Why travel to the Falkland Islands?
Anyone wanting to watch penguins, albatrosses and elephant seals up close is in the right place on the Falkland Islands: around a million penguins from five species breed here every summer, and more than 70% of the world's black-browed albatrosses live on the islands. Stanley is the starting point, from where small propeller planes fly to the outer islands.
A trip here takes planning. The scheduled flight from Chile only lands on Saturdays, accommodation must already be booked at the time of entry, and the inter-island flights of the government airline FIGAS only get their schedule the day before. In return, some accommodations sit right next to the colonies, for instance on Saunders Island at The Rookery and The Neck.
More than 40 different cruise ships call at the islands during the austral summer, and expedition ships link them with South Georgia and the Antarctic Peninsula.
Sources: Falkland Islands Tourist Board · Falkland Islands Tourist Board · Falkland Islands Tourist Board · Falkland Islands Tourist Board · Falkland Islands Tourist Board · Falkland Islands Tourist Board
What are the Falkland Islands like?
The Falkland Islands consist of East Falkland, West Falkland and 776 smaller islands totaling 12,173 km². According to the 2021 census only 3,662 people live there, most of them in Stanley. All land outside the capital is called "Camp": sheep farms, white sand beaches, steep coastlines and hills up to 700 m.
The weather changes quickly; the tourist board speaks of "four seasons in one day," and despite the cool air you can easily get sunburned. Apart from one long paved stretch of the road to the airport, the tracks are gravel or clay, the internet is slow, and Wi-Fi costs money.
Almost all accommodations are owner-run. English is the official language, alongside which residents also speak Spanish, Filipino and Shona. Monuments and battlefields recall the war of 1982.
Sources: Wikipedia · Wikipedia · Falkland Islands Government · Falkland Islands Tourist Board · Falkland Islands Tourist Board · Falkland Islands Tourist Board · Falkland Islands Tourist Board · Falkland Islands Tourist Board
Why are the Falkland Islands disputed?
The Falkland Islands are a British Overseas Territory; Argentina claims them as the Islas Malvinas and counts them as part of its Tierra del Fuego province. Britain has administered the islands since 1833, and in 1982 the two states fought a war over them from April 2 to June 14. In the 2013 referendum, 99.8% of those voting chose to keep the current status.
Two names
The English name goes back to 1690, when Captain John Strong named the Falkland Sound after Viscount Falkland. "Islas Malvinas" comes from the French "Îles Malouines," after the port city of Saint-Malo. Locally, according to the islands' government, "Malvinas" is considered highly offensive; in Spanish, people there say "Islas Falkland."
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 1764/1765 | French settlement Port Louis, British settlement Port Egmont |
| 1767–1774 | France transfers its claim to Spain, Britain withdraws |
| 1823–1829 | Settlement attempts under Luis Vernet |
| 1833 | Start of British administration |
| 1965 | UN Resolution 2065 calls on both states to negotiate |
| 1982 | 74-day war: 649 Argentine and 255 British soldiers as well as 3 islanders die |
| 1990 | Resumption of diplomatic relations |
| 1994 | Argentina's constitution enshrines the claim |
| 2013 | Referendum: 1,513 yes, 3 no, 92% turnout |
Britain relies on the islanders' right to self-determination. Argentina did not recognize the referendum; its Ministry of Foreign Affairs calls the sovereignty claim "legitimate and imprescriptible" and its recovery a constitutional mandate, while respecting the islanders' way of life and international law. The UN Special Committee on Decolonization recommends a negotiated solution every year.
Sources: Wikipedia · Wikipedia · Falkland Islands Tourist Board · Wikipedia · Wikipedia · Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores, Comercio Internacional y Culto (Argentina) · Falkland Islands Government
What does the status as a British Overseas Territory mean for travelers?
The Falkland Islands are a British Overseas Territory with their own constitution since January 1, 2009, their own government, and a parliament with eight elected members. For travelers this means separate entry rules, a separate currency pegged 1:1 to the pound, and, according to the German Federal Foreign Office, no British ETA required for the islands themselves.
Anyone traveling on the military flight via England first enters the United Kingdom and generally needs an ETA for that leg: £20, applied for at least three days in advance and only through the UK government's website (as of September 2026). Falkland pounds, especially banknotes, are barely accepted in Britain.
