Capital, population and attractions of the Faroe Islands. Where are the Faroe Islands? Faroe Islands: where is it? Area of ​​the Faroe Islands

Faroe Islands, Faroe Islands- a group of islands in the North Atlantic Ocean between Scotland (Shetland Islands) and Iceland. They are an autonomous region of the Kingdom of Denmark. Since 1948, the Faroe Islands have independently resolved almost all state issues, with the exception of defense and foreign policy.

Geographical data

The capital and main port of the islands is the city of Tórshavn (population approximately 19,200 in 2005), located on the southeast coast of Streymoy. The second largest settlement in the Faroe Islands is Klaksvik (4,773 people).

The Faroe Islands archipelago consists of 18 islands, 17 of which are inhabited. Main islands: Streymoy, Esturoy, Suduroy, Vagar, Sandoy, Bordoy. The largest island is Streymoy (373.5 km²). The total area of ​​all islands is 1395.74 km².

The distance to Iceland is 450 km, to Norway - 675 km, to Copenhagen - 1117 km. The economic maritime zone off the coast of the Faroe Islands is 200 nautical miles.

Administratively, the Faroe Islands are divided into 34 municipalities. There are 120 towns and villages in the Faroe Islands.

The highest point of the islands is the peak of Slattaratindur on the island of Esturoy - 882 m above sea level. The Faroe Islands are dotted with numerous fjords and have an indented coastline. The islands, for the most part, are treeless due to constant strong winds, although there are plantations of strong conifers, maple and mountain ash.

Population of the Faroe Islands

Population: 47,511 (July 2007)

The main language is Faroese.

Age structure of the population:

0-14 years: 20.6% (males 4882/females 4904);

15-64 years old: 65.3% (men 16,353/women 14,668);

65 years and older: 14.1% (men 3041/women 3663);

Average age: 35 years. for men: 34.8 years. for women: 35.3 years.

Average life expectancy: 79.49 years. for men: 76.06 years. for women: 82.93 years.

Number of children per woman: 2.15 children.

The active working population is 24,760 people.

Climate

The climate of the Faroe Islands is temperate maritime, with warm winters and cool, humid summers. The coldest month is January, temperature from 0°C to +4°C, the warmest month is July, temperature from +11°C to +17°C. The annual precipitation is 1600-2000 mm, precipitation (mainly in the form of rain) occurs approximately 280 days a year, most of it falls from September to January, fog is frequent.

Thanks to the tropical Gulf Stream, the water around the islands has a temperature of about +10°C all year round, which softens climatic conditions and provides ideal conditions for the life of fish and plankton.

Flora of the Faroe Islands

The islands, for the most part, are treeless due to constant strong winds, although conifers, maple, and mountain ash are sometimes found. Mosses and lichens are widespread.

Vegetation mainly consists of meadows, peat bogs and heathland.

On the Faroe Islands, the climate is similar to the south of South America and Tierra del Fuego, from there several species of Nothophagus (Antarctic, birch) and Maytenus Magellanicus were introduced.

Fauna of the Faroe Islands

The fauna of the Faroe Islands is quite diverse. Of primary interest are the colonies of Arctic birds and the waters rich in fish (herring, halibut, cod) and sea animals that wash the Faroe Islands. The island is also home to the Faroese breed of sheep.

Colonies of guillemots settle on the Faroese cliffs.

There are harp seal rookeries on the Faroe Islands.

The science

The Faroes have their own university in Tórshavn, as well as the Faroese Academy of Sciences.

The University of Faroe was created in 1965 on the basis of the Faroese Scientific Society (1952) and includes three faculties: Faroese Language and Literature, Science and Technology, History and Social Sciences. The university prepares masters and bachelors of science. There are only 142 students studying at the university. The university budget is DKK 19 million per year.

