Faroe Islands in winter. Trip to the Faroe Islands: all organizational aspects. What and where to eat in the Faroe Islands

Not everyone will be able to quickly show where exactly they are Faroe islands on the map. At the same time, more and more tourists are going there. They are mainly attracted by the opportunity to take a break from noisy resorts, bright cities and city dust.

Located in the Norwegian Sea between Iceland and the Scottish Islands, the archipelago consists of 18 islands, of which 17 are inhabited. The population is 48 thousand. It is noteworthy that almost half of these people live in the capital or its suburbs. The Faroe region is considered bilingual. The official languages ​​are Danish and Faroese, which combines different West Scandinavian dialects.

To date, there are no direct air flights from Russia to the islands. Therefore, tourists have to change planes in Denmark or Norway. You can pre-book your flight ticket using the Internet. You can get from one island to another by several means of transport, including by ferry. For some tourists, it is most convenient to travel around the islands on a boat hired for an additional fee.

Although the Faroe Islands belong to Denmark, you cannot enter their territory with a Schengen visa. The refusal to join the European Union was deliberate and was associated with taxes on fishing. Therefore, to get to the archipelago, you need to apply for a visa, which will have a special note. Special visa centers where you can follow this, there are many big cities. However, most travelers prefer services travel agencies. All Required documents are transferred to the agency, and subsequently the employees transfer the finished visas to clients.

Climatic and weather conditions

The islands are located in the central part of a warm sea current known as the Gulf Stream. Therefore, this place has a constant off-season. Throughout the year, the number of sunny days does not exceed 80, and the rest of the time it rains. In addition, even in sunny weather strong winds blow. The most comfortable places to visit the archipelago will be summer months when precipitation is rare.

The Faroe Islands have a fairly mild climate. Average temperatures for winter range from approximately 0˚C to +4˚C. Summer temperature is 11-17˚C. The rainy season lasts from September to January on the islands. Further, the archipelago is plunged into fog, which does not allow the rays of the sun to pass through.

Another feature: the water near the islands is perfectly clear, and its temperature, even in winter, does not drop below +10˚C. This creates ideal conditions for fishing and diving in winter.

Nature

For those who prefer a holiday in the lap of pristine nature, the Faroe Islands are perfect option. Most of the territory is occupied by peat bogs, meadows and mountain ranges. Numerous lakes and fjords, gorges, cliffs and waterfalls will not leave anyone indifferent.

There are few trees on the islands, only occasionally you can see conifers, maples or mountain ash trees. Fauna connoisseurs can devote their free time on the archipelago to watching dolphins, seabirds, whales and seals. There is also incredible grazing on the hills of these islands. a large number of sheep

Sights of the archipelago

Of course, many tourists consider the main attractions in the Faroe Islands to be beautiful mountains and slopes with flocks of sheep, as well as compact towns and colorful roofs on houses.

Lovers of natural attractions will also appreciate the features different islands. For example, Streymoy is a paradise for fishing lovers. Here you can catch halibut, eels and even representatives of the salmon family. Nolsoy attracts tourists with its seal rookeries, and Fugloy with the fact that it is loved by millions of birds. And the northern settlement of Skarvanes is famous for a beautiful sea cliff called Tretlkonufingur, which translated means “troll woman’s finger.”

There is a large selection on the archipelago excursion programs. For example, this could be a visit to the capital and small villages or boat trips.

The capital of the islands, Tórshavn, is located in an incredibly picturesque area. Most of settlement juts out over the fjord, offering stunning views of mountains and steep cliffs. Tórshavn is very quiet city. It's only noisy central square and on the piers.

The main attraction of the capital is the Munkastovan Monastery, built in the 15th century. It is noteworthy that the monastery, surrounded by a stone wall, is one of the few buildings that survived the great fire that raged in the 17th century.

Many will be interested in visiting Historical Museum. Among its exhibits are ship models, fishing gear and agricultural implements from Viking times to the present day. Also here you can see items that local residents used in everyday life. There are also exhibits that are valuable from a religious point of view.

The House of Server Countries is also definitely worth a visit. There is an art gallery there and concert hall, and on summer evenings introductory events are held for guests of the archipelago.

After a walk through Vidarlund Park, it is worth going to the Art Museum to see delightful examples of painting and sculpture.

If your trip to the archipelago is in July, you should plan your vacation so that you are sure to be on the islands on the 28th-29th. During this period, local people nationally celebrate St. Olaf's Day. According to tradition, celebrations include ceremonial religious and dance processions, art exhibitions, and rowing and equestrian competitions.