Sources: Wikipedia · Falkland Islands Government, Customs & Immigration · Auswärtiges Amt · Bundesministerium für europäische und internationale Angelegenheiten · UK Government · Wikipedia
Which places and islands are worth visiting in the Falkland Islands?
Stanley is the capital and starting point, Volunteer Point on East Falkland has the islands' largest king penguin colony. For multi-night stays, Sea Lion Island with elephant seals and orcas, as well as Carcass Island, Saunders Island and Pebble Island are good choices. West Falkland is reached by ferry or plane.
Stanley
According to the 2021 census, the capital has 2,974 residents. Sights include Christ Church Cathedral from 1892, the southernmost Anglican cathedral in the world, the whalebone arch made from blue whale jawbones from 1933, the Historic Dockyard Museum, and the wreck of the Lady Elizabeth in the harbor. Gentoo penguins breed near the town at Gypsy Cove and Yorke Bay.
Volunteer Point
The peninsula in the northeast of East Falkland is a private nature reserve with the islands' largest king penguin breeding group, over 1,000 birds, plus gentoo and Magellanic penguins. The drive from Stanley takes about three hours, the last stretch cross-country. Visits are only allowed with the owners' permission; the season runs from November to March, closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
Sea Lion Island
The southernmost inhabited island is 7.8 km long and a national nature reserve. In October more than 2,000 elephant seals gather here, and from mid-November to mid-December orcas hunt off the coast. The only accommodation is Sea Lion Lodge, with 20 beds.
Carcass Island
The 19 km² island in the northwest is free of rats and cats, which is why its birdlife is especially rich, from Cobb's wren to the striated caracara. Guests stay on the sheep farm at Carcass Island House.
Saunders Island
Five penguin species live here, along with about 11,000 breeding pairs of black-browed albatross; the white sand beach of The Neck is well known. At Port Egmont, the British founded their first settlement on the islands in 1765.
Pebble Island
The 35 km long island has the Falklands' longest beach with Elephant Beach (6.4 km), plus penguin colonies, black-necked swans and monuments from the 1982 war.
West Falkland
The island covers 4,532 km² but had only 95 residents in 2021; it is home to Mount Adam (700 m), the highest peak in the Falklands. The ferry Concordia Bay takes 1.5 to 2 hours from New Haven to Port Howard. In Port Stephens you can see all five penguin species.
Sources: Wikipedia · Falkland Islands Tourist Board · Falkland Islands Tourist Board · Falkland Islands Tourist Board · Falkland Islands Tourist Board · Falkland Islands Tourist Board · Wikipedia · Falkland Islands Tourist Board · Wikipedia · Falkland Islands Tourist Board · Wikipedia · Falkland Islands Tourist Board · Wikipedia · Falkland Islands Tourist Board · Wikipedia · Falkland Islands Tourist Board · Wikipedia · Falkland Islands Tourist Board
When is the best time to visit the Falkland Islands?
The best time is the austral summer from October to March: in October the elephant seals' breeding season begins, from November to March Volunteer Point is open, and rockhopper and Magellanic penguins are only present on the islands in summer. It never gets warm; the climate remains cool and changeable.
Stanley: average daily high and low temperatures (°C) and monthly rainfall (mm)
| Stanley | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °C | 13 | 13 | 12 | 9 | 7 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 7 | 9 | 11 | 12 |
| Low °C | 10 | 9 | 8 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 8 | 8 |
| Rainfall mm | 59 | 55 | 65 | 68 | 58 | 52 | 55 | 52 | 46 | 42 | 46 | 54 |
Average daily highs and lows, and monthly rainfall. Temperaturen: Mittel der täglichen Höchst- und Tiefstwerte 2010–2024 der Station STANLEY (5 km, 23 m). Niederschlag: NASA POWER, Monatsmittel 2001–2020.
| Period | What you see | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Year-round | Gentoo and king penguins | Gypsy Cove, Volunteer Point |
| October | Elephant seal breeding season | Sea Lion Island |
| Mid-November to mid-December | Orcas hunt young elephant seals | Sea Lion Island |
| November to March | King penguin colony open | Volunteer Point |
| Summer | Rockhopper and Magellanic penguins, albatrosses | Saunders Island, Pebble Island |
| Summer and autumn | Sei whales | Waters around the islands |
Station data shows cool summers, cold winters and rainfall in every month; the Austrian BMEIA describes it as a cool Atlantic climate. Because accommodations only have a few rooms, there is barely any last-minute availability in high season. Outside the season, gentoo and king penguins remain on the islands, but Volunteer Point is then closed.
