The Faroe Islands sound wild, remote, and perhaps too rugged for a traditional family vacation. But beneath the dramatic, wind-swept cliffs and unpredictable North Atlantic weather lies one of the safest, most enchanting destinations you can possibly visit with your children. If you are researching the best things to do in faroe islands with kids, you will find a landscape that feels pulled straight from a Nordic storybook, complete with turf-roofed houses, thousands of roaming sheep, and towering waterfalls that drop directly into the ocean. It is an extraordinary place to disconnect from screens and immerse your family in nature's wildest playground.
Why the Faroe Islands are a Magical Family Destination
When planning a trip to a remote archipelago located halfway between Iceland and Norway, safety and logistics are usually the primary concerns for parents. The Faroe Islands excel in both areas. Crime is practically non-existent, and the local culture is incredibly welcoming to children. You will often see local kids running freely through villages or riding their bikes along the harbor without a care in the world.
The infrastructure is surprisingly modern and highly efficient. The islands are connected by a network of well-maintained roads, scenic bridges, and incredible sub-sea tunnels (some even featuring underwater roundabouts with light installations). This makes navigating the Faroe Islands by rental car remarkably straightforward. You can base your family in the capital city of Tórshavn and easily take day trips to different islands without the need to constantly pack up and change hotels.
Beyond the logistics, the sheer scale of the landscape fosters a deep sense of wonder. There are no massive theme parks or commercialized tourist traps here. Instead, entertainment comes from exploring ancient ruins, spotting seabirds nesting in the cliffs, and discovering hidden beaches. The environment naturally encourages imaginative play, turning a simple walk into a Viking expedition or a quest to find hidden trolls in the rocky crags.
Top Things to Do in Faroe Islands with Kids
Building an itinerary here requires balancing dramatic scenery with kid-friendly accessibility. Many of the most famous viewpoints require intense, dangerous hikes, but there are plenty of equally stunning locations that are perfectly safe and easy to reach.
Boat Tours and Dramatic Coastlines
Viewing the islands from the water is often much safer and more awe-inspiring for children than trying to hike along the sheer cliff edges. The Vestmanna Bird Cliffs Boat Tour (Vestmanna Bjargatúrar) is an absolute must-do. This two-hour excursion takes you through narrow grottoes, into dark sea caves, and right up to towering 600-meter cliffs teeming with seabirds. The boats are highly secure, providing indoor seating if the weather turns cold, and the guides are excellent at pointing out nesting birds. Tickets run about 350 DKK ($50 USD) for kids and 700 DKK ($100 USD) for adults.
For older, thrill-seeking kids, the Drangarnir Boat Tour offers a high-speed adventure out to the iconic sea stacks, while the Hestur Island Cave Tour utilizes RIB (Rigid Inflatable Boats) to zip into massive, echoing sea caves. Note that RIB boat tours are generally restricted to children over a certain age or height for safety reasons, so always check the specific operator's requirements before booking.
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Fairytale Villages and Waterfalls
You do not need to embark on a grueling trek to see world-class waterfalls. Múlafossur Waterfall (Gásadalur) offers a spectacular view with almost zero effort. A short, paved path—easily accessible with a travel stroller—leads directly to the viewpoint where the waterfall drops straight into the churning Atlantic Ocean. It is a fantastic spot for family photos and requires only about 30 to 45 minutes of your day.
To experience traditional Faroese architecture, drive through the dramatic natural amphitheater to reach Saksun - Dúvugarðar Farm. This living history museum features iconic turf-roofed stone buildings overlooking a tidal lagoon. Kids love exploring the small, historic rooms to see how families lived centuries ago. Entry is around 30 DKK ($4.50 USD).
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Island Hopping by Ferry
Taking a ferry is a quintessential Faroese experience. The Nólsoy Ferry (Tórshavn–Nólsoy) is a quick, 25-minute ride from the capital. It transports you to Nólsoy Village, a charming, car-free community. It is the perfect place for a low-stress, slow-travel afternoon. Kids can run freely along the harbor, and you can enjoy a coffee while watching the local fishing boats.
Another excellent option is the Kalsoy Ferry (Klaksvík–Syðradalur). While on Kalsoy, you can drive through a series of narrow, atmospheric tunnels to visit Kópakonan (The Seal Woman Statue) in the village of Mikladalur. The legend of the Seal Woman is a haunting local folktale that will captivate older children and tweens, and the 2.5-meter bronze statue perched against the crashing waves is striking.
