Kirkwall, Orkney
Stone Age villages older than the pyramids, a red sandstone cathedral and wartime history around Scapa Flow, all on one green island. Here’s how to plan your day in Orkney.
Five thousand years in a day
Orkney is the UK’s busiest cruise destination, and one day here shows you why. Kirkwall, the island capital, is built around St. Magnus Cathedral, a red and yellow sandstone landmark begun in 1137 when Orkney was still ruled by Norse earls. Narrow paved streets wind past old merchants’ houses, jewelry studios and the ruins of two medieval palaces.
Out in the countryside lies the Heart of Neolithic Orkney, a UNESCO World Heritage Site: the village of Skara Brae, the Ring of Brodgar and the Stones of Stenness, all around 5,000 years old. To the south, the Churchill Barriers and the Italian Chapel tell the story of Scapa Flow in two world wars. Below are the cruise line favorites and the details that keep an Orkney day easy.
Which pier you’ll dock at
Orkney Harbours assigns berths by ship size, so your ship may dock at Hatston or anchor in Kirkwall Bay. Confirm your arrival details on your itinerary a few days before you arrive.
Hatston Pier
Scotland’s longest deepwater berth is Orkney’s main cruise pier, about 2.5 miles north of the town center. A free shuttle runs to the Kirkwall Travel Centre, a short walk from the shops, in about seven minutes. The last shuttle leaves town 60 minutes before departure, or at 6 p.m. if your ship sails after 7 p.m. Ship-sold tour coaches park right on the pier.
Used by: Viking, Princess, Holland America, Celebrity, Norwegian, MSC, Silversea, Seabourn, Regent, Azamara, Crystal, Windstar, Ponant and Lindblad.
Kirkwall Bay tender
Cruise line favorites
Book these in your cruise planner. Ship-sold tours cost a bit more, but the ship waits for you if the tour runs late, and they take care of timed tickets at the busiest sites.
- Neolithic Orkney. Skara Brae, a Stone Age village with its stone beds and dressers still in place, plus the Ring of Brodgar and the Stones of Stenness. It’s the Orkney tour guests ask us about most, and the one to book first.
- Italian Chapel & Scapa Flow. A drive across the Churchill Barriers to the chapel Italian prisoners of war built inside a Nissen hut in World War II, with views over Scapa Flow, the great wartime anchorage.
- Highland Park distillery. A tour and tasting at Scotland’s northernmost whisky distillery, founded in 1798 on the edge of Kirkwall. Tastings are for guests of legal drinking age.
- Maeshowe chambered cairn. A guided visit inside a 5,000-year-old tomb whose passage lines up with the midwinter sunset, with Norse graffiti carved by Viking visitors. Entry is by timed tour only, so the ship tour is the reliable way in.
Exploring without a tour
Prefer to explore at your own pace? These are the highlights to know, wherever your day takes you. Keep an eye on the clock.
St. Magnus Cathedral
Britain’s most northerly cathedral, built over three centuries in red and yellow sandstone and still owned by the people of Orkney. Entry to the cathedral is free; guided tours of the upper levels cost extra and are limited.
Bishop’s & Earl’s Palaces
The ruins of two palaces sit across the street from the cathedral: one begun in the 12th century for the Norse bishop, the other a Renaissance showpiece built by Earl Patrick Stewart around 1600.
The old town & Orkney crafts
Albert Street and Broad Street are lined with independent shops selling Orkney jewelry, knitwear and local food and drink, and the free Orkney Museum covers island life from the Stone Age to the Vikings.
Before you go ashore
- All-aboard is firm. The last Hatston shuttle leaves town 60 minutes before departure. If you book independently, plan to be back at the pier an hour before all-aboard.
- Timed tickets sell out. Skara Brae and Maeshowe run on timed tickets, and Maeshowe is guided tour only. On cruise days slots can sell out weeks ahead, so a ship tour or an advance booking is the way to go.
- Dress for the wind. Orkney is green, open and breezy. Bring a waterproof jacket and warm layers, even in summer, and sturdy shoes for the archaeological sites.
- Weather decides. Strong wind can delay or cancel tendering in Kirkwall Bay, and ships occasionally switch berths on the day. We’ve also seen Orkney calls retimed or swapped out of itineraries before sailing, so check your final itinerary and the departure time shown in your cruise line app.
- You’ll need a UK ETA. Most visitors who don’t hold a British or Irish passport, including U.S. citizens, need a UK Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) when a cruise calls at a UK port, even if you don’t plan to go ashore. Apply through the official UK ETA app or GOV.UK well before you sail, and check your cruise line’s document rules.
- Traveling with mobility needs? Hatston is a level, purpose-built pier, but tender days, Maeshowe’s low passage and the uneven ground at the stone circles can be challenging. If you or someone in your party has mobility needs, tell your advisor when you book. Our accessibility specialist can help arrange the right support.
Sailing to Kirkwall
Kirkwall appears on British Isles, Scotland, Norway and Iceland itineraries from April to September, typically round trip from Southampton, Dover, Amsterdam or Copenhagen, and on Viking’s Scotland and Iceland voyages from Edinburgh.Find a cruisePlan with Harr Travel
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