Getting around
It is very easy to travel to, from and around Tórshavn by bus, car, bike, ferry or helicopter. Its small size also makes walking an ideal choice, and set hiking routes connect Tórshavn to surrounding villages.
Vágar airport is only 40 minutes by car or public transport. The port of Tórshavn has regular ferry connections to Iceland and Denmark and to the surrounding islands.
Cycling in Tórshavn
Most roads in the Tórshavn area are bike friendly, and bicycles may ride in designated bike lanes or at the right-hand edge of the car lanes. Central Tórshavn and many of the villages were built long before motorised traffic came to the Faroe Islands, so the roads can be narrow and difficult to navigate. Most city roads have strict speed limits and one-way traffic, which makes it easier for bicycles to share the roads with motorised traffic. Remember to indicate if you are turning and to yield to pedestrians.
The Municipality of Tórshavn is actively working towards modernising its biking facilities to encourage more non-motorised traffic throughout the municipality.
All bikes must have working front and rear lights, and cyclists are highly encouraged to always use bicycle helmets and high-visibility or reflexive items of clothing if possible. This is especially important if cycling on the highways, through tunnels or between villages.
Faroese fields and mountains are extensively used for farming, and off-roading is prohibited unless the owner of the land has granted specific permission. Always follow the road and do not cut switchbacks.
The tourist information centres will be able to provide information about bike rentals, bike routes and organised or independent bike tours.
It is easy to travel to and from the Faroe Islands by air and sea. During normal times the airline operates direct flights to multiple European cities such as Copenhagen, Reykjavik, Edinburgh, Bergen, Paris and Barcelona.
The airline also operates domestic helicopter flights between the different islands of the Faroe Islands.
The schedule differs in the winter and the summer seasons.
Infrastructure in the Faroe Islands is highly developed, and roads, tunnels, subsea tunnels and ferries connect all major cities and villages. Most Faroese residents use buses or cars as their main means of transportation. Visitors can easily opt to travel around the country by using public transportation, or by renting a car.
Drivers must be alert of more obstacles than usual in the Faroe Islands. Within cities the roads are sometimes narrow, and pedestrians and cyclists might share the roads with motorised traffic. Be aware of loose rocks when driving next to cliffsides or close to the ocean, and especially in bad weather.
Some village roads and tunnels are single-lane, and vehicles must yield for oncoming traffic in the designated rest stops. The vehicle with the rest stop to the right of its direction of travel should be the one yielding. In case of obvious difference in sizes, then the smaller vehicle should yield for the larger vehicle. Be vigilant of oncoming traffic when driving on single-lane roads, and slow down or yield in good time if you notice oncoming traffic.
In addition to pedestrians, bicycles and narrow lanes, Faroese highways and village roads also cut straight through the lands of freely roaming sheep, geese, birds and rabbits. Be aware of animals on the road and slow down in good time if you notice animals that are waiting to cross the road. Be especially alert in spring when the newborn lambs are learning how to navigate traffic for the first time, as they might jump across the road unexpectedly.
If you unfortunately do hit a sheep that gets injured or will not survive the accident, you should immediately contact the police in Tórshavn by calling +298 35 14 48. The farmer’s insurance will cover any injury to the sheep, but your own insurance will have to cover any injury to your vehicle.
Contact the National Disability Association MEGD if you require a blue disability badge for your vehicle.
Biking in the Faroe Islands will allow you to experience the landscapes and natural elements at a different pace, and there are plenty of beautiful places to visit by bike. The road network only rarely contains designated bike lanes, so bicycles will mostly be sharing the roads with motorised traffic. Cyclists should try to stay to the right-hand edge of the car lane whenever possible. Remember to indicate if you are turning and to yield to pedestrians.
All bikes must have working front and rear lights, and cyclists are highly encouraged to always use bicycle helmets and high-visibility or reflexive items of clothing if possible. This is especially important if cycling on the highways, through tunnels or between villages.
Faroese fields and mountains are extensively used for farming, and off-roading is prohibited unless the owner of the land has granted specific permission. Always follow the road and do not cut switchbacks.