Unforgettable Public Transport
One of the most unique experiences in the Faroe Islands is riding the Atlantic Airways Helicopter Shuttle (Inter-island helicopter flights). Because the government subsidizes this service for locals, tourists can book flights for a fraction of what a scenic helicopter tour would normally cost—often between 200 and 400 DKK ($30-$60 USD) depending on the route. It provides a thrilling, bird's-eye view of the jagged peaks and deep fjords. Keep in mind that tourists are only permitted to book one-way tickets to ensure locals have access to the service, so you will need to coordinate a bus or ferry for your return journey.
Kid-Friendly Hikes and Quirky Stops
While many hikes here are dangerous, the Bøsdalafossur Hike (Sørvágsvatn) is relatively flat and highly rewarding. The trail runs alongside a massive lake, leading to an optical illusion where the lake appears to hover hundreds of feet above the ocean. It takes about 1.5 to 2 hours round trip. There is a hiking fee of 200 DKK ($30 USD) for adults, but children usually hike for free.
For soccer-obsessed kids, visiting the Eiði Football Pitch is a massive highlight. Located right on the edge of the ocean, it is widely considered one of the most uniquely situated soccer fields in the world. Bring a ball and let them run off some energy.
History buffs will appreciate the Magnus Cathedral Ruins (Magnuskatedralen) in Kirkjubøur. These roofless 14th-century ruins serve as an atmospheric playground where kids can imagine the Viking era, and it is located just a short 15-minute drive from Tórshavn.
Where to Eat: Navigating Faroese Food with Children
Traditional Faroese cuisine heavily features fermented lamb, wind-dried fish, and whale blubber—flavors that are intensely challenging even for adventurous adult palates, let alone picky children. Fortunately, modern Tórshavn has plenty of familiar, family-friendly options.
Etika Sushi is an incredible culinary stop. As the only Japanese restaurant in the Faroe Islands, it serves world-class sushi using ultra-fresh local Faroese salmon. The quality is phenomenal, and they offer simple salmon rolls, edamame, and rice dishes that are highly approachable for kids. It is popular, so booking a table in advance is highly recommended. Expect to spend around 150-250 DKK ($22-$35 USD) per person.
For daily meals, local grocery stores like Bónus and FK are your best friends. They have excellent bakery sections featuring fresh breads and pastries, perfect for assembling picnic lunches before heading out for the day. You will also find hot dog stands in most larger towns, offering a quick, cheap, and universally loved meal for kids.
Age-by-Age Guide to the Faroe Islands
Traveling to this rugged archipelago requires slightly different strategies depending on the ages of your children.
Toddlers (Ages 2-3)
The primary challenge with toddlers is the unpredictable weather and the lack of traditional playgrounds in rural areas. Focus your itinerary on easily accessible viewpoints like Múlafossur Waterfall and the car-free village of Nólsoy. A sturdy, weather-resistant baby carrier is essential, as travel strollers will only work on paved village roads and are useless on grassy or muddy trails. While the Puffin Viewing Areas (Mykines) are spectacular, the ferry ride can be incredibly rough, so it might be best to stick to puffin spotting from the safety of larger, more stable boat tours like Vestmanna if your toddler is prone to motion sickness.
Preschoolers (Ages 3-5)
Preschoolers thrive on the tactile, sensory experiences of the islands. They will love spotting the thousands of sheep that roam freely across the roads (drive carefully!) and exploring the turf-roofed houses at Saksun. Keep hikes very short and always hold their hands near coastlines, as sudden gusts of wind can be surprisingly strong. The Magnus Cathedral ruins offer a safe, enclosed space for them to run around and explore.
School-Age (Ages 6-10)
This is a fantastic age for the Faroe Islands. Kids in this bracket have the stamina for the Bøsdalafossur hike and the patience to sit through the incredibly rewarding Vestmanna Bird Cliffs boat tour. They are also old enough to appreciate the sheer novelty of riding a public helicopter. Engage them by giving them a disposable or rugged digital camera—the landscape is so dramatic that they will feel like professional nature photographers.
