Faroe Islands route: 11 places to see across 18 islands
Explore the Faroe Islands' dramatic landscape across 459.8 km of scenic routes. This archipelago of 18 islands between Iceland and Norway features steep cliffs, mountainous terrain, and unique settlements like Klaksvik, the second-largest town built around fishing industry traditions.
- Mode
- Places
- Start
- Mælinglur Mountain
- End
- Vágar Island
- Stops
- 11
- Video author
- travmap
- Updated
Stops on this route
- Mælinglur Mountain — Dramatic cliff on Streymoy Island offering stunning views of grass-covered terrain descending vertically toward the ocean, one of the most impressive vistas in the Faroe Islands.
- Kalsoy Island — Isolated island with fewer than 100 inhabitants featuring tall steep cliffs, Atlantic puffin colonies, and serving as the filming location for James Bond's No Time to Die.
- Suðuroy Island — The southernmost island of the Faroe Islands archipelago featuring spectacular cliffs, volcanic rock formations shaped by millions of years of wind and wave erosion.
- Múlafossur Waterfall — A spectacular 98.4-foot waterfall falling directly into the sea located south of Gásadalur village on Vágar Island, resembling a fantasy movie landscape.
- Streymoy Island
- Eysturoy Island
- Funningur Fjord — Known as the bird fjord on Eysturoy Island, this scenic waterway supports significant seabird colonies and traditional fishing communities.
- Littla Dímun — The smallest island in the Faroe Islands archipelago, uninhabited and covering less than 0.386 square miles, representing pristine volcanic landscape.
- Enniberg Cape — The highest cliff in the Faroe Islands at 2,474 feet on Vidoy Island, the second-highest sea cliff in Europe and northernmost point of the islands.
- Vidoy Island — Northern island in the Faroe Islands featuring dramatic cliff formations and significant seabird colonies accessible by summer boat tours.
- Vágar Island — Island in the Faroe Islands renowned for Múlafossur Waterfall and picturesque isolated villages like Gásadalur with challenging mountain terrain.
Useful for your trip
- Transport
- To reach Kalsoy Island from Klaksvík, take a ferry that lasts about 20 minutes. There are no roads, tunnels, or bridges connecting it to other islands.
- Transport
- The Hanna Sundur Tunnel (built 1967, 6,955 feet long) is narrow and one-way. Drive carefully as tunnels can be uncomfortable for inexperienced drivers.
- Transport
- Maximum speed limits: 49.7 mph on main roads, 31.1 mph in towns. Headlights are legally required when driving. Watch for sheep crossing roads.
- Avoid
- Faroese fog can make driving impossible with greatly reduced visibility. When fog descends, trips between islands may be cancelled and daily travel becomes dangerous.
- Timing
- Best time to see Northern Lights: November to February on clear nights with temperatures below freezing. Not ideal due to southern latitude, but visible.
- Timing
- Visit in winter (November-February) for fewer tourists and more peace, though expect worse weather. Summers are short, cool, and windy.
- Transport
- To visit Cape Enniberg bird colony, take a boat in summer from the northernmost point of Vidoy Island.
- Transport
- To reach Mykines (westernmost island), take a ferry from Sorvágor, usually departing twice daily if weather is favorable. Only 16 permanent residents.
- Tip
- Gásadalur village has only 11 residents. Reaching other villages requires hiking a mountain route over 1,312 feet high, making it very isolated.
- Tip
- You can charter boats from Tórshavn to fish for cod, shark, and plaice. Boat captains share stories about local landmarks and natural features during tours.
- Timing
- Temperatures year-round: 33.8-53.6°F (rarely below 28.4°F or above 57.2°F). January coldest: 39-43°F. Summer: 48-54°F.
- Food
- Traditional Faroese dishes include whale and puffin (though puffin hunting now restricted), and dried fish which hangs outside homes.
Video on this route
THIS IS LIFE IN THE FAROE ISLANDS: The strangest islands on the planet?