The far-flung Faroe Islands are the perfect destination for an adventurous family vacation 漏 Westend61 / Getty Images
The Faroe Islands are perfect for families who love fresh air, outdoor fun and freedom.
It is an adventurous destination for kids who love to hike to sea cliffs, spot puffins, play on black-sand beaches and hear stories of mythical monsters. It鈥檚 also a safe travel destination with lots of space to play and few roads; a place where local children grow up roaming free in nature.
Authentic and slow-paced, a vacation in the the Faroes might well be the opposite of a villa with a pool, or an all-inclusive family stay: children are welcome everywhere, but in place of water parks, there鈥檚 the ever-changing sea, boat trips and an underwater roundabout. For adventurous and active families, there鈥檚 plenty to fire the imagination and discover about life on the islands.
Is the Faroe Islands good for kids?
In a word, yes. But a measure of self-sufficiency is needed to get by here on these sparsely-populated islands, both as a visitor and a resident. Supermarkets aren鈥檛 open 24/7 and roads can sometimes be cut off for bad weather, so be prepared, pack snacks and plenty of clothing options, and expect a few inconveniences.
One of the key activities is hiking. If you鈥檙e bringing a baby or toddler, a backpack or baby carrier is a great option (strollers for the most part won鈥檛 cut it). There are plenty of intermediate, hour-long walks you can take with younger children, and many longer options for school-age kids and teens. Most 鈥 but not all 鈥 of the tourist and trail hot spots have public toilets. They don鈥檛 all have cafes and supermarkets, however. Note that many hiking routes currently ask you to pay a fee, though children typically go free.
Boat trips are also a popular family activity, particularly to Mykines to see the puffins in season. Family rates and discounted child rates are usually available. Other activities, including diving and surfing, have a minimum age limit and are most suitable for teens.
Many museums offer free entry for children and even those under 20, including Listasavn F酶roya (the National Gallery of the Faroe Islands), F酶roya Fornminnissa (the National Museum of the Faroe Islands) and (the Nordic House). Boat trips and excursions usually offer a discounted child鈥檚 price, often around 50% of an adult鈥檚 ticket, at least for those aged up to 13.
Where is best in the Faroe Islands for kids?
The Faroe Islands stood in for Neverland in Disney's Peter Pan & Wendy (2023) and there鈥檚 no wondering why: with jagged volcanic islands rearing up out of the sea, roads jammed with fuzzy sheep, mythical sea stacks and black-sand beaches, it鈥檚 the kind of place where it feels like magic can happen.
The capital city, 罢贸谤蝉丑补惫苍, offers the most variety for families. There are plenty of child-friendly restaurants to choose from, including burger bars and cafes that will suit the whole family. You鈥檒l also find several playgrounds in the tiny city.
Best things to do in the Faroe Islands with babies and toddlers
Hike to the lake above the ocean
Bring a baby/toddler backpack and take your little ones for a hike. If you鈥檝e also got other children with smaller legs, or you aren鈥檛 an epic hiker yourself, the trail to S酶rv谩gsvatn (also called Leitisvatn) is a great place to start. It鈥檚 a fairly level one-hour hike across the fields to a view of the lake above the ocean.
Play on the beach
Make sandcastles on a black-sand beach. The beach at Tj酶rnuvik is broad, sandy and popular with local families, when it鈥檚 not being used by surfers, that is.
Best things to do in the Faroe Islands with kids
See the puffins on Mykines
Puffins aren鈥檛 year-round residents: you鈥檒l only find them in the Faroe Islands between mid-April and September. But if you're here in season, the boat trip to Mykines ticks off a few of the best experiences to be had on these islands, with a sense of adventure to go alongside this fun wildlife-watching activity. There is a steep fee for tourists visiting the islands but, like the hiking fees right now, this is subject to change.
Pick out a boat
Wander the harbor in 罢贸谤蝉丑补惫苍, where you might come across musicians, boaters, fishers and more. It鈥檚 always a colorful spot, with pavement cafes nearby if you need a sweet treat to keep you going too.
Best things to do in the Faroe Islands with teenagers and tweenagers
Learn to surf at Tj酶rnuvik beach
Packages are available for those aged 14 and up to take to the waves and surf with a full view of the epic sea stacks known as The Giant and The Witch. Wetsuits and boards are all provided.
Try Faroese home dining
Dine out at a 丑别颈尘补产濒颈冒苍颈, a supper-club-style restaurant in a local farm or family home. This is Faroese hospitality at its finest and offers a window into life on the islands. These informal nights give everyone of school-age and older the chance to try something new and ask all the questions they might have around living on an island.
Planning tips
It helps to plan ahead to help your budget go the extra mile in a place like the Faroe Islands. While you can travel by bus in the Faroe Islands, when you factor in your whole family, luggage and convenience, renting a car is usually the best deal. Book an e-vehicle ahead of time to pick up at the airport if you want one as they can have limited supply. Book a car seat in advance too. Games of 鈥淚 spy鈥 are especially fun when your views are as unreal as these.
The weather can change dramatically in the course of a day. Pack wellies and waterproofs, fleeces and wool jumpers for the kids, even in the summer. Depending on the age of your kids, hiking boots (and well worn-in ones at that) could be the best footwear option; steep muddy trails and new trainers aren鈥檛 a great combination.
These islands are nicknamed 鈥淭he Land of Maybe鈥 for a reason. Maybe the ferry will sail, maybe there will be high winds. Maybe your car can go up the high pass, maybe snow will block the road. Maybe there will be puffins, maybe there won鈥檛. Bring a flexible mindset and a plan B, and it鈥檒l be all the more enjoyable.
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