March in the Faroe Islands: A Photographer’s Guide

March is one of the best times to visit the Faroe Islands for photography, and in 2024, I had the privilege of doing just that. The moody weather was exactly what I was looking for, even if 17 m/s winds are admittedly not so fun. In addition to taking thousands of pictures, I learned a lot about helping photographers like you plan your own trip to the Faroes at this time of the year. 

Visiting the Faroe Islands in March presents unique challenges, but the potential rewards make it worthwhile. Packing appropriately and protecting your equipment will go a long way, as will knowing the best places to photograph. You’ll learn about each of these today. 

Keep reading to get all the information you need for a March visit to the Faroe Islands based on my own experiences. 

Why I Recommend Visiting the Faroe Islands in March 🇫🇴

1. Fewer Crowds

Visiting the Faroes in the summer has its advantages (long daylight hours, puffins, and less proneness to storms, to name three). However, summer is also the peak tourism season in most places, and for this reason, I prefer visiting most places in the autumn and winter. 

I was in the Faroe Islands for five days, and tourists were very thin on the ground for the whole time. Considering the archipelago’s outstanding beauty, I was surprised—but simultaneously, since it was quite stormy, I was not. 

If you aren’t a big fan of crowds (🙋🏾‍♂️), I can 100% recommend visiting the Faroe Islands in March. From personal experience, you’ll also find it easier to meet people on tours and chat with fellow travelers since the groups are often smaller. 

2. Great Lighting for Photography 

I know that most people get energized when they see blue skies, but from a photographer’s perspective, I don’t like taking pictures during the day in the summer. The lighting in most of the Nordics is too harsh for my liking at this time of the year; my heart genuinely starts singing when I see a cloudy day. 

Visiting the Faroe Islands in March means you’ll have great lighting for your photography. It’ll probably be overcast for much of your trip, and the number of moody photography opportunities made me so happy. There’s nothing like seeing fog roll over mountaintops as waves crash against the shore. 

Even when it is sunny, the lighting will still be relatively soft. Not as much as in December or January, but enough to get some interesting photos. If you’re interested in landscape photography, you can check out my Faroe Islands landscape photography guide.

3. Less Expensive Hotels

If you’re visiting the Faroe Islands for the first time, you’ll quickly discover that everything is expensive. I recommend saving for longer to enjoy a better trip if needed, but you’ll get much better hotels if you visit in the off-season. 

I stayed at Hótel Hafnia in Tórshavn for my entire trip (which, by the way, I can recommend) and paid the equivalent of around $305 for four nights. Your mileage may vary, depending on when you visit, but you can get a good deal in March. You can also check other hotels and prices below. 

As a bonus, flights to the Faroe Islands are often less expensive in March. You will have fewer routes, though, so I suggest spending a few days in Copenhagen before making your onward journey. I’ve written a full guide about booking flights to the Faroe Islands if you need help.

4. Longer Daylight Hours Than the Winter 

Every season in the Nordic region, including the Faroe Islands, brings its own unique charm. However, the long daylight hours in the summer can make sleep very frustrating (especially if your accommodation doesn’t have blackout curtains). At the same time, the limited daylight hours in the winter can make it challenging to explore for extended periods. 

March is a nice middle ground. When I visited in mid-March, I had around 12 hours of daylight. It was very easy to get out and explore the other islands, and even if I had used public transport, this would have been the case. 

5. Quieter Roads

The Faroe Islands are sparsely populated, and regardless of when you visit, you probably won’t deal with LA-style traffic jams. Nonetheless, visiting in March means that the roads will be even quieter.  

You’ll likely feel like you have the entire place to yourself in March, and there’s something very peaceful about gliding along the roads while admiring the scenery. While I didn’t rent a car for my trip, I can imagine it’ll also cost less if you visit in the off-season. 

What to Expect From the Weather in the Faroe Islands in March 🌦️

I must admit that I was very unlucky with the weather on my first March visit to the Faroe Islands. It was incredibly stormy for most of the week (I’m talking over 15 meters per second on many days). I don’t mind the rain, but high winds naturally bring their own challenges. The Faroes are windy year-round, though, so there isn’t much you can do about this (I didn’t realize it at the time, but there were actually hurricane-force winds a few months before I visited).

