasadalur village
It is located next to Vagar airport. This is one of the most popular and interesting places in the Faroe Islands. Despite this, you will never meet more than three people here. The small houses of this village are located on the top of a cliff next to a waterfall, the waters of which fall directly into the ocean. This place will seem like a paradise for introverts and people who love silence and solitude.
Coast of the village of Gasadalur on the island of Vágar (Faroe Islands)
3. Lake Sørvågsvatn
It is impossible not to pay attention to another attraction of the Faroe Islands, also located in close proximity to Vagar Airport. Tourists can see this lake even during landing. Local residents also gave Sørvågsvatn another name - “hanging lake”. This is due to the fact that the lake is located almost above the ocean. And if you look at it from a certain angle, it creates the illusion that the lake is hanging above the ocean surface.
Lake Sørvågsvatn is one of the most interesting places in the Faroe Islands
4. Chednuvuk village
A small village located on the territory of the island of Streymoy. The village is located in a beautiful harbor, which is surrounded on all sides by mountain peaks. Here you can see another attraction of the Faroe archipelago - two sea cliffs, the name of which, translated into Russian, sounds like “The Giant and the Witch”. Against the backdrop of the mountains, these stones may seem just tiny, but if you get closer to them, you will find that their height reaches 70 meters! Now think about how high the neighboring rocks then reach.
On the way to this beautiful village you can also see the Fossa waterfall, which is the largest in the Faroe Islands.
What else to see in the Faroe Islands? Island life, in the village of Chednuvuk!
5. Fugloy Island
This is a place where you can experience and understand what Faroese life is like. The streets here are usually deserted. You can meet local residents only at those moments when the ferry approaches the pier, and almost the entire village comes out to meet it. The rest of the time, loneliness and tranquility reign here. It may seem that the surrounding houses are empty, and you are the only person on this earth. But this does not cause a feeling of fear, only peace and melancholy.
6. Mycines Island
Like other attractions of the Faroe Islands, it can be called a real pearl of the archipelago. In summer, photographers and simply nature lovers from all over the world flock here. Firstly, the island is attractive with its beautiful scenery. Numerous paths lead directly to high rocks and mountain cliffs. For many, this is already enough to visit the Faroe Islands. But there is another reason.
There are huge colonies of birds here. The most attractive of them are puffins, which absolutely everyone loves. There are so many of them here that nests can be seen at every step.
Bird colonies on Mycines Island - is it possible to pass by such beauty?
Another attraction of the island is a very old lighthouse (see on the cover of the article), which was built a hundred years ago. Actually, the lighthouse is located on the island of Mychinesholm, but these days a bridge has been built between it and the main island. Before the lighthouse was automated, a keeper and his family lived in it. Now create a picture of their life in your imagination. They were cut off from the rest of the world, and only ships brought them food and news from the mainland.
Stories like this add a little magic to places like this...
Where to stay in the Faroe Islands
So, where is the best place to book a hotel to make it convenient to go on excursions, visit and photograph the sights of Faroe Islands? Oddly enough, the most convenient place is in the capital - from there you can buy tickets for ferries in all directions. Therefore, all the hotels that we have selected for you are located in Tórshavn:
- Hotel Føroyar 4*. A designer hotel designed by the Danish bureau Friis & Moltke in an incredibly picturesque location - on the shores of the Faroe fjord. Beautifully decorated modern rooms, Koks restaurant serving national cuisine, various lounge areas. The center of Tórshavn is 2 km from here. But each room has a view of Nolsoy Bay.
Four-star hotels in Tórshavn, Faroe Islands - Hotel Føroyar
- Hotel Havn. Modern inexpensive hotel in the area of the picturesque bay - the main harbor of Tórshavn. It’s a 20-minute walk from here to the center—scenic walks—even early in the morning, even under the moon—are guaranteed to you. But next to Hotel Havn There is also a public transport stop.
