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Major city · United Kingdom

Scalloway

Give Scalloway half a day from Lerwick: castle, Shetland Bus museum, harbour. Sleep here only if you want a quiet base 10 min from town.

Not yet checkedSourcesWhat these labels mean

Scalloway was Shetland's capital until 1708 and is now a working fishing village of about 1,200 people, 10 min by car from Lerwick. Its two sights — a ruined 1600 castle and the Shetland Bus museum — fit into half a day. Most travellers come as a Lerwick side trip; a night here buys quiet and a short run to the West Burra islands.

basic guide: no trip line yet
3 pages, for the metro and roaming-off days
Map
Google Maps Apple Maps Street View
More ways in
Print / PDF guide
Local time, weather, currency, airports
Weather
see forecast
Currency
GBP
Best months
May–Sep
avoid Nov–Feb (short daylight, wind and rain)
Airport
LSI
Nights
0–1
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.

Entry rules depend on your passport. Full visa guide

Checking your follows…
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾

Not in this guide yet

  • Walking areas with bag rules
  • Day plans checked against opening hours
  • Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
  • Field-checked times and prices
Emergency numbers for Scalloway999 ▾
  • Police, fire, ambulance999
  • Police non-urgent101
  • NHS non-urgent111

Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.

EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

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

Show all 12 answers

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 cafe£3–4.50 (≈ US$4–6)
  • Sit-down mealSeafood main course£15–25 (≈ US$20–35)
  • Street or quick mealSoup or sandwich lunch£6–12 (≈ US$8–16)
  • BeerPint in the village pub£5–6.50 (≈ US$7–9)
  • Taxi, about 5 km (3 mi)Taxi Lerwick to Scalloway£20–30 (≈ US$30–40)
  • Museum or sight ticketMuseum entry£3 (≈ US$4)
  • Budget bedHostel or bunkhouse bed, a night, per person£30 (≈ US$40)
  • Mid-range bedB&B double room, a night, per room£90 (≈ US$120)
  • High-end bedB&B double room, a night, per room£120 (≈ US$160)

A day, not counting the bed: Budget £45 (≈ US$60) · Mid £80 (≈ US$110) · High £140 (≈ US$190)

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 →

DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works

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.

Scalloway CastleShetland Bus museum and memorialFishing harbourRoad-linked Scalloway Islands
Airports
LSI Sumburgh Airport (About 45 min by road via Lerwick; bus to Lerwick, then Bus 4.)

Best months at a glance

From the guide's best and avoid lists

  1. Jan

    Avoid

    6°C (43°F)

  2. Feb

    Avoid

    6°C (43°F)

  3. Mar

    not flagged

    7°C (45°F)

  4. Apr

    not flagged

    8°C (46°F)

  5. May

    Best

    11°C (52°F)

  6. Jun

    Best

    13°C (55°F)

  7. Jul

    Best

    15°C (59°F)

  8. Aug

    Best

    15°C (59°F)

  9. Sep

    Best

    13°C (55°F)

  10. Oct

    not flagged

    10°C (50°F)

  11. Nov

    Avoid

    8°C (46°F)

  12. Dec

    Avoid

    6°C (43°F)

Best: May–Sep. Avoid: Nov–Feb. Month by month →

Warmest Jul (15°C (59°F)), coolest Jan (1°C (34°F) low), wettest Jan (22 rain days), driest Jun (13). Averages, not a forecast.

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

Scalloway: 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 (43°F)

1°C (34°F)

22 rd

Feb

6°C (43°F)

1°C (34°F)

18 rd

Mar

7°C (45°F)

2°C (36°F)

19 rd

Apr

8°C (46°F)

3°C (37°F)

16 rd

May

11°C (52°F)

5°C (41°F)

14 rd

Jun

13°C (55°F)

8°C (46°F)

13 rd

Jul

15°C (59°F)

10°C (50°F)

14 rd

Aug

15°C (59°F)

10°C (50°F)

15 rd

Sep

13°C (55°F)

9°C (48°F)

17 rd

Oct

10°C (50°F)

6°C (43°F)

20 rd

Nov

8°C (46°F)

4°C (39°F)

21 rd

Dec

6°C (43°F)

2°C (36°F)

22 rd

High / low, both scales · rd = rain days

Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Arrive & move

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

Getting around

The village is walkable in 15 min end to end. Andrews Bus 4 runs from Lerwick hourly Monday–Saturday, about 25 min, and continues to Port Arthur; it connects a few times a day with Bus 5 to Trondra, Hamnavoe, Papil and Houss. Taxis come from Lerwick or Port Arthur; book ahead for evenings.

