Faroe Islands holiday
Nestled between the North Atlantic Ocean and the Norwegian Sea lie a chain of 18 isles known as the Faroe Islands, a perfect destination for a secluded, relaxing holiday.
The Faroe Islands are still relatively unknown as a tourist destintion which makes the region an ideal holiday choice for those who want to escape the package holiday hordes and opt for an altogther more serene vacation experience.
With holidaymakers increasingly more adventurous and daring with their holiday choices, you had better find flights online and book that last minute holiday pronto because the Faroe Islands may not be bereft of the tourist masses for much longer.
Traditions and culture in the Faroe Islands
The culture of the Faroe Islands and its traditions are rooted in Nordic culture. The islands were isolated from the major cultural trends that swept through Europe through the years and have thus maintained their own native culture.
The Faroese have a rich spoken tradition - for 300 years, language was not written down but was bequeathed to successive generations orally. These works were divided into the following divisions: sagnir (historical), aevintyr (stories) and kvaedi (ballads) and often set to music medieval chain dances.
Traditional food across the islands is typically based on meat and potatoes. Mutton is the basis of a lot of meals - one of the most popular delicacies is skerpikjot, a well aged, wind-dried mutton which is quite chewy. Other traditional foods are raest kjot (semi-dried mutton) and raestur fiskur (matured fish).
Football is the most popular sport on the Faroe Islands, closely followed by handball, volleyball and rowing. Some 60 per cent of those who play sport on the islands play football. Todi Jonsson is the Faroese equivalent to David Beckham and is perhaps the most famous player from the Faroe Islands of all time. He was ranked the top scorer in the 2002/2003 Danish football season.
Recommended in the Faroe Islands
The Faroe Islands' national holiday Olavsoka, is celebrated annualy on the July 29th and commemorates the death of Saint Olaf. Celebrations are held in Torshavn, commence on the evening of the 28th and continue until July 31st.
Tourists should endeavour to visit the Foroya Fornminnissavn, a historical musuem that showcases Faroese artefacts from the Viking era to 19th century times with illustrative photographs and guidance notes.
Weather in the Faroe Islands
The Faroes have a temperate maritime climate, characterised by widespread cloud cover and regular storms. Summers can be wet and cloudy, with temperatures ranging from nine degrees C to 14 degrees C.
However, warm Gulf Stream currents make the Faroes warmer than you might expect from a country so distant from the equator.
Destination checklist for the Faroe Islands
The Faroes have a population of just 47,246 and use the Danish krone. Prices can be expensive but bargains can be sought out by those who have a good nose of deals. A room in a cheap hotel can range from 150 to 250 krones.
Faroese is the official language, so a holiday guide that includes basic phrases would be a good idea.
The islands are just one hour ahead of GMT and use the international dialling code +298.