Sources: Falkland Islands Tourist Board · Falkland Islands Tourist Board · Falkland Islands Tourist Board · Falkland Islands Tourist Board · Falkland Islands Tourist Board · Bundesministerium für europäische und internationale Angelegenheiten · Falkland Islands Tourist Board
What do you need to enter the Falkland Islands?
Swiss, German and Austrian citizens do not need a visa, but on arrival receive a visitor permit stamped in their passport; different rules apply to other nationalities. Requirements include a passport valid for the length of stay, a return ticket, pre-booked accommodation, sufficient funds, and health insurance covering medical evacuation by air to at least US$2 million (as of September 2026).
When issued at the airport, the permit is valid for a maximum of one month; anyone wishing to stay longer applies in advance for up to six months. Switzerland, Germany and Austria are not on the authority's visa list. The BMEIA states visa-free entry for Austrians for stays under 30 days.
The German Federal Foreign Office does not treat the islands separately in its travel advice for the United Kingdom. Swiss citizens can reach the FDFA Helpline at +41 800 24-7-365.
For other nationalities, the Falkland Islands Government's visa nationality list applies: anyone from one of the listed countries must apply for a visa before traveling; the forms are on gov.fk. Only the information from the Falkland Islands Immigration Department and from the FDFA, the Federal Foreign Office and the BMEIA before departure is authoritative.
Sources: Falkland Islands Government, Customs & Immigration · Falkland Islands Government, Customs & Immigration · Bundesministerium für europäische und internationale Angelegenheiten · Auswärtiges Amt · Eidgenössisches Departement für auswärtige Angelegenheiten EDA
What vaccinations and precautions do you need for the Falkland Islands?
No vaccination is mandatory. Healthytravel.ch recommends routine vaccinations and immunity against chickenpox, while the CDC advises unvaccinated travelers to get hepatitis A and B. The only emergency room is at King Edward VII Memorial Hospital in Stanley, so insurance covering medical evacuation by air is essential.
The emergency room is open on weekdays from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm; otherwise a nurse can be reached at 28052. Visitors pay for treatment themselves. Which vaccinations make sense in an individual case should be discussed with a doctor before traveling.
The clear air intensifies the sun, so strong sun protection is always advisable. Because of avian influenza in wild bird populations, sick or dead animals should not be touched and should be reported to the landowner.
Sources: HealthyTravel, Schweizerisches Expertenkomitee für Reisemedizin · CDC Travelers' Health · Falkland Islands Tourist Board · Falkland Islands Government · Falkland Islands Tourist Board · Falkland Islands Government, Department of Agriculture · Falkland Islands Government, Department of Agriculture
How safe are the Falkland Islands?
The security situation is calm; the current rating is listed by the EDA, the Auswärtiges Amt and the BMEIA. On the islands themselves, weather, terrain and distances are the main risks; after minefields were cleared, the Falklands have officially been mine-free since November 2020.
Suspicious objects should be left where they are and reported to the police at 999. Roads have a speed limit of at most 64 km/h, and rental cars are mostly not allowed off-road. Hikers should leave their route and expected return time with someone. The rating is explained in the BMEIA travel information; the German Federal Foreign Office does not issue a separate assessment for the islands.
Sources: Bundesministerium für europäische und internationale Angelegenheiten · Falkland Islands Government · Falkland Islands Tourist Board · Falkland Islands Tourist Board · Falkland Islands Tourist Board · Auswärtiges Amt
How do you get to the Falkland Islands?
