Ferries in the Faroe Islands combine an international passenger and vehicle connection with Denmark and Iceland with a domestic network serving islands that are not connected by road tunnels or bridges. Tórshavn is the main international ferry port and also forms an important hub in the domestic public transport network.
Network overview: Smyril Line operates the international ferry Norröna between Hirtshals, Tórshavn and, during much of the year, Seyðisfjörður in Iceland. Domestic ferry services are operated by Strandfaraskip Landsins and currently cover seven routes including Suðuroy, Mykines, Kalsoy, Fugloy, Svínoy, Hestur, Skúvoy and Nólsoy.
Last checked: 7 September 2026.
Current Faroe Islands ferry network
The Faroese ferry network has two distinct layers.
Internationally, Smyril Line connects Tórshavn with Hirtshals in Denmark throughout the year. During much of the year, Norröna also continues between Tórshavn and Seyðisfjörður in eastern Iceland.
Within the Faroe Islands, Strandfaraskip Landsins provides public ferry services to islands and communities that still depend on maritime transport.
The domestic operator currently lists seven ferry routes and operates a fleet of eight ferries.
Main ferry connections
| Connection | Operator | Current role |
|---|---|---|
| Hirtshals-Tórshavn | Smyril Line | Year-round international passenger, vehicle and freight ferry |
| Tórshavn-Seyðisfjörður | Smyril Line | International passenger and vehicle connection with Iceland during the main operating period |
| Tórshavn-Suðuroy | Strandfaraskip Landsins | Principal domestic ferry connection with Suðuroy |
| Sørvágur-Mykines | Strandfaraskip Landsins | Island passenger ferry connection |
| Klaksvík-Kalsoy | Strandfaraskip Landsins | Domestic island ferry |
| Hvannasund-Svínoy/Fugloy | Strandfaraskip Landsins | Domestic island ferry |
| Gamlarætt-Hestur | Strandfaraskip Landsins | Domestic island ferry |
| Sandur-Skúvoy | Strandfaraskip Landsins | Domestic island ferry |
| Tórshavn-Nólsoy | Strandfaraskip Landsins | Frequent short domestic passenger connection |
International ferry to Denmark
Smyril Line operates the direct passenger and vehicle ferry between Tórshavn and Hirtshals in northern Denmark with Norröna.
The route operates throughout the year, although the sailing pattern and journey time change between summer, autumn and winter.
During the main summer timetable, published Hirtshals-Tórshavn crossings take around 30 to 31 hours. Outside summer, the timetable can include a longer voyage with an additional night at sea.
See the Hirtshals-Tórshavn ferry route and Hirtshals ferry port.
Ferry to Iceland
Norröna also connects the Faroe Islands with Seyðisfjörður in eastern Iceland.
The Iceland service forms part of the wider Hirtshals-Tórshavn-Seyðisfjörður rotation.
Smyril Line currently operates the Iceland connection from spring until late autumn rather than throughout the full year. Its 2026 schedule states that there are no Iceland sailings from 22 November to 31 December.
The detailed timetable changes significantly between summer and the shoulder seasons.
Tórshavn ferry network
Tórshavn is the principal ferry hub of the Faroe Islands.
International Smyril Line services use the port for connections with Denmark and Iceland.
Strandfaraskip Landsins also operates domestic ferries from Tórshavn to Suðuroy and Nólsoy.
The domestic ferry and bus terminal at Eystara Bryggja is an important interchange point for public transport across the islands.
Tórshavn-Suðuroy
Route 7 connects Tórshavn with Suðuroy and is one of the most important domestic ferry services in the Faroe Islands.
The service is operated by Strandfaraskip Landsins and currently carries both foot passengers and vehicles.
The ferry provides the principal public transport connection between Suðuroy and the central Faroese road network.
Schedules can vary according to the day, special events and operating conditions.
Mykines ferry
Strandfaraskip Landsins route 36 connects Sørvágur on Vágar with Mykines.
The route provides scheduled maritime access to one of the westernmost Faroese islands.
Operating conditions can be particularly sensitive to weather and sea conditions, so passengers should use the current timetable rather than assume that every planned sailing will operate.
