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In this post, we are going to show you to the best places and tips for hiking Faroe Islands.

There are many amazing hikes to do in the Faroe Islands, but they keep changing permissions, costs and some of them are not so easy to find.

So if you are hiking Faroe Islands and want to learn all the information you need together with amazing pictures, then keep reading.

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Useful tips for hiking Faroe Islands.

The Faroese people say: “There’s No Bad Weather, Only Bad Clothes”.

And is easy to understand why they say that with ever-changing weather. So taking that into account, these are some recommendations for hiking Faroe Islands:

  • Dress with layers. The best thing to do in a place where climate changes a lot is to dress using layers. Light and warm clothes are more comfortable than heavy and bulky ones and make it easy to add, remove and carry with you.

  • Use merino wool for inner layers. The advantage of using merino wool is that it keeps you dry and it regulates the body temperature much better. It is also lighter than cotton.

  • Use a waterproof outer layer.  It is easy to find wind and rain at any time while hiking in Faroe Islands. The classic outer layer that will defend against the most adverse of conditions like wind and rain should be waterproof to keep you dry at all times.

  • Sturdy waterproof hiking shoes. This is a must. These are not only great to keep your feet dry, but also for a better grip in the muddy terrains.

  • Always pack water and snacks. Sometimes, because of the weather conditions, is hard to know how long it will exactly take you to perform a hike. That’s why you should always take with you enough water to keep you hydrated at all times. Also, some bars like snickers or mars are great to provide you with a boost of energy anytime you need it. Take into account there are no stores or coffees in most of the locations, so be prepared.

  • Take a map of the route with you. Nowadays, you can take any map you want with you easily on your phone. This will be very helpful to check in case you get disoriented. Take into account that the network in Faroe Islands does not always work good. So taking all the information you can on your mobile to check it offline, or even hard copies, are really recommended.

  • Good to have items. Although these are not a must, these items can be extra helpful for any hike: Trekking poles, headtorch and a compass (even in your phone).

The best hikes in the Faroe Islands

#1. Sørvágsvatn Lake.

Sørvágsvatn Lake, and easy hike in the Faroe Islands
Distance Duration Difficulty Cost
3.1 Miles (5 Km) 2-3 hours. Easy DKK 200 ($30)

Starting point. Head to the Miðvágur church and then follow the roadsigns to “Trælanípa/Bøsdalafossur”. Alternatively, you can also enter the following coordinates, that will take you directly to the parking lot: 62°02’30.9″N 7°11’58.5″W.

The hike.

Once you get there, it is impossible to get lost.

There is a single path that will take you all the way to Sørvágsvatn lake on a really easy hike.

Once you get towards the end of the path, there is a wooden bench where to sit to admire the views of the lake. But this is not the famous spot with the best views. You still need to keep going for another 5 minutes through a steeply ascend before you can see one of the most beautiful sights of your life.

Once you get to the top off the cliff, it will look like the lake would sit atop of the ocean, when in reality the water levels are just slightly elevated. This is with no doubt one of the most majestic views we have ever seen!

Once you are done with this view, you can either go back the same way or keep going a bit further to Bøsdalafossur waterfall – where the Sørvágsvatn lake actually meets the Atlantic Ocean.

#2. Kallur Lighthouse.

Tips for hiking Faroe Islands lighthouse in Kallur
Distance Duration Difficulty Cost
3 miles (4.8 Km) 2-3 hours. Medium Free

Starting point. Kallur lighthouse is located on Kalsoy island. To get there, first, you will need to take the ferry from Klaksvik to Kalsoy island. You can find here the ferry schedule, but bear in mind is a fairly small ferry and it gets packed so easily! So you better arrive well ahead of time. Once in Kalsoy, you need to go towards Trøllanes village and park there. You can start the trekking directly from there. Alternatively, you can also use this coordinates for the starting point: 62°21’42.5″N 6°47’26.3″W.

The hike.

The main difficulty about this trekking is that is really slippery.

