Best Time to Visit Faroe Islands

One town, one island group

We only cover Tórshavn, the capital, so that's our yardstick. It sits on Streymoy, the main island. The Faroes are small, and the weather changes fast from one fjord to the next. Tórshavn can be grey while a village an hour away has sun. That's normal, so don't plan around one forecast.

Summer: the easy season

June to August is when most people come, and June and August are our top picks. August is the warmest month, at 12°C. That's mild, not hot, so you'll still want a rain jacket on the Kallur lighthouse walk on Kalsoy. Days are long in June, and the light stays soft late into the evening. That helps if you want to hike or drive between islands after dinner.

Ferries and the road tunnels run all year, but summer has the most sailings. Puffin tours to Mykines only run in the warm months, since the birds are there from spring to late summer. Hotels and rental cars fill up first in July, so that's the busiest and priciest stretch. Still, "busy" here means a few full guesthouses, not packed streets.

Events, and the dark months

Ólavsøka, on 28 and 29 July, is the big one. It's the national holiday, with rowing races, chain dancing and parliament opening in Tórshavn. Book early if you want to be in town then. G! Festival, a music event in Syðrugøta, usually falls in July too.

Winter is low season. December is the wettest month, at 134 mm, and daylight is short. Some tourist sites close and boat trips thin out. But you'll get quiet trails and cosy cafés in Tórshavn's old Tinganes quarter. Flights can be delayed by wind, so leave slack in your plans. Do you want crowds-free views and don't mind rain? Then spring or autumn is a good middle ground.