Faroe Islands Hotels

Practical information

Facts about the Faroe Islands

The Faroe Islands lie in the Nortatlantic between Iceland and Shetland (Scotland) and Norway. The Faroe Islands are 18 islands (of which seventeen are inhabited). They have been an autonomous region of the Kingdom of Denmark since 1948.

The Faroe Islands is a very small country with only 48.200 (jan 2006) inhabitants. In the capital, Torshavn there are approx. 19.000 people living and in Klaksvik, which is the 2nd largest town, there only live about 6000 people.

Although the country is so small the Faroe Islands have their own language, Faroese, which is rooted from Old Norse. Danish is their 2nd language and most people, especially the young people understand and speak english.

The Faroes generally have cool summers and mild winters, with a usually overcast sky and frequent fog and heavy winds. The fog often causes air traffic delays. The average temperature in winter is 3°C and in sommer 11°C. Because the Faroe islands lie just south of the Arctic Circle it does not really get totally dark at night in summer (between May 21 and July 2)

Because of the high winter temperature the harbour never freeze. The islands do get snow, but because of the changing weather the snow doesn't tend to stay long. The highest point is Slættaratindur, 882 metres (2,894 ft) above sea level. There are no native trees in the Faroe Islands only a few planted by the locals.

The fishing industry is the most important source of income for the Faroes. Fish products account for over 97% of the export volume. Tourism is the second largest industry, followed by woollen and other manufactured products.

Religion

The people in the Faroe Islands are very religious - 84 % of the population belong to the established church, the Evangelical-Lutheran.

The best known church buildings in the Faroe Islands include St. Olafs Church in the beautiful little village Saksun and the unfinished Magnus Cathedral in Kirkjubøur (picture right), which is the foremost historical monument of the islands. Many of the newer churches have been inspired by designs found outside the Faroes. Many are quite beautiful and worthy of a visit, especially Christianskirkjan in Klaksvík, Fríðrikskirkjan in Toftir, and the new church in the village of Gøta. They are large and spacious, as the population is now much larger and times have changed. But ofcouse the old wooden village churches are also worth a visit.

Gouverment

Since 1948, the Faroe Islands have been a self-governing region of the Kingdom of Denmark. It has its own parliament and its own flag. It is not, however, a member of the European Union and all trade is governed by special treaties.

Currency

The Faroese currency is the Danish Kroner. But since the Faroe Islands are a self-governing region of the Kingdom of Denmark, the Faroese government prints its own currency, the Króna , although Danish coins are used. The coins come in 25 and 50 scents, 1, 5, 10, and 20 króna. Paper notes come in 50, 100, 200, 500, and 1000 króna. the exhange value on notes is equivalent to the Danish crown, and there is no service charge on exchange, as Danish notes are equally acceptable as the Faroese króna throughout the country.

Traditional Food

Traditional Faroese food is mainly based on meat and potatoes. Sheeps meat is the basis of many meals, and one of the most popular treats is skerpikjøt, well aged, wind-dried sheeps meat, which is quite chewy. The drying shed is a standard feature in many Faroese homes, particularly in the small towns and villages. Other traditional foods are ræst kjøt (semi-dried mutton) and ræstur fiskur, matured fish. Another Faroese specialty is grind og spik, pilot whale meat and blubber. Well into the last century meat and blubber from the pilot whale meant food for a long time. Fresh fish also features strongly in the traditional local diet, as do seabirds, such as Faroese puffins.

Practical information

Post offices - There are post offices in almost every village, although the smallest ones are only open for a few hours each day. The post office in Torshavn is open Mon - Fri 10am - 4pm and on Thur until 6pm.

Banks - There are several banks and cash machines in the Faroe Islands. Opening hours are Mon-Fri 9am - 4pm and on Thur until 6pm.

Hospitals - There are 3 hospitals in the Faroes, one in Torshavn, one in Klaksvik and one in Tvøroyri (which is on the southernmost island. There are also several doctors around the islands and villages.

Chemists - Chemists are in Torshavn, Klaksvik and Runavik (which is on the island Eysturoy) and Tvøroyri. It's possible to buy some non-prescription medicines from the larger shops around the islands.

Healt Insurance - The healt insurance regulations for EU countries do not apply in the Faroe Islands, however citizens of the Nordic countries and the UK are covered by their own national health insurance. Expenses in connection with hospital, doctor or dentist bills should be claimed from the home municipality.

Time Difference - The local time is GMT, which is 1 hour behond CET (Denmark, Norway, Sweden). Summer time is GMT + 1 hour and runs from April to October.

Car problems - For breakdown and immidiate help on the two larger islands Streymoy and Eysturoy, contact the Fire Station in Tórshavn, tel (00298) 302100. It is advisable to arrange for insurance coverage for your car to avoid unexpected garage bills

Disclaimer: All information correct 27/9/2006. FaroeIslandsHotels.com can not be held responsible for any differences experienced at the hotel. All images and information copyright 2006 HotelsForEurope.com