Stick to the shoulder of the hill as the trail wraps it’s way around. Note that you’ll find some trails since sheep move around this area. You just need to find the one which works best for you.

After less than a mile, you should be able to see the lighthouse in the distance. Continue across the bowl that stretches out in front of you towards the lighthouse, stepping over sheep dung as required.

Once you get there, you might find that the lighthouse itself isn’t overly impressive. To get to the best viewpoint, head further to the spine of land beyond the lighthouse. Be careful though, since the path is narrow and very strong winds or even reduce visibility can make access to this point very hard. When you manage to cross to the other site, turnaround and contemplate one of the most beautiful coastlines in the Faroe Islands!

Lastly, when satisfied with the views, retrace your steps the way you came.

#3. Saksun- út á Lónna

Hiking Faroe Islands is the best way to find amazing spots
Distance Duration Difficulty Cost
3.7 miles (6 Km) 1-2 hours. Easy Free

Starting point. The route starts in the village of Saksun. Head to the first parking lot on your left-hand side when you enter Saksun village before you cross the bridge. Then walk west towards the fjord and you’ll soon find a sign with the map of the walk.

The hike.

We discovered this path when we went down looking for a quiet spot where to fly the drone where we would not bother any locals or tourists. Surprisingly, we hardly crossed a soul in the 2 hours we spent down there.

The first part of the walk is along a gravel road and then you walk on the beach out to Lónna. The trip is in breathtaking nature along the fjord and is suitable for all.

Use this one to relax in one of the most unique areas of Faroe Islands, and head back at any time when you have enough.

It is not recommended to walk the path in high tide.

#4. Mykines Lighthouse.

hike to Mykines lightouse in the Faroe Islands
Distance Duration Difficulty Cost
4.6 miles (7.5 Km) 2-3 hours. Medium 100 DKK ($15)

Starting point. First, you’ll need to take a ferry from Sorvagur to Mykines island. You can check here the ferry schedules. Once you get to Mykines and before you reach the village, there will be a sign to Mykinesholmur on your left-hand side, where the trail begins.

The hike.

Mykines was with no doubt one of the highlights of our trip to the Faroe Islands. This whole island will make you understand why hiking Faroe Islands is so popular.

The scenery is really impressive all the way until the end. But hiking is not the main reason why Mykines is so popular. This island with its sheer cliffs is home to a big colony of beautiful puffins which come to nest here every summer.

Head to the lighthouse, walking through fields shared with curious sheep, down steep steps along a cliffside, and across a unique bridge through a narrow strait teeming with birdlife.

This whole journey won’t let you indifferent!

#5. Villingardalsfjall

Hiking Faroe Islands hardest route
Distance Duration Difficulty Cost
3.7 miles (6 Km) 3-4 hours. Difficult 200 DKK ($30)

Starting point. Head to the North of Vidareidi village. The trail begins at the top of road Vid Gard, in the northern part of the town Vidareidi. Alternatively, you can also enter the following coordinates: 62°21’56.8″N 6°32’32.8″W.

The hike.

From the parking area, walk north along the path which will run parallel to the rock wall for a few hundred meters. Then continue the trail heading north.

There are blue tube signs which will mark the way. Continue to follow the blue tubes until they end at a small plateau. From here, you just need to make your way to the top and admire the most spectacular views over the northern islands.

This hike involves lots of climbing and also offers amazing views during most of the hike.

Bear in mind though, it is not recommended to attempt with misty weather or rainy weather cause can be really slippery.

#6. Dranganir – Sea Stacks.

hike to Dranganir
Distance Duration Difficulty Cost
6.5 miles (10.4 Km) 4-5 hours. Moderate 550 DKK ($80)

Starting point. This trekking can only be done with a guide. The meeting point is the Effo gas station in Sørvágur and there are parking spaces at the nearby port.

The hike.

The first part of the hike follows the fjord as you walk on stones and pass by several sheep shelters. You will pass by some fish farms, which are common across the Faroe Islands.

