Faroe Islands
18 volcanic islands between Norway and Iceland where the roofs are grass, the waterfalls fall straight into the Atlantic, and puffins land a meter away from wherever the visitor happens to be sitting. Europe's most photogenic destination that no influencer has managed to overrun yet.
The most recognizable hotel in the Faroe Islands: a natural grass roof, sheep grazing outside, Philippe Starck interior design, and panoramic views of the Nólsoy fjord and Tórshavn's historic center from every room. Buffet breakfast with local products from 6am, a restaurant serving the best Faroese cuisine in the capital, and staff who have spent years recommending excursions for families with kids. Children of all ages welcome. For the family that wants the most representative hotel on the islands: this one. Estimated price: €200–350/night for a family room.
✦Grass roof and views over the Nólsoy fjordThe former Commodore's House on the shore of Tórshavn's harbor, converted into a boutique hotel with 14 rooms in blue-green-white tones and private terraces over the fjord. Some rooms have connecting doors to create family suites. Breakfast with Faroese rye bread baked that same morning, local smoked salmon, and Icelandic skyr. The most intimate and best-rated hotel in the capital. Estimated price: €220–380/night for a family room/suite.
✦Former Commodore's House with terraces over the fjordA modern four-star hotel with the best facilities in the capital: an indoor pool (crucial with young kids in the Faroe Islands when the weather doesn't cooperate), a gym, its own restaurant, and free parking. Rooms are spacious, bathrooms are solid, and staff are accustomed to arranging excursions for families. For the family that prioritizes hotel facilities over aesthetics: Hotel Brandan has a pool, and the competition doesn't. Estimated price: €180–300/night for a family room.
✦Indoor pool, ideal for rainy daysThe most complete route through the islands in a single day: the village of Saksun (turf houses at the bottom of an enclosed fjord), Lake Sørvágsvatn — the one with the optical illusion of sitting above the ocean — and the Trælanípa cliffs. For families with kids age 5 and up. An 8-hour guided tour with lunch included and pickup from Tórshavn. The most photogenic day available on the islands.
The island of Mykines — reachable only by ferry or helicopter — has the largest puffin colony in the North Atlantic. In July, puffins land within arm's reach while nesting in the cliff crevices. For kids of any age: the encounter with a puffin is the moment of the trip that stays in memory the longest. Ferry from Sørvágur (1.5 hours) plus a 45-minute walk to the lighthouse.
Gásadalur is the most isolated village in the Faroe Islands — accessible only through a tunnel built in 2004; before that, only by mountain trail. The Múlafossur waterfall falls straight into the Atlantic from the cliff edge with the village in the background: the most shared image of the islands. Half-day guided tour from Tórshavn with free time in the village and access to the viewpoint. For families with young kids: the walk is short and the visual impact is immediate.
The Faroe Islands do not belong to the European Union even though they are Danish territory. They have their own language (Faroese, derived from Old Norse and spoken by 50,000 people), their own flag, their own government, and their own national football team. FIFA granted them membership in 1988 — the only case in which a nation without full sovereignty has a federated team. They have beaten Greece and Austria in European qualifiers.
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Plan my trip →Vágar Airport (FAE), on the island of Vágar, 45 minutes by bus from Tórshavn (Bus 300, €5 EUR/person). Direct flights from Copenhagen (SAS, Atlantic Airways, 2 hours), Reykjavik, and a few other European cities. From Mexico or Latin America: connect through Copenhagen — the most convenient hub for the Faroe Islands.
The islands are connected by bridges, undersea tunnels, and ferries. Renting a car is the only real way to explore with freedom (€60–90 EUR/day in summer). The undersea tunnels between islands cost €5–10 EUR per crossing — bring cash or a card for each one. Without a car, tours are the most practical solution for families.
Days of 12–18°C — the warmest month of the year in the Faroe Islands, which in other latitudes would be called a "mild autumn." Bring layers for the kids even in summer. Rain can appear without warning (the Faroe Islands have more than 300 rainy days a year), but showers are short and the sky clears quickly. Hotel Brandan with its indoor pool is the plan B for the grayest days.
