Why the Faroe Islands are Closed for Tourists for Two Days each Year

By Guide to Faroe Islands Verified Expert

Why are the Faroe Islands closing down for tourists for two days each year? What can you do to help preserve the Faroe Islands as an unspoiled destination? What tours and excursions are open rest of the year before and after the “Closed for Maintenance” days?

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During two days several attractions in the Faroe Islands are closed each year for regular tourists but open to volunteers – or voluntourists – who wish to help maintain them. In the course of two days, visitors are co-creating the future of sustainable tourism in the Faroe Islands.

The Faroe Islands is a series of 18 wind-swept isles in the North Atlantic Ocean. Until recently, this chain of rugged islands were quite unknown to the world. Travellers have started to notice the unbelievable nature. The aim of the annual “Closed of Maintenance” project is to maintain all the untouched qualities that the Faroe Islands are now known for.

The first Closed for Maintenance, Open for Voluntourism campaign made by the tourism board in the Faroe Islands.

The initiative is led by Visit Faroe Islands and is part of a greater effort to preserve the Faroe Islands as one of the most unspoiled and unpolluted places on the planet. The maintenance project contributes to responsible travelling and it gives the local population a positive feeling amid in a growth in tourism.

Sustainability is not a fashion word in the Faroe Islands. The islanders live and breathe nature, and the entire country knows that what you give is what you get.

Annual Closed for Tourists Event in Faroe Islands

*View over the Saksun lagoon. One of the most popular attractions in the Faroe Islands that needs to stay unspoiled*.

Visit Faroe Islands invites volunteers from abroad to join their efforts together with 40 local volunteers. The first 100 volunteers are offered free overnight stay, food, and transport in return for their help.

The projects include erecting signs, building viewpoints and creating walking paths. The first Closed for Maintenance project saw 10 popular attractions closed as people all over the world came to the North Atlantic archipelago to maintain the islands. The initiative received a lot of media attention.

*Traditional houses in the village Mikladalur on Kalsoy Island. Photo by Yuriy Shevchenko known as @yuriyshevchenko on Instagram.*

The Prime Minister of the Faroe Islands supported the first campaign launched in 2019. In an announcement the Prime Minister invited volunteers all over the world to lend a helping hand. For two days some sites and attractions will be closed for regular tourists, said Prime Minister, Aksel V. Johannesen.

Faroe Islands Closed for Tourists 2025

Havnardalur — An unpaved path along the river Sandá outside the capital Tórshavn.

The second project was planned to take place in April 2020. Covid-19 had everything postponed.

The rescheduled second Closed for Maintenance kicked off in 2021 instead. Once again the Faroe Islands closed popular sites for two days to all but for passionate people who want to maintain the Faroe Islands as the most unbeatable travel destination. The next Closed for Maintenance project will take place from 1 to 3 May 2025.

With an impressive array of stunning sights, the Faroe Islands will welcome volunteers from around the work to give a lending hand. The tourism body will select the lucky volunteers for 2025.

Previously Closed Attractions

Faroe Islands Tourist attraction — *Gásadalur is the most famous attraction in the Faroe Islands. Each year a dozen of attractions in Faroe Islands closes for tourists for two days.*

There are so many fantastic sceneries. Here are some of the attractions that have been maintained by exciting and hard working people from every corner of the world.

1. Fossá Waterfall

2. Tjørnuvík

3. Bøur

4. Hvíthamar

5. Hellurnar

6. Selatrað

7. Norðragøta

8. Klakkur

9. Kirkjubøur

10. Nólsoy Island

11. Sandoy & Skúvoy

12. Tvøroyri

13. Vágur & Sumba

Several thousand have signed up for the past projects. Keep an eye out for future events if you want to sign up for Closed for Maintenance and become a part of the Maintenance crew.

This is how the first Closed for Maintenance, Open for Voluntourism days went about.

Although most of the major sights are closed when voluntourists are maintaining popular sceneries, the Faroe Islands still offer plenty of stunning attractions all other days of the year. There are all the popular sights such as Trælanípa, Gásadalur, and Funningur. Then there are attractions virtually untouched by tourism including the sights on Sandoy Island and Nólsoy Island located just opposite of the capital Tórshavn.

Guide to Faroe Islands wholeheartedly supports the initiative to preserve the Faroe Islands. Nevertheless, all tours and excursions in the Faroe Islands available on Guide to Faroe Islands are open for bookings during the Closed for Maintenance days.

Want to Visit Faroe Islands?

Kirkjubour farm house — *Kirkjubøur is one of the places in the Faroe Islands that has been closed for tourists during the Closed for Maintenance event. Travellers help preserve the main attractions in the Faroe Islands.*

Guide to Faroe Islands seeks to be an enabler of sustainable tourism in Faroe Islands. We always put an emphasis on promoting geographically dispersed activities from providers across the islands. We work closely together with local authorities, land owners and other interest groups to adapt the trips and activities on offer to promote responsible tourism in the Faroe Islands.

What do you think of the idea of closing down the Faroe Islands for two days? And would you like to take part in a future project as a volunteer? Or are you just curious to visit the Faroe Islands? Check out flights to the Faroe Islands to see the breathtaking nature with your own eyes.