Gastronomic nuances

National cuisine has a close relationship with the climate of the archipelago. Two main ingredients used in preparation various dishes- This is lamb and fish. Gourmets visiting the Faroe Islands should definitely try local delicacies such as sheep's head and whale meat. No less interesting is ruyskjet (meat that has been dried for several months) and skärpiket – meat that has been dried for more than a year and is consumed without any processing. Often the same cooking method is used for drying fish.

For those tourists who prefer traditional cuisine, it is worth ordering fried lamb at a restaurant. You can also try puffins (this is the name of small birds), stuffed with sweet dough, served with potatoes and sweet berries.

It may surprise many that rhubarb is added to food everywhere here. Another one interesting feature– There are practically no fish shops on the islands. If the islanders want to cook fish, they catch it themselves, and after cooking they serve it with a side dish of rice or potatoes.

It is worth noting that the most popular drinks on the islands are coffee and tea. Locals often add herbs that grow on mountain slopes to tea. Alcoholic drinks are officially permitted from the age of 18. However, if light beer can be purchased everywhere, then low-alcohol drinks, strong dark beer and wine can only be purchased in government stores and in restaurants that have a special license.

Lunch at a regular restaurant will cost approximately $30. In higher-level establishments it will already be $45-50. Most a budget option snacks can be found in local cafes.

Where to stay?

After arriving in the capital, you can check into a three-star hotel. For example, it could be "Streim" or "Tórshavn". For those who like more comfortable conditions, “Hafniya” and “Feroyar” are suitable. It is worth noting that all hotels offer tourists rooms with private amenities. Transfer from and to the airport is also provided. Free access to Wi-Fi. Hotel rates start from $120. Although you can get a seasonal discount.

A more economical accommodation option is a hostel or guest house. The most popular are “Bládýpi” and “Skansin”, but you should book rooms in them several months in advance. There are also mini-hotels on the islands where you can spend the night and have breakfast. Accommodation prices depend on the time of year and start from $80.

For tourists who prefer relaxing close to nature, campsites are available. Local residents value order very much, so campers are required to maintain cleanliness and thoroughly clean before leaving.

Main types of entertainment

​ There are many varieties of fish in coastal waters. Therefore, not only local residents, but also tourists are fond of fishing. By the way, according to the laws, any fish can be exported from this country if its length exceeds 30 cm.

​ The Faroe Islands are extremely interesting for wreck divers. After all, you can find sunken ships here. And near Nolsoy Island, divers like to watch seals live underwater.

​ Those who cannot imagine a proper holiday without nightclubs should visit the capital’s “Rex” and “Eclipse”. However, it is worth considering that only young people aged 18-25 are allowed into the second club.

What to buy?

The most popular souvenirs are items made of wool, wood and ceramics. Due to the climate, the islanders cannot imagine their life without woolen clothes and accessories. Therefore, here you can always buy a stylish sweater, hat or gloves at an attractive price.

It is worth considering that from Monday to Thursday, most stores are open from 9:00 to 18:00. On Friday, the working day is often extended by another hour. But on Saturday everything closes earlier, and Sunday is a day off.

1.​ The most optimal transport for getting to the archipelago is an airplane. But there's only one here international Airport– Vagar, located near the village of Sorvagur.

2.​ To travel around the islands, you can rent a car. It will cost at least $60 per day. To register for a rental, you must be over 20 years old and have credit card and an international driver's license.

3.​ Tourists who give preference public transport, can purchase maps with routes and timetables at Steinatún kiosks.

4.​ Traveling to the Faroe Islands is quite expensive. But when leaving the country, if you have a receipt from stores operating according to the system Tax Free, you can return VAT. But only if the purchase amount in the receipt exceeds $48.

5.​ It is not customary to leave a tip on this archipelago. Staff remuneration is most often immediately included in the bill.

6.​ You can fish if you have a license, which is sold at tourist offices. If a tourist wants to take his fishing gear, he must sanitize it in advance.

7.​ The climate in the Faroe Islands is very changeable, so you must take warm clothes and several pairs of comfortable shoes with you on the road.

Visa information

To obtain a visa in Moscow, you can contact the Danish Embassy. You must have with you:

• ​ 2 photographs;
•  completed application form;
• ​ foreign passport (its expiration date must expire at least 3 months after the expiration of the visa) and its copy;
• ​ national passport and its copy;
• ​ insurance policy (coverage amount cannot be less than 30 thousand €);
• ​ bank account statement;
• ​ confirmation that the hotel has been booked;
• ​ certificate from place of work or study.

