Steep green cliffs, small villages and weather that changes fast
Photo: Emil02050 / Pixabay
Jul, Aug
Highs reach 13°C and sea temp hits 10.8°C, the warmest spell of the year, with a 4.3 score.
Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec
The Faroe Islands suit travellers who like hiking, dramatic coastlines and small towns over nightlife and crowds. July and August bring the mildest weather, including in the capital Tórshavn, home to 14,038 of the country's 56,210 people. The islands cover just 1,393 km2, so distances are short, but weather shifts quickly and can disrupt ferries, flights and outdoor plans with little warning.
The Faroe Islands have a population of 56,210 people spread over just 1,393 square kilometres. That makes it one of the least crowded parts of Northern Europe, with wide open land between settlements.
The capital Tórshavn sits on the coast and has 14,038 residents. Its small size means you can explore the harbour, old town and surrounding hills on foot without needing a car.
July and August are the best months to visit both the country and Tórshavn, offering the mildest and most stable conditions of the year for walking the islands and taking boat trips along the coast.
Both Danish and Faroese are spoken here, giving visitors a chance to hear a distinct North Germanic language alongside Danish, used on signs, in shops and in daily conversation across the islands.
With the Danish krone as currency, driving on the right, and 230 V power sockets using plug types C, E, F and K, travel here is straightforward for anyone coming from mainland Europe or the UK with the right adapter.
Great for
Less ideal for
Averages for Tórshavn.
In Tórshavn, July and August are the warmest and sunniest months, with highs near 13°C, sea temperatures around 11°C, and roughly 7.7-7.8 hours of sun, making them the easiest time to be outdoors. December and January are the toughest, with highs of just 5-6°C, around 20 rain days a month, and as little as 1-2 hours of sun a day.
Tórshavn · averages 2015–2024
City guides with their own best months and weather.
One good base in each main city and who it suits.
Good for first-timers, short stays
The compact town centre around the main shopping streets, with cafés, restaurants, the cathedral and the bus terminal close by. It is the easiest base for walking everywhere and catching buses or tours out of town. Streets climb steeply from the harbour, and weekend nights can be a little noisy near the bars.
Mutton hung for months in a hjallur, a wooden drying shed with slatted walls that lets the salty sea wind through. It is sliced thin and eaten on bread, often at Christmas and family gatherings.
Mutton that has been left to dry and ferment only partly, so it has a strong, sharp taste. Faroese families usually boil it and serve it with potatoes, often as a soup.
Fish, usually cod, that has been hung to ferment and dry. It is boiled and served with potatoes, often with garnatálg on the side. It is a traditional home dish.
A strong-smelling fat made from fermented sheep fat. Locals melt it over boiled fish and potatoes as a sauce. Many visitors find the flavour very intense.
Pilot whale meat and blubber, eaten dried or boiled with potatoes. It is a traditional and debated food. Local health authorities advise limiting how much you eat because of mercury.
Beer from the Föroya Bjór brewery in Klaksvík, served in bars and restaurants across the islands. Shops sell strong beer, wine and spirits only through the state-run Rúsdrekkasøla stores.
Yes, August is one of the best two months to visit, along with July. The average high is 12.8°C and sea temperature reaches 11.3°C, the warmest of the year. There are still 18.4 rain days in August, so pack for rain even in the warmest month.
July and August score highest, at 4.3 out of the months tracked. Highs reach 12.7-12.8°C and sun hours peak around 7.7-9 per day between May and August. Every other month scores lower, mainly because rainfall and low sun hours persist year-round.
Yes, rain is frequent all year. Tórshavn gets rain on 15.9 to 21.6 days per month, with March having the most rain days (21.6) and April the fewest (15.9). Even the driest months still see rain more than half the time.
The sea peaks at 11.3°C in August and stays close to that in July (10.8°C) and September (11.2°C). In winter it drops to around 6.5°C in January and February. These are cool temperatures, so swimming without a wetsuit is a cold-water activity even in summer.
Winter is dark and wet rather than extremely cold. December has just 1 hour of sun per day and 20.2 rain days, with highs around 5.7°C and lows of 2.2°C. January and February are similar, with highs near 5.1-5.2°C and low sun hours of 1.8 to 3.9.
Countries with a year of weather much like Faroe Islands.
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