The most famous representatives of the Faroese scientific world were:

• Niels Ryberg-Finsen(Niels Ryberg Finsen) - an outstanding physiologist and physician, Nobel Prize laureate;
• Wenceslaus-Ulrik Hammersheimb(Venceslaus Ulricus Hammershaimb) - famous philologist, creator of modern orthography of the Faroese language;
• Suymun av Skyari(Símun av Skarði) - Faroese teacher, founder of the Faroese Folk School;
• Jens-Christian Svabo(Jens Christian Svabo) - Faroese linguist and ethnographer.

Currently, active geological exploration is being carried out on the North Sea shelf. The subject of research by Faroese and foreign scientists is the Faroese ecosystem, as well as certain species of animals and plants in this region.

National holidays

• January 1 New Year
• movable date in March - April Maundy Thursday
• movable date in March - April Good Friday
• movable date in March - April Clean Monday
• April 25 National Flag Day (Flaggdagur, working only in the first half of the day)
• moving date in April-May - Fourth week of Easter
• moving date in May - Ascension
• moving date in May - Trinity
• moving date in May - Spiritual Day
• June 5th Danish Constitution Day (working only in the first half of the day)
• July 28 St. Olav's Eve (working only in the first half of the day)
• July 29 St. Olav's Day (Ólavsøkudagur) - National Day of the Faroe Islands
• December 24 Christmas Eve
• December 25th Christmas
• December 26th Day of Gift Offering
• December 31st New Year's Eve

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

There are many different islands on the planet, some of them were previously the coastline of the mainland, some, due to their compactness, are called an archipelago for convenience. And there is nothing surprising in the fact that the larger islands, like Madagascar or Greenland, or the warm Hawaiian and Antilles islands, are better known. But few people know that the Faroe Islands exist in the world and that this is a European territory. Let's tell you more about them.

The Faroe Islands are gradually becoming overgrown with tourists, tired of crowded resorts and noisy, polluted cities. These are harsh, secluded and very beautiful places that attract even experienced and sophisticated travelers. The islands have been repeatedly recognized as the most unusual and cleanest on the planet for their local beauty. The archipelago is of volcanic origin and includes 18 islands, of which only one is uninhabited, with a total area of ​​1399 sq km. Main islands: Streymoy, Esturoy, Suduroy, Voar, Sandoy, Bordoy.

The Faroe Islands are part of the islands, but have autonomous governance, except in matters of defense and foreign policy. Discussion of these points requires the approval of the country's leadership. The capital of the archipelago is the city of Tórshavn. According to archaeological finds, the Faroe Islands have been inhabited since about the 9th century, and modern residents are real descendants of the ancient Vikings.

The autonomy is very dependent on the import of products and the quality of the transport network, but residents have been actively developing fishing and sheep farming for many centuries - these are two huge sources of income. Despite this bias in budget formation, the standard of living on the islands is very high compared to the rest of Europe.

Where are the Faroe Islands?

The little-known archipelago is located in the North Atlantic in the Norwegian Sea. The Faroe Islands lie roughly between Iceland and the Scottish Islands.

Weather in the Faroe Islands

The climate of the archipelago is directly related to the Gulf Stream, which is known to be warm. The islands are located in its very center, hence the constant off-season, which means about 280 rainy days a year. Time boundaries seem to be erased; there is no clear division into winter or summer. The climate is very mild: average summer temperatures are +11+17 degrees, and winter temperatures are from 0 to +4 degrees. The rainiest season lasts from September to January, after which comes the time of fog, when the archipelago is covered by a thick cap that practically does not let in the sun. Coastal waters are always the same temperature - +10 degrees, this has a positive effect on the development of fisheries.

Population of the Faroe Islands

The latest census showed that the Faroe Islands are home to about 48.5 thousand inhabitants, of which approximately 20 thousand live in the capital of the archipelago or its suburbs. Most residents of the autonomy in all areas communicate in the rare Faroese language - a mixture of Western Scandinavian dialects, but Danish is also considered the official language. The main religion is Lutheranism.

