Where to stay in the Faroe Islands? Tips for choosing a base

Where is the best place to stay in the Faroe Islands? That was a question we hesitated about quite a bit before our trip. Do you keep moving around so you are close to everything? Or do you choose a few fixed places, so you do not have to drag around suitcases, baby gear and rain jackets all the time?

In the end, we chose a few fixed locations. Not a different hotel every night, but travelling calmly from logical bases. And we would do it exactly like that again. The Faroe Islands are not huge. Many places are perfectly easy to reach by rental car, especially if you visit the main islands and do not want to depend on ferries every day.

In this blog, I explain where you can stay conveniently in the Faroe Islands, when Tórshavn is a good choice, why an apartment or cottage is sometimes smarter than a hotel and what to keep in mind when travelling in summer. Spoiler: it barely gets dark then.

Staying in the Faroe Islands: one place or several locations?

You can visit the Faroe Islands perfectly well from one fixed place, especially if you stay in or around Tórshavn. Still, we chose several bases ourselves. Not because the distances are enormous, but because it simply makes the trip more pleasant. Especially with a baby, we found it useful not to keep driving the same stretches back and forth.

At the same time, we also did not want to move every night. On paper, that may sound efficient, but in practice you are constantly packing, unpacking, moving groceries around and trying to remember where you left everything. So for us, a few fixed places were ideal: flexible, but not restless.

Our tip: choose 2 or 3 places to stay for one week. For example Vágar for the first few days, then a central place on Streymoy or in Tórshavn, and possibly Klaksvík for the north.

Want to know how we planned our trip logically? Then also read our 7-day Faroe Islands road trip itinerary.

Why we liked having fixed bases

We travelled with our 8-month-old daughter. In that case, moving less is a real advantage. She still slept a lot, so we were at our accommodation more often than we would have been if we had travelled as a couple. That is also why we invested a little more in our stays. With a baby, a nice place simply matters more.

But even without a baby, I would not want to move every night. The Faroe Islands are not a destination where you have to cover huge distances. You mostly drive short to medium stretches. And the route itself is often part of the experience: fjords, sheep, tunnels, villages and views where you spontaneously stop.

A fixed accommodation also gives peace of mind when the weather works against you. In the Faroe Islands, a plan can change within an hour. Then it is nice if you do not also have to check out, drive and arrive at the next place on time.

Vágar: useful for your first nights

Vágar is a very logical place to start your trip. This is where the airport is located, and you are immediately close to some of the best-known sights in the Faroe Islands. Think Múlafossur Waterfall, Bøur, Sørvágsvatn, Trælanípa and the Drangarnir boat trip from Sørvágur.

We liked sleeping here at the beginning of the trip. After arrival, you do not have to drive far straight away and you can calmly visit the first highlights. Especially if you arrive late or travel with children, that is very pleasant.

On Vágar, you stay somewhere quieter than in Tórshavn. Do not expect lively nightlife, but mainly small villages, beautiful views and accommodation where you really get that island feeling. We slept in a boathouse and thought it suited this side of the Faroe Islands perfectly.

View accommodation on Vágar around Sørvágur, Bøur and Múlafossur here.

Tórshavn: the best choice if you want some life in the evening

Do you want to be able to go somewhere for dinner, have a drink or simply walk around a town in the evening? Then Tórshavn is the best choice. The capital is still small, but compared to the rest of the Faroe Islands, this is the place where the most is happening.

If you are travelling as a couple, I would seriously consider Tórshavn as a base. Not because you have the most beautiful nature right on your doorstep, but because it can simply be nicer in the evening. You have restaurants, cafés, shops and more choice. Elsewhere in the Faroe Islands, you find that much less. Those places are often beautiful and quiet, but after dinner there is not always much left to do.

A good hotel option in Tórshavn is Hilton Garden Inn Faroe Islands. That is probably the hotel you mean by Garden Hotel. It is located in the capital and has, among other things, a restaurant. Useful if you do not want to cook yourself or drive somewhere else at the end of the day.

View accommodation in Tórshavn here.

Kollafjørður: a quiet central base

We also stayed in the area around Kollafjørður. This is not a place you visit for cosy restaurants or a lively evening. But as a quiet central base, we found it very useful.

You are well placed for trips to Streymoy, Eysturoy and Tórshavn. You can also drive north quite easily. The advantage of a quieter place like this is that you often get more space for your money. Think of an apartment or cottage with a kitchen, sofa, separate bedroom and a view. Especially with a baby, we found that nicer than a standard hotel room.

The downside is clear: there is little to do in the evening. So you need to cook yourself, bring food or make sure earlier in the day that you have eaten somewhere. But if you mainly come for nature and peace, that is no problem at all.

