Once upon a time, in the long-forgotten days of 2021, I was served an Instagram ad for a flight to the Faroe Islands. Yeah, same, I never really heard of it either, but I very quickly became obsessed. A bunch of dots in the middle of the ocean? Looks like an alien planet? Cool name? Sheep?! I’m in.

Dramatic landscape of a waterfall flowing into the ocean, with steep cliffs and a setting sun illuminating a mountainous backdrop

Natapong Supalertsophon / Getty Images

I have a Google Flight hobby, where I basically search New York City to anywhere all of the time. I started checking out the Faroes, and I’m telling you, I never saw anything that wasn’t a 25-hour flight for over $1,800. That is until this year. To my surprise, I found a $330 (!!!!!) flight through Iceland.

Flight booking interface showing options for round trip, passengers, and economy class from New York to an unspecified destination

Google

I snatched up that flight and spent six days over Memorial Day weekend with one of my best friends.

Person sits on a wooden bench overlooking a scenic coastal village and rolling green hills. They wear casual, outdoor clothing

Abe Forman-Greenwald

It was awesome, like “life-changing” awesome. I even got to do “Oops!… I Did It Again” choreo on a grassy knoll overlooking a fjord!

Person hikes on a grassy hill overlooking a misty, mountainous landscape by the sea. They wear outdoor gear and carry a backpack

Abe Forman-Greenwald

Because I loved it so much, I put together this list of things I wish I knew before I went. Enjoy.

1.First of all, the Faroes consist of 18 islands, and wherever you are, it’s impossible to be more than three miles from the ocean. Most of the islands are connected by underground tunnels.

Person pointing at a map of the Faroe Islands on an outdoor information board

Matt Stopera

The Faroes are a territory of Denmark, so most things in stores are Danish (and imported). Everyone speaks Faroese, but they also speak English and Danish. They’re trilingual. Someone told us that they start learning Danish in the second grade and English in the fourth grade.

For context, that’s my location tag.

Map showing North Atlantic Ocean, highlighting a location near Europe with a pin. North America, South America, and parts of Africa are visible

Matt Stopera/Apple

You’re OUT there.

2.It’s one of the rainiest places in the world, like we’re talking 270+ days of the year with rain.

Weather forecast showing rain all week, with temperatures ranging from highs of 52°F to 50°F and lows of 48°F to 43°F

One minute it’s sunny, the next it’s raining. Repeat. It’s one of those places.

3.When it’s sunny, though, there is NOTHING like it.

Scenic view of traditional grass-roofed houses by a tranquil fjord, with rolling hills and mountains in the background

Abe Forman-Greenwald

Over the course of those six days, we had two great weather days, two so-so weather days, and two AWFUL days. Those awful days were comically bad, like the rain and wind just wouldn’t stop. Hurricane stuff.

4.The best way to keep track of the weather is on their robust live cam network, faroeislandslive.com.

Scenic view of a coastal village with steep green hills, a calm sea, and distant rocky islands

It’s also the best way to make your daily plans. One part of the island could be pouring rain, and the other part could be sunny. We honestly had more luck monitoring the cams than using our weather apps.

5.There are no trees because it’s so windy.

House with grass roof beside a lake, surrounded by trees. Scenic and peaceful setting, suitable for a tranquil getaway destination

Abe Forman-Greenwald

And by “no trees,” I mean there are very, very few. When you see one it’s like a *thing*.

6.The Faroes mostly look like this:

Scenic view of grassy hills overlooking a calm bay with distant mountains under a blue sky. Small village near the shoreline

Matt Stopera

7.This:

Hiker walks along a rocky trail in a vast, open landscape with distant lakes and hills under a clear sky, suggesting serene travel exploration

Matt Stopera

8.This:

Foggy landscape with a winding river between rolling hills, seen from a grassy viewpoint. Misty mountains create a serene atmosphere

Matt Stopera

9.This:

Scenic village with quaint houses and a stream, set against rolling hills and open sky, suggesting a peaceful travel destination

Matt Stopera

10.This:

A dramatic coastal cliff shrouded in low clouds, overlooking a calm sea. Grassy foreground with a fence adds contrast to the natural scene

Abe Forman-Greenwald

11.And definitely this:

Hikers ascend a foggy, grassy hill trail. Visibility is low due to mist, suggesting a serene, mysterious hiking experience

Matt Stopera

Like I said, it will rain a lot, but the fog is definitely a vibe.

Foggy coastal village seen from the water, with small houses nestled between green hills under an overcast sky

Matt Stopera

12.It’s so gorgeous that there are signs in the towns that say, “This is a neighbourhood not a museum.”