Inexpensive but high-quality hotel in the Faroe Islands - Hotel Havn
- Hotel Hafnia 4*. The coolest four star hotel we have found. The price is not bad, and the location on the main street of Tórshavn is hard to imagine better! The rooms are very comfortable with all imaginable amenities and bells and whistles. I was pleased with the restaurant where you will have breakfast - the view of the harbor is simply superb.
- The Atlantic Swan. Apartments in Tórshavn for a company of 6 people (3 bedrooms). There is a common room, a kitchen, and parking spaces. This is a great option if you can book it. These apartments are in demand and have a rating of 9.8 out of 10 on booking.com. It's worth hurrying!
Independent apartments in the Faroe Islands
Video: the most interesting places in Faroe
Video journey from Alex Stead to the most famous attractions of the Faroe Islands.
As a summary
The Faroe Islands are a whole world away from civilization. Her crazy pace of life. Here you are surrounded only by high mountains, vast open spaces and the ocean. Nothing is holding you back: neither city high-rises, nor traffic lights, nor traffic. You can go where your heart wants. This is why people in the Faroe Islands have a kind and big heart, because this is what helps them live in these wild places, surrounded only by rocks and a raging ocean.
- and routes
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 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. The list of required 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 skies.
Due to fishing taxes unacceptable to local residents, the Faroe Islands have not yet joined 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 more and more European establishments have been opening in large populated areas. So you need to look specifically for traditional restaurants to try smørrebrød (a sandwich with butter and meat, eaten with cutlery) for breakfast, dried cod soup and lamb kidneys for lunch, and puffin rhubarb pie for dinner and potatoes.
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:
- 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.
- 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).
- 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 for its mountains, but quite the opposite - for its underground passages and caves. And the “flat” of all, Sandoy, is famous for something else: here you can admire wide sand dunes near the shore, 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 interweaving of Danish and its own cultural heritage, which is well reflected in 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 in certain parts of the archipelago other festivals are held throughout the year - July Vestanstevna in the west, Noriyastevna in the north, Jouansöka 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 drawn outrage from 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.
Basic moments
The Faroe Region is an internal autonomy of the Kingdom of Denmark, independently managing almost all issues, excluding the topic of defense and foreign policy. The archipelago includes 18 islands, 17 of which are inhabited. Of the 48 thousand local residents, about 20 thousand live in the capital or in the suburbs.
There are two official languages on the islands - Faroese and Danish. Moreover, the vast majority of residents are native speakers of the Faroese language, which is a mixture of Western Scandinavian dialects and is widely used in almost all spheres of life.
Climate and weather
The Faroe Islands are located at the very center of the warm Gulf Stream, which causes a constant off-season: there are 280 rainy days per year. Despite the fact that the islands seem to have no boundaries to the seasons, the climate is quite mild. In winter, the average monthly temperature ranges from 0 °C to + 4 °C, and in summer - from +11 °C to +17 °C. The rainy season falls in September - January, and then the archipelago is covered with fog, preventing the sun's rays from reaching the surface.
Thanks to the warm sea current, the water on the islands has almost the same temperature - +10 ° C - all year round, which creates all the conditions for the development of fishing.
Nature
Holidays in the Faroe Islands are a holiday in the lap of nature in its original form. Due to frequent strong winds, the islands are mostly treeless; sometimes you can find mountain ash, maple, and conifers. A significant part of the islands' territory is occupied by peat bogs, meadows, and mountain ranges.
In their free time, fauna lovers can diversify their vacation on the islands by observing colonies of seabirds, seals, whales, and dolphins.
There are a huge number of sheep in the archipelago. The latter were once brought to the local hills by the Celts. The local endless pastures have attracted the attention of sheep, and today there are two sheep for every local resident.
Attractions
The Faroe Islands are best visited during the summer months, when there is little rainfall and the weather is warm.
The excursion program in the Faroe Islands is varied: visits to the capital Tórshavn, small villages, bird colonies, a boat trip in coastal waters.
