The Faroe Islands is absolutely fantastic and one of my favorite places in the world. I have been there twice and I am absolutely enamored by the beauty that the islands are home to and I just can’t get enough of the place. I want everyone to travel to the Faroe Islands but without the ability to drive, it may be a daunting place to visit as a car is pretty essential to seeing the islands properly. But…….tours exist, travelers! These are the best Faroe Islands tours and excursions… from the puffins on Mykines to the steep bird cliffs in Vestmanna and beyond!
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Is a Faroe Islands Tour For You?
The older I get, the more I like to have things planned for me. I never thought tours would be for me, but I discovered that day tours and excursions take a lot of the stress out of planning for me. And… I can’t currently drive. So, by having tours do the work for me, I am able to still see the main sights in a city or country without having to do the driving myself. A tour of the Faroe Islands might be for you if…
–You can’t drive. There is public transportation in the Faroe Islands, but it is really limited and you may miss out on many main sights and attractions by relying on it. Driving in the Faroe Islands is also not easy. I have been to the Faroe Islands twice and have been in an accident or mishap on both occasions.
–You don’t want to rent a car. Renting a car is expensive. And in the Faroes, every time you cross a bridge, drive through an undersea tunnel, or take a ferry- you are charged. Many of the tours I am including below have ferry prices included. And if you’re picked up, you won’t be responsible for any of the tunnel fees. This can save a lot of hassle when you visit the Faroe Islands.
–You don’t want to hike alone. There is a mix of tours listed, but some of them are hiking ones. If you’re not an expert hiker, it is not safe to go hiking alone. Trust me. Having a guide who knows the islands and the terrain (and weather) is so essential.
–You don’t have time to plan every step of everything. Booking a tour is a one-click process pretty much. It completes the planning process with such easy that even I am booking tours these days in certain locations.
Different Types of Tours of the Faroe Islands
Currently, most tours are just day trips and excursions in the Faroe Islands. I think this is great because it is kind of a la carte and you can pick and choose what is for you and what is not. The Faroe Islands tours are also seasonal in some cases. I am going to break up the tours into seasonal ones and year-round tours. I have also listed the tour duration for each of them (please consider that this is always an estimate as the weather in the Faroe Islands can play an unexpected factor more often than not!)
Year-Round Tours in the Faroes
If you’re interested in a lot of the bird tours (i.e. puffins!), you’re going to need to check out the seasonal tour options below. These are tours that run year-round in the Faroe Islands. There are quite a few and having a guide will ensure that you’re making the most of your time in the Faroe Islands regardless of the weather situation. I have been in both March and August and I loved both trips and the nature for totally different reasons.
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Hiking to the Kallur Lighthouse on Kalsoy (8 Hours)
Easily one of the most popular hikes in the Faroes, the trail to the Kallur Lighthouse can be a bit muddy and not the easiest to trek depending on the time of the year. I have hiked this in both March and again in August and I failed in March because I was scared of heights and didn’t quite feel like I had a good gait on the muddy trail. It is not necessarily safe to do this hike alone if you don’t know what you’re doing, hence why a tour may be a good option for many. You will get to see insanely beautiful views not only have Kalsoy but other islands, as well!
What’s Included? This tour includes a skilled guide, transport to and from Torshavn, a packed lunch, and ferry tickets.
Duration: 8 hours
Activities: Hiking, Sightseeing, Boat Trip
Difficulty: Easy
Minimum age: 7 years.
Languages: English
Click here to check tour prices, dates, and itinerary details.
The Classic Tour of Vagar (4 Hours)
Update: As of April 5, 2019, a fee has been assessed to hike to Lake Sørvagsvatn. This fee is about $67. All the more reason to book this amazing tour. Read more here.
Vagar is easily one of the most impressive islands in the Faroe Islands and one that is essential to visit when you’re there! You will arrive on Vagar and if you have a car, great- you can visit everything independently. But, if you were unable to rent a car, this is a tour that I insist you book because some of the Faroe Island’s most famous scenery can be seen on this tour alone. I also recommend it to those who are not comfortable hiking as the view of Trælanípa (the optical illusion) is only able to be seen with a hike.