Sign on a scenic village street reads: "Please respect the privacy of homeowners. This is a neighborhood, not a museum."

Matt Stopera

Noted.

13.As you can probably tell, you see a lot of these grass-roofed houses.

Sod-roofed red building by a lake, with a mountainous backdrop under a cloudy sky. Ideal for nature-centric travel experiences

Matt Stopera

So aesthetic.

14.There are puffins.

A puffin stands on lush green grass, its orange beak and feet visible, creating a serene scene in a natural setting

Abe Forman-Greenwald

Puffin season goes from late April to early September, so we were right in the thick of it at the end of May. The best place to see them is an island called Mikines (population 15!), which is only reachable by ferry. That ferry is kind of unpredictable, depending on the weather. We were the last ferry to make it to the island for two days because of the weather.

15.There’s a brewery on the Faroes that has the most adorable beer cans.

Person holding a Pallebä pilsner can with bird illustrations, standing by a window overlooking a patio

Matt Stopera

16.They also make this DELICIOUS hard seltzer called Skinny.

Two beverage cans in a person's hand by a window. Each can highlights calorie content: 25 and 24, flavored with mango-citrus and apple-pear

Matt Stopera

I could go for a Skinny now, TBH.

17.The other beer you can get from the Faroes is called Slupp, which is also just fun and weird to say.

A can of "Slupp" beer on a table by a window overlooking a seascape, with plants and glass nearby

Matt Stopera

“Can I get a Slupp?”

18.The supermarket mascot is a horny, drunk piggy bank.

Grocery store entrance with large "Bonus" sign featuring a pig logo, surrounded by plants and bags of goods

Matt Stopera

At least that’s what it looks like to me. Buying your groceries is a must on the Faroes because there just aren’t that many restaurants outside of the capital city.

19.In the Faroes, it feels like you are always one small step away from certain death.

Narrow dirt trail winding through hilly landscape with distant mountain views under a clear sky. Ideal for hiking enthusiasts

Matt Stopera

Seriously, they warn you.

Sign urging respect for nature: protect it for future generations and beware of nature’s forces. Includes illustrations of animals and a caution symbol

Matt Stopera

TONS of skinny paths.

20.There are more sheep on the island than people which means they are EVERYWHERE.

Person gazing at a small sheep on a lush, open field, with rolling hills in the misty background

Matt Stopera

21.They invade the towns.

Sheep graze on a grassy field near traditional sod-roof houses in a rural setting, representing pastoral life and travel adventures

Matt Stopera

Scary.

22.They’re hanging onto the edges of cliffs.

Steep grassy cliffside overlooking the sea, with rocky terrain and a few grazing sheep. The landscape suggests a remote coastal hiking destination

Matt Stopera

Also scary.

23.They’re inescapable (and you’ll end up with hundreds of pictures of them on your photo roll).

Two sheep stand next to a wire fence on a grassy hillside overlooking a vast sea and distant islands under a partly cloudy sky

Matt Stopera

I think we were there during a *special* time because there were also SO many baby sheep. It was (particularly) majestic and sheepy.

24.Speaking of, you’ll have to make constant stops to let them cross the road.

Sheep crossing a road on a scenic coastal route with grass-covered hills and the ocean in the background

Matt Stopera

Divas.

25.You’ll even find some sheep graffiti.

Cartoon sheep mural on a stone wall near a red building, with mountains and blue sky in the background

Matt Stopera

26.In the Faroes, they have this delicious banana cake with chocolate frosting.

Cafe table with two cups of coffee and plates of frosted cakes, one chocolate and one white. Person in a casual button-up shirt seated

Matt Stopera

They’re also known for their carrot cake. You have to get it.

27.Another food you’ll find is “fish soup.” Really, it’s just called “fish soup.”

A bowl of creamy soup with herbs and croutons, accompanied by a small bowl of bread slices, on a wooden table set with gold-toned cutlery

Matt Stopera

It’s very, very good. I recommend getting it at my favorite restaurant in the Faroes called Fiskastykkid (no idea how to say that).

28.James Bond died there, and you can literally pay respects to him at his “grave.”

Stone memorial for James Bond, 1941-2020, on a coastal cliff with ocean view

Abe Forman-Greenwald

Spoiler alert: They filmed the last James Bond movie, No Time to Die, in the Faroes on Kalsoy Island, and Daniel Craig dies there in the final scene.

