Need cash when I land, best place in Faroe Islands? Airport or places in the city?
When I arrived at Vágar, I saw the small exchange desk but skipped it. Instead, I used the BankNordik ATM right in the arrivals area and pulled out some Faroese króna. Everything else on the islands I paid with card - even at a small fish shack. The only time I used cash was for a bus ticket. Honestly, I could’ve done the whole trip cashless, but it felt safer to carry a little. Airport ATMs work fine, and counters are unnecessary.
The Faroese króna is interchangeable with the Danish krone, so if you already have DKK, you’re fine. At Vágar Airport, skip the exchange counter and use the ATM instead - BankNordik and Norðoya Sparikassi are the main banks. They give official rates, and most locals rely on cards anyway. A small withdrawal is plenty, since nearly all expenses like hotels, ferries, and restaurants take cards. My advice: land, take 500-1000 DKK from the ATM for safety, and handle the rest with your card.
Don’t bother with airport counters in the Faroes - they’re not worth it. There’s a BankNordik ATM at Vágar Airport that works perfectly with foreign cards. Most shops, hotels, and even small cafés in Tórshavn accept cards, so you won’t need much cash. That said, bus tickets or small purchases are easier with cash, so I withdrew about 800 DKK on arrival. If you’re carrying Danish kroner, you can use them directly. I wouldn’t exchange big amounts at the airport.
Vágar Airport is tiny, and while there’s usually an exchange service, the rates aren’t attractive. It’s far smarter to grab cash from ATMs once you’re in Tórshavn or even at the airport. ATMs from BankNordik or Norðoya Sparikassi are safe and charge minimal fees. The Faroese króna is tied to the Danish krone, so you’ll be fine using DKK too. I personally withdrew 500-1000 DKK at the airport ATM for buses and snacks, then relied on card payments for most things.