Why You Should Visit the Faroe Islands: A Comprehensive Guide
Over the past year, I have been traveling to some most popular travel destinations in Europe. It was fun, while roaming the medieval towns of Germany and enjoying La Fallas in Valencia. Though it was a great experience but usually, these places were filled with crowds.
So, I started browsing about the places that are usually less crowded, and I found the Faroe Islands. It was tucked in the North Atlantic Ocean. You won’t believe that this island is made of almost 18 tiny islands that are interconnected, and there are more sheep than humans in Faroe Islands.
My trip was excellent; there were many more to explore there, which I will surely gonna tell you in this blog post. I believe that you should visit these Islands at least once if you love going untouched places on Earth.
Top Reasons to Visit Faroe Islands
Here are my top reasons to visit the Faroe Islands.
1- It's unbelievably beautiful
It's unbelievably beautiful, and it has almost everything a nature lover like me is looking for. There are mountains, long hiking trails, extensive coastline, and deep valleys.
You can enjoy waterfalls or kayaking. At first glance, you think about those beautiful postcard pictures of the nature scenery.
One amazing aspect was the weather, which was always changing, making the view of the islands even more amazing. Locals used to say that you could even experience all four seasons in one day.
2- It's an Untouched Tourist Spot
At the start of our conversation, I told you that I was fed up with the places filled with tourists; that’s why I chose Faroe Islands, and I must say that it was totally worth it. While planning my trip, I was quite curious about my car parking while living in the UK, as the airport is quite a distance away, and I would need to take it with me. That's where Gatwick airport cheap parking came in. I booked it from ezybook, and the process was really smooth.
This place is indeed an untouched tourist spot, just because the weather conditions are relatively harsh, there is less infrastructure for the hotels, you won’t find good hotels and transportation. Natives are mostly dependent on fishing, so tourism is not a popular source of earning there.
But things are changing now, the official tourism board is actively promoting the Islands, the developments of new airports and urge of the travelers like me to explore less crowded tourist attractions.
3- Meet the Puffins
The Faroe Islands are the breeding spot of Puffins, a very beautiful bird. I have seen them in Norway. During summer, the Atlantic puffins flock to this part of the world, usually in Mykines, which is notably famous for spotting the large population of the puffins.
What I love is that last time in Norway, I didn’t get the chance to observe this bird that closely. It was truly a nice experience.
4- Explore the Amazing Local Culture
I was a bit curious about the culture of the place with one of the lowest outside human interactions. But it was not disappointing at all.
I came to know that the Faroe Islands belong to the Kingdom of Denmark, yet the locals have their language and traditions. Due to the small population, they are very well connected, and you will see a strong bond between the community.
They were nice and welcoming to the tourists, though there was a language barrier, but I somehow managed. Their homemade food was very delicious, they served me skerpikjøt, a wind-dried mutton.
5- Here comes the Sheeps
It's quite right that this land does not belong to the humans but the sheep. The name "Faroe Islands" (Føroyar) is believed to derive from the Old Norse word "fær," meaning sheep.
For centuries, sheep have been an essential part of living for the people of Faroe Islands, mainly for food and clothing. It is believed that the Norse settlers during the 9th century brought the sheep with them. Sheep indeed outnumbered the human population here, There are an estimated 70,000 sheep compared to only 54,000 humans.
6- Don’t miss the Local Food
Due to the harsh weather conditions, there are no trees in the islands, so the native depends on sheep and fish for the source of food. What adds unique flavor to their food items is that they are still practicing a unique fermenting technique in which the meat is hung outdoors in the salted sea air. The wind-dried mutton will give you a cheesy flavour, and the fermented fish was served with potatoes.
7- Enjoy traditional Faroe homes
The traditional Faroe homes will draw your attention, and why not? The most iconic feature of the traditional Faroe homes was a turf of grass roofs. This grass-covered roof helped them to control the inside temperature, saving them from the extreme weather conditions. Apart from the grass, the colors are so vibrant; they use green, blue, red, and yellow colors in their homes.
8- It's Peaceful
That's one of the destinations in the world which can help you to take a break from the hustle and bustle of the urban areas. The Faroe Islands are so peaceful. The crime rate is almost zero here. You can hike there, and people are so welcoming; the hospitality is top-notch there.
Final Thoughts
The Faroe Islands is the dream destination if you are looking for a less crowded tourist attraction. The place is quiet and peaceful. You can enjoy hiking and kayaking there. The island is crowded with sheep, you will also explore puffins closely. Local use old traditional technique to cook food, the weather conditions are unpredictable and last but not the least the hospitality is so amazing there.