Gone but never forgotten <3

Man in a green jacket humorously poses with a James Bond memorial stone in a scenic, mountainous landscape

Abe Forman-Greenwald

29.I’d be remiss to mention James Bond’s grave without mentioning that there’s also an incredibly random Thai restaurant essentially at the end of the world on that island.

Map view showing Aroidee Lighthouse Restaurant in Trollanes, Faroe Islands with opening details and contact info

Restaurant-wise, there wasn’t a huge variety or tons of choices in the Faroes, so it was VERY surprising to find a Thai restaurant in an INCREDIBLY remote part of an island only accessible by ferry.

30.There are only, like, three radio stations.

Car dashboard screen displaying FM1 radio station in a tunnel

Matt Stopera

Most worked in the tunnels, which was impressive. Shoutout to TITT radio (good name).

31.Speaking of tunnels, some of them have these awesome light displays.

Car driving through illuminated tunnel with colorful lights on the ceiling, creating a vibrant and dynamic atmosphere

Matt Stopera

You’ll constantly be in these tunnels, and they cost money! Over the course of six days, we spent about $60 on tolls.

32.Rhubarb is the most common vegetable you’ll find.

Rocky hillside with a stone wall and green plants growing, situated in a rural, mountainous landscape under a partly cloudy sky

Matt Stopera

Not much can grow in the Faroes (mostly potatoes and carrots), but rhubarb grows surprisingly well there.

33.There are waterfalls EVERYWHERE.

Waterfall cascading down rocks with green hills and a small building in the background, under a cloudy sky. Scenic, tranquil travel destination

Matt Stopera

Seriously, a dime of dozen, they’re just cascading all over the place.

34.When it rains, there are even more waterfalls and they get real big.

Person in a hooded jacket photographing a waterfall in a grassy landscape with rocky hills in the background

Matt Stopera

35.The most famous waterfall cascades into the sea and it’s called Skarðsáfossur.

Person in rain gear poses by a waterfall on a lush green landscape, with mist in the background

Abe Forman-Greenwald

We were *lucky* it was raining for two days straight because we saw it in full force, and no, I still have no idea how to pronounce that.

36.The wind is NO JOKE.

Person walks along a misty, deserted road near a lake in an overcast rural landscape, wearing a jacket and cap

Matt Stopera

The blowing rain meant that either one side of you was dry while the other side was completely wet.

37.The hikes are also NO JOKE.

A person in hiking gear sits on a mountain, gazing at a scenic landscape with clouds and distant peaks

Abe Forman-Greenwald

One side of a trail could look like this:

A narrow dirt path winds along a grassy hillside overlooking the ocean with a distant island in view

Matt Stopera

And the other side could look like this:

Foggy landscape with a narrow dirt path winding through a rocky, grassy hillside, creating a mysterious, tranquil travel setting

Matt Stopera

But the view was always worth it.

Scenic view from a cliff overlooking a vast ocean and distant islands under a clear sky, evoking a sense of adventure and exploration

Matt Stopera

We hiked Slættaratindur, the highest mountain in the Faroe Islands, and let me tell you, the weather changed drastically along the way. By the time we reached the top, we were facing hurricane-force winds, and I was terrified about how to get down the mountain. I had never truly understood what vertigo felt like until that moment.

38.If you’re not the hiking type, just drive around. You’ll see views like this everywhere:

Coastal landscape with a winding road beside a calm bay, surrounded by rolling hills under a cloudy sky. A lone sheep grazes on green grass

Matt Stopera

39.Speaking of gorgeous, I found Enya to be the perfect soundtrack for the trip.

A sheep stands on a grassy hill overlooking an ocean and distant cliffs under a cloudy sky

Matt Stopera

I also liked listening to Sade, Madonna’s Ray of Light album, and Lady Gaga’s “The Edge of Glory” (because I felt like I was going to fall off a cliff). You can listen to my trip playlist here.

40.People have been living on the Faroes since 500 AD, and we found a grave of someone who died in the year 1700.

Plaque in English and Faroese about Mr. Jonas Faroe, a priest who died in 1700, buried near a church possibly built in 1695, mentions wife Anna

Matt Stopera

Don’t see that every day!

41.As a sparkling water aficionado, I can officially say their stuff is top-notch.

Hand holding a bottle of Aqua sparkling mineral water with a mountain logo, seen against a blurred background

Matt Stopera

Great long-lasting fizz. Not too spicy.

ALSO, as a beverage (especially zero sugar) fan, I was definitely happy with my hauls.

Various bottled drinks, including carbonated water, vitamins drink, and tropical energy drink, displayed on a glass surface with strawberries

Matt Stopera

Shoutout to those imported strawberries in the corner. Worth it.