Nearest full guides

Straight-line distance, not travel time

See & doDay-trips, door to door

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time
Lerwickgo

Door to door: About 30–40 min

Andrews Bus 4 from the village, or 10 min by car on the A970

Use it for the big shop, ferries and most of Shetland's services.

West Burra and East Burrago

Door to door: 20–40 min

B9074 south over the Trondra bridge, then Bus 5 or a car

Hamnavoe, Papil and Houss; lanes end at coastal paths.

Tingwall Loch and the Murder Stone

caution

Door to door: About 30 min on foot

B9074 north, about 2 km (1.2 mi)

Bird life and a roadside granite slab; the old parliament islet shows almost nothing.

Sumburgh Head and Jarlshof

caution

Door to door: 1.5–2 h

Car via Lerwick, or bus to Lerwick then south

A full day from Scalloway; easier as a Lerwick base trip.

Fair Isleovernight

Door to door: Half a day or more

Ferry or flight from the Shetland mainland

Weather-dependent; book ahead and stay over.

Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in

Eat & sleep

Which area to sleep in

Where to sleep

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

Main Street and harbour

B&B, hotel, pub and museum within a 5-min walk; best for a car-free night.

Port Arthur and east shore

Marine centre, seafood cafe and self-catering chalets; 10–15 min walk from the castle.

West Burra (Hamnavoe)

B&B and cottages on the linked island, 15–20 min by road; needs a car or taxi.

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

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
£70–110 (≈ US$95–150) excl. bed
High
£110 (≈ US$150)+ excl. bed

Trip budget

2026 estimate · converts to your currency
B&B double room1 × 1 night × £90£90
Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × £80£160
Bus 4 Lerwick to Scalloway, one way2 × £3£6
Museum entry2 × £3£6
eSIM, about a week of data2 × £10£20
Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge£28
Trip total≈ £155 per person per day, bed included£310≈ US$450

2026 estimate in pounds; ferry or flight to Shetland excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.

Prices of common things

Coffee or tea in a cafe£3–4.50 (≈ US$4–6)
Soup or sandwich lunch£6–12 (≈ US$8–16)
Seafood main course£15–25 (≈ US$20–35)
Pint in the village pub£5–6.50 (≈ US$7–9)
Taxi Lerwick to Scalloway£20–30 (≈ US$30–40)
Museum entry£3 (≈ US$4)

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

Very low crime; the real risks are weather, wet roads and walking the coast path in poor visibility. Tell someone your route and carry a charged phone — signal is patchy.
  • Scalloway Castle has been closed for restoration: check before you plan the trip around it.
  • The castle key is held at the museum in normal opening hours, so a visit only works when the museum is open.
  • Museum opens May–Sep only, closed Saturdays.
  • Mobile data is 4G from EE and Vodafone only; O2 and Three have no signal here, and coverage fades on the island lanes.
  • Cruise-ship days fill the castle and harbour for a few hours; go early or late.

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.

ScallowayScalloway

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 Shetland; the nearest are in Edinburgh. US citizens: US Consulate General, Edinburgh (check the address).

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • Bus 4 Lerwick → Scalloway: about £3 (≈ US$4), 25 min, hourly Mon–Sat
  • Taxi Lerwick → Scalloway: £20–30 (≈ US$30–40), about 10 min
  • Bus 5 Scalloway → Hamnavoe / Houss: a few connections a day; check times before you set out

Say or show

  • Thank you — Thank you
  • Where is the bus stop? — Where is the bus stop?
  • One ticket to Lerwick, please — One ticket to Lerwick, please
  • Is the castle open today? — Is the castle open today?

Local speech is Shetland dialect with Scots and Norn roots; standard English works everywhere.

Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources

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 Scalloway. 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, wind and rain) · 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. 5 day-trips, door to door
  6. 5 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers

Coming as the guide grows

  1. Ferry and flight arrival fixtures for Sumburgh and Lerwick, with last-bus cutoffs to Scalloway.
  2. Walking cluster pages: castle and museum, harbour and memorial, Port Arthur, Ness of Westshore.
  3. Castle reopening and museum season status checked against Historic Environment Scotland and the museum.
  4. West Burra and Trondra island pages with lane-end path notes.

Meanwhile

Back to United Kingdom

Sources

Ask about Scalloway

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