Key facts
- COVERAGE
- Faroe Islands
- NETWORKS
- Vodafone
- PLAN TYPE
- Data only
- IP ADDRESS LOCATION
- United Kingdom
- DELIVERY
- QR code by email
How it works
- 1Choose a plan and pay.
- 2Scan the QR code we email you. You can install it before you fly.
- 3When you land in the Faroe Islands, turn on data roaming for the Spidot line.
Questions about the Faroe Islands eSIM
Which networks does it use?
Do I get a local phone number?
Can I use it outside the Faroe Islands?
How do I install it?
Will my phone work with an eSIM?
Does EU roaming cover the Faroe Islands?
Will I have signal on the Kallur lighthouse or Mykines hikes?
Does my phone work in the sub-sea tunnels?
Can I check ferry and helicopter times on my phone?
Is one plan enough for two people sharing a car?
What should I do if fog rolls in during a hike?
Faroe Islands eSIM guide: mobile data among the fjords, tunnels and sea cliffs
The Faroe Islands are a group of 18 steep, green islands in the North Atlantic, roughly between Iceland, Norway and Scotland. Visitors come for dramatic hikes along sea cliffs, waterfalls dropping into the ocean, grass-roofed villages and puffin colonies, and they get around by car through a network of road and sub-sea tunnels, bridges and ferries. The weather changes constantly, fog can roll in within minutes, and a phone with data is how most travellers check forecasts, ferry times and hiking conditions.
This guide explains how a Faroe Islands eSIM from Spidot compares with roaming and a local SIM, how much data a trip uses, what coverage is like on the main islands and in the more remote corners, and practical tips for hiking and driving safely with your phone.
Your options for mobile data in the Faroe Islands
The Faroe Islands are a self-governing part of the Kingdom of Denmark, but they are not part of the European Union or the European Economic Area. That means EU Roam like at Home rules do not automatically apply there, and visitors with EU SIMs, as well as those from the UK, North America and elsewhere, may pay international roaming charges unless their provider includes the islands. Check your plan carefully before travelling.
Local SIM cards
Prepaid SIMs are available on the islands and can suit long stays. You will need to find a shop, which may take time if you arrive late, and swap out your home SIM, so bank codes and airline messages may not reach you.
A Spidot eSIM
A travel eSIM is bought online and installed before you leave, so you are connected as soon as you land at Vágar or step off the ferry. Plans for Faroe Islands start from $5.90. Your home SIM stays active for calls and texts. Plans are data-only unless you choose Data + calls, which suits most visitors; guesthouses, car hire firms and tour operators are used to email and messaging apps.
How much data a Faroe Islands trip uses
Most trips are self-drive with hikes every day, so navigation, weather checks and photo uploads make up most of your usage. These figures are rough estimates for planning.
- Navigation with the map open: roughly 5 to 10 MB an hour.
- Checking weather, fog and ferry times: light, but you will check often.
- Uploading photos and videos of cliffs and waterfalls: a few MB per photo and much more for video; automatic backup can pass 1 GB a day.
- Video calls home: roughly 500 MB to 1 GB an hour.
- Streaming music on drives: about 40 to 150 MB an hour.
Choosing a plan
A long weekend or a week of driving and hiking is usually covered by a mid-sized fixed data plan. If you upload lots of photos and video, share a hotspot with a travel partner in the car or work remotely, consider a larger plan or an unlimited plan priced by the day, where speed may slow after heavy use. Frequent visitors to the North Atlantic can use a no-expiry plan. See the prices page for current options.
Install the eSIM before you travel
Install the eSIM at home on Wi-Fi so it is ready when you arrive. First check your phone supports eSIM and is unlocked; dialling *#06# shows an EID on most compatible phones. Then follow the install guide for iPhone, Samsung or Pixel.
- Name the line Faroe Islands or Travel.
- Set the Spidot line for mobile data and keep your home SIM for calls and texts.
- Turn off data roaming on your home SIM to avoid charges.
- Download offline maps of all the islands; they are small, so the download is quick.
- Save ferry and helicopter timetables, car hire documents and accommodation addresses offline.
Arriving by air or by sea
The islands' only airport is on Vágar, in the west, connected to the main island of Streymoy by a sub-sea tunnel. The capital, Tórshavn, is a drive of under an hour away. Some visitors arrive by sea on the car ferry from Hirtshals in northern Denmark, which also sails to Seyðisfjörður in Iceland, docking at Tórshavn.
- Turn off flight mode after landing, or check your settings as the ferry approaches Tórshavn.
- Turn on data roaming for the Spidot line; see the data roaming guide.
