most cynicaltraveller. uncooperative, thisself-assured tosurpriseanddelighteven littledemi-nationislikely the raucous taverns andthefriendlycapitalcityofTórshavn.Soeven iftheweatherproves on anunprecedented scale. Less andmusicscene,its expected istheislands’buzzingart unforgettablepeal toanyonewholikes scenery,longwalks,cleanairandwatchingbirdlife the Faroes foraccessibleadventure. won’tdisappointanyonelooking of seacliffs (includingtheworld’shighest)andafascinatingoldNorse culture toexplore, churchesnestledwithinit,adizzyingcollection villagesandturf-roofed thecolourful dwarfing outofthewater,vertically you’llbegladyoumadethedecisiontocome. Withthescenery ‘remote’ and‘windswept’usuallyfeel inadequate. the stunning Faroe Islandsare alargely undiscovered sliceofScandinavia,where theterms ofScotlandandIceland, Atlantic Oceanmidwaybetweenthenorth Adrift inthefoggyNorth Islands Faroe 110 © LonelyPlanetPublications Made upof18islands,eachwithapersonalityandidentityitsown,theFaroes willap- Yet from thefirstmomentyoucatchsightofthesemajesticgrass-coated rocksthatjut FAST FACTS se p134) (see USA, Canada, Australia andNewZealand Visa international accesscode Telephone Codes Population farvæl Phrases Official Languages sagas Famous for NZ$1 =Dkr3.16,¥100Dkr5.76 $A1 =Dkr4.06,CA$1Dkr4.66, US$1 =Dkr5.61,UK£1Dkr8.29, Currency Capital Area notrequired forcitizens oftheEU, 1399sqkm (goodbye), Tórshavn

góðan dag Danish krone (Dkr): €1 = Dkr7.44; Danishkrone(Dkr):€1=Dkr7.44; 48,668 puffins,wool,whales,Viking orsaka meg countrycode Faroese, Danish (hello), % takk (excuse me) 00 (thanks), % 298; FAROE ISLANDS 111 Dkr9.33 Dkr40 Dkr200 Dkr130 Dkr20 Dkr500 Dkr2600 Dkr150 Dkr750-1200 Dkr30 1L of blýfrítt (unleaded petrol) 1L of blýfrítt (unleaded petrol) 330ml bottle of Black Sheep beer (in beer (in 330ml bottle of Black Sheep a pub) T-shirt Souvenir of fish and chips snack Street Norðoya toll-tunnel fare Norðoya toll-tunnel Sheepskin jacket toy puffin Cuddly flag Faroese Medium-sized sweater Faroese bottle of water 1.5L

HOW MUCH? MUCH? HOW PLANET INDEX LONELY

The Faroese parliament (Løgting) lost fur- parliament The Faroese June to August is by far the best time to June to August is by far the best time to CLIMATE & WHEN TO GO CLIMATE & WHEN TO GO the often forceful imposition of Christianity, forceful imposition of the often the Kingdom of and the isles became part of bishop’s seatNorway in 1035. The first was in Kirkjubøur. established to fell ther influence after long and the weather is comparatively pass- long and the weather is comparatively able, though don’t expect anything near av- heat: July temperatures Mediterranean time stands still only 11°C. In winter, erage as daytime darkness, closed and shut- hotels museums sense add to the stormy tered of cold While never fearfully a land forgotten. it can snow as late 3°C), average (January as May. HISTORY Brendan, missionary According to Irish eremitic living in Celtic already monks were century. by the 6th seclusion on the Faroes Their isolation was ended from around AD arrived. Norse farmers 800 when the first independence dwindled with The farmers’ The Faroes joke that they enjoy ‘four seasons joke Faroes The in one day’ – its weather is theatrically unpre- usually guaranteed some dictable, but you’re rain, some sun, some cloud and some wind on day. Rainfallany given common (280 is very but unpredictable days per year on average) highly localised. and often dreamily Islands. Days are visit the Faroe

Mykines Kallur light- ), ( p124 the Gjógv Head straight for straight for Head ( p135 ) linking the further- p135 ( ISLANDS •• Highlights FAROE ) ( p123 or Fly in on a Friday and take the Fly in on a Friday and take ( p126 ), one of the Faroes’ most most the Faroes’ ), one of p126 (

The Faroes are well connected to the rest to the rest well connected are Faroes The For the Norröna car ferry. by of the region pick up the ferry adventure, Atlantic a real it starts along its route: out in anywhere Hanstholm (Denmark), and stops in (Shetland Islands) before (Norway), Lerwick arriving at Tórshavn and the heading on to Seyðisfjörður (). CONNECTIONS CONNECTIONS boat the next morning out to the puf- Mykines. Returning on fin island of capital to the Sunday by helicopter Tór- Visit the old town, flit up to the shavn. northern Bird Cliffs, explore Vestmanna then head for Klaksvík, the point for day-trip excursions launching and the dramatic boat trip to to Kalsoy to . On Friday buzz by helicopter for a day Froðba on Suðuroy, explore back to Tór- or two and then return by ferry. shavn Ten days Ten Vestmanna for a boat ride along the along the for a boat ride Vestmanna spectacular bird cliffs. If driving, con- Gjógv with side trips tinue to charming to Saksun and Eiði outbound, and Fun- on re- ningur, Elduvík and Kirkjubøur turn. Spend the last night in Tórshavn district strolling the historical Tinganes pubs. lively and exploring the Two nights/three days house short hikes. rewarding Hike across spectacular cliffsHike and wan- puffin colonies der among the largest peaceful in the country on Faroes’ prettiest village. prettiest Faroes’ cliffs of Gasp at the superb panorama from and headlands viewed ( p122 ). Brave the waves beneath the towering beneath the towering the waves Brave bird cliffs from boat tours on magical Vestmanna Take to the skies and see the Faroes at Faroes and seeto the skies the Take value dramatic on a great their most helicopter trip flung islands like a bus service.bus a like flung islands

HIGHLIGHTS HIGHLIGHTS

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