Shetland
Shetland, a group of islands north of mainland Scotland, is worth the ferry or flight for Jarlshof, Mousa Broch and the Up Helly Aa fire festival in Lerwick.
We may earn a commission. It never decides our picks.
Shetland is a group of islands north of mainland Scotland, with Lerwick as its main town. Travelers reach the islands by the overnight NorthLink ferry from Aberdeen or by a short Loganair flight to Sumburgh, at the south end of Mainland, the largest island. Jarlshof, near Sumburgh, is a coastal site with remains from the Bronze Age through the Norse period. Mousa Broch, one of Scotland's best-preserved Iron Age towers, stands on a small island reached by boat.
Shetland suits slow trips built around coastline, birdlife, history and changeable weather. Summer has the longest days and the most reliable boat and ferry travel. Up Helly Aa, a fire festival in Lerwick held in late January, is the reason some visitors plan a winter trip. Plan at least three or four days on Mainland, and more to reach the north isles, where ferry times set the pace. Outside Lerwick, a car makes most days easier.
Shetland in five
- Book the NorthLink cabin or pod earlyShetland.org says NorthLink is the only commercial passenger ferry to the islands and that cabins and vehicle spaces fill quickly at busy times. The direct overnight crossing from Aberdeen takes around 12 hours.Orkney and Shetland together
- Check Jarlshof's winter daysJarlshof is open daily from April to September. From October to March it opens Tuesday to Saturday, 10am to 4pm, and closes from 25 December to 4 January. Online adult tickets are £7.50, against £8.50 in person.
- Plan Mousa Broch around the boatMousa can only be reached by boat from Sandsayre Pier in Sandwick, about 14 miles south of Lerwick, and the broch is open from April to October. Historic Environment Scotland points to mousa.co.uk for crossings.
- Book inter-island ferries aheadShetland.org advises booking every inter-island ferry except the Bressay boat, and timetables show departure times only. Toft to Ulsta takes 20 minutes, and Gutcher to Belmont on Unst takes 10.
- Flying in via Edinburgh or Aberdeen? Sort the ETAETAs are applied for per person, and you can apply for others on the UK ETA app if they are with you. Have everyone approved before you book the Loganair flight or the cabin.UK ETA explained
Things to do in Shetland
See all attractions in Shetland
Need to know
- Airport
- Sumburgh (LSI); Loganair from Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Inverness, Kirkwall
- Getting there
- NorthLink overnight from Aberdeen, about 12 hours direct, or fly
- Getting around
- Car, buses and inter-island ferries; bus 6 or 6E to Sumburgh
- Best base
- Lerwick for services; the south Mainland for Jarlshof
- Time needed
- 4 to 5 days; a week with Yell and Unst
Weather by month
- Best
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryUp Helly Aa
- FebruaryStormy
- MarchLight returns
- AprilQuiet, bright
- MayLong days
- JuneMidsummer light
- JulyPeak season
- AugustBusy, warm
- SeptemberAutumn light
- OctoberAutumn gales
- NovemberShort days
- DecemberDark, mild
Right now in Shetland
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
11
- Feels like
- 9°
- Humidity
- 97%
- Wind
- 13 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 22%
Shetland
08:47 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today9°2°22%Monday: Cloudy. High 9°, Low 2°. Chance of rain 22%.
- Tue10°8°6%Tuesday: Cloudy. High 10°, Low 8°. Chance of rain 6%.
- Wed9°7°4%Wednesday: Cloudy. High 9°, Low 7°. Chance of rain 4%.
- Thu9°6°6%Thursday: Drizzle. High 9°, Low 6°. Chance of rain 6%.
- Fri8°6°4%Friday: Cloudy. High 8°, Low 6°. Chance of rain 4%.
- Sat8°5°4%Saturday: Cloudy. High 8°, Low 5°. Chance of rain 4%.
- Sun8°5°20%Sunday: Drizzle. High 8°, Low 5°. Chance of rain 20%.
Updated 05:34 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Money
Mid-market rate1 USD = 0.7469 GBP
Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API
Day trips by train
- Mousa Brochby boat from Sandsayre PierAn Iron Age tower on its own island, open from April to October.
- Jarlshof and Sumburgh Headby car, or bus 6 or 6E from LerwickHistoric Environment Scotland puts the bus journey to Grutness at about an hour.
- Bressay and Noss7 minutes by ferry from LerwickNoss boats leave from Bressay's east side daily except Monday and Thursday, May to August.
Before you go to Shetland
We may earn a commission. It never decides our picks.
Rules for Shetland, checked
- Jarlshof: adult £7.50 online, £8.50 in person; daily April to September, Tuesday to Saturday October to March, closed 25 December to 4 January.Checked Oct 2, 2026 · Source
- Mousa Broch is free to visit and open April to October; Mousa is reached only by boat from Sandsayre Pier, Sandwick.Checked Oct 2, 2026 · Source
- Booking is advisable on all Shetland inter-island ferries except Bressay, which cannot be booked; vehicles over 5.5 m must book through the booking office.Checked Oct 2, 2026 · Source
Plan around Shetland
Which island group, or both, and how to link them
Read the guideAberdeenThe NorthLink departure port for Lerwick
Read the guideOrkneyNeolithic Skara Brae, Maeshowe and the Ring of Brodgar
Read the guideKirkwallThe Orkney port where some sailings call
Read the guideTrains, buses and carsPlan the mainland leg to your ferry or flight
Read the guideVisa checkerCheck entry rules for your passport
Read the guideAll of ScotlandCities, islands and the UK ETA
Read the guideShetland FAQ
How do you get to Shetland?
NorthLink sails overnight from Aberdeen to Lerwick, around 12 hours direct and 14 to 15 when the ship calls at Kirkwall. It is the only commercial passenger ferry. Loganair flies to Sumburgh, including about an hour from Aberdeen.
How many days do you need in Shetland?
Four days cover Lerwick, Jarlshof, Mousa and the south Mainland. Add a day for each of Yell and Unst, since the ferry hops and distances eat time. A week suits a ferry arrival plus one north isle night.
Can visitors go to Up Helly Aa?
Yes. It takes place in Lerwick on the last Tuesday in January, which is 26 January in 2027, and the official committee site has pages for tickets and for travel and accommodation. Book beds and the ferry well ahead.
Can you visit Mousa Broch?
Yes, from April to October by boat from Sandsayre Pier in Sandwick. The broch is free to enter, but access to the top is by a steep, uneven stone staircase, and Historic Environment Scotland asks you to wear suitable footwear.
Can you get around Shetland without a car?
Partly. Bus 6 and 6E run between Lerwick and Grutness in Sumburgh, and the inter-island ferries take foot passengers. Remote headlands and island interiors are far easier with a car, since many roads are single track with passing places.