Tweens and Teens (Ages 11-14)
Older kids will appreciate the mythology and the adrenaline-pumping activities. Book the high-speed RIB boat cave tours, explore the haunting legend of the Seal Woman at Kópakonan, and let them navigate the map to find the famous optical illusion lake. The dramatic, moody aesthetic of the islands also appeals heavily to teenagers, offering them plenty of unique, brag-worthy memories that look incredible on camera.
What to Skip: Overhyped or Unsafe Things to Do in Faroe Islands with Kids
When researching things to do in faroe islands with kids, you will inevitably come across stunning photos of iconic hikes on social media. However, many of these locations are completely unsuitable—and genuinely unsafe—for children due to sheer vertical drops, lack of safety barriers, and rapidly changing weather conditions.
First, skip the hike to Kallur Lighthouse (Kalsoy). The iconic photo requires walking out onto an extremely narrow, muddy grass ridge with sheer vertical drops on both sides. One slip, or one sudden gust of Faroese wind, could be disastrous. It is absolutely not worth the risk with children of any age.
Likewise, avoid Dunnesdrangar. This is another high-stakes cliffside hike with notoriously unstable ground and no safety railings. Keep your family on wider, flatter trails.
The Mykines Island Puffin Hike is often touted as a must-do, but it is deeply problematic for families. The ferry crossing is notoriously rough and frequently induces severe seasickness. Once on the island, the hike to the lighthouse is steep, often incredibly muddy, and slippery. If weather rolls in, ferries are frequently canceled, leaving tourists stranded on the island overnight with minimal facilities.
Skip the Slættaratindur Summit. As the highest peak in the islands, the ascent is grueling, involving loose scree and steep inclines. It is exhausting for little legs, and the summit is often completely engulfed in heavy fog, meaning you do all that work for zero visibility.
Avoid Koltur Island (Koltur). While beautiful, it is highly isolated, requiring expensive and weather-dependent helicopter transfers that complicate logistics unnecessarily when there are so many accessible islands to see.
Finally, skip Føroya Bjór (Faroese Beer Brewery) and the Irish Pub (Tórshavn). The brewery is a working industrial facility focused strictly on adult tastings with nothing to engage children, and the pub, despite serving food during the day, is fundamentally a loud nightlife venue. You will also want to bypass the Beinisvørð Viewpoint. While the vertical drop is iconic, the viewing area is completely unfenced and exposed to extreme coastal winds, making it highly stressful to manage with kids.
Pro Tips from Parents for a Smooth Trip
- Invest in Serious Outerwear: The saying goes that you can experience all four seasons in a single hour in the Faroe Islands. You need high-quality, fully waterproof (not just water-resistant) rain jackets, rain pants, and waterproof hiking boots for the whole family. Pack wool base layers to regulate body temperature. Leave the umbrellas at home; the wind will instantly destroy them.
- Master the One-Lane Tunnels: Driving outside Tórshavn involves navigating dark, one-lane tunnels. Pay close attention to the signs indicating who has the right of way. If the pull-outs (turnouts) are on your right side, it is your responsibility to pull over and yield to oncoming traffic.
- Pack a Daily Cooler: Rural villages rarely have cafes or restaurants. Before leaving Tórshavn each morning, hit the local Bónus supermarket to stock up on sandwiches, fruit, skyr (yogurt), and plenty of snacks. Hungry kids combined with remote landscapes is a recipe for a meltdown.
- Embrace Flexibility: Do not overpack your itinerary. Low clouds, heavy rain, or high winds can suddenly obscure viewpoints or cause ferry and helicopter cancellations. Always have a backup plan, like visiting the local swimming pool in Tórshavn or relaxing in a cozy cafe, and be prepared to pivot at a moment's notice.
Final Thoughts: Are the Faroe Islands Worth It?
Traveling to this remote corner of the world is a commitment, but the reward is a family vacation unlike any other. The sheer, untamed beauty of the landscape instills a deep sense of awe that theme parks simply cannot replicate. By prioritizing safe, accessible viewpoints, enjoying the incredible boat tours, and dressing properly for the unpredictable weather, you can create a truly spectacular adventure. When narrowing down the things to do in faroe islands with kids, focus on the joy of exploring together at your own pace, and you will leave with memories of a magical, rugged paradise that your family will talk about for years to come.