Last updated: 4 November 2026

The only ferry to the Faroe Islands is Smyril Line’s Norröna from Hirtshals in Denmark. The crossing to Tórshavn takes about 30 hours in summer and 38 in winter, and it is the only way to bring your own car to the Faroes or Iceland. Behind it, a small fleet of Smyril Line cargo ships keeps the islands supplied from Denmark and Rotterdam.

The Norröna: the Faroes’ lifeline ship

Built in Lübeck in 2003, the Norröna is a cruise ferry that carries up to 1,482 passengers and 800 cars, or 130 trucks and trailers. It has 318 cabins, restaurants, a bar, a shop and a small cinema. It also carries freight, so it is part ferry, part supply ship for the islands.

2026 schedule and crossing times

The Norröna sails north past Shetland and arrives in Tórshavn’s harbour, a short walk from the town centre. If the weather is bad, it can dock at another Faroese port instead.

Watch: the full crossing on the Norröna

Fares and cabins

Fares depend on season, cabin and vehicle. The cheapest beds are couchettes in shared rooms; private cabins range from inside two-berth rooms to sea-view suites. Smyril Line also sells packages, such as its Faroes-plus-Iceland combination from €688 per person (July 2026 price).

The Faroes’ cargo ships

Smyril Line Cargo runs weekly roll-on, roll-off cargo ships that link the Faroes with mainland Europe. In 2026 the Mykines, Akranes and Lista connect Rotterdam with Tórshavn and Þorlákshöfn in Iceland, and the Glyvursnes sails between Iceland, Tórshavn and Hirtshals. They are freight services, but they can ship a car unaccompanied while you travel on the Norröna. Two new 190-metre cargo ships have been ordered from China for delivery from 2026.

From the UK to the Faroes without flying

There is no direct UK ferry in 2026. The usual flight-free route is Eurostar to Brussels or Paris, trains through Germany to Hamburg and on into Denmark, then north to Hjørring and Hirtshals. Allow at least a night en route before the ferry. For Iceland, see our guide on how to get to Iceland without flying.

Watch: sailing on from the Faroes to Iceland

Best time to sail to the Faroes

Taking a car, motorhome or bike

Bringing your own vehicle is the main reason people choose the Norröna over a flight. Drive to Hirtshals, check in at the terminal, and you lose access to the car deck once the ship sails, so pack an overnight bag. Motorhomes and cars with trailers pay by length, and cyclists can bring bikes for a small fee. On the Faroes, most islands are linked by bridges and sub-sea tunnels, some of which charge a toll, while smaller islands need a local car ferry.

What to see in the Faroe Islands

• Tórshavn: one of the world’s smallest capitals, with turf-roofed houses at Tinganes
• Gásadalur: the Múlafossur waterfall dropping straight into the sea
• Mykines island: puffin colonies in summer, reached by small ferry or helicopter
• Sørvágsvatn: the lake that seems to hang above the ocean
• Local ferries: the islands are linked by Strandfaraskip Landsins ferries and sub-sea tunnels

Tips before you go

1. Book a cabin early for June to August, when the Norröna sells out.
2. Bring cash or a card for Danish kroner on board; the Faroes use the Faroese króna, equal to the Danish krone.
3. Pack for wind and rain in every season.
4. Take seasickness remedies for winter crossings; see our Guida al mal di mare.
5. Plan your Iceland leg if you are continuing: the Iceland sailing pauses in winter.

Domande frequenti

Sources: Smyril Line and Smyril Line Cargo schedules 2026; Wikipedia, MS Norröna and Smyril Line; NorthFerries 2026 route guide. Checked November 2026.