I’m planning to travel to Iceland in the next couple of weeks, as the country is responsibly opening up to tourism. Iceland has handled the pandemic exceptionally well, and will be doing COVID-19 testing on arrival for all passengers. Add in the focus on the outdoors and the opportunities for social distancing, and I think it’s the perfect place to travel this summer.

Now I’m wondering if I can combine this with another destination that has been on my bucket list…

I’ve long wanted to visit the Faroe Islands

The Faroe Islands has been on my list for a long time — I first wrote about my desire to travel there a few years ago. Ford and I love nature destinations, and arguably there has never been a better time to focus on them, given how easy it is to social distance when you’re outdoors. On top of that, the Faroe Islands hasn’t had any COVID-19 cases in over a month, and hasn’t had any COVID-19 related deaths.

For those of you not familiar with the Faroe Islands, it’s a set of 18 islands in the North Atlantic, between Iceland and Norway (northwest of Scotland). The Faroe Islands is a self-governing territory of Denmark.

Historically the Faroe Islands hasn’t been as popular as Iceland, but it’s an increasingly visited tourist destination. I imagine this summer would be a great time to visit (if it can be done responsibly), given that it has been closed off to tourists for so long.

Will we be allowed to visit, though?

I was really excited when I saw a press release a few days ago about how the Faroe Islands will welcome visitors as of June 15. The thing I can’t figure out with certainty is who can actually visit this summer.

As reported by Guide to Faroe Islands, in the past few days it has been announced that the Faroe Islands would be opening to visitors from Denmark and Iceland as of June 15, 2020.

What I haven’t been able to figure out is exactly who they’re welcoming from these countries:

  • Is the Faroe Islands only welcoming visitors who are residents of these countries?
  • Or is the limitation coming in the form of the flights that will operate to the Faroe Islands, since there will exclusively be flights from other places in Denmark and Iceland? I’ve also seen one source indicate that they will welcome visitors from Denmark and Iceland, and anyone who can travel freely.
  • Atlantic Airways (the airline of the Faroe Islands) is restarting Iceland flights as of June 15.
  • Given that Iceland is testing all arriving passengers, logically one would think they’d allow in anyone coming from there, rather than just welcoming Icelandic nationals; I also get that’s often not how this stuff works.

It’s only a 500 mile flight from Keflavik to Vagar, so that sure would be convenient…

Bottom line

I’m intrigued by the prospect of visiting the Faroe Islands in conjunction with a trip to Iceland. Atlantic Airways is resuming flights between Iceland and the Faroe Islands as of June 15. What I can’t figure out is whether the Faroe Islands’ restriction on Iceland visitors means that only Icelandic nationals can visit, or if anyone coming from Iceland can visit, given that everyone in the country is being tested.

I’ve tried reaching out to the airline and tourism board and haven’t been able to get an answer. This may be one of those cases where the rules are still being finalized, as is the case all over the place.

While Iceland is definitely in the cards for me, it sure would be cool to combine that with the Faroe Islands as well.

Anyone else considering a visit to the Faroe Islands? Or anyone have a better understanding of what the actual policy is for the Faroe Islands when it comes to visitors from Iceland?

(Featured image courtesy of Waka77)

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