It is believed that about 98% of all residents are descendants of the first settlers.

Nature of the Faroe Islands

The local landscapes are simply fantastic: many waterfalls, lakes, gorges, fjords and silent cliffs. The islands and cliffs have a basalt base, as well as a classic glacial topography. Every photo taken here is a masterpiece. There are almost no trees on the islands; strong winds often rage here; only occasionally you can see maple, mountain ash or conifers. The islands are covered with peat bogs, meadows, and the snowy mountain peaks attract the eye. The highest mountain of the islands is Slattaratindur Peak, located on the island of Esturoy: its height is 882 meters above sea level.

The Faroe Islands are home to real colonies of seabirds, seals, dolphins and even whales. Animals from afar happily pose and show themselves to tourists.

Faroe Islands - attractions and entertainment

The influx of tourists usually occurs in the calendar summer, when, by rights, there is the least rainfall. The most popular excursion program is sightseeing in the capital Tórshavn. The city itself is beautiful, the main part of it juts out over the fjord, where there is an excellent view of the nearby mountains and wild steep cliffs. The capital's two main attractions are the 15th-century Munkastovan monastery and the royal warehouses of Leighubün. Curious tourists are welcome at the History Museum, cultural heritage is collected at the Art Museum, after which you can stroll through the peaceful Vidarlund Park.

The business card is a beautiful thing hanging over the ocean. If you wish, you can also visit small lonely villages or a bird market, take a walk along the water along the shore or admire the bird island of Fugloy, on the rocks of which a multimillion-dollar colony of sea birds has formed. To the north of the village of Skarvanes, a sea cliff has formed with the interesting name Tretlkonufingur, translated as “troll woman’s finger”.

One of the famous entertainments of the Faroe Islands is St. Olaf's Day, which is celebrated at the very end of July. It is dedicated to the Norwegian king who brought Christianity to Scandinavia. This is a major sports festival, which consists of horse racing and rowing competitions, residents organize dances and religious processions, and organize art exhibitions.

Faroe Islands cuisine

A kind of reflection of the harsh climate, but still traditional dishes from a variety of fish and meat are incredibly tasty and interesting. Faroese delicacies include: whale fat, dried lamb or sheep's head - there is something for gourmets to see. A popular dish among tourists is puffins (small birds) stuffed with sweet dough and served with berries and potatoes. You will certainly find something new and unusual for yourself in the Koks restaurant at the Feroyar Hotel. Original Scandinavian dishes with incredible presentation and controversial desserts.

There is also traditional cuisine on the archipelago; you can easily find fried lamb or grilled fish on the menu, as well as cuisine from European countries, the Mediterranean, South America and even Asia. We recommend visiting Restaurant Hereford for an excellent selection of simple steaks, meat and fish in Klaksvik.

It is strict here with alcohol: strong drinks, as well as dark beer, can only be sold by state monopoly stores or licensed restaurants.

Visitors are especially fond of the various capital hotels, usually three-star ones, which can offer rooms of different classes and comfort. All hotels have good Wi-Fi coverage, breakfast and optional transfer from the airport and back.

Budget options include guest houses and hostels, but in the most popular establishments it is recommended to book rooms at least 2-3 months in advance. In case you do not plan to stay in one place for a long time, there are mini-hotels on the islands in the “bed and breakfast” format, but the prices here directly depend on the tourist season and time of year.

For those who like to spend the night in a tent in nature, there are several campsites on the Faroe Islands, but a strict rule applies to all vacationers: keep clean and remove all rubbish before leaving.

Shopping in the Faroe Islands

When thinking, remember that here, due to the harsh weather, woolen clothing is at a premium. Hats, berets, gloves, fashionable sweaters and scarves made from natural wool can be bought cheaper than in similar European stores.

Fans of arts and crafts willingly make and serve trinkets made of wood or ceramics. The main condition: never bargain anywhere, this is bad manners here.

