Faroe Islands: Getting there & around

From April to September, Atlantic Airways flies to the Faroes twice weekly from London Stansted via Aberdeen or the Shetland Islands (Scotland). Year round there are up to three flights daily from Copenhagen on Atlantic. Atlantic also has services to Billund (Denmark), Oslo and Stavanger (Norway). Air Iceland connects to Reykjavik (not Keflavik). Beware that fog at Vágar can cause major delays. The Smyril Line ferry Norröna sails regularly between Hanstholm (Denmark) and Seyðisfjörður (Iceland) via Tórshavn typically adding a side trip to Bergen (Norway) and, in summer, to Lerwick in the Shetland Islands. For foot passengers it isn't particularly economical, but the ferry is ideal if you're bringing a vehicle

The Faroese transport system is the equal of any other northern European country. Roads are surfaced and the difficult parts have been bypassed by tunnelling through mountains and under the sea. The only inter-island travel by air in the Faroes is by helicopter, but it's a dramatic and surprisingly cheap way to island hop. As flights are normally booked out, it's wise to reserve seats weeks in advance; this is only possible by telephone. You pay when you board.

The Bygdaleiðir long-distance bus service is excellent. When combined with the ferry services, it links virtually every corner of the islands. The fares are steep and add up quickly if you're doing a lot of travel, but you can get a transport pass that gives reasonable discounts. Driving yourself around the islands is easy, but unless you're bringing your own car, hiring a vehicle is expensive. The roads are generally well surfaced but the variable weather and long, often unlit tunnels don't encourage cycling.