In 2011, we planned a multi-city trip to Europe with a first stop in Iceland. Our savvy travel planner suggested we add The Faroe Islands to our itinerary. Located in the North Atlantic between Iceland and Denmark, it was the perfect pit stop via overnight ferry. After Iceland’s spectacular out-of-this-world landscape, I didn’t think anything else could compare. But The Faroes turned out to be equally stunning.
There are a total of 18 islands, which are connected via tunnels, causeways, bridges and ferries. We were there at the very start of July and the weather was changeable to say the least. Rain, sun, strong winds, dense fog … you name it, we got it. Our visit spanned only two days so we had a limited tour of just a few of the islands, but that gave us an eyeful. Rugged, pristine, at times daunting, The Faroe Islands turned out to be a remarkable detour.
MS Norröna Ferry
Smyril Line offers ferry service between Iceland and Denmark with a stop over in The Faroes. We booked a berth that was quite comfortable. The boat offers excellent dining options, a fitness room, on deck hot tub and even a cinema.
Tórshavn
The ferry anchors in the capital city of The Faroe Islands, Tórshavn. We stayed at Hotel Hafnia, which is just a short walk from the dock. It was raining when we got to port and we were told it would be best to take a taxi to the hotel. We took this advice and regretted the 3-minute taxi ride. We could have easily walked despite the rain and saved ourselves about $15 CAD.
We spent our first day in this seaside city soaking in its colours, grass roofs, and greeting the many wandering sheep that appear to have completely free reign.
Viðarlundin Park
A short walk from the Tórshavn harbour, Viðarlundin Park is a pretty spot for a stroll. The fresh scent of the surrounding foliage was intense and this photo was taken at about 10:30 p.m. (in early July the sun barely sets).
Faroese sweaters
With all the sheep around, there are bound to be sweaters. The unique qualities of Faroese wool along with the practical needs of traditional seafaring people have made knitwear from this area exceptional in quality and warmth.
Exceptional quality comes at a price of course. Most of the sweaters we looked at started higher than the $200 CAD price point. Given the severe winters in our hometown of Winnipeg, we figured purchasing a sweater here would be a good investment. Steve bought the most popular style for men – The Republic sweater from the super stylish Gudrun & Gudrun store. The little Faroe flag on the arm is a nice touch.
I found a cute jacket made by the design house Snaeldan. The colourful buttons on the front shoulder caught my eye. We still wear these sweaters very regularly and they look as fabulous as the day we bought them. If you visit the Faroe Islands, buy a sweater.
Hiking Slættaratindur
On our second day, we drove to a couple of other islands. We came across Slættaratindur mountain, which at 882 metres is the highest point in The Faroe Islands.
From the bottom, it didn’t look as challenging as it was to climb. Mind you, it didn’t help that we failed to locate a beaten down path until we were about half way up. Can you spot our rental car waaaay at the bottom?
If we were a bit winded after reaching the top, we sucked it up pretty quickly when we came across a young local dad who had hiked up the mountain with his 8-month-old strapped to his chest! He wanted her to see his favourite view.
On the road
We only covered two islands during our visit, Eysturoy and Streymoy, but were eager to see more. Each turn we took we discovered fascinating sights. Saksun Village was one of them.
If you go
The Faroe Islands Tourism office has a very comprehensive site that will help you plan your adventure.
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[…] The Faroe Islands are a perfect pit stop if you're traveling from Iceland to Denmark. Unforgettable landscapes and air so fresh you'll gasp make it special. […]