The Faroe Islands are located in the North Atlantic Ocean, between Iceland and Norway. They are an autonomous country within the Kingdom of Denmark. The Faroe Islands are remote and sparsely populated, and the Faroese lifestyle is traditional and conservative. Faroese culture relies heavily on wool, pork and fish. Visitors to the Faroe Islands can enjoy a wide range of outdoor activities, including whale-watching, puffin-watching, hiking, kayaking, scuba diving and bird-watching.

Here are ten fascinating facts about Faroe Island. 

Number 10. Never too far from the ocean

There are 18 islands in the Faroe Islands archipelago. Oceans can never be more than 5km away due to their elongated shape. Throughout your trip, you will never lose sight of the untamed Atlantic Ocean, with its wild waves and incredible power.

Number 9. There are more sheep than people

Upon spending some time on the Islands, you quickly realize that sheep outnumber humans. The islands have less than 50,000 Faroese and 70,000 sheep. In contrast to their otherwise skinny bodies, Faroese sheep have thick hair that looks plump and long. It is important to drive carefully around them since they are curious and not afraid of cars.

Number 8. Safety without a prison

One of the safest places on earth is the Faroe Islands. There are no prisons on the Islands, so any prisoners who need to be held for more than 1.5 years must be sent to Denmark.

Number 7. Buses are free to use in the capital

There are eight bus routes in and around Torshavn municipality that are free to use. They may not be necessary, however. 20,000 people live in the municipality, so most of the town’s sights are easily accessible by foot.

Number 6. Many houses in the Faroe Islands have turf roofs

It is a tradition that dates back more than a thousand years. As well as looking charming, they also provide thermal insulation and rain protection.

Number 5. Not warm, but also not freezing

In spite of their northerly location, the Faroe Islands experience remarkably temperate winters. As a matter of fact, they are the warmest of the Nordic countries, with winter temperatures hovering above freezing for most of the day (whereas the rest are well below zero). However, it is also accompanied by cold summers. Faroe Islands thermometers are unlikely to reach positive temperatures above 20 Celsius, as other Nordic countries do.

Number 4. Tree-less

There are no trees on the Faroe Islands. It is possible that the original ones that once existed were cut down by the first settlers and never replanted. There may be a couple here and there, but they have been imported. As a result, the islands have a very unique feeling, with rolling hills interspersed with sharp, choppy outcrops and fairy-tale villas.

Number 3. One of the oldest parliaments in the world

Despite not being an independent country, the Faroe Islands still have one of the oldest parliaments in the world.  The oldest parliamentary meeting place in the world is probably Tinganes, where parliament met for the first time in the 9th century. It is also a picturesque part of Torshavn’s capital city.

Number 2. There are 18 main islands

There are more than 750 islands, islets, and skerries in the Faroe Islands. Nevertheless, the nation is defined by its 18 main islands. Only one of the 18 is uninhabited. The largest, Straymoy, has the capital Torshavn on it, so it’s also the most populated. Eysturoy, the second-largest island, is home to more than 10,000 people.

Number 1.  The islands are an autonomous territory of Denmark

Similarly to Greenland, the islands are a self-governing overseas administrative division of the Kingdom of Denmark. The Faroe Islands were once part of Norway until the 1814 Treaty of Kiel transferred them to Denmark. The islands have been self-governing since 1948 and control most areas of lawmaking, except for defence, policing, and foreign affairs.

To sum it up, the Faroe Islands may be small, but the options are quite big. It’s a beautiful destination with lots of activities for travellers of all interests. While it might be the smallest country in Europe, it has the largest concentration of sheep in Europe, so it’s quite clear that sheep are an important piece of Faroe culture. The Faroe Islands have an abundance of picturesque landscapes, which can be explored while hiking, kayaking, or climbing the volcanic mountains.