Europe’s Most Untouched Islands Are Now Easier To Reach Than Ever

Share The Article

If you happen to’ve ever checked out pictures of emerald cliffs, puffins, and turf-roofed cottages and thought, “The place is that?”, there’s a very good likelihood you had been staring on the Faroe Islands. Tucked within the North Atlantic between Iceland and Norway, this tiny archipelago appears like Europe’s final wild frontier — but it surely’s all of a sudden getting a lot simpler to succeed in.

We at Journey Off Path have already shared how the Faroes are like Iceland with no crowds and storybook villages to spare, and so they’ve shortly change into considered one of our favourite “how does this even exist?” locations. Now, new flights, tunnels, lodges, and wellness spots imply you don’t must be a hardcore adventurer to discover its far-flung corners.

Beneath, we’ll break down why the Faroe Islands are nonetheless extremely untouched and why 2025–26 is the excellent window to go earlier than everybody else catches on.

The place Are The Faroe Islands And Why Are They Nonetheless So Quiet?

The Faroe Islands are an 18-island volcanic archipelago within the North Atlantic, roughly midway between Iceland and Norway and simply north of Scotland.

About 54,000 folks dwell right here, together with greater than 70,000 sheep — and solely round 100,000 vacationers present up in a typical yr, a tiny fraction of neighboring Iceland’s customer numbers. Which means you’ll be able to nonetheless end up mountaineering alone alongside sea cliffs, watching puffins on Mykines, or wandering turf-roofed villages like Gjógv and Saksun with out the shoulder-to-shoulder crowds you’d anticipate at a spot this photogenic.

Conde Nast Traveler even named the Faroe Islands one of many finest locations to go in 2025, highlighting how the nation is investing in new methods to succeed in its remotest corners with out sacrificing that wild, empty really feel.

Getting There Simply Acquired Approach Simpler

For a very long time, “How do I even get to the Faroes?” was the number-one query. That’s altering quick.

From North America and Europe through Iceland

Icelandair now sells common itineraries to Vágar Airport (FAE), the Faroes’ solely airport, routed by means of Reykjavík. From the U.S. and Canada, you’ll be able to join by means of Iceland and proceed on to the islands on a single ticket, typically with the choice to construct in an Iceland stopover on the best way.

If you happen to love the thought of soaking in scorching springs and chasing waterfalls in Iceland earlier than heading deeper into the North Atlantic, you’ll be able to pair the Faroes with an Iceland stopover and comply with our personal 48-hour stopover within the most secure nation on earth.

Direct flights from Europe

The Faroes’ residence service, Atlantic Airways, has constructed a surprisingly strong route community.

Now you can fly nonstop to Vágar from a number of Danish cities (together with Copenhagen and Billund) plus hubs like Paris, Edinburgh, and different seasonal European gateways, with extra choices from airways reminiscent of SAS and Widerøe.

Backside line: you now not must string collectively obscure connections. From most main U.S. cities, it’s one connection by means of Iceland or Denmark, and from Europe, typically a easy 2–3-hour nonstop.

A New Tunnel Is Opening Up The “Hidden” Islands

When you land, the actual magic is how straightforward it’s change into to succeed in what was the most distant corners.

The Faroes already had a powerful community of bridges and subsea tunnels, together with the well-known Eysturoy tunnel with its underwater roundabout. In late 2023, a brand-new undersea hyperlink — the Sandoyartunnilin, or Sandoy Tunnel — opened to the general public, lastly connecting the principle island to Sandoy by highway.

As an alternative of juggling ferry schedules, now you can simply drive from Tórshavn to Sandoy by means of a 6-plus-mile tunnel embellished with moody, Viking-inspired artwork by Faroese artist Edward Fuglø, full with a customized gentle present. There’s a toll (roughly the equal of €20–25 every manner for vehicles, sometimes billed mechanically by means of your rental firm), however in trade, you’re getting year-round, storm-proof entry to windswept seashores and tiny villages that used to really feel off-limits except you had excellent timing.

