What to do

Photo: Kirstin Vang

Try your luck at sea

All eighteen Faroe Islands are packed with exciting adventures for every kind of trip – be it hiking, cycling, shopping or simply relaxing, you’re bound to find something to suit. Local tourist offices dotted around the islands can help you plan the perfect itinerary to make the most of your stay in the Faroe Islands.

Hiking in the Faroe Islands really is something quite special. Tie your shoelaces and explore vast areas of unspoilt natural beauty, winding your way along age-old trails, often marked by cairns. Before setting out on any hike, be sure to check the local conditions with the local tourist office. First of all check rights and regulations on hiking in the area – but you must also be prepared to the changeable Faroese weather. It is recommended always to hike with a knowledgeable local guide who’ll have engaging stories to tell of your route along the way. Hiking in the Faroe Islands gives you the chance to visit perfectly Instagrammable lighthouses perched on rocky promontories or to explore abandoned villages, all but forgotten at the head of remote sweeping bays. Or, why not just opt for the route to the next village. Either way, you’ll be surrounded

by hundreds of sheep and birds along the route – experiences like these are difficult to find in today’s frenetic world, but memories of the raw nature of the Faroe Islands are hard to forget. Also see rules and regulations regarding hiking on page 8-9.

No visit to the Faroe Islands is complete without a boat trip. Of course, you can simply take a scheduled ferry service to travel to a neighbouring island but why not treat yourself to a bird watching trip by boat or even an unforgettable excursion into an echoing grotto to enjoy a live music concert from the deck of your boat? Listening to the acoustics in the cave and witnessing the music reverberating around the rock walls of the grotto is quite something – indeed, unique experiences like this are what a trip to the Faroe Islands is all about. As you skim the waves in a traditional, wooden boat or even aboard a veritable old schooner, be sure to listen to the birds calling from their nests on the cliffs rising hundreds of metres above you. The ever-changing weather, shifting light, and swell of the tide will help you understand that here the sea is all-powerful, giving and taking away.

The road network on the Faroe Islands is well developed: even the smallest village boasts a decent road connection, and tunnels have helped to dramatically reduce driving times and distances between many settlements. Ferries, too, help to complete the myriad of connection possibilities, making it possible to travel across the entire island chain within just a few hours.

Fishing is what Faroese people do best, be it by boat or by the shore. You, too, can enjoy a spot of angling in the peace and quiet of the lakeside or on a fishing trip by boat. Bring your own fishing rod or hire one. See regulations regarding the use of personal fishing equipment on page 117.

The Faroe Islands are teeming with birdlife. At any number of locations across the islands you can spot species such as puffin, storm petrel, gannet, merlin and eider or, indeed, any of the 300 different resident and migratory species. For more information about Birds, see page 42.

Abseiling down a sheer cliff face towards the churning waters of the North Atlantic below may not be everyone’s idea of fun but if that does indeed float your boat, you’re in the right place to give it a try. Or, how about a spot of sea kayaking, deep sea diving or even surfing in some of the wildest weather you can imagine? Alternatively, why not take to horseback to explore the unspoilt terrain the Faroe Islands have in plenty. Whatever your preference, just check with a local tourist office for availability.

The people of the Faroe Islands are inordinately proud of their culture and language. But pride in all things quintessentially Faroese also finds expression in the age-old traditions of knitting, boatbuilding, and even the construction of sturdy houses topped with a grass roof. It may be a dying tradition in other parts of Europe, but in the Faroe Islands the wearing of the national costume on special occasions is as alive today as it always has been. As you travel around the islands, you’ll come across a number of folk museums that are full of moving accounts of how the Faroese people once made their living, of how life has changed over the centuries and of their traditional handicrafts. Naturally, you’ll also find art galleries and other museums, local handicraft stores and churches, both old and new.

The variety of decent contemporary Faroese music is quite astonishing given the relatively small population of the islands. The local music scene ranges from opera and the traditional chain songs known as “kvæði”, to accomplished, modern-day

Photo: Gilli Brend í Hoyvík

Experience the Faroe Islands by bike

songsters such as Eivør and Teitur, to the intense and powerful sounds of Viking metal band, Týr. For more on Music, see page 24.

Tórshavn may well be one of the smallest capitals in the world but the town can more than match any settlement of its size elsewhere in Europe. All the trappings of a nation state (in all but name) are here: the Løgting or parliament, the Prime Minister’s office and various government departments from foreign affairs to fishing. But a leisurely stroll around the town will soon reveal Tórshavn’s more commercial face with trendy shops, stylish eateries and cafés galore. Be it handknitted, chunky, woolen sweaters, or the latest designer outfits; booksellers under a traditional turf roof or the very freshest fish sold straight off the boat, you’re bound to find something to tickle your fancy. When you’re done with shopping, relax and enjoy a cup of coffee and fresh pastry in one of the growing band of cafés and restaurants overlooking the marina. If you’re lucky, your visit may even coincide with an alfresco music concert on the main shopping street or perhaps an exhibition of local art work in one of the town’s galleries. For a town of its modest size, city life in Tórshavn is surprisingly varied and vibrant. Ask at the town’s tourist office about what’s on or visit www.whatson.fo.

As befits a capital city, Tórshavn boasts a variety of different eating choices to suit every pocket. Ranging from juicy fresh fish (most likely caught a matter of hours before it’s served on your plate), to tender mountain lamb, melt-in-the-mouth steaks or even traditional open sandwiches served on healthy rye bread with any variety of different toppings, the range of eating options is every bit as varied as you’d hope. Sure, there are gourmet eateries, but there’s also plenty of choice for the tightest of budgets: fish and chips, pasta and pizzas, Chinese or Indian favourites, even bagels – you name it.

Lace up your trainers and head out for a run along enviably quiet footpaths and roads, enjoying the natural beauty that’s all around, the plentiful peace and quiet and the fresh air. Or why not take part in an organised running event such as the Atlantic Airways Tórshavn Marathon, which is held at the beginning of June or the trail running festival Átjan oyggjar, which is held in sptember? If competition is your thing, it’s an unmissable opportunity to run through one of the smallest capitals in the world, past green mountainsides, the craggy shores of the North Atlantic and any number of cascading waterfalls. For more on Running, see page 129.