The Faroe Islands barely bite. Calm days bring the midges.
- No CDC travel notice for mosquito-borne disease
Mosquitoes are reported to be rare or absent on the islands, and CDC lists no mosquito-borne disease. On a June–September trip the wind does most of the work, and a small spray covers a still evening by the lakes.
Are there mosquitoes in the Faroe Islands? Hardly, if any. Mosquitoes are reported to be rare or absent on the islands, and the CDC lists no mosquito-borne disease. The bite you might meet on a summer hike is a biting midge, and only on a calm day.
No disease to plan around
The CDC's Faroe Islands page has no malaria, dengue or chikungunya section, and its Zika page lists the islands among areas with no mosquitoes that spread Zika. The CDC neither recommends nor requires the yellow fever vaccine. Insects add nothing to the pre-trip medical checklist here.
Midges on calm days
Biting midges have a reputation as the Faroes' main biter and are said to be numerous in summer, with Culicoides impunctatus singled out as a troublesome one. Midges are weak fliers, so the islands' usual wind keeps them grounded. They rise on calm, humid days, mostly around dawn and dusk, and the likeliest spots are sheltered, boggy ground and lake shores. A still evening on the Sørvágsvatn walk is when a small spray earns its place. Our Scotland midge briefing has the full routine, from timing to head nets.
Ticks, and seabird ticks
Ticks are scarce too. A June–August 2015 survey of 38 sites across the seven main inhabited islands found only three questing Ixodes ricinus ticks, all in Tvøroyri on Suðuroy, and concluded there was little evidence so far that the tick is established. The CDC's Faroe Islands page has no tick-borne encephalitis section. Near seabird colonies such as Mykines, a puffin tick is reported to bite people now and then and leave an itchy inflammation. Stay on the paths, wear long trousers and check yourself after the walk.
Summer, and the rest of the year
June to September tends to be cool, damp and windy, which suits a bite-free trip. The calm, humid spells in between are the ones to watch, and a breezy day on the cliffs is the easy one. Spring and fall tend to bring even fewer biters, and there is no disease season in any month.
Pairing the Faroes with Iceland or Copenhagen? Our Iceland and Denmark briefings cover the rest of the trip.
Where you're going
Tórshavn
The capital and cruise port. No insect complaints found, and no repellent needed for a day in town.
Vágar: Sørvágsvatn & Gásadalur
Lake and cliff hikes near the airport. A lake shore on a calm evening is where midges are most likely, so carry a small spray.
Mykines
The puffin island. A seabird tick is reported to bite people near the colonies now and then, so stay on the path, wear long trousers and check for ticks afterward.
The Faroes kit
- Picaridin 20% travel sprays for lake and valley hikes on calm evenings. The 3.4 oz size rides in a carry-on.
- A light head net, only if midges get to you.
What travelers report
Paraphrased from a TripAdvisor thread and linked so you can read it in full. It isn't dated, and a calm week can look different from a windy one.
- Faroe Islands · July
Asked how bad midges and mosquitoes get in July and August and whether to bring spray or a head net, a reply from a July visitor said they did not recall seeing any midges or mosquitoes. TripAdvisor ↗
As on any trip, a fever during or after it means a doctor visit, and you tell them where you were.
Traveler questions
Are there mosquitoes in the Faroe Islands?
Mosquitoes are reported to be rare or absent on the islands, and the CDC lists no mosquito-borne disease, malaria medicine or yellow fever vaccine for the Faroes. You're unlikely to need repellent in Tórshavn or on a typical sightseeing day.
Do I need a head net for hiking in the Faroes?
Probably not. Biting midges can rise on calm, humid summer days, most likely by lakes and on boggy ground, but the islands' wind keeps them down most of the time. A small picaridin or DEET spray covers a still evening, and a light head net is worth packing only if midges bother you badly.
Are there ticks in the Faroe Islands?
Very few. A 2015 survey of 38 sites across the seven main inhabited islands found only three questing Ixodes ricinus ticks, all in Tvøroyri on Suðuroy, and little evidence the tick is established. Near seabird colonies such as Mykines, a seabird tick is reported to bite people now and then, so stay on the paths and check yourself after the walk.
Sources
Health authorities, surveillance reports and news coverage of official bulletins used for this briefing, last checked October 2026. Traveler reports are linked where they appear. This page summarizes public-health guidance and is not medical advice.