On this tour, you will see Trælanípa at Sørvágsvatn lake, Bøsdalafossur (the biggest waterfall in the North Atlantic ocean), the village of Bøur where you can get a killer view of Tindhólmur (giant, uninhabited islet) and Drangarnir (giant sea stack with a hole in the middle), and the village of Gasadalur where you will get to see the infamous Mulafossur waterfall that flows into the ocean. This is easily the most jam-packed itinerary of any tour, but these places are all absolutely spectacular.
CLICK HERE FOR MY FAROE ISLANDS PACKING GUIDE
What’s included? A tour guide as well as transport within Vagar. This does NOT include transport to Vagar (this may be a perfect tour to have booked for once you arrive on the island as they are flexible with times). For 100 DKK, you can also receive a packed lunch.
Duration: 4 hours
Activities: Hiking, Sightseeing, Bird watching
Difficulty: Easy
Languages: English
Click here to check tour prices, dates, and itinerary details.
Visit Tjørnuvík, Viðareiði, Gjógv, and Klaksvík (7 Hours)
I have been to all of the places on the itinerary for this tour and trust me, it’s GOOD. Tjørnuvik is my favorite village in the Faroe Islands, actually. But so many others love Gjogv and Viðareiði… so you’re basically in for a really gorgeous day as all of them have something unique to offer.
I also really enjoyed Klaksvik, the second most populous city in the Faroe Islands. By booking a tour to visit these places, you will eliminate the cost of tunnels and bridges, which is nice. You also won’t be responsible for driving through the narrow tunnels (I wrecked in a one-lane tunnel on Bordoy right outside of Klaksvik).
What’s Included? Pickup and drop off from Torshavn as well as a skilled and knowledgeable guide.
Duration: 7 hours
Activities: Sightseeing
Difficulty: Easy
Languages: English, Danish, Norwegian, Swedish
Click here to check tour prices, dates, and itinerary details.
Viking and Photography Tour of Leirvik, Klaksvik, and More (7 Hours)
The more north you go, the more dramatic the Faroese landscape becomes. It actually becomes mindblowing when you think that people lived and worked in the villages there before roads were built and things became more accessible and available. This tour focuses on the town of Leirvik (925 residents) and Klaksvik, but will stop at various villages in between. Leirvik has a prominent Viking history and there will also be a lot of photo stops along the way.
What’s Included? The bus, including pickup and drop off in Torshavn, a skilled and knowledgeable guide, and lunch.
Duration: 7 hours
Activities: Sightseeing
Difficulty: Easy
Languages: English, Danish
Click here to check tour prices, dates, and itinerary details.
Exclusive Birdwatching Tour (5 Hours)
I actually would love to take this tour next time I am in the Faroes. I have done a lot of birdwatching there, but I never know what they are when I find them and I would love to learn more about the birds of the Faroe Islands and their importance to the people and culture there.
This Faroe Islands tour lasts for 5 hours and there have been over 227 birds spotted on this tour. Please do note that puffins are seasonally in the Faroe Islands and may not pop up to say hello during the winter months. This excursion in the Faroe Islands will give you a really great insight into some of the wildlife.
What’s Included? A knowledgeable tour guide, pickup and dropoff in Torshavn, packed lunch, hiking fees, and drinks.
Duration: 5 hours
Activities: Hiking, Bird watching
Difficulty: Easy
Languages: English
Click here to check tour prices, dates, and itinerary details.
Seasonal Tours in the Faroes
Many of the tour offerings in the Faroe Islands are seasonal. It can be for weather-related reasons or simply because a puffin tour won’t work in winter since the puffins aren’t hanging around looking to interact with tourists then. Regardless of what time you visit the islands, you’ll have plenty of amazing things to do, but if you’re looking for bird-watching or hiking opportunities, your best bet is to book a ticket to the Faroe Islands from May through August or September. Here are some Faroe Islands tours that are perfect for the high-season traveler:
Day Tour to Mykines (10 Hours)
Puffins! This tour will take you to Mykines, where you will see the puffins in their natural habitat and you can hike the trail and admire them and witness their everyday routine and lifestyle. Because the puffins are not hanging out year round, this trip can only be taken from May until August.
Getting to Mykines has become increasingly harder as the Faroe Islands has implemented a tourist tax for going there (and rightfully so) to keep the place sustainable. I think going with a tour is the perfect way to ethically and sustainably see the puffins on Mykines.
