Overview
Kirkwall is the chief town of the Orkney Islands, a 20-minute flight or 6-hour ferry from mainland Scotland. With a population of about 10,000, it has accommodation, restaurants, and transport links making it the obvious base for exploring Orkney's neolithic sites, historic palaces, and inter-island ferries.
Architecture · Day Trips · History · Museums · Nature
Before you go
Accommodation
Budget hostels from £23/night. Mid-range B&Bs and hotels from £120-170 double. Book ahead in summer.
Connectivity
Patchy 4G from EE, O2, and Vodafone; basic signal from Three. No 5G coverage as of 2024.
Money
Currency is British Pounds (GBP). Card payments are widely accepted at hotels, restaurants, and shops. ATMs are available at banks in town centre.
Transport
Stagecoach buses connect Kirkwall to the rest of Orkney Mainland. Day tickets cost £7.30. Bus X1 runs hourly between Stromness and Kirkwall.
Weather
Orkney has cool summers (12-18°C) and mild but windy winters (3-8°C). Rain is frequent year-round. Summer has very long days; winter darkness comes early.