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Faroe Islands Top Visits in Rental Car
By Poul Davidsen / 17 Jan, 2024 / Share This Post
If you’re due to travel around the Faroe Islands and you’ve decided to rent a car (a choice we couldn’t commend more) we’ll have you covered in this Top Destination’s guide.
With our own four wheels, you have the freedom to choose where to go and when to go—which means you can (1) Tick off multiple breathtaking sites in a day (2) Take brief stopovers before going on long hikes (3) Journey to the furthest points in the Faroe Islands on your own.
While we won’t be diving into the specifics of each place (Tripadvisor would be your best friend for it), we’ll arrange top places to make into an itinerary for your adventures here—before sharing the best of car rentals in the Faroes islands.
1. A day-circuit starting from Vágar Airport
For anyone arriving to the Faroe Islands by plane, Vágar will be the starting point of your journey—and likely, where you’ll pick up your car rental in Faroe Islands. You’d be smart to book at least one night here, because without leaving this westerly island, you’ll be spoiled with some of the archipelago’s most iconic landmarks.
For your first day, begin with a drive to the village of Gásadalur—a charming village with a small path that takes you to the mesmerizing Múlafossur waterfall—before heading to the famous, 70-meter sea stacks of Dunnesdrangar.
We definitely recommend taking the 1-2 hour hike following a small river, because when you reach the cliff edge, the dramatic views of the sea stacks from above are spectacular. And if you’re down for another 1-hour hike: hike to “Slave Mountain” to take in Faroe Island’s largest lake, Leitisvatn.
2. Explore the capital and beyond by wheels
From Vágar’s island, taking the sub-sea tunnel to the main island will lead you towards Tórshavn—the Faroe Islands’ capital and largest city. You’ll definitely want to spend some time here exploring its harbor area, the old town district, and perhaps indulge in a Michelin brunch before driving up north to Saksun.
But before that: don’t miss a stop at the village of Norðradalur, nestled in a valley near the ocean and known for its winding roads surrounded by mountains, before you drive onwards to the remote village of Saksun.
If the feeling of untouched, majestic nature is what drew you to the Faroe Islands—then Saksun will deliver amply. The sheer heights of the mountains around and waterfalls spewing down, the turf-roofed church, and walkable lagoon during low tide (a 1-hour walk) are all utterly breathtaking.
3. Drive from the tallest waterfall to a 6-hour hike
Standing 140-meter tall, Fossá is the undisputed tallest waterfall in the Faroe Islands—a must-see quick stop you can make on your way to the village of Tjørnuvík, famous for its sandy black beaches frequented by surfers.
But if you have the stamina (or spirit) to take on an arduous 6-8 hour hike, the route to Mýlingur—a low mountain that brings you face to face with the north atlantic ocean—has some of the most spectacular cliff heights and scenery you’ll see here.
4. Cruise along the west coast of Suðuroy
If you have more than 3 days to explore the Faroe Islands, we couldn’t recommend more than embarking to the southernmost island of Suðuroy. From Tórshavn, you’ll need to take a 2-hour ferry that’ll cost around 225 DKK ($33) for a passenger and vehicle one-way.
But it’s on this island that you’ll be most glad for your rental car. A drive along the western coast of Suðuroy offers spectacular views of towering granite cliffs rising right out of the sea. Notable sites to explore after are the Rituskor cleft, the Ásmundarstakkur sea stack, and the relatively proximate villages of Funningur and Gjógv.
5. Visit one of the most secluded lighthouses in the world
Keeping to the south of the Faroe Islands, though heading east to the town of Klaksvík, there’ll be the viewpoint of Klakkur to stop by before continuing to the famous Kallur lighthouse. It’s an easy walk up—and you’ll be greeted with 360° views of the pristine fjords between the islands around.
To reach the island Kalsoy where the lighthouse will be found, you’ll need to take a 20-minute ferry that will cost around 60 DKK ($9), before driving up to the very northern tip of the island. The hike to Kallur is short but steep, but once you make it: your jaws will drop from the majestic scenery and the immense scale of the cliffs.
Rent a car in the Faroe Islands for your epic road trips
When you’re deciding on the right car rental company for your adventures here, make sure to book months ahead to avoid peak season costs (and worst of all: unavailabilities!) But even if you’re an early bird, making sure to find the car rental company that’s affordable while being top-notch reliable will be key (because unfortunately, prices do get steep here).