The Faroe Islands are steep cliffs, fog, waterfalls, wooden houses with grass on the roof, whales, langoustines, sheep and the harsh Atlantic. Geographical location The Faroe Islands can most easily be described by the English expression “in the middle of nowhere”.

An archipelago of eighteen small and many smaller islands is hidden in the North Atlantic Ocean. The easiest way to get here is from Iceland - ferries run from the land of ice to the Faroe Islands.

In the photo: the Eggjarnar coast in the village of Vágur on the island of Suvúroy

At the beginning of the ninth century, immigrants from Scotland settled here, then the Vikings sailed here, and until the nineteenth century, the territory of the islands was divided between Norway and Denmark. Nowadays the Faroe Islands are part of the Kingdom of Denmark, but since 1948 they have gained autonomy and can resolve most issues independently.

The name of the islands translates as “sheep”, because with a population of 50,000 inhabitants there are 70,000 sheep of a special Faroese breed. Few people make it to the Faroe Islands, but those who can will not be disappointed, because it is harsh here. northern nature, traditional wooden architecture and distinctive cuisine, including raw seafood and fermented lamb.

THORNE HARBOR

On the islands everything is very compact and rustic in the good sense of the word. The capital of the Faroe Islands, Toshavn, is located on the island of Streymoy. It is built up with low houses, there are only 3 traffic lights, and the personal number of the Prime Minister can be found in the phone book.

Tórshavn is a port city named after the god Thor. The main local attractions are the 15th century Munkastovan Monastery, the Historical Museum, Cultural Center House of the Northern Peoples and Old city with houses from the 14th century.

I would like to say something separately about local architecture. In the old days, houses on the Faroe Islands were built from tarred dark wood, and the roofs were covered with turf and grass. Today, the government ensures that a single architectural style is maintained and new houses are built here exactly the same. Most of the historic churches on the islands survive from the nineteenth century, all of them made of wood and with original carvings.

Pictured: the dark wood church of Norðragøta with a turf roof

And even in the cities, at every step you will meet the honorary inhabitants of these lands - sheep. It is logical that lamb is the main dish of the local cuisine, and products made from sheep's wool are the main Faroese souvenirs. You can just buy a traditional sweater, hat or mittens, but it’s better to go to the store of the fashion brand Guðrun&Guðrun. It was founded by two Faroese young ladies, and the main character of the famous Danish TV series “The Killing” even wore a sweater from their brand.

OBSERVATION OF NATURE

And yet, for the most part, travelers go to the Faroe Islands to admire the rugged beauty local nature. She is wild, northern, harsh, similar species can be observed in Iceland, because, like the Faroe Islands, they are treeless, like a land of ice. But there are rocky cliffs, fjords and waterfalls - the most famous Bosdalafossur is located on the island of Voar, which is shaped like a dog's head.

In the photo: Bosdalafossur waterfall on the island of Voar

It doesn't matter which islands you visit, you'll find impressive Atlantic scenery, cliffs and sheep everywhere. The largest islands of the archipelago are Streymoy, Esturoy, Voar, Suduroy, Sandoy and Bordoy. We recommend hiking as the main entertainment - there are 23 spectacular routes.

In the photo: lighthouse on Cape Akraberg, Suvuroy island

But no matter where you go, after 5 kilometers you will still find yourself at the Atlantic Ocean - this is the maximum distance to it from any point on any island.

In the photo: puffins fly to the Faroe Islands to nest

Add to this private fogs, lighthouses, concentrated sea air and bird trills - the islands are home to about 110 of their own species of birds, plus the territory is a place of bird migration, and the symbol of the Faroe Islands is the sandpiper bird.

SECRETS OF THE ATLANTIC OCEAN 


Be sure to go fishing. Fishing is the main industry for the Faroese, and 90% of local exports are seafood. Here they catch langoustines, mussels, sea ​​urchins, cod, herring, halibut, flounder, catfish, squid, monkfish, whales and sharks. By the way, despite low temperature Water diving in the Faroe Islands is not only possible, but is becoming more and more popular every year. And this is not surprising, because in underwater depths Near the islands you can observe starfish and urchins, sea cucumbers, hermit crabs and huge mussels.