However, we did have one day when it was very calm. This was the day I saw the most (I booked this tour) and took the majority of my pictures. 

I will say that the weather in the Faroes is very interchangeable. For example, on rainy and windy days, it would seldom last the entire day. Sometimes, you’ll experience all four seasons in 24 hours; it’s a lot like Iceland in that respect. If you prepare accordingly, you should still have a great time. 

Temperatures will likely range from 1ºC to 8ºC, but the wind will make it feel colder. 

Where I’d Recommend Photographing in the Faroe Islands in March 🥾

1. Gásadalur and Múlafossur 

The cliffside walking path facing the village of Gásadalur, the Múlafossur waterfall, and one of the two nearby mountains is one of the most famous photography spots in the Faroes. This is for a good reason, too; when I was here, I had one of those “wow” moments you cherish when traveling. 

Besides capturing the postcard shot, don’t forget the village itself.

This spot is particularly interesting on windy days. When this happens, the waterfall no longer flows downwards; watching the angry waves batter the coastline is mesmerizing. 

While you’re here, don’t forget to look out to beautiful Mykines—also known as the Puffin Island. Unfortunately, you can only actually visit this island during the summer.

2. Á Reyni and Tinganes, Tórshavn 

While you should definitely explore the Faroe Islands’ natural beauty, I also recommend giving picturesque Tórshavn a few days of your time. The Á Reyni district is, in my opinion, the most beautiful corner of the city (especially on a rainy day). 

You can easily spend a few hours wandering through this part of town and exploring the Nordic-style wooden houses, and you’ll also find some great viewpoints towards other parts of the Tórshavn. While in Á Reyni, remember that people live there and respect their privacy. You are also not allowed to fly drones here. 

Tinganes, one of the world’s oldest parliament quarters, is nearby. The beautiful red houses here are also worth your time, and you can get a great (albeit often windy) view of Tórshavn’s harbor. 

3. A Panoramic View of Tjørnuvík 

Tjørnuvík is a pleasant and welcoming little village on the island of Streymoy, and one of my favorite photo spots was on the way into town. As you drive along Route 594, the village will slowly reveal itself among the mountains surrounding it on three sides. The road here is quite narrow, so if you’re going to take photos, I recommend doing it from the passenger’s seat while someone else is driving. 

You can also get a great view of Tjørnuvík if you do the hike towards Saksun (or if you start slowly taking the trail in that direction). Going to Tjørnuvík in general is one of the best things you can do on the Faroe Islands.

4. Tórshavn’s Old Harbour 

Tórshavn’s old harbor is lined with colorful Nordic-style houses and reminded me of Nyhavn in Copenhagen, but on a smaller scale. The most common photo spot is slightly along the waterfront and looking back at the church, but I recommend exploring the nearby streets as well. 

You’ll find a famous staircase close to the red house at the end of the harbor, and the other side of the water—less frequently photographed—is also picturesque. 

Photography Equipment I Recommend for Visiting the Faroe Islands in March 📸

1. A Versatile Lens 

Traveling with lots of camera gear a) consumes needless space in my bag and b) is stressful. For my trip to the Faroe Islands, I took the Fujifilm 16-80mm XF lens (read my review of this lens here). My only dislike is that f/4 is the widest aperture, but other than that, the lens served me well on this trip. 

These days, I use the NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S lens by Nikon because I upgraded to the Z6 II after my 2024 trip. It’s incredibly versatile, and getting sharp pictures with this lens is easy. After revisiting the Faroe Islands the following year, I can confirm that this is an elite-level camera body and lens set.

If you won’t be taking a zoom lens, I recommend a prime lens with a focal length between 35mm and 56mm. 

2. A Sturdy Tripod 

While I don’t like traveling with a lot of equipment, I wish I had taken my tripod to the Faroe Islands in March. Because it was so windy, keeping my camera sturdy was sometimes difficult. 

