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Major city · United Kingdom

Stromness

Base here 1–2 nights for a quiet harbour town and easy Hoy ferries; otherwise day-trip from Kirkwall, 14 mi / 30 min by bus X1.

Weather
see forecast
Currency
GBP
Best months
May–Sep
avoid Nov–Feb (short days, wind and rain; many sights closed)
Airport
KOI
Nights
1–2
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.

Stromness is Orkney's second town, a narrow flagged main street on a sheltered harbour with about 2,200 people. It is the ferry port for Scrabster on the Scottish mainland and for Hoy and Graemsay, and it holds the Pier Arts Centre, Stromness Museum and Ness Battery. Most travellers give it one night, or use it as a base for the west Mainland Neolithic sites.

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

The questions people ask first about Stromness, 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 or tea in a café£3–4.50 (≈ US$4–6)
  • Street or quick mealCafé lunch (soup, sandwich)£8–14 (≈ US$11–19)
  • BeerPint in a hotel bar£4.50–6 (≈ US$6–8)
  • Taxi, about 5 kmTaxi Stromness–KirkwallAbout £45 (≈ US$60)
  • Museum or sight ticketStromness Museum entryAdult £7.50 (≈ US$10), conc £5 (≈ US$7), child free
  • Budget bedHostel bed, a night, per person£23 (≈ US$35)
  • Mid-range bedHotel or guesthouse double room, a night, per room£160 (≈ US$250)
  • High-end bedHotel or guesthouse double room, a night, per room£220 (≈ US$300)

A day, not counting the bed: Budget £55 (≈ US$75) · Mid £95 (≈ US$130) · 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.

Pier Arts CentreStromness MuseumNess BatteryNorthLink ferry to ScrabsterOrkney Folk Festival
Airports
KOI Kirkwall Airport (About 20 mi / 40 min by road; taxi about £55. No airport in Stromness.)

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

Stromness: 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

1°C

20 rd

Feb

6°C

1°C

16 rd

Mar

7°C

2°C

17 rd

Apr

9°C

3°C

14 rd

May

12°C

5°C

12 rd

Jun

14°C

8°C

11 rd

Jul

16°C

10°C

13 rd

Aug

16°C

10°C

14 rd

Sep

14°C

9°C

16 rd

Oct

11°C

7°C

19 rd

Nov

8°C

4°C

20 rd

Dec

6°C

2°C

20 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 town is compact and walkable; the main street is flagged and narrow. Bus X1 runs to Kirkwall (about 30 min; hourly frequency check) and in season extends to Stenness, the Ring of Brodgar and Skara Brae. Bikes are the practical way to reach the Neolithic sites; Orkney Cycle Hire on Dundas Street is open daily 8AM–5PM. A taxi to Kirkwall is about £45.

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time

Stenness (Maeshowe, Stones of Stenness, Ring of Brodgar)

go

Door to door: About 30 min by bus, 1 h by bike

Bus X1 or bike east along the A965; about 3 mi

Maeshowe entry is by guided tour only; book ahead in summer.

Kirkwallgo

Door to door: About 30 min

Stagecoach X1, hourly, 14 mi along the A965

St Magnus Cathedral, shops and the main bus hub for Orkney.

Hoy (Moaness and Lyness)

go

Door to door: About 40 min by ferry to Moaness (check); Lyness via Houton, longer

Orkney Ferries from Stromness to Moaness, at least twice daily; Lyness sailings leave from Houton

Old Man of Hoy walks need a full day and a long approach.

Birsay

caution

Door to door: About 1 h by bike

Bike or bus west via Stenness; about 13 mi

Earl's Palace and Brough of Birsay; the causeway is tidal, check crossing times.

Eat & sleep

Which area to sleep in

Where to sleep

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

Victoria Street and the harbour

Guesthouses, hotels and the ferry pier within a 5-min walk; best for a one-night ferry stop.

Point of Ness

Council campsite on the headland, about 1 mi / 20 min walk south of town; open April–Sep.

Kirkwall

More beds, shops and transport links; 14 mi / 30 min by bus if Stromness is full.

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
£45–70 (≈ US$60–95) excl. bed
Mid
£70–120 (≈ US$95–160) excl. bed
High
£120 (≈ US$160)+ excl. bed

Trip budget

2026 estimate · converts to your currency
Hotel or guesthouse double room1 × 1 night × £160£160
Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × £95£190
NorthLink ferry, Scrabster–Stromness, one way2 × £25 · check; cabins extra£50
Bus X1 Stromness–Kirkwall, one way2 × £4 · check£8
eSIM, about a week of data2 × £10 · check£20
Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge£43
Trip total≈ £236 per person per day, bed included£471≈ US$650

2026 estimate in pounds; mainland travel excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.

Prices of common things

Coffee or tea in a café£3–4.50 (≈ US$4–6)
Fish and chips takeaway£9–13 (≈ US$12–18)
Café lunch (soup, sandwich)£8–14 (≈ US$11–19)
Pint in a hotel bar£4.50–6 (≈ US$6–8)
Stromness Museum entryAdult £7.50 (≈ US$10), conc £5 (≈ US$7), child free
Ness Battery guided tourAdult £8 (≈ US$11), conc or child £5 (≈ US$7)
Taxi Stromness–KirkwallAbout £45 (≈ US$60)

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

A quiet, low-crime town; the real risks are wind and rain, slippery flagstones, and walking the busy Stenness road after dark. Emergency number is 999.
  • Ness Battery interior is guided tour only; the exterior is free. Do not follow satnav onto the coastal footpath.
  • The road to Stenness is a busy main road with only intermittent pavement; walk it with care or take the bus.
  • Mobile coverage is patchy: O2 and Three give basic signal, EE and Vodafone may not work.
  • Many sights and cafés close or run shorter hours from October to March.

Emergency numbers

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

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.

StromnessStromness

Pocket card · Voykit

My bed tonight

—

—

—

To this address, pleaseTo this address, please

Emergency

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

Embassy

No embassies in Orkney; the nearest are in Edinburgh. US citizens: US Consulate General, Edinburgh.

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • NorthLink ferry Stromness–Scrabster: about 90 min, 2–3 sailings daily
  • Bus X1 Stromness–Kirkwall: about 30 min, hourly
  • Taxi Kirkwall airport–Stromness: about £55 (≈ US$75)

Say or show

  • Thank you — Thank you
  • Please — Please
  • Where is the ferry terminal? — Where is the ferry terminal?
  • How much is it? — How much is it?
  • Can I pay by card? — Can I pay by card?
  • Where is the toilet? — Where is the toilet?

English is spoken throughout; no local phrase needed.

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 Stromness. 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 days, wind and rain; many sights closed) · month by month →
  2. 1 airport and 3 areas to sleep in
  3. Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
  4. Cost per day in 3 bands
  5. 4 day-trips, door to door
  6. 4 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers

Coming as the guide grows

  1. Ferry-to-bed contract for Stromness: NorthLink Scrabster arrivals, bus terminus and late check-in fallbacks.
  2. Walking clusters with rescue anchors: Victoria Street, the harbour and Pier Arts Centre, the coast path to Ness Battery and Warbeth.
  3. Place pages with verified opening seasons (Pier Arts Centre, Stromness Museum, Ness Battery) and eat pages with last orders.
  4. Weather and ferry-cancellation fixtures so arrival gates can go green.

Meanwhile

Back to United Kingdom

Sources