The capital of the islands, the city of Tórshavn, lies in a picturesque area. The main part of the city juts out over the fjord, offering stunning views of wild mountains and steep cliffs. It is very quiet here, only the central square and the piers are noisy, where continuous work is in full swing. Streets far from the center are usually small and cramped.
The main attraction of Tórshavn is the Munkastovan Monastery, built in the 15th century and surrounded by a stone wall. Muncastowan is one of the few buildings that escaped the great fire of 1673. Another building that also survived the fire is the Leighubün royal warehouse.
Curious travelers will be interested in a trip to the Historical Museum, which has in its collection ship models, household items of local residents, fishing gear and agricultural tools from Viking times to the present day, as well as items of religious value.
After a stroll through Vidarlund Park, you can stop by the Art Museum and admire magnificent examples of sculpture and painting.
There is also an “island of birds” in the Faroe Islands - Fugloy, which received its name for its majestic cliffs inhabited by multi-million colonies of seabirds.
To the north of the settlement of Skarvanes is the beautiful sea cliff Tretlkonufingur (“troll woman’s finger”).
At the end of July (28–29th), the Faroese celebrate their main holiday - St. Olaf's Day. These days, usually reserved locals go on a wild rampage of emotions. The festival is named after Olaf II, who, as King of Norway, introduced Christianity to Scandinavia and began the fight against paganism.
Traditional celebrations include rowing competitions, horse racing, dance and religious processions, and art exhibitions.
Kitchen
The Faroes owe their national menu to the harsh climate of the islands. Traditionally, local dishes consist of meat and fish. Faroese delicacies - sheep's head, whale blubber and skärpikjet (dried lamb) - are a must-try for gourmets. Well, lovers of traditional cuisine will be happy to serve fried lamb in local restaurants. Tourists also have the opportunity to taste puffins (these are birds) exquisitely stuffed with sweet dough and served with sweet berries and potatoes. Rhubarb, which is widely eaten, will also be a novelty for many.
Alcoholic drinks can officially be consumed on the islands from the age of 18. Light beer is sold everywhere, but strong dark beer, low-alcohol drinks and wine are sold only in state monopoly stores in large cities and licensed restaurants.
Lunch at a local restaurant will cost a tourist an average of $30, in higher-level establishments - $45–50, excluding alcohol. You can have a snack at a local cafe for much less.
Hotels
Upon arrival on the islands, you can stay in the capital's three-star hotels "Tórshavn" or "Streim" or in the more comfortable "Hafnia" and "Feroyar". In all hotels, tourists will be offered rooms with private amenities, transfer to/from the airport, free Wi-Fi throughout territories. The cost of living is quite high - from $120, but there are seasonal discounts.
A more budget-friendly option would be guest houses and hostels. The most popular of them are Skansin and Bládýpi, but they need to be booked several months in advance. There are also mini-hotels operating on a bed and breakfast basis. Prices here start at $80 and depend on the time of year.
For travelers who prefer outdoor recreation, there are campsites located in specially designated areas. The Faroe Islands have a very strict attitude towards order, so campers in tents are required to remain clean and thoroughly clean upon departure.
Entertainment and relaxation
There are many varieties of fish in local waters, so fishing is very popular among locals and vacationers. By the way, local law allows you to export any fish longer than 30 cm from the country, which has long been prohibited in most European countries.
The Faroe Islands are interesting for wreck divers: in the local coastal waters you can find sunken ships. Near Nolsoy Island it is interesting to watch the underwater life of seals.
Nightlife lovers can spend time in the capital's Rex or Eclipse clubs. The latter allows visitors no younger than 18, but no older than 25.
Shopping
Of the Faroese souvenirs, the most interesting are the numerous woolen products, ceramic and wooden crafts.
Due to the rather harsh climate, woolen clothing is held in high esteem among the islanders. Here you can always buy a fashionable sweater, gloves or hat at attractive prices.