The capital of the Faroe Islands has a well-established infrastructure. There are four red bus routes here, so you can easily get to almost any part of the city. On average, movement intervals are 30 minutes, which increase in the evening to an hour.

Ferries run between the islands, but there are also blue bus routes, which also form a transport network between the islands. Maps of stops and schedules of all transport in the Faroe Islands can be freely purchased.

How to get to the Faroe Islands?

On the territory of the Danish autonomy there is only one, located on the island of Vagar near the village of Sorvagur. Air travel is the fastest and most convenient way to get to the little-known northern islands. Regular flights operate from cities in Norway, Iceland and the UK. Further, to travel around the Faroe Islands themselves, tourists often rent a car.

You can get to this strange land by ferry from Denmark, from the city of Hirtshals, from the Scottish Islands, from Iceland, and in the summer even from Bergen, Norway. Of course, if you are the owner of your own yacht or vessel, you can use the coordinates yourself.

1. If you fly directly to Faroe Airport, you will need to provide a special visa rather than a Schengen one.
2. Additional tips are not accepted here; all staff remuneration is already included in the bill, usually in the amount of 10%.
3. To fish, you need to buy a license for a specific body of water or fishing in the sea, and if you take your fishing rod with you, it must be disinfected according to the instructions before visiting the islands.
4. When leaving, you can return VAT on purchases, but only if the purchase was made in a store operating under the Tax Free system and the check amount exceeds $48.
5. Be aware of the local climate: you will need warm clothing and spare shoes for walks in the mountains and the coast.

Holidays in the Faroe Islands 2019: how to get there, what to see and what to eat. Visa, accommodation and good hotels in the Faroe Islands.

The Faroe Islands are a group of islands surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean and located between Iceland and Scotland. The capital of Faroe is the city of Tórshavn, which is one of the smallest cities with the status of the main city of the state. The national currency is the Faroese krone. The Faroe archipelago includes 18 islands, but people live on only 17 of them. The number of people living in the Faroe Islands almost reaches 50,000 people.

The name of the archipelago comes from the Faroese word “Føroyar”, which translates into Russian as “Sheep Islands”. You shouldn’t be surprised by this name, because there are many more sheep here than people! If you go deep into one of the islands, even there, among the rocks, there is a great opportunity to see a cute sheep.

How to get to the Faroe Islands

There are two options for getting to the Faroe Islands:

• The first is to fly on one of the planes Faroese national airline Atlantic Airways. This is the only company that operates regular flights to the Faroe Islands. The cheapest and most popular flight: Copenhagen - Vágar. It takes place several times a day, the flight lasts about 2 hours. The Faroe Islands can also be reached from the UK and Norway. There are also flights from these countries to the Faroe Islands.

• The second option is to get there by water, for example, by ferry from Copenhagen. Such a trip will cost less than a plane ticket, but you should be prepared for the fact that the journey can take up to two days.

Visa to the Faroe Islands - how to open

There are many legends surrounding obtaining a visa to travel to the Faroe Archipelago, but in reality everything is much simpler. Yes, you will need a separate visa to travel to the Faroe Islands. But it's very easy to do. The set of documents is no different from the one required to obtain a Schengen visa. A visa application must be submitted at the consulate; if desired, you can also obtain a Danish Schengen visa. They will simply note to you that with this visa you can freely visit the Faroe Islands.

Faroe Islands - accommodation and hotels

The most popular Faroe Islands hotels are located on the largest islands of the archipelago, which include Vágar, Streymoy and Esturoy. In the rest of the Faroe Islands the housing situation is much worse, but this problem can be easily solved.

On booking.com or the same roomguru.ru there are good hotels on the largest Faroe Islands that can be booked in advance. What, by the way, will the Danish consulate expect from you before it issues you a visa.

You can rent a hotel room on one of the main islands, and from there go on excursions to other parts of the archipelago. The journey to even the most distant places will take only a few hours.

Which hotel to choose in the Faroe Islands?

