Kirkwall is the most populated town in Orkney but still very walkable.
Albert Street is lined with shops selling souvenirs, clothes, and typical town essentials like banks and salons.
Check out The Brig Larder, Archive Coffee, Argo’s Bakery, Kirkness and Gorie, and Judith Glue for food and edible souvenirs such as whisky, cheese, fudge, and marshmallows.
Local produce here is a big deal!
Getting There and Location
Kirkwall sits on the north coast of the Mainland and is the islands transport hub – the Aberdeen ferry docks here, the airport is minutes away, and buses fan out across Orkney. Everything in the compact centre is walkable from the harbour.
What You Will See
The red-sandstone St Magnus Cathedral anchors a town of narrow paved streets lined with independent jewellers, craft shops and the Orkney Museum. Come for the food too – restaurants make the most of Orkney beef, lamb and shellfish – and finish at Highland Park, Scotlands most northerly distillery, on the edge of town.
What to See Nearby
Beyond the cathedral, the ruined Bishops and Earls Palaces sit opposite, and the Orkney Museum fills a fine merchants house. At Christmas and New Year the streets host the Ba, a mass ball game between the Uppies and Doonies that has run for centuries.
Practical Tips
Park at the harbour and explore on foot,Book seafood restaurants ahead in summer,Tour Highland Park on the towns southern edge,Visit the free Orkney Museum near the cathedral,Stock up here – it has Orkneys widest choice of shops
Frequently Asked Questions
What is there to do in Kirkwall?
Kirkwall packs in St Magnus Cathedral, the ruined Bishops and Earls Palaces, the Orkney Museum, independent shops and some of Orkneys best restaurants. On the towns edge you can tour Highland Park, Scotlands most northerly distillery.
What is the Kirkwall Ba?
The Ba is a traditional mass football game played through the streets of Kirkwall on Christmas Day and New Years Day. Two large teams, the Uppies and Doonies, contest a leather ball across the town in a boisterous ritual that dates back centuries.