The Sheep Islands are part of and located Atlantic Ocean to the north, or rather between the Shetland Islands and. The Faroe archipelago includes 18 islands, the largest of which is Borøy with a population of five thousand people.

Climate and weather of the Faroe Islands

The weather on the islands is greatly influenced by the warm Gulf Stream, which has a constant coastal water temperature of 10 degrees. The climate on the islands is marine, in summer daytime temperatures are about 23 degrees, in winter about 2 degrees. It rains almost every day in the Faroe Islands, especially in autumn and winter.

How to get to the Faroe Islands

You can fly to the Faroe Islands with SAS via Copenhagen, or by ferry from the Danish port of Huntsholm, from the Norwegian port of Bergen, from Seydisfjörður in Iceland and from the Shetland Islands.

Visas to the Faroe Islands

The Faroe Islands have not signed the Schengen legislation and will have to obtain a separate visa from the Danish consulate. In general, the list of documents is no different from the documents for a Schengen visa; we note the high requirements for an official salary of at least 500 euros per month and cash support of 50 euros per day per person.

Faroe Islands Customs Regulations

Amounts over 15,000 euros must be declared; the import and collection of currency is not limited. You can import up to 200 cigarettes, up to 1 liter of alcohol or up to 2 liters of wine without paying duty. Goods and gifts are limited to CZK 2,500, food items to 3 kilograms.

Money in the Faroe Islands

The national currency is the Faroese krone; Danish kroner is also accepted. Banks are open from morning to 4 pm. You can exchange currency at the airport or in the city of Vaugar itself. We recommend taking international credit cards with you, which are accepted everywhere.

Holidays, excursions and attractions of the Faroe Islands

In the capital of the islands, the city of Tórshavn, the museum of history, archeology and navigation Foroya Fornminissavn is of interest; the city itself is reminiscent of Copenhagen. The Munkastovan Monastery is interesting, surrounded by stone walls, as well as the Nordic House Norurlandahus and the theater with a peat roof. concert program V summer time"Faroe evenings for tourists." Near the village of Skarvanes there is the rock “Finger of the Troll Woman” Tretlkonufingur, which rises above the sea.

Kalsoy Island has the highest terrain, so it can be considered the most picturesque with steep cliffs on which waves crash.

The islands of Vaugar, Strömö and Östurö are connected by an engineering marvel under the Västmannasund Strait with a tunnel up to 5 kilometers long.

We will send the material to you by email:

The site is an expert in travel matters. And not only where to go, but also how to get there? Sophisticated travelers are most concerned about the question “how”, because the “where” category includes places that are not in mass demand. This means the number one problem on the way to the intended dream is transport. How to get to the Faroe Islands?

The Faroe Islands live in the Atlantic between Scotland and Iceland and they have no idea how much effort it takes to get to them. What is so attractive about this small piece of land in the endless waters of the ocean?

According to the authoritative publication National Geographic Traveler, the Faroe Islands are the most unique islands in the world. Of the 18 islands of the archipelago, 17 are inhabited. If their name is literally translated, it sounds like “Sheep Islands”. Despite its northern location, the climate here is unique. Winters are warm, and in the coldest January the temperature ranges from 0 to +4 degrees. Summer, on the contrary, is cold and humid, in July the thermometers range from +11 to +17 degrees. It rains 280 days a year, and the density of fog in the Faroe Islands can compete with London. Tropical Gulf Stream for local residents like manna from heaven: the temperature in the ocean is always about +10 degrees, which provides ideal conditions for the life of various fish.

Despite the vagaries of the weather, the Faroe Islands can be classified as an exotic island, even if not tropical. There are quite a lot of attractions here, but the main trump card is the landscapes. Even a person who doesn’t understand anything about landscape painting will confidently say: “The Creator worked on this “panel” with special inspiration. It is rare to see such rich colors. Fields, cliffs, cliffs, waterfalls, fjords and the ocean play in millions of shades of green, blue, and white. This is what they come here for.

There are two ways to get to the Faroe Islands: by air or by water. Much depends on the starting point.

By air

From Moscow or St. Petersburg you need to fly to Copenhagen, make a transfer and get to Vagar Airport. This is the only airport in the Faroe Islands, and an international one. Annual passenger traffic is about 180 thousand. Vagar Island is associated with largest island Streymoy archipelago underwater tunnel.

In addition, you can fly to Vagar Airport from Norway, Iceland, Denmark and the UK.