You can browse all the offers on the Internet yourself, but to save time, we have found 6 housing options. Location, price, authenticity are our main criteria.

• Hotel Hafnia 4*. This is the best accommodation option in the center of Tórshavn, the capital of the Faroe Islands. Oarvegur street, where it is located Hotel Hafnia- central in the city. To the port - 5 minutes. Modern rooms with comfortable beds, rich Scandinavian breakfasts in the restaurant overlooking the harbor. There is free parking. Please note that the airport bus stop is located right next to the hotel.

  Hotel Hafnia 4 stars, main street of Tórshavn

• Hotel Streym 3*. This hotel is wonderfully located if you have a large excursion program in the Faroe Islands. It is located near the Tórshavn ferry terminal - wall to wall 🙂 From here you can sail to anywhere in the archipelago. The hotel itself is a good “three”, with a plus. The rooms have everything, including heated floors and wi-fi.

  

  Hotel Streym 3 stars near the ferry crossing

• Hotel Vagar 3*. This hotel is located in the village of Sørvágur, which is included in the list of Faroese attractions. But the main advantage of the Vagar hotel is its location - only 2 minutes walk (!) to the airport. This is why they choose him. It’s hard to find fault with the quality of the rooms and service - everything corresponds to 3 stars. In Scandinavia this means a lot!

  

  Faroe Islands - airport hotel

• Hotel Torshavn 3*. This is an ordinary three star hotel, but we couldn't ignore it as it is located right on the Tórshavn waterfront. One of the most picturesque places in the capital! This is a bed & breakfast, there is a good restaurant where even locals come in the evenings.
• Guesthouse Hugo. Inexpensive guest house in the village of Sørvágur. There is an airport nearby. It is convenient to go on excursions, especially if you rent a car on the islands. According to reviews - good, hospitable hosts. But the main thing is the price!

  

  An inexpensive guest house is an alternative to a hotel

• Gjaargardur Guesthouse Gjogv 2*. If you want a Scandinavian atmosphere and the feeling that the Faroe Islands are the harsh north and stunning nature, then the village of Gjogv is best suited! A quality bed & breakfast style hotel with a moss-covered roof and great reviews on booking.com - 8.7 points from 150 reviews, 9.4 points for its super location.

  

  One of the best hotels in the Faroe Islands surrounded by nature!

Other accommodation options

Firstly, you can find accommodation for the night in the farthest corners of the archipelago using the website of the island you want to go to. There are various accommodation options for tourists on display there. In this case, confirmation of the reservation will be guaranteed only by your verbal agreements with the hosts. This will require fluency in English and experience communicating with local residents.

Secondly, There is another option - to sleep in a tent, but this is only possible in special places intended specifically for camping.

Transport in the Faroe Islands

This is a fairly simple task. All the islands of the archipelago are located next to each other, and the distances between the cities and attractions of Faroe Islands are very short. In addition, the transport infrastructure is very well developed here. Buses run quite often and take you to almost all important places. Tickets for them are inexpensive.

Ferry from Copenhagen to the capital of Faroe Islands

There is a ferry service between the islands. In the Faroe Islands, this type of transport is not considered something special and is equivalent to ordinary buses. Therefore, ferries run regularly and tickets are cheap.

Another type of transport for moving around the archipelago is a helicopter. If you think it's expensive, you're wrong. Flying by helicopter from one island to another costs less than taking a taxi to the airport. So this is a great opportunity to fly this type of transport at least once in your life. Just remember to reserve your seat on the helicopter in advance.

What and where to eat in the Faroe Islands

If your route lies in some sparsely populated part of the Faroe Islands, then it is better to take food with you. Of course, even on the outskirts there are shops, but they are open only a couple of hours a day. In larger towns, you can easily buy something tasty in supermarkets or sit in local cafes. Well, in the capital there will be no problems with food at all; there are restaurants and cafes here literally at every step.

