The Faroe Islands are intricately placed between Norway and Iceland, in the middle of the North Atlantic Ocean. They consist of a puzzle of 18 volcanic islands and offer landscapes of otherworldly beauty.
1. You feel safe, even though there are no prisons
The Faroe Islands are one of the safest places on Earth. So safe that there’s no prison. Any inmates who have to serve a sentence longer than 1.5 years must be transferred to Denmark. For shorter sentences, there’s a detention centre (whose roof is covered with turf), located in Mjørkadalur.
2. There are more sheep than people
It’s no coincidence that the name of the Faroe Islands: Faroes, in (whatever language they speak there), means ‘Islands of the Sheep’. The number of people living there doesn’t exceed 50,000, while the sheep are estimated at around 70,000. They are an important part of the country’s culture and history and have always been a symbol of the Faroe Islands, even appearing on the national coat of arms since the 15th century.
3. So where did all the traffic lights go?
Given the country’s small population, a traffic jam is highly unlikely. So it makes sense that in the entire country there are just… three traffic lights! In fact, not only are all three in Tórshavn, the capital, but they’re also on the same street.
4. Free buses for everyone, and almost… free helicopters!
The buses in Tórshavn are free for everyone, as transport is considered a basic necessity. But the government’s generosity doesn’t stop there. The helicopters serving remote islands are heavily subsidised for both locals and tourists. This way, everyone can take some of the most spectacular rides of their lives on public transport, which can cost around €17!
5. The Prime Minister’s phone number is in the phone book.
Our familiar phrase ‘take your complaints to the mayor’ takes on a literal meaning in the Faroe Islands, as anyone can find the phone number of the Prime Minister himself in the public phone book.
6. The world’s first undersea roundabout.
It’s a tunnel with a total length of 11 kilometres that dramatically cuts the travel time from the capital Tórshavn to the town of Runavík. Specifically, the journey now takes just 16 minutes, down from the 1 hour and 14 minutes it used to be.
7. G! Festival
It’s a 3-day alternative music festival held in one of the most extraordinary locations in the world, in the village of Syðrugøta. The whole area is considered a natural amphitheatre, bathed by the ocean while enclosed by grass-decked mountain peaks. It has hosted artists such as Rag’n’Bone Man, Monophonics, Kaleo, Arch Enemy and many more big names of the global music scene.
Since it’s a summer festival, the weather is at its warmest and the stages are set up on the beach. The setting couldn’t be more idyllic, at one of the most epic festivals around.
Trips to this destination
Iceland Tour
Extended Iceland Tour
