1100 kilometers of wild coastline battered by waves and winds.
A population of barely 52,000 inhabitants.
No land for hundreds of miles around.
Isolated in the heart of the North Atlantic, the Faroe Islands are a paradise for lovers of the great outdoors.
If you are ready to endure very capricious weather, these little Scandinavian pebbles are made for you!
Your efforts will quickly pay off: you will discover nature of breathtaking beauty.
[Covid-19: To follow the health situation in the Faroe Islands and find out the entry conditions, consult the dedicated site:
corona.fo
]
Read also: Faroe Islands, the star of the North Atlantic
Sørvágsvatn Lake and Trælanípa Cliff
From the cliff of Trælanípa, the Sørvágsvatn seems to be perched above the ocean.
Renee hahnel
Have you ever seen a lake perched above the ocean?
To observe this unusual landscape, go to the island of Vágar on the shore of Sørvágsvatn, the largest lake in the Faroe Islands.
An easy path runs along the shore and then splits in two: on the left, you climb up to the Trælanípa cliff, a 142-meter wall that drops steeply into the Atlantic.
From there, the lake appears to be suspended above the ocean.
An optical illusion that will make you blink!
Then return to the crossroads and take the path on the right which runs along the Sørvágsvatn.
At the end, another surprise awaits you: the lake flows into the Atlantic, creating the curious Bøsdalafossur waterfall.
Our advice
If you rent a car at the airport, you can get there right out of the plane!
The village of Miðvágur, the starting point of the walk, is located just 7 kilometers away.
If you are not motorized, the 300 bus will drop you there.
From the church, follow the signs to reach the ticket office (count 200 Danish crowns or DKK or 25 €).
More info on
: visitvagar.fo/welcome-to-vagar/activities/hiking/soervagsvatn-leitisvatn/
Gásadalur and its magnificent waterfall
Located in the village of Gásadalur, the Múlafossur waterfall flows into the Atlantic at over 30 meters high.
Daniel Casson
Also on the island of Vágar, 11 km from the airport, the small village of Gásadalur has long been one of the most isolated in the Faroe Islands.
Nestled in a natural circus, it is surrounded by the highest mountains on the island: Árnafjall (722 m) and Eysturtindur (715 m).
Difficult to reach by sea, the village was not connected to the road until 2004. Even today, it has a little air of end of the world, even if it has become one of the most beautiful maps. postal services of the Faroe Islands with its magnificent waterfall that flows into the ocean.
If you go there on a windy day, you will have the chance to admire an astonishing spectacle: with the squalls, the water of the fall defies the laws of gravity and rises vertically!
Our advice
If you're feeling peckish, go enjoy some fermented beef soup or a slice of cake at the Gásadalsgarður guesthouse.
You can also spend the night there.
5 kilometers before Gásadalur, take a detour through the village of Bøur.
With its pretty houses with roofs covered with grass, it is worth the detour.
You will have a beautiful view of Tindhólmur, an uninhabited islet with spooky shapes.
More info on
: visitvagar.fo/welcome-to-vagar/about/about-vagar-and-mykines/gasadalur/
Mykines, the bird island
In the Faroe Islands, you can observe hundreds of Atlantic puffins, also known as “sea parrots”.
Visit Faroe Islands
Located off Vágar, Mykines is nicknamed "bird paradise".
You will discover many species there, in particular the Atlantic puffin, the northern gannet, the black-toed kittiwake or the northern fulmar.
From the village, a path leads you to the Mykineshólmur islet.
You pass through one of the most important puffin nesting sites in the Faroe Islands.
It's a unique experience: they hover above your head and walk very close to you.
Then you access Mykineshólmur via a suspension bridge 35 meters above the ocean.
At the end of the islet, a lighthouse built in 1909 marks the westernmost point of the Faroe Islands.
Our advice
From May 1 to August 31, ferry number 36 runs between Sørvágur and Mykines.
Count 120 DKK for a round trip or 16 €.
To access Mykineshólmur, you must pay an entrance fee of 250 DKK or 30 €.
Book your tickets in advance on mykines.fo.
If you want to stay for the night, the GoLocal agency offers two-day excursions with dinner in a traditional house.