For vacationers, that is big: it means you’ll be able to base your self in or across the capital, lease a automotive, and comfortably day-trip to islands that when required severe logistics.

New Lodges And Spas For A Cozy Nordic Base

Regardless of being distant, the Faroes are quietly leveling up their lodge sport:

Proper on the airport:

Refreshed Hotel Vágar sits only a five-minute stroll from the terminal with quick access to Múlafossur waterfall, Trælanípa (“lake over the ocean”), Drangarnir sea arch, and Mykines ferries.

In Tórshavn:

The Hilton Garden Inn Faroe Islands brings acquainted consolation (and an awesome breakfast buffet) plus huge views over the capital, only a quick stroll or drive from downtown.

For one thing extra local-feeling, Lodge Føroyar is constructed into the hillside with turf roofs and sweeping views over Tórshavn — and it’s now residence to Ress Spa, a modern Nordic wellness house with saunas, heated swimming pools, and floor-to-ceiling views of the fjords.

Up north in Klaksvík:

A brand-new four-star property, Lodge Bisk, is slated to open because the first main upscale lodge outdoors the capital, proper on the water in Klaksvík. It’s designed with 81 rooms, a restaurant, and occasion house — excellent for exploring the northern islands and the enduring Kallur Lighthouse hike.

If you happen to’re extra into cold-plunge tradition, Havdypp on Leynar Seashore affords a small, non-public seaside spa with sauna and chilly tub overlooking the surf — an ideal method to thaw out after a cliff hike.

How Many Days Do You Want & What Can You Truly See?

Because of the tunnels and compact measurement (you’ll be able to drive throughout the principle islands in a few hours), you’ll be able to see lots in 4–5 days:

• Day 1: Land on Vágar, drop luggage at Lodge Vágar or in Tórshavn, then head straight for Múlafossur and the “lake above the ocean” hike at Trælanípa.
• Day 2: Discover Tórshavn’s outdated city (Tinganes), the cathedral, and close by Kirkjubøur, residence to medieval ruins and farmhouses.
• Day 3: Drive by means of the Sandoy Tunnel for seashores, fowl cliffs, and quiet villages with out worrying about lacking the ferry.
• Day 4–5: Climate allowing, add a ship journey to the Vestmanna sea cliffs or Drangarnir, and should you’re visiting in summer season, a day on Mykines for puffin watching.

If you wish to go slower, every week offers you room for Kalsoy, Suðuroy, and a full spa day.

Sensible Suggestions Earlier than You E book

Just a few fast issues that may make your Faroe journey smoother:

• Finest time to go: Late Could by means of early September brings longer days and lively birdlife (puffins are typically round from Could to late August). Winter is moody and delightful however very quick on daylight and extra weather-dependent.
• Price range actuality test: Like different Nordic locations, the Faroes are on the expensive facet. Mid-range lodges typically begin across the low-hundreds per evening, and consuming out provides up — however self-catering and grocery store runs assist lots.
• Driving: Renting a automotive is the simplest method to discover; roads are good, site visitors is gentle, and tunnels make island-hopping easy. Simply look ahead to sheep on the highway and do not forget that some subsea tunnels cost tolls mechanically to your rental.
• Border guidelines: The Faroes aren’t within the EU or Schengen, however most guests will transit by means of Schengen hubs like Copenhagen or Reykjavík. Europe is rolling out new fingerprinting and exit/entry programs, so be sure you’re in control on what that appears like on the airport — our information to Europe’s necessary fingerprinting breaks it down in plain English.

And earlier than you lock something in, we extremely advocate operating your plans by means of our new 1-Minute Journey Verify, which pulls collectively entry guidelines, hidden charges, and advisories in a single place so that you don’t get shocked at check-in.

The Faroe Islands are nonetheless considered one of Europe’s most untouched, surreal island escapes — however with new flights, tunnels, lodges, and spas, they’re now not only for the hardcore. If you happen to’ve been ready for an indication that it’s lastly time to go, that is it.