Accessible travel in the Faroe Islands by bus, ferry and plane

The tourist board's wording is worth reading exactly: most public buses in the islands can accommodate standard wheelchairs, but this service is unavailable if wind speeds exceed 15 m/s, and accessibility at some bus stops may vary. On a stormy day the wheelchair service can stop even though the bus itself runs, so plan a day with slack in it and confirm with the operator. Tórshavn's free town buses are the gentlest start: short hops and no ticket to buy.

Source: Visit Faroe Islands — Accessibility and inclusive travel · Tórshavnar kommuna — Tórshavn by bus — town routes and timetables · Strandfaraskip Landsins — Contact — customer service

Several ferries have lifts, accessible toilets and wheelchair spaces in the passenger areas, the board says, but accessibility varies between vessels and harbours, and smaller ferries may have more limited facilities. For anything specific it sends you to Strandfaraskip Landsins. In practice that means asking about the boat on the day you plan to travel: the big Suðuroy ferry and a small island boat are not the same question.

Source: Visit Faroe Islands — Accessibility and inclusive travel · Strandfaraskip Landsins — Contact — customer service

The airport describes itself as made as user-friendly as possible, and the details back that up.

• → Accessible toilets are on both sides of check-in, landside and airside, and the landside one has a mechanical changing bench.
• → Two parking spaces by the main entrance are reserved for visitors with impaired mobility.
• → Atlantic Airways has a separate lift to help passengers in wheelchairs on and off the aircraft, and offers wheelchairs to those who need them.
• → Note any assistance you need when you book the flight: that is how the airport and airline prepare for you.
• → Electric wheelchairs travel in the hold as cargo; a collapsible wheelchair can normally be used up to the aircraft door.

Source: Vágar Airport (FAE) — Passenger with disabilities · Visit Faroe Islands — Accessibility and inclusive travel

Smyril Line's Norröna, the ferry from Denmark, has wheelchair-accessible cabins. Some taxis can carry passengers with reduced mobility, but availability varies, so the board's advice is to check directly with the taxi company in advance rather than at the rank.

Source: Visit Faroe Islands — Accessibility and inclusive travel

The tourist board sorts places into good accessibility (generally step-free entrance, good interior access, accessible toilets or lifts) and fair accessibility (accessible with limitations such as small steps, heavy doors or narrow spaces). Its full overview, made by Visit Tórshavn with the disability organisation MEGD, covers Tórshavn Municipality only. When eating out, look for the MEGD key, which marks restaurants accessible to people with reduced mobility.

• → Good accessibility: the National Museum, the Føroya Sjósavn aquarium, the Nordic House, Vesturkirkjan, the city library Býarbókasavnið, the national library, Havnar Bio cinema, Gallery Havnará and the Gundadalur swimming hall.
• → Fair accessibility: Tinganes, Skansin, the National Gallery and Tórshavn Cathedral — accessible, the board says, but with some limitations.
• → Beyond Tórshavn: the board rates the swimming hall in Klaksvík as good accessibility, lists Gásadalur and Gjógv as fair, and calls Suðuroy a great choice for wheelchair users.

Accessibility and inclusive travel (Visit Faroe Islands)

Source: Visit Faroe Islands — Accessibility and inclusive travel

The Nordic House publishes the kind of detail every venue should. All areas are wheelchair accessible, with accessible toilets by the entrance and on the lower level and two accessible parking spaces. With a companion ID you can bring a companion to events for free, showing the ID at the entrance; call +298 351351 to reserve accessible or companion seating. Two halls, Høllin (rows D–K) and Klingran, have an induction loop.

Source: Nordic House (Norðurlandahúsið) — Accessibility

Atlantic Airways and Smyril Line hand out Hidden Disabilities Sunflower lanyards, which signal that you may need a little extra time or help. The Nordic House trains its staff in the scheme and gives lanyards out free, without questions, at reception.

Source: Visit Faroe Islands — Accessibility and inclusive travel · Nordic House (Norðurlandahúsið) — Accessibility

Gjáargarður, the guesthouse in Gjógv, says every floor can be reached from outside and its doors and stairs are laid out so guests can move freely on each level. Getting there is the harder part: route 201 to Gjógv runs only on request, so mention your needs when you telephone to book it.

Source: Gjáargarður — Gjáargarður guesthouse, Gjógv · Strandfaraskip Landsins — Route 201 Oyrarbakki – Gjógv