- Wait a minute for the phone to register, and restart it once if needed.
- Check that maps work before leaving the airport or ferry terminal.
On the ferry
On the long crossing from Denmark, you will be out of range of land networks for most of the voyage. Ships may offer their own maritime mobile service, which can be very expensive on a home SIM, so keep roaming off on your home SIM at sea and use the ship's Wi-Fi if you need to stay in touch.
Coverage across the islands
Coverage is generally good in Tórshavn, in villages and along the main roads. Steep terrain still creates gaps, especially at the bottom of narrow valleys, behind high cliffs and on remote hiking routes.
Your eSIM uses local partner networks; for this destination they are Vodafone. The phone chooses one automatically.
Streymoy and Tórshavn
Tórshavn, one of the smallest capitals in Europe, has a historic quarter of turf-roofed houses on the Tinganes peninsula. Elsewhere on Streymoy are the village of Saksun, at the end of a narrow valley above a tidal lagoon, and the old church village of Kirkjubøur. Coverage is good in the capital and generally available in villages.
Vágar and Mykines
Vágar is home to the Múlafossur waterfall at Gásadalur and the cliff-top views over the lake known as Sørvágsvatn or Leitisvatn, which appears to hang above the ocean. From Sørvágur, a small ferry, weather permitting, and a helicopter service run to Mykines, known for its puffin colony in summer. Expect weaker coverage on the cliffs and on Mykines, and check sailings on the day.
Eysturoy and the northern islands
Eysturoy is linked to Streymoy by a bridge and a sub-sea tunnel, and has the village of Gjógv with its natural harbour and Slættaratindur, the highest mountain in the islands. Further north, Kalsoy is reached by ferry and is known for the Kallur lighthouse hike. Coverage is good in villages and patchier on high trails.
Sandoy, Suðuroy and the south
Sandoy is connected to Streymoy by a sub-sea tunnel, and Suðuroy, the southernmost large island, is reached by ferry from Tórshavn. These islands are quieter, with coverage concentrated in villages.
Hiking safely with your phone
Many of the islands' most famous viewpoints are on high, exposed cliffs, and fog, wind and rain can arrive quickly. Your phone is a useful safety tool, but should not be your only one.
- Check the weather forecast before every hike, and turn back if fog rolls in.
- Download offline maps of your route and save the trailhead location.
- Keep your phone charged and carry a power bank; cold, wind and navigation drain batteries.
- Some popular hikes cross private land and charge a fee or require booking in advance, so check before you go.
- The emergency number is 112.
Getting around with data
Most visitors hire a car, but public transport is well organised.
- Tunnels: the islands are linked by road tunnels, including long sub-sea tunnels, some of which charge tolls. Signal in tunnels varies.
- Buses: a public bus network links many towns and villages; check timetables in advance.
- Ferries: connect the outer islands, including Suðuroy, Kalsoy, Mykines and Nólsoy. Some carry only a few cars and some take foot passengers only, so check timetables and arrive early.
- Helicopters: a subsidised helicopter service connects remote islands on certain days; seats are limited and often in demand.
Hotspot sharing and public Wi-Fi
On a road trip, one phone can share its data with others through Personal Hotspot on iPhone or Mobile Hotspot on Android. Each connected device adds to your usage, and laptops may start large updates in the background.
Guesthouses, hotels and cafés usually offer Wi-Fi, but it is shared with others.
- Use mobile data rather than open Wi-Fi for banking and payments.
- Confirm the network name with staff before connecting.
- Turn off auto-join for open networks.
Payments and practical tips
A few local details are worth knowing before you travel.
- Currency: the Faroese króna, which is pegged to and used alongside the Danish krone. Cards are widely accepted, including contactless.
- Language: Faroese is the main language, and Danish and English are widely understood.
- Weather: the islands are known for fog, wind and rain at any time of year. Keep your phone in a waterproof pocket.
- Daylight: summer days are very long and winter days short. Plan driving and hiking around the light.
Combining the Faroe Islands with other destinations
Many visitors arrive via Denmark, and some combine the islands with Iceland, Norway, the United Kingdom or Greenland. If you are travelling across Europe, check whether the Faroe Islands are on the Europe plan country list before relying on it; if they are not, use a separate Faroe Islands eSIM for this part of the trip and switch the active data line when you arrive.
Keeping track of your data
You can check how much data is left at any time and add more data to the same eSIM. Set photo backup to Wi-Fi only and download maps and music at your guesthouse in the evening.
If data stops working, check that data roaming is on for the Spidot line and restart the phone. For anything else, email support@spidot.com from the address you used to order.