The capital of the Faroe Islands is Tórshavn

So, where can you eat beautifully, tasty and inexpensively in the Faroe Islands:

• If you are in Tórshavn, be sure to visit Koks Restaurant. People in the Faroes love and appreciate nature very much. This connection can be felt even in such establishments. All dishes are prepared only from products that grow on the archipelago or are mined in the ocean.

• If you want to sit in some cozy place, you can go to fish restaurant Barbara. It is located in the historical part of Tórshavn. This place is stylized as a traditional Faroese house, the roof of which is made of thatch. The dishes here are always fresh, as they are prepared from fish caught on the same day.

Video tour of the Faroe Archipelago

Climate of the Faroe Islands

Despite the fact that the Faroe Islands are located in the north, the local climate is characterized by its mildness thanks to the Gulf Stream. The average temperature in summer is around +13º, and can rise to +20º. In winter it stays above 0º, and there is practically no frost here. In the summer months at these latitudes you can observe “white nights”, and in winter - the northern lights.

The positive features of the local climate end there. Most of the time in the Faroe Islands it rains and the wind is cold. So pack a raincoat and good quality waterproof boots in your suitcase. The weather is very changeable and can change literally every few minutes. Although in winter the temperature does not drop to below zero, it is still very cold here, since the air humidity is quite high. This is the seemingly inhospitable climate on the Faroe Islands.

Where to stay

The Faroe Islands are located between Norway and Iceland, 675 kilometers to Norway, 450 to Iceland, an archipelago in the North Atlantic and a population of just over 50,000 inhabitants, National Geographic confirms that this is the most interesting place on the planet for tourists, just not the earthly landscapes that are covered grass without a single tree, beautiful rocks on 18 islands, only one of them is uninhabited.

Population of the Faroe Islands

These 50,000 people settled in 120 cities and towns, all of them located in cozy valleys between the mountains and on the seashore. The capital of the archipelago is the city of Tórshavn with a population of 19,300 people, which is located on the island of Streymoy. The languages ​​spoken in the Faroe Islands are either Faroese or Danish, both official, written Faroese is more like Icelandic, spoken Faroese is more like Norwegian.

Weather and climate in the Faroe Islands

The climate is maritime subarctic, on the one hand, the Faroe Islands do not get very cold due to the warm Gulf Stream, but this is not Thailand at all, the number of sunny or windless days a year is limited, the islanders enjoy every such day, so the weather forecast for the Faroe Islands this is the main news, although the weather can change several times a day. Temperatures in summer are about 12 degrees, in winter about 7 degrees Celsius.

Pros and cons of living in the Faroe Islands, standard of living, everything for Russians, reviews from migrants

The Faroe Islands are very reminiscent of Iceland, which means that there is a cold volcanic landscape, sharp rocks. There are as many as 6 political parties in the Faroe Islands, the local parliament is located in a dugout. The Faroe Islands are a cousin of Denmark, but the Faroese themselves are persistently trying to separate themselves from this appendage, which essentially also feeds the Faroe Islands. Income from fishing is not always enough for an independent existence, only for this reason the Faroe Islands are also Denmark, without which the islands would hardly be able to have such a high standard of living. The Faroese hope that they will find oil or gas near the archipelago and begin to live like the Norwegians, but so far it’s not destiny, or rather the deposit has been found, but what to do with it next.

The inhabitants of the Faroe Islands are quite slow by nature; the pace of life here is not fast.

Hotels, apartments, houses, real estate and utilities in the Faroe Islands

On the Faroe Islands you can find two or three-story houses sheathed with a special material that protects the house from lean winds. Every second house in the Faroe Islands is black, the window frames are red, grass grows on the roofs of the houses, many of the houses look like something we could see in a movie about hobbits. In some villages, 5-10 families live in winter, the local residents are farmers, life here is quite harsh, all entertainment is getting up at sunrise, milking a cow, and doing all the other agricultural chores. Farmers can also make sausages or meat for sale, six, jams, milk, cheese. There are also villages where only 2 families live, but there is always one school, a helipad, and a store.