View accommodation near Kollafjørður here.

Klaksvík: useful for the north

Klaksvík is a good place to stay if you want to discover the north of the Faroe Islands. From here, you are quickly at the Klakkur hike, Viðoy and Viðareiði. You can also easily continue to other northern places connected by tunnels and roads.

Klaksvík is not the most charming place in the Faroe Islands, but it is practical. You find shops, accommodation, a harbour and slightly more facilities than in smaller villages. That makes it a pleasant base for a few nights, especially if you do not want to keep driving back and forth from Tórshavn.

If you like a bit of life around you, Klaksvík is better than a remote cottage in a small village. But do not expect a buzzing evening city here either. For restaurants and nightlife, Tórshavn remains clearly the best choice.

View accommodation in Klaksvík here.

Apartment or hotel in the Faroe Islands?

This really depends on your travel style. Are you travelling with children or do you want to cook a lot yourself? Then I would choose an apartment or cottage sooner. You have more space, can store groceries and do not have to eat out every evening. That saves money and hassle.

Are you travelling as a couple and do you want to do something in the evening? Then a hotel in Tórshavn is more fun. You can walk more easily to a restaurant, stroll through town for a bit and have a little more atmosphere in the evening. In many other places in the Faroe Islands, after a day full of nature, it is mainly quiet. That can be wonderful, but you do have to want that.

We especially liked an apartment or cottage because our daughter still slept a lot. In that case, you spend a lot of time indoors yourself too. A sofa, kitchen and separate bedroom really make a difference then.

Good to know: in summer it barely gets dark

A practical tip that we slightly underestimated beforehand: in summer, it barely gets dark in the Faroe Islands. That is beautiful if you still want to go out in the evening, but less useful if you sleep badly with light.

We found it difficult to make both of our cottages properly dark. The curtains blocked some light, but not enough to make it really dark. With a baby, that is extra inconvenient, but even as an adult it can be annoying if you are sensitive to light.

So bring a sleeping mask if you wake up easily from light. If you travel with children, a portable blackout curtain or dark cloth can also be useful. In winter, it is exactly the opposite: the days are short and you need to build your planning more around daylight.

Should you do everything from Tórshavn?

You can, but we would not necessarily do that. Tórshavn is convenient and lively by Faroe Islands standards, but you will drive back and forth more often. For some travellers, that is completely fine. Especially if you like having restaurants nearby every evening.

We preferred not to use Tórshavn as our only base. By also staying on Vágar and in Klaksvík or the surrounding area, you are closer to the highlights of those regions. That means you can start more calmly, move plans around more easily with the weather and do not have to drive the same route as often.

Still unsure? Then I would look at it like this:

• Do you want convenience and restaurants? Choose Tórshavn.
• Do you want peace, space and nature? Choose an apartment or cottage outside the capital.
• Do you want to drive less? Divide your trip across 2 or 3 places.
• Are you travelling with a baby or children? Choose something a bit more spacious and practical rather than the cheapest room.

Our ideal division for 7 days in the Faroe Islands

For a one-week trip, we would recommend this division:

• 2 nights on Vágar: useful for arrival, Múlafossur, Bøur, Drangarnir and Sørvágsvatn.
• 2 or 3 nights around Tórshavn or Kollafjørður: central for Streymoy, Eysturoy and a quiet day.
• 2 nights in Klaksvík: good for Klakkur, Viðoy and the north.

That way, you do not move too often, but you are still well positioned each time. And because the islands are not huge, you can still combine a lot along the way. We found this much nicer than having a new accommodation every day.

Practical tips for staying in the Faroe Islands

• Book in time. The supply is not huge, especially in summer.
• Do not choose only by price. A good location or extra space makes a big difference.
• Pay attention to blackout options. In summer, it is hard to make rooms dark.
• Bring a sleeping mask. Especially if you are sensitive to light.
• Check whether there is a kitchen. Eating out can be expensive and outside Tórshavn the choice is limited.
• Look at parking. With a rental car, you want to be able to park easily at your accommodation.
• Travelling with children? Choose space rather than only a beautiful location.

So, where is the best place to stay in the Faroe Islands?

The best place to stay in the Faroe Islands mainly depends on how you travel. Do you want peace, space and nature? Then choose apartments or cottages on Vágar, around Kollafjørður or in smaller villages. Do you still want to do something in the evening? Then Tórshavn is the nicest choice.

We were happy that we did not move every night, but also did not do everything from one place. A few fixed locations gave just enough calm and flexibility. And that suits the Faroe Islands well. You do not have to rush here. The islands are small enough to reach many places by car, but beautiful enough that you constantly want to stop along the way.

View accommodation on Vágar, in Tórshavn, around Kollafjørður or in Klaksvík.