Most shops are open from 9:00–10:00 to 17:30–18:00. On Friday, many remain open until 19:00. On Saturdays, all retail outlets operate on a reduced schedule - from 9:00 to 12:00, 14:00 or 16:00; on Sundays they are usually closed.
Transport
The Faroe Islands have a developed bus route network, and ferries run between the islands. The capital has red local buses with four routes, which can reach almost all areas of the city. The waiting interval is half an hour in the morning and daytime; in the evening it increases to one hour. Blue Bygdaleiðir buses are the transport link between the islands. Maps of routes and timetables for passenger transport can be purchased at Steinatún kiosks.
The best way to get to the islands themselves is by plane. The only international airport, Vagar, is located on the island of the same name near the village of Sorvagur. Tourists can rent a car to travel around the islands. In order to rent, you must have an international driver's license, a credit card and be over 20 years old. Rental prices start from $60 per day.
Connection
The mobile communication standard on the islands is GSM. There is also an analogue version, but it has almost been replaced by the digital format.
Local mobile operators are Foroya Tele and Kall P/F. Roaming in their networks is available to subscribers of the main mobile operators in Russia.
Tourists can purchase a SIM card for local mobile communications at Teleshops, hotels, post offices and gas stations.
In the Faroe Islands, there are also sufficient numbers of payphones (they work with credit cards and coins). When calling abroad, you need to dial 00, the national code and the number of the called subscriber.
You can use the Internet in an Internet cafe. Most hotels provide wireless connections on their premises.
Safety
When traveling around the islands, you don’t have to worry about the safety of your property - the crime rate here is extremely low. In order not to spoil your holiday, it is enough not to leave personal belongings unattended, not to take large sums of money with you, to be polite to local residents and not to abuse night walks. If necessary, the police are always ready to help.
If during your trip you need medical assistance, you can rest assured that it will be provided at the highest level. The central hospital is located in the capital and has an excellent medical base.
Business
Registering a business in the Faroe Islands takes only a few days. The most common forms are the joint stock company, suitable for large companies, and the limited liability company. In order to start your own business here, you need to have a legal address on the islands. Another condition is a resident of the Kingdom of Denmark as one of the participants in the case.
The minimum authorized capital for a joint stock company is approximately $85,000, for a limited liability company - about $20,000. For registration you will also need a draft memorandum of association, articles of association and an application.
Foreign companies can enter the Faroese market by opening branches. A resident of the islands or Denmark must also be appointed as the head of the branch.
From the point of view of taxation, business legislation, and accounting standards, the Faroe Islands provide optimal conditions for the development of companies. The legal regulation of business activities is similar to Danish and adheres to European Union standards.
The main business in the archipelago is concentrated in the service sector and the fishing industry.
Local investment websites offer offers for entrepreneurs willing to invest in new ways to develop the fishing industry. At the same time, the Faroese are very interested in high-tech businesses that can offer environmentally friendly solutions for production.
Real estate
Purchasing real estate abroad is rightfully considered one of the most promising and long-term investments. The Faroe Islands can be an excellent place for both temporary and permanent residence. They become especially attractive to people who love comfort and privacy, and who strive for order. Offers on the real estate market are varied - from a small studio apartment to a solid large house. The prices are quite attractive. A house with four bedrooms, two bathrooms and a large surrounding area will cost approximately $130,000.
However, those who decide to make such a deal should keep in mind that local banks do not provide mortgages for housing in the absence of a residence permit. In addition, local legislation requires appropriate permission from the Ministry of Justice for the acquisition of property by a foreigner.
Traveling to the islands is not a cheap pleasure. The price level here is quite high and is equal to the average European one. However, when leaving the country, tourists can make a VAT refund if they have a receipt from a store operating under the Tax Free system. The corresponding inscriptions are present at the entrance to the retail facility. To qualify for a tax refund, your one-time purchase must exceed $48.
Tipping is not accepted on the islands; the service staff's remuneration is usually already included in the bill.
