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

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If you’ve ever checked out images of emerald cliffs, puffins, and turf-roofed cottages and thought, “Where is that?”, there’s probability 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 immediately getting a lot simpler to succeed in.

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

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

Where Are The Faroe Islands And Why Are They Still 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 reside right here, together with greater than 70,000 sheep — and solely round 100,000 vacationers present up in a typical 12 months, a tiny fraction of neighboring Iceland’s customer numbers. That means you may nonetheless end up mountain climbing 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 greatest 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 Just Got Way Easier

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 by way of Iceland

Icelandair now sells common itineraries to Vágar Airport (FAE), the Faroes’ solely airport, routed by Reykjavík. From the U.S. and Canada, you may join by 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 like the concept of soaking in sizzling springs and chasing waterfalls in Iceland earlier than heading deeper into the North Atlantic, you may pair the Faroes with an Iceland stopover and comply with our personal 48-hour stopover in the safest country on earth.

Direct flights from Europe

The Faroes’ house provider, Atlantic Airways, has constructed a surprisingly sturdy route community.

You can now 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 further choices from airways comparable to SAS and Widerøe.

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

A New Tunnel Is Opening Up The “Hidden” Islands

Once you land, the true magic is how simple 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 primary island to Sandoy by street.

Instead of juggling ferry schedules, now you can simply drive from Tórshavn to Sandoy by a 6-plus-mile tunnel adorned with moody, Viking-inspired artwork by Faroese artist Edward Fuglø, full with a customized mild present. There’s a toll (roughly the equal of €20–25 every means for vehicles, usually billed mechanically by 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 until you had good timing.

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

New Hotels And Spas For A Cozy Nordic Base

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

Right 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 ideal breakfast buffet) plus massive views over the capital, only a quick stroll or drive from downtown.

For one thing extra local-feeling, Hotel Føroyar is constructed into the hillside with turf roofs and sweeping views over Tórshavn — and it’s now house to Ress Spa, a glossy 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, Hotel 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 — good for exploring the northern islands and the enduring Kallur Lighthouse hike.

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

How Many Days Do You Need & What Can You Actually See?

Thanks to the tunnels and compact dimension (you may drive throughout the primary islands in a few hours), you may see rather a lot in 4–5 days:

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

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

Practical Tips Before You Book

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

• Best time to go: Late May by early September brings longer days and energetic birdlife (puffins are typically round from May to late August). Winter is moody and exquisite however very quick on daylight and extra weather-dependent.
• Budget actuality examine: Like different Nordic locations, the Faroes are on the expensive facet. Mid-range motels typically begin across the low-hundreds per evening, and consuming out provides up — however self-catering and grocery store runs assist rather a lot.
• Driving: Renting a automobile is the simplest strategy to discover; roads are good, site visitors is mild, and tunnels make island-hopping simple. Just look ahead to sheep on the street and keep in mind 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 Schengen hubs like Copenhagen or Reykjavík. Europe is rolling out new fingerprinting and exit/entry methods, so ensure you’re on top of things on what that appears like on the airport — our guide to Europe’s mandatory fingerprinting breaks it down in plain English.

And earlier than you lock something in, we extremely suggest operating your plans by our new 1-Minute Trip Check, 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 one in every of Europe’s most untouched, surreal island escapes — however with new flights, tunnels, motels, and spas, they’re not only for the hardcore. If you’ve been ready for an indication that it’s lastly time to go, that is it.