Read also: The Faroe Islands: a garden in the Atlantic
The cliffs of Vestmanna
The boat is ideal for exploring the caves carved into the huge cliffs of Vestmanna.
Daniele Casanova
A 30-minute drive from the capital Tórshavn, on the island of Streymoy, Vestmanna is the starting point for one of the most beautiful excursions in the Faroe Islands.
By boat, you get as close as possible to the Vestmannabjørgini, cliffs over 600 meters that drop steeply into the ocean.
Their spectacular size and their side untouched by human traces make them unique throughout the archipelago.
The boat weaves its way through the many caves carved out by erosion.
You discover a world apart, made of dark caves and amazing rock formations.
This protected place offers seabirds an ideal nesting place.
In the summer, you'll see thousands of them, from puffins and penguins to murres and northern fulmars.
An exceptional outing, to do at least once during your stay.
Our advice
In summer, the Skúvadal company provides several departures per day (count 325 DKK or 40 €).
Book here: puffin.fo/en
When you return from your excursion, don't miss the excellent seafood soup at the Fjørukrógvin restaurant.
Kalsoy and Kallur Lighthouse
Located at the end of Kalsoy Island, Kallur Lighthouse offers extraordinary views of the Atlantic Ocean and surrounding islands.
Per Morten Abrahamsen
Fancy a breathtaking view?
Then don't miss Kallur Lighthouse, at the northwest end of Kalsoy Island.
Perched on a cliff overlooking the ocean, it offers a splendid panorama of the neighboring islands of Kunoy, Viðoy and Eysturoy and the Atlantic as far as the eye can see.
To get there, an easy 4 km trail starts from the village of Trøllanes.
In good weather, the contrast is superb between the blue of the ocean and the green mountains.
Along the way, you come across solitary sheep grazing in this magical setting.
After the lighthouse, the path becomes very narrow.
On both sides, steep slopes plunge into the ocean.
Be careful to make the most of this magnificent place.
Our advice
Ferry 56 connects Klaksvík with Syðradalur, the first village on Kalsoy.
You can embark by car or on foot.
Then, if you are not motorized, bus 506 connects the ferry pier to Trøllanes.
Here, as everywhere in the Faroe Islands, it is necessary to have good shoes.
Even in good weather, the paths can be slippery.
More info at:
visitnordoy.fo/frontpage/about/the-northern-isles/kalsoy/
Read also: Scotland: eleven islands that give the impression of being alone in the world
Viðareiði and the top of Villingardalsfjall
The village of Viðareiði is recognizable by the astonishing conical mountain Malínsfjall which overlooks the village.
Roman huber
If you are looking for tranquility, the village of Viðareiði will meet your desire.
Located far north of Viðoy, one of the most remote islands of the Faroe Islands, Viðareiði is a small haven of peace.
To gain height, a path leads you to Mount Villingardalsfjall, which rises to 841 meters.
As you go up, you discover the amazing shape of Malínsfjall, the conical mountain that dominates the village and the fjord.
After a small plateau, the path continues to the summit.
From here you will have a spectacular view of the neighboring islands, Borðoy, Kunoy and Fugloy.
Another path leads to the Enniberg cliff, which, at 754 meters, is the highest maritime promontory in Europe.
Due to the difficulty, it is recommended to hire a guide to access it.
Our advice
Allow an hour's drive from Tórshavn thanks to the brand new tunnel connecting the islands of Streymoy and Eysturoy.
Otherwise, from Klaksvík the 500 bus takes you to Viðareiði.
Consult the description produced by the Faroe Tourist Office: visitfaroeislands.com/place/villingardalsfjall/
Practical notebook
GO
From May to October, the company Atlantic Airways operates direct flights between Paris Roissy and Vágar.
Allow 2h40 of flight.
Alternatively, you can take a flight with a stopover in Copenhagen, always with Atlantic Airways, or with SAS Airlines.
WHICH SEASON
The best period is summer.
From June to September, the days are long (7:45 p.m. daylight on June 21).
Temperatures are cool (average 11 ° C) and you can have great sunshine and rain in the same day.
Raincoats, gloves and hats are essential, even in summer.
Go there in winter if you like landscapes covered in snow (3 ° C on average).