The island of Kalsoy, where the latest James Bond film was shot (Picture: Getty Images)
Famous for its hot springs, the world’s first-known geyser and its proximity to the Northern Lights, Iceland is a popular travel bucket list destination.
However, it’s also renowned for its extortionate prices and relatively high tourism rates, receiving a record-breaking 2.2 million visitors in 2023 alone.
An alternative answer lies in the Faroe Islands, hailed as the ‘new Iceland’ with similarly dramatic landscapes and completely ethereal vibes.
The archipelago of 18 volcanic islands, which sit between Iceland, Norway and Scotland, offer a unique blend of Highlands majesty and Scandi charm. And getting there just got so much easier.
Between June 1 and August 31, Atlantic Airways will be operating flights from London Gatwick to Vagar Airport.
Flying on Tuesdays and Saturdays, the journey takes just two hours and 10 minutes from London, whereas previously you would have had to stop over in either Copenhagen or Edinburgh.
In the capital, Torshavn(Picture: Getty Images)
What to do on the Faroe Islands
A nature-lover’s dream, the Faroe Islands is home to cruises, hiking trips and fishing opportunities galore.
Some of the top-rated activities on TripAdvisor include a historic walking tour in Tinganes, exploring the Mulafossur Waterfall and Cleft of Gjogv (stunning cliffs, ideal for birdwatchers).
The impressive landscape recently made it to the big screen, with the most recent James Bond film, No Time to Die, being shot on Kalsoy Island. Fans can even book a tour to explore the filming locations.
@our_awesome_world
Most beautiful places in Faroe Islands #travel #adventure #explore #nature #fyp
♬ Sail – AWOLNATION
You can also opt for boat tours to the wild Vestmanna bird cliffs of northwestern Streymoy, and if the weather permits, you can sail from Vestmanna along the west coast of Streymoy to witness mountainous cliffs and sea stacks.
There are lighthouses, castles, cathedrals and fortresses available to explore too.
Visitors have hailed it as even better than Iceland, with one Reddit user attesting to the Faroes’ other-worldly atmosphere.
‘We visited Iceland before Faroe. IMO, Faroe landscapes took my breath away…more than they did in Iceland…[they were like] something out of the wildest story book,’ @hotspicyaloo penned, labelling it ‘one of the most beautiful and peculiar countries’ they’d ever visited.
‘If you want calm and quiet then the Faroe Islands will have that in spades, even more so than Iceland,’ @NutsForDeath added.
‘Just be prepared/cautious when hiking alone though, even though it’s a small place you can end up isolated pretty damn quickly, and there’s no shelter from the elements once you’re out there.’
Sunrise scene of capital city Torshavn in Faroe Islands in North Atlantic(Picture: Getty Images)
How to get around the Faroe Islands
The infrastructure in the Faroe Islands is excellent. There is a good network of highways, tunnels, and mountain roads.
Bus …read more
Source:: Metro
