Faroe Islands open for travelers

The Faroe Islands opened its borders for travellers on June 15th 2020. Travellers from most countries in Europe and some countries beyond are allowed to visit Faroe Islands.

Since the Covid-19 crisis started all non-essential travel to the Faroe Islands was been banned. The Nordic archipelago opened up again on June 15th 2020.

The Prime Minister Bárður á Steig Nielsen announced the reopening at a press conference in the capital Tórshavn on May 29th and in a press release on June 18th.

Travel from Europe to Faroe Islands

Travellers visiting the Faroe Islands in summer can enjoy cute puffins. Photo by Victoria Ostapova also know as @vialma on Instagram.

In late June 2020 the Faroe Islands opened up for travellers from a wide range of countries in Europe. Since then the islands have been opened up for other countries alike.

You are welcome to visit Faroe Islands as long as you are not from a banned country. Once you arrive at the airport, you will take a covid-19 test. 

You are advised to immediately home quarantine until you have received the covid-19 test result. The test is always made upon arrival. When the test result is ready, you can go out exploring the uncrowded nature. The test result will be ready within hours and you will get the result by email and text message.

From rest of the world to the Faroe Islands

Turf-roofed cottages on Streymoy island in the Faroe Islands. Photo by Victoria Ostapova also know as @vialma on Instagram.

Your best bet when heading to the Faroe Islands is to stop over in Denmark as Danes are welcoming guests from the same countries as the Faroe Islands. There are daily flights from Kastrup airport in Denmark to Vagar airport in the Faroe Islands.

There are two airline companies flying to the Faroe Islands. Scandinavian Airlines has suspended its flights until late March 2021. Atlantic Airways have daily flights from Copenhagen to Vagar airport. Vagar airport is the only airport in the Faroe Islands.

Despite an initial spike in imported cases, few new cases have been reported. The Faroe Islands have avoided covid-19 related casualties.

Testing upon arrival

As of June 27th 2020, all people travelling to the Faroe Islands from Europe and beyond must be tested for COVID-19. Everyone can be tested at the airport and you will have the result within hours. 

Travl before and after Covid-19

Hotel Brandan opened in July 2020 as the Faroe Islands is becoming a hot travel destination in the cold north. Photo by Ólavur Frederiksen. 

A tourism boom had been expected in the Faroe Islands in 2020. Parts of the new James Bond movie have been shot on the islands and new flight routes to London and New York were expected to open in the year.

The hotel capacity has doubled this summer with two new hotels, including a Hilton hotel in the capital on Streymoy island. Expectations were high that 2020 would be a record breaking year for tourism in the Faroe Islands.

Instead 2020 became a quiet year and 2021 is expected to be so too, and as such maybe just the perfect time for travelers to experience this quiet and untouched destination with wide-open spaces.