FAROE ISLANDS. Travel Documents, Health Care, Vaccinations, Electricity, Telephones and Internet, Money and Banks, Shopping, Typical Products

Travel Documents: Nordic countries: Citizens of these countries do not need a passport or visa, but must bring identification documents. EU-countries, SCHENGEN-countries and other countries: All residents must carry a valid passport. For most nationalities, a visa is not normally required for visits shorter than three months.

Health: Citizens of Nordic countries and Great Britain are covered under their respective public health plans while in the Faroes. Residents of other countries will need to acquire their own traveller’s health insurance.

Telephones: Country Dialing Code 00298.

The Faroese telephone company, Føroya Tele – Faroese Telecom has coin and credit card telephones located in many public places.

Mobile Telephones: The GSM system is now the most commonly used mobile phone system in the Faroes. With the exception of a few small villages, GSM can be used throughout the islands.

Mobile Telephone Companies: Føroya Tele (Faroese Telecom) and Kall

Internet: Telecentre (Teledepilin) has a netcafé in Niels Finsensgøta 10 in Tórshavn. Tourist informatiom offices in Tórshavn, Sandoy and Runavík also have an internet café service.

Money and Banks: As a selfgoverning region of the Kingdom of Denmark, the Faroese government prints its own currency, the króna, although Danish coins are used. The exchange value is equivalent to the Danish krone, and there is no service charge on exchange, as Danish notes are equally acceptable as the Faroese króna throughout the country.

Banks and post offices provide foreign exchange services. Automatic teller machines (ATMs) are available for MasterCard/Eurocard, Visa and Dankort at various locations. Most banks provide cash advances on credit cards. Although several shops in the Faroes accept DK, Visa and MasterCard, it is better to have some cash available if you visit the smaller villages.

Banking Hours: Banks in major towns and some villages are open from 9:30 to 16:00 weekdays. On Thursdays, hours are extended until 18:00. All banks are closed on Saturdays and Sundays.

Electricity: The current is AC 220 volts, 50 cycles. The electric outlets take round plugs, common to most European countries.

Shopping hours: Most shops are open from 9:00/10.00 to 17:30. On Friday, many retailers remain open until 19:00. On Saturdays, shopping is limited; stores open at 9:00 and close either at 12:00, 14:00 or 16:00. On Sundays, all stores are closed. Kiosks, petrol stations and some bakers close late in the evening during the week, usually 23:00 also Sundays.

Post Offices: The main post office in Tórshavn is open Monday to Friday 09.00- 17.00. Village post offices have shorter opening hours.

Cuisine: The food culture on the Faroes was not very extensive in days gone by. In an isolated society with a harsh climate and a nature not to be relied upon, it was necessary to live off what was readily available; sheep from the fields, birds from the mountains, fish and whales from the sea. There was also food which could be gleaned from the poor soil such as grass for the cows, corn, swede and eventually, potatoes.

ON LINE EUROPEAN TOURIST GUIDE

FAROE ISLANDS

EUROPE INDEX