Fishing is only permitted in certain bodies of water on the basis of a license sold at tourist offices. If a tourist intends to take fishing gear with him from home, then it must be sanitized before arriving on the islands. Instructions for fishermen can be found in tourist brochures. In streams and streams the fishing season is open from May 1 to August 31, in the sea - all year round.
When traveling, you should not forget about the local changing climate. On vacation, it won’t hurt to have warm clothes and several pairs of comfortable shoes for moving through mountainous terrain and trips to the sea.
Vaccination before travel is not required. Emergency phone number - 112.
Visa information
To obtain a visa, you must contact the consular department of the Danish Embassy in Moscow at the address: Prechistensky Lane, 9.
Anyone wishing to obtain a visa must provide a visa application form, 2 photographs, a foreign passport (valid for at least three months after the expiration of the requested visa) with a copy, a national passport with a copy, confirmation of a hotel reservation, a certificate from the place of work (study), an insurance policy covering everything risks (the amount of insurance coverage should not be less than 30,000 €), a bank account statement or travel checks (at the rate of 50 € for each day of stay).
Received closer to the middle of the 11th century, when the islands came under the jurisdiction of the Norwegian kingdom, under the influence of which the culture and history of the Faroe Islands. In particular, the same Faroese language, even in its modern form, is a direct descendant of the Old Norse language and belongs to one of its dialects, which is still spoken by most Faroese today.
However, this position of the islands as a kind of enclave of either Denmark or Norway was finally suspended as a result of the decision of the Danish government to grant the islands the legal status of a self-governing territory with complete socio-political independence in all matters except foreign policy and defense issues. And it was from this moment, from April 1, 1948, capital of the Faroe Islands was founded in one of the largest cities on the island of Streymoy, the city of Thorshavn.
The geography of the Faroe Islands is such that only a few of the eighteen that make up the archipelago have sufficient area and conditions for agriculture and industrial production. Which, in turn, determined the fact that the bulk of the forty-eight thousand population of this island state lives on the largest islands of the archipelago. At the same time, as recent sociological studies note, population of the Faroe Islands in recent years has formed into a fairly homogeneous national structure. So, in particular, according to the 2011 census, more than 90% of the population are the indigenous inhabitants of these islands - the Faroese, leaving less than 10% to people from other Scandinavian countries.
After State of the Faroe Islands, received a certain degree of independence, administrative bodies and representatives of national authorities began to form on the islands. Based on this, the central executive power in the Faroes belongs to the Government, whose composition is approved by Parliament. Every five years he is re-elected in a general election in which the island nation's five main political parties have competed for years. At the same time, local self-government of the islands is limited to the presence of six main regions (sislov) and 34 smaller territorial communes. At the same time, the supremacy of executive power in these structures belongs to civil elders, some of whom are elected by the citizens themselves, and some are appointed from the capital of the Faroe Islands.
Having received quite definite political and economic independence on April 1, 1948, story The Faroe Islands took a new turn - the politically active part of the Faroese population began to form the political structure of this small island state. With this in mind Politics of the Ferero Islands For many years now, it has been determined by the activities of seven main political parties, which have their representatives both in the State Parliament and in its government. The main such political forces today include the People's Party (Folkaflokkurin), the Republican Party (Cheveldi) and the Social Democratic Party (Javnaarflokkurin), parties with the largest number of representatives in the Faroese Parliament.
Language of the Faroe Islands
Taking into account the fact that a significant part of the population of the Faroe Islands is made up of indigenous Faroese, whose history goes back to the peoples of Northern Norway, this kind of state of affairs has also affected the existing linguistic environment. So, in particular, the main one is Faroese, as a rather ancient branch of one of the dialects of the Old Norwegian language. But under the influence of time and assimilation among the Faroese people from other Scandinavian countries, today the same English and Danish languages are increasingly found in everyday life and in official speech. This is exactly what culture Faroe Islands are no longer very different from the linguistic way of their neighbors.
