Guide · Faroe Islands vs Iceland
Faroe Islands or Iceland for your elopement?
If you're planning an elopement in the North Atlantic, you've probably looked at Iceland first. Most people do. It's easier to reach from the US, it has more of everything, and it's beautiful.
The Faroe Islands sit a little over an hour's flight to the southeast. Smaller, quieter, greener, and a little harder to get to.
I'm a Faroe Islands elopement photographer, so I'm not neutral. But I've tried to be fair here, because the right choice depends on what you two want from the day. Here's how they compare.
01 · Side by side
At a glance
| Topic | Faroe Islands | Iceland |
|---|---|---|
| Crowds | Far fewer visitors. Visitors from outside the Faroes and Denmark registered about 113,500 hotel overnight stays in 2024 (hotels only, not total visitors). | About 2.3 million international visitors in 2024. |
| Getting there from the US | No regular nonstop flights at present. One stop via Reykjavík (Icelandair), Copenhagen (Atlantic Airways, SAS) or seasonally Edinburgh. Icelandair flies the Reykjavík route year-round from late October 2026. A seasonal New York Stewart route ran from 2023, but direct flights from the US have changed over time, so check current routes. | Nonstop flights from many US cities. Boston to Keflavík is about 5 hours 15 minutes. |
| Cost | Expensive, with fewer budget options: a small number of hotels, guesthouses and rental cars that book up in summer. Tunnel tolls and some site fees add up. | Also expensive, but a much larger tourism industry, so more choice of cars, rooms and food. |
| Landscape | Steep green mountains, sea cliffs, waterfalls into the ocean, small turf-roof villages, fjords. Compact and close to the sea everywhere. | Glaciers, volcanoes, black sand beaches, lava fields, big waterfalls and wide interior highlands. Larger scale and more variety. |
| Distances | About 113 km north to south. Most of the main islands are linked by roads and tunnels. | The Ring Road circles the whole country, so distances between regions are long. Planning an elopement often means picking one region. |
| Legal marriage | Civil marriage through the local municipality. Example: Vágar asks for notice at least four months ahead, plus birth certificates and proof of marital status. | Civil marriage after an eligibility check by a District Commissioner (sýslumaður). Documents: birth certificates, a certificate of marital status no more than 12 weeks old, and a copy of ID. Apply to the district commissioner by email. |
| Same-sex marriage | Legal since July 1, 2017 (civil marriage only). | Legal since June 27, 2010. |
| Weather | Mild but wet and changeable. Roughly 4°C (39°F) in winter to 11°C (52°F) in summer on average, with rain on most days of the year. Fog is common. | Also changeable. The south coast is mild and wet; the north and interior are colder, with more snow in winter. |
| Summer daylight | Very long summer days, with light late into the evening. | Even longer, with very little darkness around midsummer. |
| Finding quiet spots | Usually easier. Many places can be quiet if you go early or late. Some sites charge a fee or need a guide. | Very possible, but the famous South Coast stops are busy for much of the year. Quiet usually means going early, late or further. |
02 · On the day
What the numbers feel like on the day
In Iceland, the well-known waterfalls and beaches often have tour buses in the car park. You can still find privacy, but it takes timing and sometimes a long drive.
In the Faroe Islands, it's more common to walk somewhere and see no one else, especially outside peak summer. The trade-off is fewer famous "postcard" sights and more weather.
Both are expensive. Neither is a budget elopement. The Faroes have fewer options at every price level, so booking early matters more there.
03 · Which one suits you
Choose the Faroe Islands if…
- You want quiet more than scale, and the idea of a private hillside appeals more than a famous viewpoint.
- You like green, steep, sea-facing landscapes and small villages.
- You're fine with one connection on the way, via Reykjavík or Copenhagen.
- You don't mind rain and fog as part of the photographs.
- You'd like everything within a short drive, so the day feels unhurried.
Choose Iceland if…
- A nonstop flight from the US matters to you.
- You want glaciers, ice, volcanic landscapes or black sand on a big scale.
- You want more choice of hotels, rental cars and restaurants.
- You're traveling with guests who want a wider range of things to do.
- You already have an Iceland-based photographer you love.
04 · Both
Why not both?
You don't have to choose. Icelandair flies between Keflavík and the Faroe Islands, with service year-round from late October 2026. Many couples spend a few days in Iceland and then get married in the Faroes, or the other way round.
I photograph in the Faroe Islands, and I can also photograph part of your trip in Iceland. Ask me.
A note on what I photograph
I'm based in Copenhagen and photograph weddings and elopements in the Faroe Islands. If you'd like to see what the islands look like in real weather, my Faroe work is here: portfolio. And if you're leaning Faroe, the elopement guide covers legal ceremonies, the best time to go, costs and locations.
05 · Questions
Faroe Islands or Iceland: common questions
Which is better for an elopement, the Faroe Islands or Iceland?
It depends on what you want. Iceland has easier flights from the US and more variety on a bigger scale. The Faroe Islands are smaller and quieter, and it's easier to find a place where it's just the two of you.
Which is more expensive?
Both are among the more expensive places in Europe to travel. Iceland is a much larger destination, so you'll usually find more choice and a wider range of prices. The Faroes have fewer hotels and rental cars, so options run out sooner in summer.
Which is less crowded?
The Faroe Islands, by a wide margin. Iceland had about 2.3 million international visitors in 2024. The Faroes receive a small fraction of that, though popular spots can still get busy in high season.
Can we legally marry in either country?
Yes. Both allow foreign couples to marry in a civil ceremony, as long as the paperwork is approved in advance. The details differ, so check the current requirements with the local authority. In the Faroes, a municipality like Vágar asks for notice at least four months before.