Skip to content
Voykit
Draft data. Times, fares and step counts are desk estimates awaiting field checks. How we verify
Source checked
A source and a date are on record: we read it from an official or published page. Not yet confirmed on the ground.
Field checked
Someone checked it on the ground, with the date shown.
Plan calculated
Worked out by Voykit from its own data (times, distances, budgets). A calculation, not a measurement.

Unknown times stay unknown. How we verify

Major city · United Kingdom

Sumburgh

Give Sumburgh one full day plus a night: Jarlshof, Sumburgh Head and Old Scatness sit within 3 km (1.9 mi), and you need a car for anything beyond.

Not yet checkedSourcesWhat these labels mean

Sumburgh is the southern tip of Shetland's Mainland and the island's airport village: a few hundred metres between the runway, a hotel and a 4,000-year archaeological site. Most travellers land here, see Jarlshof and Sumburgh Head, then drive north to Lerwick. Stay one night if you land late or want the cliffs at opening time; two if you add Mousa or St Ninian's. A car turns the bottom ten miles into a full day; without one you are limited to the airport, hotel and Jarlshof.

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 days, wind and flight disruption)
Airport
LSI
Nights
1–2
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.
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 Sumburgh999 ▾
  • Police, fire, ambulance, coastguard999
  • NHS non-urgent111
  • Police non-urgent101

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 Sumburgh, 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 café£3–4.50 (≈ US$4–6)
  • Sit-down mealPub main course£12–18 (≈ US$16–25)
  • SIM or eSIM, a weekeSIM, about a week of data£8–15 (≈ US$11–20)
  • Museum or sight ticketJarlshof adult entryConcessions £6, children £4.50; 2026 estimate.£7.50 (≈ US$10)
  • Budget bedHostel or bunkhouse bed, a night, per person£30 (≈ US$40)
  • 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£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 →

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.

Jarlshof prehistoric and Norse settlementSumburgh Head lighthouse and seabird cliffsOld Scatness Iron Age brochSumburgh Airport (LSI)
Airports
LSI Sumburgh Airport (Main Shetland airport, on the road 40 km (25 mi) south of Lerwick; car hire and taxis at the terminal.)

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 (2°C (36°F) low), wettest Jan (22 rain days), driest Jun (13). Averages, not a forecast.

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

Sumburgh: 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)

2°C (36°F)

22 rd

Feb

6°C (43°F)

2°C (36°F)

18 rd

Mar

7°C (45°F)

2°C (36°F)

20 rd

Apr

8°C (46°F)

3°C (37°F)

17 rd

May

11°C (52°F)

5°C (41°F)

14 rd

Jun

13°C (55°F)

7°C (45°F)

13 rd

Jul

15°C (59°F)

9°C (48°F)

15 rd

Aug

15°C (59°F)

10°C (50°F)

16 rd

Sep

13°C (55°F)

8°C (46°F)

18 rd

Oct

10°C (50°F)

6°C (43°F)

21 rd

Nov

8°C (46°F)

4°C (39°F)

22 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 airport, Sumburgh Hotel and Jarlshof are a short walk apart; everything else needs wheels. Bus 6 runs between Lerwick and Sumburgh roughly every 90 minutes, stopping at the airport, Jarlshof and the hotel. The main road crosses the runway perimeter and closes briefly when aircraft land or take off.

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 50 min by bus, 40 min by car

Bus 6 from the airport or hotel, or drive the A970 north

Shetland's main town: museum, harbour and the base for most onward trips.

Mousago

Door to door: About 1 h 30 min including the crossing

Drive to Leebitton near Sandwick, then the summer boat to the island

Best-preserved Iron Age broch in Britain; summer sailings only, weather-dependent.

Fair Isleovernight

Door to door: About 3 h each way

Ferry from Grutness, Tue/Thu/Sat in summer, 2 h 40 min

No day trip: sailings are too few and too slow. Sleep on the island.

St Ninian's Islego

Door to door: About 40 min by car plus a 15-min walk

Drive north past Sandwick, then walk the sand tombolo

The tombolo can be washed out by winter storms; check before you go.