The tourist information centres will be able to provide information about bike rentals, bike routes and organised or independent bike tours.
All highways and city roads in the Faroe Islands are well maintained and paved with asphalt. Village roads and rural roads are mostly paved, but some are dirt or gravel roads. Most islands in the Faroe Islands are accessible by car.
Rush hour in the cities is usually between 7-9 am and 3-5 pm. Public parking in the cities is disc parking, which means that it is free within a designated time limit. Blue plaques will indicate how long free parking is allowed in a public parking spot. All drivers are responsibly to set a parking disc in their front window that visibly displays when they parked their car. You can buy parking discs at the local gas stations.
The speed limit in inhabited areas is 30 km/h to 50 km/h. The speed limit in uninhabited areas is 80 km/h. All passengers must wear seatbelts at all times, children must use appropriate child seats, and vehicles must have their headlights turned on while in motion.
The only toll roads in the Faroe Islands are the subsea tunnels. The toll only applies in one direction and it can be paid at the designated gas station after the tunnel. Residents in the Faroe Islands will get an invoice sent in the mail.
Drivers must be alert of more obstacles than usual in the Faroe Islands. Within cities the roads are sometimes narrow, and pedestrians and cyclists might share the roads with motorised traffic. Some village roads and tunnels are single lane, and vehicles must yield for oncoming traffic in the designated rest stops.
The vehicle with the rest stop to the right of its direction of travel should be the one yielding. In case of obvious difference in sizes, then the smaller vehicle should yield for the larger vehicle. Be vigilant of oncoming traffic when driving on single lane roads, and slow down or yield in good time if you notice oncoming traffic.
In addition to pedestrians, bicycles and narrow lanes, Faroese highways and village roads also cut straight through the lands of freely roaming sheep, geese, birds and rabbits. Be aware of animals on the road and slow down in good time if you notice animals that are waiting to cross the road. Be especially alert in spring when the newborn lambs are learning how to navigate traffic for the first time, as they might jump across the road unexpectedly.
If you unfortunately do hit a sheep that gets injured or will not survive the accident, you should immediately contact the police in Tórshavn by calling +298 35 14 48. The farmer’s insurance will cover any injury to the sheep, but your own insurance will have to cover any injury to your vehicle.
Contact the National Disability Association MEGD if you require a blue disability badge for your vehicle.
Tórshavn has excellent local and regional bus services covering its residential areas and business parks.
The red local buses running throughout the entire municipality are free to use and offer an excellent way to explore the city and the municipality. The buses within the city run in continuous loops, and the buses to the neighbouring villages run intermittently.
All city buses accept wheelchairs and prams. Bicycles are allowed on the city buses after 5 pm, but they must yield if a wheelchair user or a pram needs the space.
The routes and timetables are indicated in the link below:
Google journey planner can also be a handy assistant when planning your transportation around the Municipality of Tórshavn.
Both city buses and regional buses can be followed in real-time on the SONA app.
The blue regional buses from Strandfaraskip Landsins (SSL) connect the municipality of Tórshavn with the rest of the country. All buses comply with strict environmental regulations, and some are electric or hybrid buses.
Some lesser used routes have to be requested in advanced. The timetable will clearly indicate which routes apply.
All regional buses accept wheelchairs and have storage compartments for large luggage items.
The routes and timetables are indicated in the link below.
The domestic helicopter service is run by the national airline Atlantic Airways. Visit the Atlantic Airways website for information on timetables and routes or buy your tickets in the link below:
The Faroes Islands is an island nation with many ferries operating domestically between the islands and internationally to Iceland and Denmark.
Many of the domestic ferries take cars, but spaces might be limited, and vehicles may therefore be advised to queue at the quays well before the departure. Some routes have a preferential system for residents from the islands, who use the ferries to commute to and from work. Most ferry departures and arrivals also link directly to bus routes, so visitors can try to plan their journeys by only using public transport.
Strandfaraskip Landsins (SSL) operate the domestic ferries and Smyril Line operates the transatlantic ferry Norrøna.
Find more information about the routes, schedules and prices on their websites: