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Major city · United Kingdom

LerwickLeirvik

Base in Lerwick for 2 nights: it is the only town in Shetland with a full set of beds, shops and buses, and most island day trips start here.

Weather
see forecast
Currency
GBP
Best months
May–Sep
avoid Nov–Feb (short daylight, storms); Up Helly Aa week books out a year ahead
Airports
LSI · LWK
Nights
2
Not field-verifiedbasic guide
Print / PDF guide
3 pages, for the metro and roaming-off days
Map
Google Maps Apple Maps Street View
Rules in force · 8Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window…
  • Europe ↗Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window, counted across all 29 Schengen states together — not per country; the Entry/Exit System now logs each crossing, so an overstay is detected automatically.
  • Europe ↗On the first Schengen entry since EES began, non-EU travellers give four fingerprints and a face photo at the border instead of a passport stamp; there is nothing to apply for or pay in advance.
  • Britain and Ireland ↗Neither the UK nor Ireland is part of Schengen: days spent here do not count towards the 90/180-day Schengen limit, and a Schengen visa does not admit you to either country.
  • Britain and Ireland ↗The island of Ireland runs on two currencies: euro in the Republic, pound sterling in Northern Ireland and Great Britain. Carry a card that pays in both without fees.
  • Britain and Ireland ↗Both islands drive on the left. Speed limits are in miles per hour in the UK (including Northern Ireland) and in kilometres per hour in the Republic of Ireland.
  • United Kingdom ↗Most visitors who do not need a UK visa now need an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) before travelling; this includes EU nationals. Irish citizens are exempt. Check the UK government site for your passport.
  • United Kingdom ↗The UK is outside the EU and the Schengen area; a Schengen visa is not valid for the UK.
  • United Kingdom ↗Driving is on the left; London has congestion and emissions charges for most vehicles, so do not drive in the city.

Lerwick is the capital of the Shetland Islands and the only place in the archipelago with a real town centre, a museum, a hospital and a bus station. Most visitors use it as a two-night base and spend the days out at Sumburgh, Scalloway or the north isles. The town itself is small and walkable: Commercial Street, the museum, Fort Charlotte and the Clickimin Broch fill a wet afternoon.

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

The questions people ask first about Lerwick, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.

Cost cheat-sheet

2026 desk estimate · check

Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.

  • CoffeeCoffee and a cake£4–7 (≈ US$6–10)
  • Sit-down mealBistro main course£15–24 (≈ US$20–35)
  • BeerPint of beer in a pub£5–6.50 (≈ US$7–9)
  • Taxi, about 5 kmTaxi across town£6–10 (≈ US$8–14)
  • SIM or eSIM, a weekeSIM or data SIM, about a week£8–15 (≈ US$11–20)
  • Museum or sight ticketMuseum or exhibition entryFree–£3 (≈ US$4)
  • Budget bedHostel bed (Islesburgh House), a night, per person£25 (≈ US$35)
  • Mid-range bedHotel or guesthouse double room, a night, per room£140 (≈ US$190)
  • High-end bedHotel or guesthouse double room, a night, per room£200 (≈ US$300)

A day, not counting the bed: Budget £45 (≈ US$60) · Mid £90 (≈ US$120) · High £170 (≈ US$250)

Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →

Decide

What it is known for, and when the weather works

At a glance

What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.

Up Helly Aa fire festivalShetland Museum and ArchivesCommercial Street and the harbourClickimin BrochKnitwear and fudge shops
Airports
LSI Sumburgh Airport (40 km south of Lerwick; Loganair from Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen, Inverness, Kirkwall and Bergen; Bus 6 to Lerwick takes about 60 min) · LWK Lerwick-Tingwall Airport (6 km north; inter-island flights to Fair Isle, Foula and Sumburgh on small Islanders, often grounded by weather; take a taxi, buses 21/23/9 pass nearby)

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

Lerwick: next 7 days

Loading forecast…

Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.

Air quality

Loading…

Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.

Jan

6°C

2°C

22 rd

Feb

6°C

1°C

18 rd

Mar

7°C

2°C

20 rd

Apr

8°C

3°C

17 rd

May

11°C

5°C

14 rd

Jun

13°C

8°C

13 rd

Jul

15°C

10°C

15 rd

Aug

15°C

10°C

16 rd

Sep

13°C

9°C

18 rd

Oct

10°C

6°C

21 rd

Nov

8°C

4°C

22 rd

Dec

6°C

2°C

22 rd

High / low °C · rd = rain days

Arrive & move

Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Getting around

The centre is walkable in 15 minutes end to end. Buses: Bus 4 hourly to Scalloway via Holmsgarth, Bus 6 hourly to Sumburgh via the Broch, Bus 1 circles town. Car hire in Lerwick is a small fleet (Europcar, Star, Grantfield, Bolts/Avis), open Mon–Sat 9AM–5PM, closed Sunday: book ahead. Taxis rank at Victoria Pier and meet the Aberdeen ferry.

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time

Sumburgh and Jarlshof

go

Door to door: About 1 h 15 min

Bus 6 from Viking Bus Station, about 60 min, or drive the A970 south

Prehistoric settlement next to the airport; pair with the lighthouse and the tombolo.

Scalloway

go

Door to door: About 30 min

Bus 4 hourly from Viking Bus Station, about 20 min

Castle, harbour and the Shetland Bus memorial; half a day is enough.

Bressay

go

Door to door: About 30 min

Roll-on roll-off ferry from the town-centre harbour, about 10 min, roughly hourly

Walk to Noss ferry for the sea cliffs; check the Noss crossing runs in season.

