We first took the Smyril Line ferry from Denmark to the Faroe Islands on a detour from a Finland-to-Iceland road trip. We had no idea what two days on the open North Atlantic would feel like — whether we’d be seasick, bored, or completely captivated. The answer, honestly, was all three. But we’d do it again tomorrow.

The Denmark Faroe ferry is the only year-round ferry connection to the islands, and it’s run by a single operator: Smyril Line. If you want to bring your own car to the Faroese, or simply want the slowest, most atmospheric arrival possible, this is your only option. Here’s everything we wish we’d known before we booked.

The route, the ship, and where you depart from

There is one ferry company and one ship: Smyril Line’s MS Norröna. The Norröna is a large cruise-ferry — around 35,000 gross tons — with cabins, restaurants, a gym, a swimming pool, and a car deck that can take several hundred vehicles. It is not a small local boat. It’s a proper ship that feels more like a miniature cruise liner than a rough North Atlantic freighter.

Departure port: Hirtshals, Denmark

The Danish departure point is Hirtshals, a ferry port town in the very north of Jutland, roughly 90 minutes by road from Aalborg and around 3.5 hours from Copenhagen. Hirtshals is a working ferry hub — it also serves routes to Norway — so the infrastructure is solid: parking, cafes, a proper terminal. If you’re driving up from Copenhagen, factor in a comfortable early start.

The Faroese arrival: Tórshavn

The ship docks in Tórshavn, the capital of the Faroe Islands, tucked into a natural harbour with the colourful wooden buildings of the old town visible right from the quay. Arriving by sea here is genuinely one of the best arrival experiences we’ve had in all 25 countries we’ve visited — the islands rise dramatically out of the Atlantic, and you get a slow, cinematic approach that no airport can replicate.

The optional Iceland stop

The Norröna also continues from Tórshavn to Séyðisfjörður in eastern Iceland during summer. This means if you want to combine the Faroe Islands and Iceland in one trip — which we strongly recommend — you can do so without backtracking to Denmark. The full Denmark–Faroes–Iceland leg is roughly 60–70 hours of sailing across some of the most spectacular sea scenery in the world.

Timetable, frequency, and seasonal schedules

The schedule changes significantly between summer and winter, and this is probably the single most important thing to understand before you start planning.

Summer season (roughly April–October)

During summer, the Norröna sails weekly from Hirtshals, typically departing on a Tuesday or Thursday evening and arriving in Tórshavn the following evening after approximately 36 hours at sea. In peak summer, there may be two weekly departures, and the route continues on to Iceland. Check the Smyril Line website directly for the exact current timetable — it shifts slightly year to year, and the Iceland leg has different schedules to the Faroes-only route.

Winter season (roughly November–March)

Winter sailings are less frequent — sometimes fortnightly rather than weekly — and the Iceland leg may be suspended entirely. If you’re planning a winter crossing, verify the exact schedule well in advance. The crossing in winter is also rougher: the North Atlantic in January is not the same as the North Atlantic in July.

Practical timing note

• The crossing from Hirtshals to Tórshavn takes approximately 36–40 hours.
• If continuing to Iceland, add another 14–16 hours from Tórshavn to Séyðisfjörður.
• Arriving in Tórshavn in the evening is standard — plan your first night’s accommodation to be in or very near the capital.

How much the Denmark Faroe ferry costs

Pricing on Smyril Line is structured around two main variables: your accommodation type and whether you’re bringing a vehicle. Costs below are approximate 2026 figures — always verify directly with Smyril Line, as prices vary by season and availability.

Passenger fares (Hirtshals to Tórshavn, per person)

• Reclining seat (Pullman): from roughly €80–130 depending on season. Perfectly usable for a 36-hour crossing if you come prepared with a good travel pillow and a sleep mask.
• 4-berth cabin (shared): from around €150–220 per person. A good middle-ground if you’re travelling solo or as a pair who doesn’t mind modest quarters.
• 2-berth cabin (outside/porthole): from approximately €220–320 per person. Our recommendation if you want to sleep properly and arrive in reasonable shape.
• Deluxe cabin or suite: significantly more expensive, but an option if you treat the crossing as part of the holiday experience itself.

Vehicle transport

• Standard car (up to ~4.8m): expect to add €200–350 each way on top of passenger fares. This is the main cost driver for road-trippers.
• Campervan or motorhome: priced by length, significantly higher — budget €400–600+ each way for a longer vehicle.
• Motorbike: roughly €80–120 extra per crossing.

What to expect on board the MS Norröna

We were pleasantly surprised. The Norröna is a well-maintained ship with real amenities — not a budget ferry. Here’s what you’ll actually find on board.

Food and drink

There’s a buffet restaurant serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner — decent quality, Scandinavian-style, with hot and cold options. There’s also a pub with bar food and a small café for snacks and coffee. Bring some of your own snacks anyway — 36 hours is a long time and the buffet prices are on the higher side, as you’d expect for a captive audience at sea.

Sleeping and resting

If you haven’t booked a cabin, the Pullman reclining seats are scattered through several lounge areas. Some are better positioned than others — get to your seat early and grab one away from the main walkways. Bring a travel blanket; the ship can be cold in the lounges. Cabins range from basic (bunk beds, shared bathroom in some grades) to comfortable (outside view, private shower). For a 36-hour crossing, a cabin is worth the upgrade if budget allows.

