The Faroe Islands are a small country and getting around is easy. All of the Islands are connected by a public transport system.
By plane
You can splurge, and take a helicopter or a cheaper ferry to all the faraway places. - for example to Mykines, the picturesque island far west.Atlantic Airways offers a helicopter service to selected towns and villages throughout the Faroes. Contact Atlantic Airways directly at phone no. 341060. Booking is required. The service is intended for locals and as such tourists can only book one way of a journey but you can use the ferry and bus services to make the return journey.
The service may be affected by the weather -- a heavy overcast with low clouds, for example may cause the flights to be cancelled.
By bus
Passenger road transport is run by private companies, but is coordinated by a public body.
The inter-town bus system Bygdaleiðir, has together with the public ferry company established a coherent and well-developed public transport system which takes in all settlements on the islands. This means that there are bus services to all places - maybe not often, but every day!
Bygdaleiðir´s buses are in the colour of blue. A schedule Ferðaætlan listing the various timetables for the inter-town buses and ferries may be purchased from the tourist office, as well as the central bus station near the harbour in Tórshavn. Transport is quite expensive, so check for student discount or multiple-ride-cards. Students as well as children and pensioners are eligible for discounts on fares provided they show a student or pensioner identity card. There is a four day travel card meant for tourists which is valid for all buses and ferries. It is well worth its price if you are planning to get around the islands by public transport.
The buses are equipped with radios. If you are planning to change buses, do tell the driver in advance, as he will make sure the other bus waits for you.
The capital Tórshavn offers a local bus service Bussleiðin with four routes that reach most area of the town which is free. The red coloured-buses operate every half-hour during the day through out the week and hourly on weekday evenings. The buses don´t operate on Saturday or on Sunday evening which can be inconvenient for tourists. Route maps and schedules may be obtained on the buses, at Kiosk Steinatún in the centre of town, or at Kunningarstovan, the local tourist information in Tórshavn.
Travelling Between Islands
The two largest islands, Streymoy and Eysturoy, are connected by a bridge, Sundabrúgvin, or the Channel Bridge. Since 2002 a sub-sea tunnel connects the island of Vágar with Streymoy and since 2006 a sub-sea tunnel connects Borðoy to Eysturoy. These are toll tunnels and you have to pay when driving from Vágar to Streymoy and from Borðoy to Eysturoy. Road causeways connect Borðoy with Viðoy and Kunoy. The other main Islands Sandoy and Suðuroy have excellent car-ferry connections to Streymoy, making motoring in the Faroes easy and pleasant. The ferry Smyril M/F has 2-3 daily departures from Tórshavn, sailing to Krambatangi ferry port in Suðuroy. The ferry Teistin M/F has around 8 daily departures from Gamlarætt ferry port to Skopun on Sandoy island. Teistin has also a few departures to Hestur island, but only on request. Gamlarætt is located on the west coast of Streymoy, not far from Tórshavn and near the villages Kirkjubøur and Velbastaður. Ritan M/F has 5-7 daily departures from Tórshavn to Nólsoy. M/F Sam has up to 7 daily departures from KlaksvÃk to Syðradalur on Kalsoy island. M/F Ritan has 3 daily departures from Hvannasund on Viðoy island to the islands SvÃnoy and Fugloy in summertime, less in wintertime. The ship Brynhild has 2 daily departures in summertime from Sørvágur on Vágar island to Mykines island. Strandfaraskip Landsins, the Faroese public transport service, publishes an annual timetable Ferðaætlan (http://www.ssl.fo/Default.asp?sida=2875) containing details of all ferry and bus schedules. It is available from the Passenger Terminal in Tórshavn, and all tourist information centres. When using a car ferry please note that it is not possible to make advanced bookings. You should be at the pier no later than 20 minutes before scheduled departure, and on Friday and Sunday evenings it is advisable to be ahead of time if you want to secure a place for the car.
By car
The first motor road connecting two villages wasnât built until 1916, and travellers were limited to mountain paths and rowing boats. Nevertheless, today driving is easy with an excellent 600-km network of well maintained tarmaced roads and tunnels. The density of cars is one of the highest in Europe.
The numerous road tunnels in the Faroe Islands mean that drivers of large vehicles must plan their routes by finding out in advance which tunnel they can enter. Driving is on the right and most road signs follow international standards. Headlights must be on when driving and the use of seat belts is required. The speed limit is 80 kph 50 mph outside towns and villages, and 50 kph 30 mph in the towns and villages. For cars with trailers, the speed limit is 50 kph and for caravans the speed limit is 60 kph. The consequences for speeding are severe. Sheep graze freely on both sides of the main roads, so they will cross at their own will. Also they may hide from bad weather just inside the tunnels, which causes many collisions each year.
Parking in the towns of Tórshavn, KlaksvÃk and RunavÃk is restricted. Parking discs must be displayed in the lower right hand corner of the front windscreen showing the time you parked your car. These display discs are available at no charge from banks and the tourist offices. There is a fine of DKK 200 for parking violations.
Car Rental
Tórshavn
rentacar.fo (http://www.rentacar.fo), à Homrum 19, FO-410 Kollafjørður. Tel: 232121, [email protected].
BVK (http://www.bvk.fo), Frúutrøð 6, FO-100 Tórshavn. Tel: 283310, [email protected]. - Currently in-active rental service
Vágar
AVIS Føroyar, Vágar airport, FO-380 Sørvágur. Tel: 358800/212765.
HERTZ - 62N.fo NEW NAME, Vágar airport/Hotel Vágar, FO-380 Sørvágur. Tel: 340036/213546, [email protected]
Unicar (http://www.uni-cars.com), FO-360 Sandavágur. Tel: 332527, [email protected]
Sub Sea Tunnel Fares
Vehicles up to 3500 kg and up to 6 m, DKK 130. Vehicles between 6 and 12,5 m, DKK 350.You shouldn´t pay your fare any later than three days after using the sub sea tunnel. You may pay at any petrol station on the islands. Otherwise an invoice will be sent to the car owner.