You can easily get to the Faroe Islands by Smyril Line ferry from Denmark (from Hanstholm or Esbjerg) or Iceland (Seydisfjörður), as well as from Norway (Bergen).

About how Tórshavn lives, and about how... Today I will focus on organizational issues of the trip: transport and visa, hotels and communications, movement around the islands.

Trip planning and routes

The Faroe Islands can be called an exclusive destination, because... neither the small number of flights, nor the small number of hotels, nor the short season make it possible to accommodate a large number of tourists here. Therefore, the Faroe Islands are hardly a destination for a spontaneous trip, so the sooner you start planning your trip, the better.

To plan routes and things to see, it's handy to use the information site Visit Faroe. You can take the card at tourist office in an Aeroport. Personally, my route included:

How much time to allocate:

As always, it all depends on what you want to see. To generalize, I will say that 2 days is definitely not enough, 10 is perhaps a lot. 4-5 days seem optimal to me.

How to get there

The most convenient way is through Copenhagen, from where Atlantic Airways operates 2 flights a day to the Faroe Islands. Travel time - 2 hours. Tickets cost from 400 euros return. The demand for the route is high, flights are full, especially during the season, you can’t expect significant discounts, because... This is the only airline that flies here.

The same Atlantic Airways connects the Faroe Islands with Iceland, Norway and Scotland, so it will be possible to organize a Denmark-Faree-Iceland tour, for example.

Visa

The Faroe Islands require a separate visa, which is issued at the Danish Consulate in Moscow. The documents and registration procedure are similar to Schengen; more about them. However, no one checked my visa either on the way there or on the way back - it remained outstanding.

Time to visit

The best time to travel is from May to early September. July 28-29 is the holiday of St. Olaf, for which Faroese from all over the world come to the Faroe Islands. If you want to see it, then you should buy tickets as early as possible, at least a year in advance, and start looking for a hotel the same time in advance.

Hotels and apartments

The Faroe Islands are not a destination where people go for designer hotels and excellent service. I lived in two hotels, Hafnia in the center of Tórshavn, the capital of the Faroes, and in Foroyar, located a couple of kilometers from the center. The first one looks like a hotel in the Russian outback; Its advantages include the presence hot water, Internet and clean linen. The second one is much newer and nicer; it was where, for example, Bill Clinton stayed. The price, of course, is higher. You can check the prices using the links above.

Other accommodation options on the islands are small guesthouses (search on booking.com), as well as apartments and rooms for rent through. The selection is limited and prices are high. From a geographical point of view, it doesn’t really matter where you live in the Faroe Islands, because... Everywhere you will go by car, that is, there is no point in getting attached, for example, to Tórshavn.

Weather

The Faroe Islands are not very cold, quite damp, windy and cloudy all year round. I was in May, it was about +7, I was wearing a light down jacket. You will definitely need waterproof boots, a waterproof jacket with a hood, gloves, and a warm sweater or sweatshirt, even if you are traveling in the summer. The weather changes every 15 minutes, so you should dress in layers to be able to undress or warm up as needed. An umbrella and a raincoat are essential items.

Transport

Without a car there is not much to do in the Faroe Islands, although I know people who have traveled around the islands by bus or hitchhiking. There are several car rental counters at the airport. Also on the islands there is a selection of companies ready to make a tour for you with fishing, helicopter rides, and trekking. A short list of them. You can find out about other methods of transportation. Taxis on the islands are expensive, and it is not wise to use them for long trips around them. If you order, for example, a taxi to the airport, do it at least a day in advance - the taxi driver will collect several people from different hotels in one car and take everyone to the address, it will be much cheaper.

Money

In the Faroe Islands you can pay with cards of the main payment systems, Danish and Faroese kroner (1 to 1). If you pay in Danish kroner as change, you will receive Faroese kroner. When returning to Denmark, it makes sense to exchange them for Danish kroner, because... On the mainland you are unlikely to accept Faroese currency.

Connection

A SIM card can be purchased at the information desk in the arrivals area. For a limited number of calls and 1 GB of Internet, I paid 250 CZK (multiply by 7.5). Coverage in most places is quite decent, in most cases 3G, sometimes dropping to GPRS. There is wifi in cafes, restaurants and hotels, as well as at the airport itself.

Restaurants

Definitely not to miss KOKS at the Foroyar Hotel and Hafnia in a hotel with the same name - they both represent a new northern cuisine. I also liked the sushi bar Etika and an excellent fish restaurant Barbara. All these places are in Tórshavn.