On-deck experience

The outdoor decks are where the magic happens — especially as you approach the Faroe Islands. Cloudy or clear, the seascape in the North Atlantic is extraordinary. Bring a proper windproof layer even in summer. The deck gets genuinely cold and windy as you move north, and most passengers underestimate this.

Seasickness reality

The North Atlantic between Denmark and the Faroes can be choppy, particularly in autumn and winter. We experienced moderate swell on our crossing — enough that a few passengers in the buffet looked pale. If you’re susceptible to motion sickness, take preventative medication before departure, not after symptoms start. Dramamine or a ginger alternative works well. The sea between the Faroes and Iceland is generally calmer in summer.

Denmark Faroe ferry vs flying: which is better?

This is the question everyone asks, and the honest answer is: it depends entirely on what kind of traveller you are. Here are the real trade-offs.

Reasons to take the ferry

• You’re bringing your own car or campervan. There is no other way to get your vehicle to the islands. This alone decides it for many road-trippers.
• You want the full experience. Arriving by sea at Tórshavn is genuinely different — you get to see the islands emerge from the ocean. It’s a slow-travel approach that flying can’t match.
• You’re also going to Iceland. The ferry makes the Faroes–Iceland combo seamless. Flying this triangle is more expensive and logistically fiddlier.
• You enjoy long journeys. We’ve had some of our best conversations on overnight ferries. Two days at sea, away from notifications, is its own kind of holiday.

Reasons to fly instead

• Time is your most scarce resource. Flights from Copenhagen to Vágar Airport take around 2 hours. The ferry takes 36+. If you only have a week, flying back a day and a half from your actual time in the Faroes is a real trade-off.
• You’re prone to seasickness. A rough North Atlantic crossing is not fun if you’re fighting nausea for 36 hours.
• You’re travelling in winter. Fewer sailings, rougher seas, and the schedule becomes less reliable. Flying is often the more sensible choice outside summer.
• Budget. A foot-passenger ferry is actually competitive with flights once you add luggage fees. But if you’re bringing a car, the ferry is considerably more expensive than renting locally in the Faroes.

Tips for booking and preparing for the crossing

A few practical things we’d tell any friend planning this crossing for the first time.

Booking tips

• Book as early as possible, especially for summer sailings. Car spaces in particular sell out many months in advance. We’ve seen summer vehicle bookings close out in February.
• Book directly through Smyril Line’s own website. Third-party sites sometimes have limited cabin types available and can’t offer the same flexibility for changes.
• Check the full route. If you want the Iceland extension, make sure you’re booking the correct crossing — the Denmark–Faroes-only route and the Denmark–Faroes–Iceland route have different departures.
• Travel insurance that covers sea travel is worth having — crossings can be cancelled or delayed in extreme weather, which is more common in winter and shoulder season.

What to pack specifically for the ferry

• A warm, windproof outer layer — the deck is cold even in July.
• Sea-sickness medication if you have any history of motion sensitivity. Take it before you board.
• Your own snacks and drinks to supplement the on-board options and control costs.
• A travel pillow and blanket if you’re in Pullman seats rather than a cabin.
• Entertainment for offline use — Wi-Fi on board is limited and often slow. Download books, podcasts, or series before you leave Hirtshals.
• Cash or card — the ship uses card payments for on-board purchases, but having local currency (Danish krone before boarding; Faroese króna or Danish krone in the Faroes) is useful.

Mistakes we made — and what we’d do differently

• We didn’t book early enough and got Pullman seats instead of a cabin. Thirty-six hours in a reclining seat is doable but not comfortable. We’d book a cabin immediately on our next crossing.
• We didn’t eat before boarding. The terminal in Hirtshals has food options; the ship’s buffet gets busy and expensive. We should have had a proper meal ashore.
• We underestimated the cold on deck. July on the North Atlantic is not July in Copenhagen. We were cold in our light jackets and wished we had our thermal layers.
• We didn’t download anything for offline use. The Wi-Fi is unreliable enough that we essentially had a forced digital detox. We weren’t prepared for it and it was actually fine — but have a backup plan.
• We stayed inside for too long. The deck views — especially the dramatic approach to the Faroe Islands — are the highlight of the crossing. We spent too much time in the lounge and nearly missed the best part of the journey.
• We forgot to check the weather forecast for the crossing. Checking conditions on Windy or a marine forecast app before departure helps you set expectations for how rough the sea will be.

Frequently asked questions

A final word from Rovaniemi

We took the Smyril Line ferry as part of a longer journey that started in Finland, wound through Norway, crossed the North Atlantic, and eventually landed us in Iceland. The Hirtshals–Tórshavn leg was, genuinely, one of the most memorable parts of the whole trip — not because it was comfortable (it wasn’t, entirely), but because it forced us to slow down and be in the journey rather than just getting from A to B.

The Faroe Islands are extraordinary. They deserve more than a cheap two-hour flight and a rushed long weekend. If you have the time to take the ferry — especially if you’re bringing a car — we think you’ll remember the crossing long after you’ve forgotten your flight home.

The Denmark Faroe ferry is expensive, slow, and occasionally rough. It is also one of the best ways to arrive anywhere we’ve been. That’s the trade-off, and for us, it’s an easy one.