For more information: we have a local’s guide on all things car rentals. And to secure your best deal: as a small team in the Faroe Islands serving travelers with the best value car rentals on the island (not our own words, taken from our customers!) we’re more than happy to help you choose the right rental car—with the benefits of no deposit or cancellation fees.
Check us out here or feel welcome to get in touch directly! hey@phdcarrent.fo
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What to know about car rentals in the Faroe Islands
1: Book Early
The first big thing to know about renting a car here is that there is a relative scarcity of rental cars (around 1,400 rental cars only across all the islands!), which means that prices will get steep, especially during the peak of summer holidays. If you’re planning your visit to the Faroe Islands sometime within the year, do your best to always book in advance. Winter is a good time to snatch up deals—and if you’re smart about which car rental company you choose, you can do so without any worry about cancellation fees.
2: Not just from big companies
Google “car rentals in Faroe Islands” and you'll likely find listings for the big car rental companies (Sixt, Kayak, etc). But that’s not all there is. With some locals being too aware of how high car rental prices put off some travelers from visiting their homeland, they’ve set up shop to offer more affordable prices (i.e. our mission in a nutshell!). But it’s not just a matter of pricing. With a local, small team you can expect much more personal support and all the attention that small businesses are known for: ensuring you’re satisfied and sharing with you recommendations.
3: Find out *all* fees
If you haven’t been lucky enough to nab a car rental winter deal, this is a must-do. Because for many car rental companies (especially the big ones), apart from the rental price of your vehicle, other costs can include cancellation fees and security deposits. The latter can be especially annoying when they charge your credit card immediately for a high deposit, before releasing it with the cost of your bank’s currency exchange fee. Our favorite alternative? Go with a car rental company that doesn’t charge you for cancellations & security deposits.
4: Confirm *all* logistics
Thought the rocky Faroe Islands would require 4-wheel drives? Not all. Off-road driving is actually banned from the islands, and thanks to a fantastic road network, just a standard car type would do you well for your adventures (even in winter!)
5: No need for a special car type
If you haven’t been lucky enough to nab a car rental winter deal, this is a must-do. Because for many car rental companies (especially the big ones), apart from the rental price of your vehicle, other costs can include cancellation fees and security deposits. The latter can be especially annoying when they charge your credit card immediately for a high deposit, before releasing it with the cost of your bank’s currency exchange fee. Our favorite alternative? Go with a car rental company that doesn’t charge you for cancellations & security deposits.
What to know about car rentals in the Faroe Islands
1. Sea Tunnels
One of the unique things you’ll quickly find out about the Faroe Islands is its many tunnels connecting you all across the archipelago. There are around 20 of them—and they can go either under the seabed itself (sub-sea tunnels) or right through a mighty mountain.
2. Parking fees
Whether it’s because of the sparsity of the population or the immensity of space around, the Faroe Islands have no parking fees whatsoever…with one exception. If you’re planning to park at the airport, you can expect to pay a fee there—otherwise, park as long as you want, free of charge.
3. No off-road driving
Perhaps a little disappointing to the 4-wheeler adventurers: the Faroe Islands doesn’t permit any off-road driving (officially: it’s prohibited by law). This is to protect the pristine nature all around, much of which is actually private property. So do enjoy your road trips—but on the ample roads, bridges, and tunnels.
5. Sheep on the road
Quintessentially Faroese, when you’re driving around here you’ll very soon be greeted with our most common habitant: wooly sheep. You’ll see them across fields and by roadsides, but just be mindful that some can galavant across the roads (often when in a panic). So when sheep are around, do slow down.
Speed limits (and other rules)
For a quick runthrough of local driving rules: if you’re in town areas, the speed limit is 50 km/h (31 mph)—otherwise, it’s 80 km/h (50 mph). You drive on the right-hand side. It’s illegal to hold a mobile device (or drink alcohol) while driving. And while the legal driving age in the Faroe Islands is 18, most car rental companies will require you to be at least 20-21 years of age.
What Car Rental options do you have?
We’re keeping this part short—only because we’ll be breaking things down for you fully in a separate
blog. But the quick sum of it is: if you’re looking to rent a car for your adventures in the Faroe
Islands, you can either rent from the regular big companies or opt for a local car rental company.
Why we’re biased for the latter? Because, well, that’s what we do—but in our PHD Car Rent way. We make
reservations a breeze, never tie up your money in security deposits, don’t charge cancellation fees
(unless you cancel 24 hours before your pick-up time), and make sure your money goes the furthest for
you.
Our mission has always been to provide the best value car rentals that you can rely on for quality and
friendly, local service. But don’t take our word for it—check out our 134, 5-star Google reviews!