Yell

caution

Door to door: About 1 h 30 min

Drive north on the A970 to Toft, then the ferry to Ulsta

Doable as a long day with a car; better as an overnight on the way to Unst.

Unst

overnight

Door to door: 2.5–3 h

Two ferries: Toft–Ulsta then Gutcher–Belmont, or fly from Tingwall

Too far for a comfortable return day; sleep one night at Haroldswick or Baltasound.

Fair Isle

caution

Door to door: About 30 min by air

Airtask flight from Tingwall, or the Good Shepherd ferry from Grutness

Weather-dependent and often booked out; a day trip only works if the return leg is confirmed.

Walls

go

Door to door: About 45 min

Bus 9 from Viking Bus Station, or drive the A971 west

West Mainland base for the Walls and Voe coast; quiet and good for walking.

Eat & sleep

Which area to sleep in

Where to sleep

Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.

Town centre (Commercial Street and Esplanade)

Hotels, B&Bs, pubs and the museum within a 10-min walk; best for a short stay without a car.

Holmsgarth (ferry terminal)

Shetland Hotel is opposite the NorthLink pier; 2 km north of the centre, Bus 4 runs past hourly.

South Road and Knab Road

Mid-range hotels and guesthouses 5–10 min south of the centre, near the Clickimin Broch and Tesco.

Practical

What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Cost per day

2026 estimate, excluding the bed unless stated
Budget
£45–75 (≈ US$60–100) excl. bed
Mid
£75–130 (≈ US$100–180) excl. bed
High
£130 (≈ US$180)+ excl. bed

Trip budget

2026 estimate · converts to your currency
Hotel or guesthouse double room1 × 2 nights × £140£280
Food, local transport, entries2 × 2 days × £90£360
Bus 6 Sumburgh ↔ Lerwick, both ways2 × £8£16
Bressay ferry, foot passenger return2 × £6£12
Car hire, one day, small car1 × £55 · fuel extra£55
eSIM, about a week of data2 × £10£20
Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge£74
Trip total≈ £204 per person per day, bed included£817≈ US$1,100

2026 estimate in pounds; flights and NorthLink fares excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.

Prices of common things

Coffee and a cake£4–7 (≈ US$6–10)
Fish and chips takeaway£10–14 (≈ US$14–19)
Bistro main course£15–24 (≈ US$20–35)
Pint of beer in a pub£5–6.50 (≈ US$7–9)
Museum or exhibition entryFree–£3 (≈ US$4)
Taxi across town£6–10 (≈ US$8–14)
eSIM or data SIM, about a week£8–15 (≈ US$11–20)

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

Lerwick is a low-crime town and safe to walk at night. The real risks are weather and distance: wind and rain change fast, single-track roads need care, and a missed last bus or ferry can strand you.
  • Car hire is limited and closed on Sundays: reserve weeks ahead and check the fuel and ferry rules.
  • Inter-island ferries can be moved to other piers in rough weather; check the harbour display board before a day trip.
  • Up Helly Aa (last Tuesday in January) sells out accommodation in Lerwick about a year ahead.
  • Mobile signal is patchy on the approach roads; 5G has not reached Shetland.
  • Summer daylight runs past 11PM in June, but winter gives under 6 hours of light: plan indoor days from November to February.

Emergency numbers

Police, fire, ambulance
999
NHS non-urgent
111
Police non-urgent
101

Pocket card

One page · print or save as PDF

Fill in, then print or save as PDF

Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.

LerwickLeirvik

Pocket card · Voykit

My bed tonight

—

—

—

To this address, pleaseTo this address, please

Emergency

  • Police, fire, ambulance999
  • NHS non-urgent111
  • Police non-urgent101

Embassy

No embassies in Shetland; the nearest US consulate-general is in Edinburgh and most other countries keep embassies in London.

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • Sumburgh Airport → Lerwick, Bus 6: about £4 (≈ US$6) one way, about 60 min
  • Lerwick → Bressay ferry, foot passenger: about £3 (≈ US$4) one way, 10 min
  • Taxi Victoria Pier → Holmsgarth terminal: £8–12 (≈ US$11–16)

Say or show

  • Hello — Hello (standard English; Shetland dialect is Scots-based)
  • Thank you — Thank you (ta is common locally)
  • Where is the bus station? — Where is the bus station? (Viking Bus Station, north end of the centre)
  • Is the ferry running today? — Is the ferry running today? (check the harbour display board)
  • Can I pay by card? — Can I pay by card? (yes in most shops and cafés)
  • Is there a table for two? — Is there a table for two? (book ahead in summer)

Print or screenshot this card: mobile signal is patchy outside Lerwick.

Deep dive

What this guide covers so far, and its sources

Not a trip line yet

This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Lerwick. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.

What we know, and what is coming

On this page

  1. Best months: May–Sep · avoid Nov–Feb (short daylight, storms); Up Helly Aa week books out a year ahead · month by month →
  2. 2 airports and 3 areas to sleep in
  3. Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
  4. Cost per day in 3 bands
  5. 7 day-trips, door to door
  6. 5 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers

Coming as the guide grows

  1. Airport-to-bed contract for LSI: last Loganair and Bus 6 times field-checked, taxi fallback, overnight rung.
  2. Ferry-day fixtures for Holmsgarth: NorthLink check-in cutoff, Bus 4 connection, taxi rank at Victoria Pier.
  3. Place pages with verified hours (Shetland Museum, Fort Charlotte, Clickimin Broch, Up Helly Aa exhibition) and eat pages with last orders.
  4. Weather and ferry-disruption fixtures so gates A–D can go green.

Meanwhile

Back to United Kingdom

Sources