You can plan a stay in Lerwick around two questions: how will you get there, and which side of the Shetland Islands would you like to discover? The town is the main port for the NorthLink ferry from Aberdeen and Kirkwall. It also offers starting points for exploring museum culture, archaeology and film. The annual Up Helly Aa also marks a regular date in the winter calendar.

Getting there and finding your bearings

If your journey begins with the NorthLink ferry from Aberdeen or Kirkwall, Lerwick is the main port. For practical planning, it’s worth checking the timetable for your route and chosen travel date. In the town itself, you can explore a range of themes: the history and culture of the Shetland Islands, Clickimin Broch or the events programme at Mareel. These highlights can help shape your travel plans without requiring you to set a fixed order for your visits in advance.

Shetland history and archaeological heritage

In the heart of Lerwick is Shetland Museum & Archives, a multifunctional visitor attraction and a place where you can explore the history, heritage and culture of the Shetland Islands. A wealth of documents and artefacts is available here. The perspective extends beyond Lerwick to the island group as a whole: the focus is not only on individual places, but also on the stories passed down and cultural records of the Shetland Islands. If you’d like to give your stay a historical focus, the museum is a practical starting point.

Clickimin Broch offers a different perspective. It lies in the heart of Lerwick, on Clickimin Loch, and complements the study of documents and artefacts with an archaeological site. The townscape thus brings together different ways of exploring Shetland’s heritage: the museum and its collection, and the broch, a named site beside the loch. Both names can help you define your cultural interests more precisely as you plan your trip, without implying a set length of visit.

Mareel: film and café at Hay’s Dock Quay

Mareel is located at the historic Hay’s Dock Quay in Lerwick. Its events programme includes film screenings, adding a contemporary cultural option to the historical themes. At the café, you can relax over a coffee while watching seabirds and seals. Film, a coffee break and wildlife watching are different reasons to consider including Mareel in your plans. If you’d like to visit, you can check in advance which films are showing during your travel dates.

Up Helly Aa and choosing when to travel

Up Helly Aa takes place in Lerwick every year on the last Tuesday in January. The date makes the festival a clear reference point for planning your trip: if you’d like to experience the event, plan around this recurring January date. If your stay falls outside this period, Shetland Museum & Archives, Clickimin Broch and Mareel remain independent options for a visit to Lerwick. The festival and the town’s other cultural venues therefore address different considerations when choosing your travel dates and interests.

Coastal scenery on the Lerwick Explorer route

The Lerwick Explorer route passes through the older part of Lerwick and the harbour, circles Knab Head, and offers coastal scenery and views. It brings the coast into your travel plans alongside the town’s historical and cultural themes. The route is a distinct highlight; its details and conditions may change over time. Check the current route and conditions before including it in your plans.

Discover more destinations: Hillswick, Shetland Islands.

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