Are there any special requirements for driving or hiring a car in Faroe Islands?
Probably not the first location that springs to mind when planning your next road trip, however the Faroe Islands really shouldn't be ignored for adventurers and thrill seekers. Ok, it's not the same as
hiring a Mustang in California and blasting along the Pacific Coast highway, however if you're looking for something out of the ordinary with epic scenery, then driving in the Faroe Islands should at least be on your short list.
Part of the Kingdon of Denmark, the Faroe Islands is a collection of 18 islands equidistance from Iceland, Norway and Scotland in the north sea. Flying in, you arrive at
Vagar Airport where your road trip will begin. Roads are reminiscent of the highlands in Scotland, you'll not find any motorways in the Faroe Islands, it's sweeping mountain roads cross from island to island via a combination of bridges and tunnels under the sea. The capital, Torshavn is the busiest part of the island, however it's harldy what you would call congested. The primary congestion you're likely to find when driving in the Faroe Islands is that of sheep on the roads. Take care on winding roads as sheep and rams cross roads frequently and the lack of traffic in general means they are not particularly road savvy, or scared of cars.
Fuel stations on the island are limited, however as distances are manageable, it shouldn't be a problem, but as we recommend when driving anywhere unfamiliar, don't let your fuel tank get below 1/4 full before filling up. Fog can be a major hazard when driving in the Faroe Islands and can descend very quickly. We recommend you leave your driving lights on at all times. As the islands are so mountainous, you'll also encounter lots of tunnels, some of which can be quite long and some of which are very old, at the time made for single file traffic. At the entrance to the tunnel, signage will indicate who has right of way. You should enter tunnels with caution and ALWAYS have your lights on. On single lane tunnels, there will be passing places at 100m intervals and if you do not have right of way, if you encounter another vehicle, you'll need to reverse to the nearest passing place. Don't panic however, you should always drive slowly in the tunnels and rarely will others be in a rush. Should you encounter a truck in a single lane tunnel, regardless of who's right of way it might be, the truck always have right of way and the car should always reverse to the nearest passing point. Likewise in a tunnel where you are travelling downhill, you should give way to those travelling uphill.