Atlantic Airways was also quite lenient with their baggage allowances, so it’s worth taking advantage if you have additional luggage included in your tickets. I use a Manfrotto tripod (which you can buy here), and while I didn’t bring it on this trip, it has served me well for winter photography in Oslo and Copenhagen. 

3. A Cover for Your Camera 

My camera screen was water-damaged on a rainy April trip to Iceland, and it could easily have suffered the same fate in the Faroe Islands. A good camera cover would have solved this problem; my camera is weather-resistant but not weather-sealed. That probably isn’t wise for someone who loves taking photos in a part of the world with notoriously fickle weather, but anyway. 

You can find plenty of camera covers online, ranging from rain-specific ones to silicone cases. Peak Design is my personal favorite brand.

4. A Weather-Sealed Camera Body

Once again, I could have stopped my camera from enduring water damage if I had bought a weather-sealed camera body (and lens, for that matter). Ideally, I suggest taking a camera with these specs to the Faroe Islands in March. Since destroying my camera in similar conditions, I’ve upgraded to a weather-sealed device.

Practically all major camera manufacturers have weather-sealed cameras and lenses. They’re more expensive than the weather-resistant version, but you’ll feel more confident and can concentrate on taking pictures. 

How to Pack for Your March Faroe Islands Photography Trip 🐏

My favorite thing about going to the Faroe Islands in the off-season is how wild it is. However, I would not enjoy it anywhere near as much if I didn’t pack the right clothing. Based on my experiences, here’s what I recommend taking with you. 

1. A Good Rain Jacket 

A good rain jacket is a non-negotiable regardless of when you visit the Faroe Islands. It might seem foolish to pay a lot of money for one, but having traveled around the Nordics for eight years now, I can tell you that it’ll certainly come in handy. 

Finding a solid rain jacket online shouldn’t be a problem. I can recommend any of these brands: 

• Helly Hansen (I used to own this one)
• RAINS 
• Reykjavík Raincoats

2. Warm Wool Clothing 

Okay, so here’s where I reveal the true reason I visited the Faroe Islands in March… 

… because I love wearing sweaters and turtlenecks, and I would happily wear them year-round. 

Taking warm wool clothing to the Faroe Islands is a really good idea. You can always visit the Navia store at the SMS mall in Tórshavn if you didn’t get anything beforehand. Once again, you should invest in high-quality products that’ll last a long time. 

Another popular Faroese brand for warm clothing is Guðrun & Guðrun; you can visit their store in Tórshavn. 

3. Sturdy Walking/Hiking Shoes 

I strongly recommend taking a good pair of walking shoes and, ideally, some hiking boots. Even in places where I didn’t hike, it was sometimes slippery (the trail at Gásadalur was one example). 

I know I’ve told you to invest in high-quality products throughout this article, but you should really spend extra to ensure that your hiking boots are sturdy enough for the long run.  

4. Dressing in Layers 

“There’s no bad weather, only bad clothes” is one of the first phrases I learned when visiting the Nordics; dressing in layers was my most important lesson. 

Ideally, you should have a warm baselayer; merino wool is a good option. I normally then wear a sweater and a good waterproof jacket; it probably won’t be cold enough to require another layer, but of course, the weather may vary compared to when I visited. 

More Tips for Visiting the Faroe Islands in March

To wrap up this guide, I’ll give a few more of my top photography tips for planning a March visit to the Faroe Islands. If you want to plan your trip further, you can also check out my comprehensive Faroe Islands itinerary.

• Hiking: I *do not* recommend hiking on any steep trails in the Faroe Islands in March; summer is a much better option. Many of the paths are slippery in March, and when I visited, the winds were far too strong.
• Advice: The Faroe Islands has an excellent tourism board with plenty of useful brochures to help you plan your trip. I found these at my hotel with no problems; ask at the reception first, and visit the tourist information center in Tórshavn if needed. 
• Birds: March is not the best time to photograph puffins in the Faroe Islands. Many birds arrive on the islands in late April or May, so if this is a particular priority, you should visit closer to the summer.

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