42.The most popular chip brand is Kims and they are literally cool:

Bag of KiMs Tomato Spirals snack held in a cozy room with wooden furniture and a red-striped cushion

Matt Stopera

Because of the sunglasses, get it?

43.There’s a ton of *weird* candy in the grocery store.

Packets of candy labeled "Bonbon Rådne Fisk" and "Bonbon Kloakslam" with humorous illustrations on a store shelf

Matt Stopera

“Yes, I would LOVE to try this candy with a seizing rat and an electrocuted cat!”

44.This is more a general tip: Lots of things were closed on Sunday, Monday, and also Tuesday.

Small dining table set by a large window with a scenic view of cliffs and water, in a cozy restaurant

Matt Stopera

We found that all grocery stores were closed on Sundays, and then most restaurants were closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. BTW, this picture is from Rose’s Restaurant, which had some top-notch fish and chips. Just be sure you reserve before going!

45.The capital city, Tórshavn, is one of the smallest capital cities in the world. 20,000 people live there.

A vibrant waterfront view in Tórshavn, Faroe Islands, with colorful buildings and docked boats under a cloudy sky

Roberto Moiola / Sysaworld / Getty Images

We spent one of the rainy days in the city and checked out some museums, art galleries, and multiple coffee shops. Shoutout to Paname Café (my fav).

46.All of the rental cars have this little “parking disc,” so when you’re in the *big city* of Tórshavn, you just set what time you arrive so the parking attendants know you didn’t overstay the limit.

Parking disk on a car dashboard set to 10:00, displaying text "Bilasolan" with a website and numbers 1-12 around the edge

Matt Stopera

Also, just to give you an idea of how small the Faroes are, there are only five stoplights on the entire island chain.

47.They’re obsessed with trolls and witches.

Rocky landscape with rolling green hills, a large boulder in the foreground, and misty mountains under a cloudy sky

Matt Stopera

I swear, everywhere we went, there was some sort of story about trolls. Trolls live under rocks, so watch out for ’em.

48.Some hikes cost money.

A person in outdoor attire stands on a grassy cliff overlooking the ocean and rugged coastline, capturing the essence of a scenic travel destination

Abe Forman-Greenwald

Like $25, which is kind of expensive. This picture was from Lake Sørvágsvatn which has a really wild optical illusion that makes it look like the lake is falling into the ocean.

49.It was pretty humid, so once something got wet, it stayed wet.

Scenic view of a rural village nestled between a grassy hillside and a tranquil body of water under a cloudy sky

Abe Forman-Greenwald

Make sure you pack plenty of rain gear!!

50.Ferry sickness is REAL.

A person in a hooded rain jacket looks at the misty landscape from a boat, surrounded by mountains and water, conveying a sense of adventure

Abe Forman-Greenwald

The ferry system is really efficient, and you can book it online, but let me tell you, the open ocean is no joke.

51.The best thing to do is to just go from small village to small village. My three favorites were Gjógv, Funningur, and Bøur.

Scenic coastal village view with traditional houses, a small bridge, and distant mountains under a clear sky

Matt Stopera

52.I might be partial to Bøur because this was the view from our rental!!!

Scenic view of a coastal landscape with mountains and water, seen through large windows in a cozy room with a table and armchairs

Matt Stopera

53.And lastly, look at these teeny tiny pieces of construction equipment!

Excavator parked by a rural road with green hills and a lamppost in the background, suggesting construction or landscaping activity

Matt Stopera

Fit for a troll!

A small, rusted excavator is abandoned on a rural roadside with grassy hills and a waterfall in the background

Matt Stopera

54.So, yeah, that was my trip! The Faroes were *the* most alien place I’ve ever been to, and it might not be for everyone!

Person in a beanie and jacket poses with a peace sign, overlooking a vast, scenic landscape of cliffs and water

Abe Forman-Greenwald

Those 270 days of rain a year are no joke, so you’ll have to be VERY flexible, but it’s 100000% worth it.

Person standing on a misty plain with a backdrop of cascading waterfalls and grassy hills, creating a serene, natural setting

Matt Stopera

Thank you for reading another edition of “Fave Stops with Matt” (that’s what we’re calling this!!!) It’s a lil series about my favorite places in the world. Last week, I took you to what I think is the most underrated place in the ENTIRE US: The Upper Peninsula in Michigan, and next week I’ll be telling you about a bucket list country I visited earlier this year that (almost) rhymes with “Farah Slay.*” Thanks for your time. Xo.

*Sorry, terrible hint lol.