There are two flight routes: LATAM flies every Saturday from Santiago de Chile via Punta Arenas to Mount Pleasant Airport, once a month with a stop in Río Gallegos (Argentina). The Ministry of Defence's Airbridge flies on Sundays and Wednesdays from England with a refueling stop on Ascension (as of September 2026). Cruise and expedition ships add to this during the austral summer.
| Route | Departure | Arrival |
|---|---|---|
| Santiago – Mount Pleasant | 5:51 am | 12:57 pm |
| Punta Arenas – Mount Pleasant | 11:19 am | 12:57 pm |
| Mount Pleasant – Punta Arenas | 1:58 pm | 3:37 pm |
On the second Saturday of the month you can join the flight in Río Gallegos, on the third Saturday you can disembark there. Civilians book the Airbridge through the Falkland Islands Government office in London; return flights depart on Tuesdays and Fridays, and short-notice changes are possible. For the East Midlands period, the Falkland Islands Government states: Sunday departure from East Midlands at 9 pm BST, arrival at Mount Pleasant Monday at 12:55 pm local time; Tuesday departure from Mount Pleasant at 10:45 am, arrival at East Midlands Wednesday at 9 am BST, with a further departure the same day at 9 pm. Mount Pleasant Airport lies about 53 km southwest of Stanley; buses take travelers to their accommodation but must be booked in advance.
Cruise ships call at Stanley and often at outer islands, while expedition ships link the Falklands with South Georgia and the Antarctic Peninsula. Travelers spend their last night on East Falkland before the return flight.
Getting around between the islands
FIGAS flies five Islander aircraft. Bookings must be made by 10 am the day before, and flight times are confirmed the previous afternoon; visitors get 20 kg of free baggage (as of August 1, 2025).
Sources: International Tours & Travel (LATAM general agent, Stanley) · Falkland Islands Tourist Board · The Falkland Islands Company · Falkland Islands Tourist Board · Wikipedia · Falkland Islands Tourist Board · Falkland Islands Government · Falkland Islands Tourist Board · Falkland Islands Government · Falkland Islands Government
What currency applies, and how do you pay in the Falkland Islands?
Payment is made with the Falkland pound, pegged 1:1 to the British pound; British pounds are accepted everywhere. Most shops and restaurants take cards, US dollars are widely accepted, euros only in some places, and Argentine pesos not at all. There is only one ATM, at Stanley Services filling station.
| Item | Amount | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Departure tax (flight) | £40 | included in Airbridge tickets |
| FIGAS scenic flight | £195 | fare as of August 1, 2025 |
| FIGAS excess baggage | £5 per kg | over 20 kg, per leg |
| FIGAS cancellation | £34 | after 10 am the day before |
The only bank is Standard Chartered Bank on Ross Road in Stanley. Falkland pounds should be spent before departure, since they are barely usable in Britain.
Sources: Falkland Islands Government · Falkland Islands Tourist Board · Falkland Islands Tourist Board · MercoPress · Falkland Islands Government · Falkland Islands Government · Wikipedia
Where do you stay in the Falkland Islands?
Stanley has hotels, guesthouses and motels, while the outer islands usually have only one lodge or guesthouse per island. Almost all businesses are owner-run, and because accommodation must already be proven for entry, every night is booked in advance.
The tourist board lists, among others, the Malvina House Hotel, The Waterfront Boutique Hotel and Lafone Guest House in Stanley, and on the islands, for example, Sea Lion Lodge, Pebble Island Lodge, Carcass Island House and Port Howard Lodge. Travelers choose between full board and self-catering; camping is banned at Volunteer Point.
Sources: Falkland Islands Tourist Board · Falkland Islands Tourist Board · Falkland Islands Tourist Board · Falkland Islands Government, Customs & Immigration
What do you eat in the Falkland Islands?
The cuisine relies on local lamb, mutton and beef, as well as trout, mullet, squid and Patagonian toothfish. Typical dishes include mutton chops at breakfast, berries such as diddle-dee and teaberry, and "smoko," a break with piles of homemade cake.
In Stanley, the tourist board lists 16 eateries, including the Victory Bar, the Globe Tavern and the Teaberry Cafe; Falkland Beerworks brews "Peat Cutter" and "Rock Hopper." At the lodges, lunch is often a packed lunch or soup, and dinner is slow-cooked meat. Fresh meat, eggs and raw vegetables should not be brought in, as they are considered risk foods.
Sources: Falkland Islands Tourist Board · Falkland Islands Tourist Board
How do people live in the Falkland Islands?
Around 3,700 people live on the islands, about 81% of them in Stanley. Everyday life is British in character, and the calendar tells the islands' history: holidays include Liberation Day on June 14, Peat Cutting Monday on the first Monday of October, and Battle Day on December 8.