What’s Included? Tourist tax for Mykines, pickup and drop off in Torshavn, ferry, and a packed lunch.
Available: May – August
Duration: 10 hours
Activities: Hiking, Boat Trip, Bird watching
Difficulty: Moderate
Languages: English
Click here to check tour prices, dates, and itinerary details.
Private Tour to Mykines (10 Hours)
Are you wanting to head to Mykines but with a private guide for yourself or your group (up to 8 people)? This is definitely the tour for you then. You will still be able to see the puffins and ask as many questions to the guide as you’d like and you won’t have to deal with anyone else outside of your group on your tour. Definitely a great option for the inquisitive traveler or ones who don’t like large groups (like me).
What’s Included? Subsea tunnel fees, pickup at your Faroe Islands hotel in Torshavn, tourist tax on Mykines, ferry, and a private guide. Meals are not included on this tour.
Available: May – August
Duration: 10 hours
Activities: Hiking, Sightseeing, Boat Trip, Bird watching
Difficulty: Moderate
Minimum age: 7 years.
Languages: English
Click here to check tour prices, dates, and itinerary details.
CLICK HERE FOR MY FAROE ISLANDS HOTEL GUIDE
Bus Tour to Saksun (4 Hours)
Saksun is also another famous place in the Faroe Islands and it is known for its historical wooden homes with grass covered rooves and being idyllically situated in a beautiful valley with waterfalls and water in the area. It really is one of the most beautiful places for photography in the Faroe Islands. This tour will take you out to the tiny village along with some stops on the way for photographs and information. The road to Saksun is especially breathtaking as it goes through the valley alongside streams and mountains.
What’s included? Pickup and drop off in Torshavn and a knowledgeable guide.
Available: June – August
Duration: 4 hours
Activities: Sightseeing, Cultural Activity
Difficulty: Easy
Languages: English, Danish
Click here to check tour prices, dates, and itinerary details.
Sandoy in One Day (9 Hours)
I have to admit, Sandoy is one of my favorite islands in the Faroes. It is one of the southern islands and the landscape is a bit flatter but still out of this world. I really want to go back and do some proper hiking on the island one day, but until then, I’ll keep reminiscing about my trip there in March 2017. Something about the island of Sandoy reminds me of the Canadian Maritimes and that is a huge compliment to any place! This Faroes excursion will include a lot of photo stops.
What’s Included? A knowledgeable guide is included in this Faroe Islands tour. You will also be picked up and dropped off at your hotel in Torshavn.
Available: May – September
Duration: 9 hours
Activities: Sightseeing
Difficulty: Easy
Languages: English
Click here to check tour prices, dates, and itinerary details.
Boat Trip to the Bird Cliffs in Vestmanna (6.5 Hours)
Ahhh this was one of my favorite experiences in the Faroe Islands. I highly recommend this Faroe Islands excursion to everyone, regardless of whether or not you like birds. The grottos, sea stacks, and cliffs you will see on this boat tour will literally take your breath away and I find it so refreshing having a chance to see the islands from a boat instead of always by land. Some of the cliffs are even around 700 meters tall! This Faroes tour isn’t merely about seeing the cliffs, but you’ll also make stops in other areas such as Leynar, Kvívík, and Oyggjarvegur.
What’s Included? A skilled and knowledgeable tour guide and transport to and from Vestmanna from Torshavn.
Available: May – September
Duration: 6.5 hours
Activities: Sightseeing, Boat Trip, Cultural Activity, Bird watching
Difficulty: Easy
Languages: English, Danish
Click here to check tour prices, dates, and itinerary details.
I hope that these Faroe Islands tours and excursions can help you plan your trip a little bit better, especially for those who want to visit the Faroe Islands but have been intimidated by doing so because the fact of getting around with public transportation can be daunting. Even if you have a car in the Faroes, tours are a great way to give yourself a break from driving for a day and a way to interact with a guide who will offer a breadth of knowledge about his or her homeland!
Click here for the best Faroe Islands hotels and to see what to pack for the Faroe Islands.
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Anjali Chawla says
OMG! The Faroe Islands is gorgeously beautiful! I need to go there soon!
Emily says
Goodness, so gorgeous! Sign me up for any of them!
Megan Starr says
ugh i need to go back already.