Kalsoy ferry
Route 56 connects Klaksvík with Kalsoy.
The ferry remains an important link between Kalsoy and the wider road and public transport network around Klaksvík.
Vehicle capacity and booking arrangements should be checked for the specific sailing.
Svínoy and Fugloy ferries
Route 58 connects Hvannasund with Svínoy and Fugloy.
These services provide essential access to some of the smaller north-eastern islands and operate on a very different scale from the international Smyril Line service.
Timetables and calling patterns should be checked individually because not every sailing necessarily serves every intermediate island in the same way.
Hestur and Skúvoy ferries
Hestur is currently served by route 61 from Gamlarætt.
Skúvoy is connected with Sandur by route 66.
The wider transport geography of this part of the Faroe Islands has changed as new road tunnels have opened, but these smaller islands continue to depend on ferry services.
Tórshavn-Nólsoy
Route 90 connects central Tórshavn with Nólsoy.
The current service is operated by Ternan and the crossing takes around 30 minutes.
Several departures operate on many days, making this one of the shorter and more frequent domestic island ferry connections in the Faroes.
Road tunnels and the changing ferry network
The Faroese domestic ferry network has changed substantially as subsea road tunnels have connected more islands directly with the main road network.
Former ferry corridors should therefore not automatically be treated as current simply because they appear in historic timetables or ferry databases.
Today’s ferry network increasingly concentrates on islands that still lack a fixed road connection.
Main ferry operator: Strandfaraskip Landsins
Strandfaraskip Landsins, usually abbreviated SSL, is the public transport company of the Faroe Islands.
It operates under the Faroese Ministry of Trade and Industry and provides both ferry and bus services.
SSL currently states that it operates 31 routes in total: seven ferry routes and 24 bus routes, using eight ferries and approximately 40 buses.
Smyril Line and Strandfaraskip Landsins are different operators
Smyril Line and Strandfaraskip Landsins should not be confused.
Smyril Line is the international ferry company operating Norröna between Denmark, the Faroe Islands and Iceland.
Strandfaraskip Landsins is the Faroese public transport operator responsible for domestic ferry and bus services.
The domestic vessel Smyril, used on the Suðuroy service, is also separate from the company Smyril Line.
Passenger and vehicle access
Norröna accepts foot passengers and vehicles on its international services.
Vehicle access on domestic ferry routes varies. Larger services such as Tórshavn-Suðuroy carry vehicles, while smaller island routes can have different vessel capacities and operating restrictions.
FerryLines therefore treats foot-passenger and vehicle access separately on individual route pages.
Weather and reliability
Weather can materially affect ferry operations around the Faroe Islands.
Strong winds and North Atlantic sea conditions can cause delays, changes of departure time or cancellations on both domestic and international services.
This is particularly relevant on exposed small-island routes and the long international crossing.
How the Faroe Islands ferry network fits together
The Faroese ferry system combines an international North Atlantic route with a domestic public transport network.
Tórshavn acts as the main interchange. Norröna connects the capital with Denmark and Iceland, while domestic ferries and buses distribute passengers around the archipelago.
Fixed road links have reduced the need for ferries between some of the larger islands, leaving maritime services particularly important for Suðuroy and the smaller outlying islands.
Explore Faroe Islands ferry connections
- Smyril Line
- Hirtshals-Tórshavn ferry
- Hirtshals ferry port
- Denmark ferries
- North Sea ferries
- Browse ferry routes
- Browse ferry ports
- Browse ferry operators
- Latest ferry news
Sources and verification
International ferry services were checked against Smyril Line’s current 2026 sailing schedule. Norröna connects Hirtshals and Tórshavn throughout the year, while the Iceland operating pattern changes by season.
Domestic routes were checked against Strandfaraskip Landsins. SSL currently lists seven ferry routes and states that its public transport network uses eight ferries.
Ferry schedules in the Faroe Islands can change because of weather, seasonal operating patterns and infrastructure changes. FerryLines distinguishes active routes from historic ferry connections replaced by tunnels or other transport links.