On Liberation Day, the islands commemorate the end of the 1982 war, with a service at Christ Church Cathedral, a wreath-laying at the Liberation Memorial, and a parade, held every year around 14 June. The Argentine cemetery near Darwin, with its white crosses, and the British cemetery at San Carlos are places of mourning that call for respectful conduct.
Sources: Wikipedia · Wikipedia · Falkland Islands Government · Wikipedia · Falkland Islands Tourist Board
What can you experience in the Falkland Islands?
Wildlife watching takes center stage: five penguin species, colonies of black-browed albatross, elephant seals, and with some luck, orcas off Sea Lion Island. Add to that coastal hikes, boat trips from Stanley, and guided tours of the 1982 battle sites.
The Falklands have the world's largest gentoo penguin population; the birds walk on "penguin highways" up to 5 km inland. Rockhopper penguins have their largest colonies on the Jason Islands, while Magellanic penguins live in burrows and are best seen in the early evening.
Black-browed albatrosses have a wingspan of 210 to 250 cm. Endemic species include Cobb's wren and the flightless Falkland steamer duck. Commerson's and Peale's dolphins often accompany boats, and the most frequently observed whale is the sei whale.
- 1982 battlefields: Mount Tumbledown, Wireless Ridge and Mount Longdon near Stanley, plus the museum in Goose Green.
- Boat trips: 1 to 3 hours around Stanley harbor, or as a day trip to Kidney Island.
- Scenic flight: with FIGAS for £195 (fare as of August 1, 2025).
- Hiking: to the lighthouse at Cape Pembroke or up Mount Richards (457 m) on Saunders Island.
Sources: Falkland Islands Tourist Board · Falkland Islands Tourist Board · Falkland Islands Tourist Board · Falkland Islands Tourist Board · Falkland Islands Tourist Board · Falkland Islands Government · Falkland Islands Tourist Board · Falkland Islands Tourist Board
How do you travel responsibly in the Falkland Islands?
The islands' Countryside Code recommends keeping 6 m away from wildlife, and never standing between an animal and its path to the sea. On top of that come biosecurity rules: no risk foods brought in, keep shoes and equipment clean, and never carry seeds from one island to another.
Risk foods include meat, poultry, unpasteurized dairy products, eggs, raw vegetables and some fruits. Before every island change, dirt should be brushed off shoes and equipment and the shoes disinfected, if necessary with a weak bleach solution. Drones require the landowner's permission.
Sources: Falkland Islands Tourist Board · Falkland Islands Tourist Board · Falkland Islands Tourist Board · Falkland Islands Government, Department of Agriculture · Falkland Islands Government, Department of Agriculture · Falkland Islands Government
What can the Falkland Islands be combined with?
The easiest combination is with southern Chile: the Saturday flight links the islands with Punta Arenas, the gateway to Patagonia and Tierra del Fuego. A direct connection with Argentina is only possible once a month via Río Gallegos, and with Antarctica and South Georgia by expedition ship from Ushuaia, Punta Arenas or Montevideo.
Because the flight only runs on Saturdays, a week on the islands fits well between two legs of a trip through Chile; you reach Santiago at 8:02 pm on the day of the return flight. According to the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators (IAATO), many Antarctic cruises include the Falklands and South Georgia.
Sources: International Tours & Travel (LATAM general agent, Stanley) · Falkland Islands Tourist Board · International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators (IAATO)
Who are the Falkland Islands suited for, and who should look elsewhere?
The islands suit people who want to watch wildlife, take photographs and hike, and are willing to accept changeable weather and simple infrastructure in return. They are less suited to beach holidays, spontaneous trips, and anyone dependent on extensive medical care.
- Good fit: wildlife photographers and birdwatchers, history enthusiasts interested in 1982 and 1765, those seeking calm at lodges such as the 20-bed Sea Lion Island lodge.
- Less of a fit: spontaneous travelers, since accommodation and the Saturday flight are fixed and FIGAS schedules are only confirmed the day before; travelers with significant medical needs, since there is only a single hospital.
Sources: Falkland Islands Tourist Board · Wikipedia · Falkland Islands Government, Customs & Immigration · International Tours & Travel (LATAM general agent, Stanley) · Falkland Islands Tourist Board · Falkland Islands Government