As you explore the Faroe Islands, driving is essential. Nothing is very far, but a car makes it possible. I’ve driven through many beautiful places around the world, but the Faroe Islands was unmatched in beauty.
A Guide To Driving On The Faroe Islands
I already outlined the process of renting a car. When you do rent a car, ensure that your agreement includes a toll package (most cars are equipped with a toll chip). The beauty of driving is that we did not run into a single traffic jam over our three days on the island, though the entrance to tunnels between cities can get a bit crowded during rush hour.
One thing that amazed me about the Faroe Islands is that despite being a relatively remote Atlantic archipelago, the infrastructure was amazingly modern. In every nook and cranny of the island I enjoyed strong mobile phone coverage. Roads were perfectly paved. But perhaps most impressive was the network of underground tunnels that linked the islands.
One tunnel was so long that it even included a roundabout in the middle! That particular tunnel is 6.9 miles long and links the capital city of Torshavn with Eysturoy. It is called Eysturoyartunnil and opened in late 2020 and includes the world’s first underwater roundabout. This tunnel has cut travel time between Streymoy (the most populated island) and Eysturoy (the second most populated island) from one hour to 15 minutes.
I will not get into the technical details of the tunnel (you can read more here if you are interested), but Eysturoyartunnil is a stunning architectural and engineering marvel.
As you drive through the 18 islands which make up the Faroe Islands, you’ll encounter 20 tunnels, with more under construction. But the true beauty comes driving on the surface, where just about every mile is picturesque. Take a look:
I loved that traffic was so light anytime you wanted a picture you could just pull over and take one.
We only ran into one road closure, with an exemption made for “local sheep farmers.”
Yes, you do have to share the road:
As an FYI, the speed limit is 50 km/hour in urban/populated areas and 80 km/hour in rural areas. I did not notice any police cars or speed cameras, but I strongly recommend you respect the boundaries…it also makes for very pleasant driving.
Finally, you may encounter very dense, thick fog, as we did each morning. In fact, I don’t think I have ever driven in fog so thick. There, we were just inching along.
CONCLUSION
The beauty of driving on the Faroe Islands is that you can simply hop in your car and go any direction to enjoy matchless natural beauty. A car is a necessity when visiting, but with the construction of advanced tunnels, driving is also a pleasure.