There are practically no properties for sale in the Faroe Islands. This is due to the fact that there are few visitors here, even very few tourists who stay exclusively in hotels or in farmers' houses; they can work out their housing by helping in the farming business. Theoretically, the cost of real estate in the Faroe Islands is not high.

Transport and cars in the Faroe Islands

The international airport is located on the island of Vagar, the population of this island is 2800 people. The main transport in the Faroe Islands is by sea, but of course there are also roads, most of them are mountain serpentines. Every resident or family in the Faroe Islands has their own car; in the capital, young people ride in exotic cars that look very strange in the surrounding area, and these are various convertibles.

Life in Tórshavn

The capital Tórshavn is a small town; on the islands the city is simply called Havn, which means “harbour”. It seems that living here is boring and not interesting, but the city has absolutely everything that is found in large cities in Europe, but only in a single copy, one theater, one cinema, one stadium, one hospital, one school, one police station, mail and so on. The exceptions are cafes, restaurants and hotels; the latter are most likely hostels; there are no particularly luxurious places to stay.

Restaurants and cafes in the Faroe Islands

Restaurants and cafes in the Faroe Islands may not be open all day; they often close at 7 pm, so sitting down to relax in the evening is a real problem. Local cuisine and seafood are offered. The local cuisine is a cross between Norwegian and Icelandic cuisine, some dishes may seem too exotic for us.

Shops, shopping, standard of living in the Faroe Islands

Shops on the islands are open until 6 pm, this applies to any retail establishments; Sunday is a day off. The Faroe Islands have particularly tasty dairy products, but many of the products are environmentally friendly. There may be a shortage of fresh fruits and vegetables; please note that they are all imported, which is also reflected in the prices. Despite the very high prices in stores, you can live because the population has its own everything, so to speak, from the garden, and this includes whale meat, what is very expensive is what cannot be obtained locally, for example bread, which will cost at least 5 euros, Alcohol, fruits and vegetables are very expensive. To live in the Faroe Islands you need to learn to get by only with your own food, otherwise it will be very expensive.

Work, salaries, vacancies and economy in the Faroe Islands

Until the mid-19th century, the main income of local residents was sheep farming; today only rare herds of sheep and crafts in the form of knitting traditional sweaters from sheep’s wool remind us of the old days. In addition, the main economic sectors of the Faroe Islands will be light industry and fishing. Wool products, fluff, and, of course, fresh fish are exported. Nevertheless, the majority of the island's residents are employed in the service sector, such as tourism, banking, and insurance.

Unemployment on the islands is 3.2%, the entire economy depends on fishing. The fact that the Faroe Islands are very successful is evidenced by the fact that in 2008 the government allocated 52 million to save the economy of neighboring Iceland. Salaries in the Faroe Islands are about the same as in Denmark in general, in other words, few people earn less than 2,000 euros per month.

Leisure and recreation in the Faroe Islands

The warm Gulf Stream constantly maintains the water temperature at about 11 degrees, which creates excellent conditions for finding fish here, which local fishermen take advantage of. The main holiday in the Faroe Islands is Grindadrap - whale hunting, when sailors drive whales into the bay, where these whales will die. According to the law, whale meat cannot be sold; it is distributed free of charge to local residents. There are no animals in the Faroe Islands, not even snakes or lizards, only birds. The most popular sport in the Faroe Islands is football. The local football field fits on a tiny corner of land between a rock and the sea, it looks very exotic, there was not enough room for stands.

The Faroe Islands have excellent opportunities for hiking, trips to picturesque bays, caves, grottoes, boat trips. The attractions for permanent residents of the islands are already boring and residents do not perceive the environment so rosy, but for foreign tourists it is a complete delight. The Faroe Islands have 17 large islands and many small ones, green meadows, lakes, rocks, canyons, herds of sheep, and small horses, everything is very, very beautiful.