St Magnus Cathedral

© Orkney.com

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.

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

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

Driving

A tip from your local expert

Rocky cliffs and a large stone tower in golden sunlight.

Take a brisk hike up Marwick head, it’s literally breath-taking (very steep!). At the top, enjoy spectacular cliffs, a colossal 50ft memorial to Lord Kitchener and see where 25,000 sea birds perch – one of Scotland’s largest colonies.

Josh

VisitScotland

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