Bressaycaution

Door to door: About 1 h 30 min

Drive to Lerwick, then the short ferry from the harbour

Better as a Lerwick-based half day than a Sumburgh day trip.

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.

Sumburgh Hotel / airport strip

The only walkable base: hotel, Jarlshof and the runway within about 1 km (0.6 mi). Book ahead in summer.

Sumburgh Head lighthouse cottages

Self-catering at the headland, about 2 km (1.2 mi) south of the hotel; a car or a long walk for everything.

Sandwick and Leebitton

About 15 km (9.3 mi) north; the boat to Mousa leaves from Leebitton. Use it if you want Mousa without doubling back.

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
£70–120 (≈ 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 × £140£140
Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × £95£190
Car hire, one day1 × £55 · check£55
Bus 6 Lerwick–Sumburgh, one way2 × £5 · check£10
Jarlshof adult entry2 × £8£15
Sumburgh Head visitor centre adult entry2 × £6£12
Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge£42
Trip total≈ £232 per person per day, bed included£464≈ US$650

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

Prices of common things

Coffee or tea in a café£3–4.50 (≈ US$4–6)
Pub main course£12–18 (≈ US$16–25)
Jarlshof adult entryConcessions £6, children £4.50; 2026 estimate.£7.50 (≈ US$10)
Sumburgh Head visitor centre adult entryConcessions £4; 2026 estimate.£6 (≈ US$8)
Quendale Watermill adult entry2026 estimate.£4 (≈ US$6)
Car hire, one daycheck£45–70 (≈ US$60–95)
eSIM, about a week of data£8–15 (≈ US$11–20)

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

Very low crime; the real risks are weather, cliff edges and single-track roads. Tell someone your route if you walk the coast, and carry a windproof layer even in July.
  • The main road across the airport perimeter closes briefly during take-offs and landings: allow slack for a flight.
  • The east cliffs at Sumburgh Head are unfenced and slippery: stay back from the edge.
  • O2 and Three have no signal here; EE and Vodafone carry 4G. Download offline maps before you drive.
  • Grutness–Fair Isle ferry runs only Tue, Thu and Sat in summer and takes 2 h 40 min: no day trip.

Emergency numbers

Police, fire, ambulance, coastguard
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.

SumburghSumburgh

Pocket card · Voykit

My bed tonight

—

—

—

To this address, pleaseTo this address, please

Emergency

  • Police, fire, ambulance, coastguard999
  • NHS non-urgent111
  • Police non-urgent101

Embassy

No embassies in Shetland; the nearest consulates are in Edinburgh. US citizens: US Consulate General, Edinburgh (check).

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • Bus 6 Lerwick → Sumburgh Airport: about £5 (≈ US$7), about 50 min (check)
  • Taxi Sumburgh Airport → Sumburgh Hotel: short hop; agree the fare first (check)
  • Grutness → Fair Isle ferry: 2 h 40 min, Tue/Thu/Sat in summer (check)

Say or show

  • Hello / Guid day — Hello (standard English works everywhere)
  • Thank you — Thank you (cheers is common and friendly)
  • Single to Sumburgh, please — Single ticket, please
  • Is the boat sailing today? — Is the ferry running today?
  • Do you take card? — Can I pay by card?
  • Where's the bus stop? — Where is the bus stop?

Mobile signal is patchy: EE and Vodafone carry 4G, O2 and Three do not. Save offline maps and the hotel number.

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 Sumburgh. 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 flight disruption) · 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. 4 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers

Coming as the guide grows

  1. Airport-to-bed contract for LSI: last Bus 6 departures, taxi fallback and the walk to the hotel, field-checked.
  2. Walking cluster at the south tip: airport, hotel, Jarlshof and Sumburgh Head with verified opening seasons.
  3. Place pages with verified cutoffs for Jarlshof, Sumburgh Head, Old Scatness and Quendale Watermill.
  4. Mousa and Fair Isle sailing fixtures so the ferry-dependent days can go green.

Meanwhile

Back to United Kingdom

Sources