Travel by ferry to Orkney! Travelling to Orkney couldn't be more relaxed than by ferry. This way you start your Orkney holiday rested and without stress.
From mainland Scotland, Orkney is accessible via three regular ferry routes. They run from Aberdeen to Kirkwall, from Gills Bay to St. Margaret’s Hope and from Scrabster to Stromness.
There is a connection to the Shetland Islands via the route from Kirkwall to Lerwick. During the summer months there is also a private ferry service between John o’Groats and Burwick.
Table of contents
Search & Book Ferries to Orkney
Use our ferry search to find your ferry to Orkney. We compare the offers of different shipping companies on each route. So you always get the cheapest offer for your Orkneyferry. Check availability and timetables now.
All ferries to Orkney
Here you find all current ferry connections to Orkney.
| Ferry connection | Country of origin & country of destination | Number & Duration of trip |
Shipping company |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ferry Aberdeen – Kirkwall | Ferry from Scotland, Great Britain to Orkney Islands, Great Britain | up to 4 times a week 6 hours |
Northlink Ferries |
| Ferry Scrabster – Stromness | Ferry from Scotland, Great Britain to Orkney Islands, Great Britain | 3 times a day 1 hour 30 minutes |
Northlink Ferries |
All ferries from Orkney
Here you find all current ferry connections from Orkney.
| Ferry connection | Country of origin & country of destination | Number & Duration of trip |
Shipping company |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ferry Kirkwall – Lerwick | Ferry from Orkney Islands, Great Britain to Shetland Islands, Great Britain | up to 4 times a week 7 hours 45 minutes |
Northlink Ferries |
Travel guide Orkney
Holiday to Orkney
The Orkney Islands consist of the main island Mainland and about 70 smaller islands. They are separated from the Scottish north coast by the Pentland Firth. The nature here is stormy and rough and has created a landscape of harsh beauty. Stone circles, brochs and burial mounds are fascinating witnesses to a history that goes back thousands of years.
TOP excursion destinations to Orkney
The main town of Orkney is Kirkwall. Places of interest include St Magnus Cathedral and the ruins of Bishop’s Palace and Earl’s Palace. Friends of a good glass of whisky can look forward to two distilleries, including a guided tour and subsequent tasting.
High in the north of Europe, the Italian Chapel amazes its visitors. Italian prisoners of war built the church. The painter Domenico Chiocchetti decorated the interior walls with colourful frescoes and created a piece of home.
Hardly anyone can escape the fascination of the two stone circles Ring of Brodgar and the Standing Stones of Stennes. Framed by the mystical landscape of the Orkneys, the sight of it becomes an atmospheric and unforgettable experience.
The settlement of Skara Brae invites you on a journey to the Neolithic Age. Here people lived around 3,000 BC in houses with stone hearths, stone beds and stone shelves. Older than the pyramids is the megalithic site of Maes Howe.
The ruins of the Brough of Virsay are located on a tidal island and can therefore only be visited at low tide.
Please check in advance when the next high tide is due, as the small island is uninhabited. The Broch of Gurness was also once a mighty stone tower, presumably intended to provide protection for the villagers when attacked.
Wind and sea have created impressive rock formations on the Orkneys, and the Cliffs of Yesnaby or the Old Man of Hoy rock needle are well worth seeing.
Entry requirements
German nationals and other EU citizens need an identity card or passport to enter Scotland. All travel documents must be valid until the end of the trip.
Alternative travel options
You can easily reach the ferry ports to the Orkney Islands by bus and train from Aberdeen and Inverness. If you want to travel by plane, you can reach Kirkwall from Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen, Inverness and Sumburgh (Shetland).