After a few kilometers, you will pass the village of Bøur, from where you’ll have beautiful views of Drangarnir and Tindhólmur across the fjord.

From here, the route goes inland through a beautiful green valley where there is no path. You will keep going until you reach the top of the hill in front of you, revealing wonderful views over Dranganir.

Lastly, the trail towards the end is a bit steeper on a higher heel, which can make it tricky.

Once you get at the end of the hike, you will be rewarded with a serene view with the most impressive formation of the Faroe Islands just in front of you while the birds fly around.

You can decide to go back the same way or use the boat service to save time and energy.

Hiking Faroe Islands- Other Alternatives

  • Slættaratindur (Eysturoy island). Slættaratindur is the highest mountain in the Faroe Islands at 880 meters. The hike to the top will take you from two to three hours. The views from the top are simply amazing, where you can see almost every island around you on a clear day.
  • Klakkur (Bordoy island). Despite the small size of the mountain, views from Klakkur offer impressive panoramic views. The hike to the top is fairly easy and should not take more than 1-2 hours.
  • Hvannhagi hike (Suduroy island). This hike is defined as one of the most beautiful and unique natural experiences in the Faroe Islands. It is totally off the beaten track, on the beautiful island of Suduroy, and although it takes from 2-3 hours it can be fairly difficult at some points.

Don’t forget to check the official website of Visit Faroe for hiking guidelines and restrictions.

Recommended gear for hiking Faroe Islands.

This is the travel gear we recommend for a better experience while hiking Faroe Islands.

  • Waterproof and practical travel backpack. For us, the one which works the best for spending the whole day out, comfy, practical and keeping our stuff dry, is the Everyday Backpack from Peak Design.
  • Trekking Shoes (him/her). They should be extra comfortable and waterproof.
  • Waterproof jacket (him/her). Not only is extra useful for any trekking, but also for wherever you.
  • Portable power bank. Because you never know when you are going to run out of battery, this has proven to be extra useful.
  • Water Filter Bottle. Although drinking water is safe in Faroe, this bottle makes it safe everywhere. You can even fill your bottle from any stream you find and it will be totally safe. We used this a lot wherever we go.
  • Camera clip. This might be the most useful item from this list and ever. This small device is the best thing you can have to transport your camera while trekking. It will keep it safe and will provide you extra quick access to your camera while making it easy to carry. Honestly, take a look and give it a try. You can always return it if you don’t like it.

If you want to find more inspiration about the must-have travel items, check this list with the best travel gear for outdoors lovers.

Before you leave- Get Travel Insurance

The weather in Faroe Islands is totally unpredictable and can perfectly change from sunny to crazy wind and rain in a matter of seconds. That combined with some driving, hiking, and some expensive travel gear is more than enough reason to buy travel insurance.

The truth is, you are likely to spend most of the time outdoors (otherwise you would not go to Faroe).

Having good travel insurance provides great peace of mind. Hiking with bad weather on slippery surfaces, sheep crossing the road all the time, expensive travel gear that get damaged or wet, etc. There are many reasons why you should consider buying travel insurance.

The one we always use and can recommend you for their price, coverage, but overall service, is World Nomads.

You can get a quick quote here to have an idea on how much it will cost you.

Conclusion

There is no best way to explore than hiking Faroe Islands.

If you like us, are an outdoor lover, you are going to fall in love with the Faroe Islands from the moment you step in.

As long as you are prepared for the weather, everything is going to be good.

Don’t forget to check our complete Faroe Islands itinerary.

Which of the hikes here is your favorite?

Let us know in the comments below.

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Check here the best tips for hiking Faroe Islands and where to find the best hikes. | Kalsoy | Kallur Lighthouse | Mykines | Sørvágsvatn | Saksun | Dranganir | Best Hikes In Faroe Islands | #FaroeIslands #FaroeIslandsTravel #HikingFaroeIslands
backpacker hiking in the Faroe Islands