Travel
Getting to Shetland by Air
There are several daily flights from the UK mainland: Aberdeen (55 mins), Edinburgh (85 mins) and Glasgow (90 mins), all connecting with London and other major European cities.
You will arrive in Shetland at Sumburgh Airport, 25 miles south of Lerwick. Just next to the exit you will find the visitor and airport information desk. The airport bus to Lerwick takes around 40 minutes and there are hire cars and taxis available at the airport. It can be busy so we advise booking in advance.
Getting to Shetland by Sea
Car ferries sail from Aberdeen seven nights a week, year-round, arriving in Lerwick early the following morning. The voyage north aboard these large, comfortable, cruise-style ships makes a relaxing start to your holiday. Cruising up the coast of Shetland on a sunny morning gives a stunning first glimpse of our islands.
The ferries dock at Lerwick ferry terminal, where you'll find a Welcome Point with visitor information. It's a pleasant stroll along the waterfront to the main Visitor Information Centre at the Market Cross in the centre of the old town, less than a mile from the ferry terminal. Trained and knowledgeable staff will be delighted to answer your questions and help you plan the details of your time in Shetland.
Getting Around Shetland
To get out and really explore Shetland, why not hire a car, hire a bike, or make use of the frequent bus services. Touring is straightforward and a pleasure - roads are of an excellent quality, well signposted and traffic is low. There are also a number of taxis available throughout the isles to get you where you want to go.
To get to and from the outer islands, use the excellent inter-islands ferry services or, for Fair Isle, Foula, Out Skerries and Papa Stour, consider an inter-island flight. (Shetland is simply stunning when viewed from the air).
Accommodation
You will find listings for accommodation on www.SHETLAND.org. If you can't find what you are looking for in the Lerwick area we would advise trying a search for Central Mainland as most places are only 10-15 minutes from Lerwick with your own transport. It is worth noting some accommodation providers are working directly from their own websites rather than register with the local visitor agencies so a direct Internet search by TYPE and AREA sometimes brings up more information.
Find out more at www.SHETLAND.org about:
Flights to Shetland
Ferry to Shetland
Car & bike hire
Bus, inter-island ferry & inter-island flight services
Taxis