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St Magnus Cathedral

© Orkney.com

  1. Home
  2. Places to go
  3. Towns
  4. Kirkwall

Kirkwall

Head north for a holiday in Kirkwall. There are plenty of things to do here, from the ancient cathedral and Viking heritage to shopping and art, not forgetting stunning accommodation. You'll enjoy incredible landscapes with an abundance of wildlife and historic attractions nearby. Discover Kirkwall in Orkney and find holiday ideas including information on things to do, how to get there, Kirkwall map and more.

Things to do in Kirkwall

There are many exciting things to see and do in Kirkwall from ancient landmarks and historical treasures, to incredible whisky distilleries and more - but here are just a few!

10 Amazing Things to Do in Orkney

The Orkney archipelago has striking landscapes, fascinating history, inspiring culture and adventure activities.

Explore Kirkwall and St Ola

See what these quaint parts of Orkney have to offer

Birdwatching at the Peedie Sea

The Peedie Sea is a special part of Kirkwall where you can birdwatch by these unique ponds.

Shopping in Orkney

Find a unique gift or keepsake in one of Orkney's independent shops.

Inspiration for Kirkwall Breaks

The harbour of the Orcadian capital.

© VisitScotland / Paul Tomkins

Places to Stay

Immerse yourself in island life on Orkney, starting with a cosy accommodation option. From waking up to the crashing waves on your doorstep, or being just a stone's throw away from sandy beaches, to quaint self-catering cottages and authentic hotels, you are spoilt for choice.

  • Explore accommodation in Kirkwall

Brough of Birsay, Orkney

© Orkney.com

Tours, Routes & Trails

Orkney is perfect for walking and exploring. Check out these ideas. 

  • The St Magnus Way
  • Creative Orkney Trail
See all tours, routes and trails

Unique Experiences

Your trip to Orkney will be full of exciting discoveries. Kirkwall is a fantastic base for exploring all that these islands have to offer.

Northern Lights in Orkney

Find out how, where and when you can catch a sight of the Aurora Borealis in Orkney.

Orkney's hidden gems

Explore Orkney's hidden gems

Map of Kirkwall

Explore Kirkwall

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How to Travel to and around Kirkwall

Getting to Kirkwall

Ferry

Kirkwall is a great starting point and a useful place to stock up on supplies before continuing your Orcadian adventure to the more remote islands. With its harbour and airport, it is the arrival point for ferries from Shetland and Aberdeen, cruise ships, and flights from the UK, as well as a departure point for ferries to the other islands in Orkney. 

You can sail from Aberdeen to Kirkwall with Northlink Ferries.

Flying

Planes fly direct to Kirkwall from Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Inverness with Loganair, with flights lasting up to an hour. A direct flight operates from London City Airport via Dundee to Kirkwall from April to October.

There are connections from Birmingham, Belfast City, Bristol, Exeter, Manchester, Newcastle, Norwich and Teesside also.

Getting around

Walking

Kirkwall is relatively small and compact, so it is easy to get to most places in the town on foot.

Discover more about exploring Kirkwall

Cycling

You can get around even faster by bike, with good cycle paths around the town.

Check out Cycle Orkney for bike hire and more information.

Driving

It's certainly useful to have access to a car on Orkney, especially if you want to see some of the more remote sites.

Many people bring their own cars but check out Orkney Car Hire if you plan to hire one.

Electric vehicle drivers will find multiple public charging points across the islands. 

You can also hire local taxis to get you from A to B. 

Places to Eat in Kirkwall

Find ideas on where to try Scottish food & drink in Kirkwall.

Freshly caught seafood at Kirkwall harbour, Kirkwall Hotel.

Freshly caught seafood at Kirkwall harbour.

© VisitScotland / VisitOrkney / Colin Keldie

Food & drink

Check out the foodie hotspots in Kirkwall and sample the very best local produce and fresh seafood the island has to offer. 

  • Scapa Distillery
  • Highland Park Distillery
  • Orkney Distilling
Browse food & drink options

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