Public Holidays in the Faroe Islands in 2025

By Mads Fyllgraf Verified Expert

What are the Public Holidays in the Faroe Islands? Speaking of holiday, are there any Faroe Islands holiday packages? Are restaurants open during official holidays in the island group? Will shops be open? Can you join the festivities for a truly local experience? Read on for the complete guide to Faroe Islands holidays and traditions linked to them all.

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Whether you travel for cultural immersion or simply want to be somewhere different, the Faroe Islands got you covered. While planning your Faroe Islands holiday, you might want to know when the locals themselves take some days off. Here is your guide to bank holidays in the Faroe Islands in 2025.

1. New Year’s Day – January 1, 2025

New Years Eve in Tórshavn — *New Years Eve fireworks in Tórshavn is always spectacular. Photo by Ólavur Frederiksen.*

The year kicks off with a worldwide celebration, and the Faroe Islands celebrate too. New Year’s Day in the archipelago is a quiet day spent with family and friends after the festivities of New Year’s Eve. Locals gather to enjoy the serene beauty of the islands in winter, often taking a brisk walk along the coast. Most people will enjoy a dish of the Faroese food culture in the warmth of their homes.

2. Maundy Thursday – April 17, 2025

*The sod-roofed church in Funningur on Eysturoy Island.*

Part of the Easter celebrations, Maundy Thursday is observed throughout the Faroe Islands as a holiday. Most locals spend this day with their families, with Easter being an important period for the islands. Easter traditions often involve baking, church-going from the most populous places to small settlements such as Funningur, and engaging in quiet reflection on the significance of the holiday.

3. Good Friday – April 18, 2025

Sunset in Klaksvík — *Klaksvík sits in stunning surroundings on Borðoy Island.*

Good Friday is a solemn occasion in the Faroe Islands. The day is marked by church services throughout the archipelago. Attending a service in a place like the fishing town Klaksvík will let the architecture compliment the experience just perfect. People spend the day in reflection, and shops and public services remain closed.

4. Easter Monday – April 21, 2025

Tórshavn Walking Tour — *Tinganes government buildings in Tórshavn.*

Following Easter Sunday, Easter Monday is a public holiday in the Faroe Islands. This day is spent unwinding after the festivities of the Easter weekend, with more time for family gatherings and leisurely walks through the dramatic landscapes. Expect most shops to be closed on this Monday. This includes shops in the capital, Tórshavn.

5. Flag Day – April 25, 2025

Faroe Islands flag — *The flag of the Faroe Islands, Merkið. Photo by Chris Poplawski.*

Flag Day celebrates the Faroese flag “Merkið”. Featuring an offset Nordic cross, it aligns with the traditions of other Nordic flags. “Merkið,” meaning “the banner” or “the mark,” was first approved during World War II by the British government when Merkið was used on a a Faroese vessels on April 25, 1940 — a date now celebrated annually as Flag Day. This is a public holiday and there are speeches and music in several villages, including Fámjin where the father of the flag was born and where the first flag is displayed in the church. Visitors can view the original flag in the church in Fámjin on Suðuroy Island.

6. General Prayer Day – May 16, 2025

Church in Saksun — *The iconic white church in Saksun on Streymoy Island.*

Unique to the Faroe Islands, General Prayer Day (“Dýri Biðidagur”) is a holiday dating centuries back. It’s a day of contemplation and rest for the locals. Most shops will be closed during the day time. Expect restaurants to be open from 6 PM and onwards. There are services around the island group and even in the smallest hamlets such as the iconic one in Saksun.

7. Ascension Day – May 29, 2025

Faroe Islands holiday view — *Viðareiði is the northernmost settlement in the island group. The place comes with towering mountains. Photo by Meagan Feddersen.*

Ascension Day is another holiday in the Faroe Islands. On this day, the community takes a day off from work. Like many of the holidays in the Faroe Islands, Ascension Day is a day of tranquility, spent among family. Shops will be closed until 6 PM and public busses come with a limited if any departures.

8. Whit Monday – June 9, 2025

Whit Monday, also known as Pentecost Monday, is celebrated 50 days after Easter and marks the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the apostles. In the Faroe Islands, it’s a public holiday with church services throughout the archipelago. Many locals take this time to enjoy the stunning summer landscapes. The weather in the Faroe Islands is unpredictable but if stable on this day, you will see Faroe Islanders on hiking tours or just exploring the islands otherworldly nature.

9. Constitution Day – June 5, 2025

Mykines lighthouse — *All lighthouses in the Faroe Islands have been around for centuries. Photo by Chris Poplawski.*

Constitution Day, known as “Grundlógardagur,” commemorates the signing of the Danish constitution in 1849. Although it is not widely celebrated in the Faroe Islands compared to mainland Denmark, it is still recognised as a partial public holiday. Nevertheless, businesses are open and you will not really notice this as a holiday while travelling the islands.

