DID YOU KNOW?
The Faroe Islands are not a member of the European Union, although they are formally a part of the Kingdom of Denmark.
The Faroes have their own parliament, government and prime minister, although they are part of Denmark.
The Faroes have their own currency – Faroese crowns. They should formally be accepted in Denmark, but we should not be surprised when we cause perplexion trying to pay in Danish shops with the Faroese notes. You will not have any difficulties with paying with Danish crowns in the Faroe Islands. The Faroese notes are very nice and many tourists save them as souvenirs.
photo: Mario Van Poppel
The Faroe Islands have their own flag which makes the inhabitants very proud of. That is why you will see it at your every step.
The Faroe Islands have its own mail service. The Faroese postage stamps are very popular among philatelists.
The distance between Copenhagen and the Faroese capital – Tórshavn – is 1311 km.
Google Maps
The weather is changeable… A favorite saying spread by the Faroese is: ‘If you don´t like the weather, just wait the next five minutes’.
The archipelago consists of 18 islands and only one – the Litla Dimun – is not inhabited.
There are 50 thousand Faroese on the islands, the half of them live in the capital region.
The Koltur Island is inhabited by 2 people.
There are also twice as many sheep as people. You will find them everywhere…
If you are fond of sheep milk cheese, you will have to do without it there. There is no dairy product of sheep milk produced on the islands. You can count on lamb dishes though.
The only bridge over the Atlantic is on the Faroes and it connects the islands of Streymoy and Eysturoy.
A lot of the houses on the islands have their roofs covered with turf.
The world’s oldest house is on the Faroes in Kirkjubøur. It is said to be built in 11th century.
The Faroese parliament – the Løgting – was founded in the times of Norman settlement. The beginning of parliamentarianism may even go back to 825 which gives it the precedence even to the Icelandic parliament commonly considered as the oldest.
The islands are not only the paradise for people or sheep but also to countless number of water bird species.
If you like forest, you will certainly be disappointed not to find any.
The national sport for the Faroese is soccer. Football fields are in even the smallest villages.
In the 1950s the islands were still very poor. In many villages there was no electricity. People had to hike for long hours through the mountains in order to reach them. Today there is an excellent road system and the most remote villages are accessed by convenient tunnels…
GDP per capita is over 50 000 USD. The economy is based on fish husbandry, tourism and subsidies from Copenhagen…
foto: Pieter van Marion
The islands have their own flight carrier – Atlantic Airways. Their fleet consists of 4 planes and 2 helicopters.
You will be welcomed by breathtaking and unforgettable landscapes. A trip to the Faroes is an unusual experience.
