Faroe Islands (Denmark)

1.Europe

Located in the North Atlantic, the Faroe Islands are an autonomous country within the Kingdom of Denmark. The islands feature breathtaking landscapes and are one of the most scenic destinations I've seen in Europe. The fabulous scenery is complemented by colourful little villages and by the charming capital of Torshavn.

As with all Scandinavian countries, the Faroes are highly developed with excellent infrastructure (including some cool tunnels under the ocean). The total population is less than 50,000. and you'll find here far fewer tourists than in other Norhtern lands.

There's some good food to be had and fish is excellent as expected, but prices are high overall. There are a number of different locally-brewed beers that were all very good, including the 13.5% ABV Nykur which was my favorite. Weather is very moody so you need to be prepared, as it can change rapidly from brilliant sunshine to heavy rain and very strong winds. The Faroes have the Danish Krone as currency, but use their own cool-looking banknotes that are different than Denmark's.

You will need to rent a car to properly explore the islands. One of the most scenic spots I visited is the picture-perfect Gasadalur village (population: 18) with its Mulafossur waterfall. Other pretty villages are Gjogv and Kirkjubour (the latter featuring the ruins of the Middle Ages Magnum Cathedral).

There are a number of beautiful hikes available around the islands. I did two very scenic routes - the one along the Sorvagsvatn Lake and the one starting in the village of Saksun (population: 8) and going towards the ocean. I also did a nice cruise starting in Vestmanna and following the rugged coastline and its impressive cliffs.

Torshavn has a few interesting sites including the historic Skansin fort with some pretty impressive cannons, Torshavn Harbour, Tinganes - the quaint government buildings quarter, Torshavn Cathedral and the Niels Finsen Gota street with a few shops and restaurants.

Additional info:
- Faroe entry on Wikipedia
- Faroe profile on Wikivoyage

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