10. St. Olaf’s Eve – July 28, 2025

Female rowers in wooden boat — The traditional wooden boat used for boat racing in the Faroe Islands. Photo by Ólavur Frederiksen.

St. Olaf’s Eve, celebrated on July 28th, marks the start of the national holiday, Ólavsøka. This is a national celebration like nowhere else. Dating back centuries, the annual event honours Norway’s King Olaf II. Shops are closed in this day whilst Tórshavn turns in to a big cultural event. Ólavsøka is a very local thing and there are no events for tourists during the national holidays. Travellers are usually out exploring other parts of the island group than Tórshavn where all the festivities take place.

11. St. Olaf’s Day – July 29, 2025

Faroe Islanders in national dress — *Locals in the National Dress for the Ólavsøka celebration marked annually in late July. Photo by Ólavur Frederiksen.*

The most unique holiday in the Faroe Islands continues on St. Olaf’s Day on July29th. Ólavsøka is not just a public holiday but a multi-day festival filled with boat races, dancing, music, and sports. The streets of Tórshavn, the capital, come alive with people wearing the distinct national dress. The parliament in the Faroe Islands, the Løgting, opens this day where the island’s leaders gather in Faroese clothing just like most other Faroe Islanders.

12. Christmas Eve and Christmas Day – December 24-25, 2025

For both children and adults, Christmas in the Faroe Islands is a special time of warmth and celebration. Christmas Eve is quiet and always spent with family and close friends. Most families will prepare duck and goose beside exchanging gifts and prior to that decorating their homes.

13. Boxing Day – December 26, 2025

Known locally as “Second Christmas Day,” Boxing Day is a day for more relaxed festivities, continuing the Christmas spirit with extended family and friends. While not as formal as Christmas Eve or Christmas Day, it is still an important day for socialising, feasting, and enjoying the slower pace of life that the islands offer during the holiday season. The evening of Boxing Day turns into one of the biggest evenings out only surpassed by the National Holiday, Ólavsøka.

While a lot takes place outdoor and indoor on Boxing Day, in general winter is the best time for diving in the Faroe Islands. People do not go under water on this day but winter is when the pristine waters around the archipelago is crystal clear. Quite an extraordinary thing to experience!

Faroe Islands Holidays Planning

Boat tour Faroe Islands — *Faroe Islands offer a wide selection of amazing boat tours. Explore breathtaking sea cliffs and so much more. Photo by Chris Poplawski.*

Experiencing public holidays in the Faroe Islands allows travellers to delve into the heart of the culture and traditions. Whether it is attending a peaceful Christmas service or simply embracing the serene beauty of the islands during quieter days, visitors will find that these holidays provide a deeper connection to the local way of life. Additionally, the smaller crowds and unique seasonal landscapes make these periods particularly special for travellers who value authenticity and cultural exploration.

So if you’re planning a trip to the Faroe Islands in 2025, consider aligning your itinerary with these public holidays. They provide not only a glimpse into the soul of the Faroe Islands but also offer a chance to partake in some of the most cherished moments of the year.

Faroe Islands Public Holiday Overview

Wednesday January 1st	New Year’s Day (Nýggjársdagur)
Thursday April 17th	Maundy Thursday (Skírhósdagur)
Friday April 18th	Good Friday (Langifríggjadagur)
Sunday April 20th	Easter Sunday (Páskadagur)
Monday April 21st	Easter Monday (2. Páskadagur)
Friday April 25th	Flag Day (Flaggdagur)
Friday May 16th	General Prayer Day (Dýri biðidagur)
Thursday May 29th	Ascension Day (Kristi himmalsferðardagur)
Thursday June 5th	Constitution Day (Grundlógardagur)
Sunday June 8th	Pentecost (Hvítusunnudagur)
Monday June 9th	Whit Monday (2. Hvítusunnudagur)
Monday July 28th	St. Olav’s Eve (Ólavsøkuaftan)
Tuesday July 29th	St. Olav’s Day (Ólavsøkadagur)
Wednesday December 24th	Christmas Eve (Jóladagur)
Thursday December 25th	Christmas Day (2. Jóladagur)
Friday December 26th	St. Stephen’s Day/Boxing Day (2. Jóladagur)
Wednesday December 31st	New Year’s Eve (Nýggjársaftan)

Most restaurants are open on most bank holidays. Make sure to make reservations in due time as chefs are usually quite busy.

Tours run on most bank holidays except during the Christmas days. Most tours are also closed on the National Holiday Ólavsøka on 28th and 29th July. On your way to the Faroe Islands or starting to plan your visit? Make sure to browse the widest selection of tours and activities.