The enchanting Orkney Islands, off Scotland's northcoast, await you. See 6,000 year old sites in theUNESCO Heart of Neolithic Orkney, enjoy fantastic events, stroll along idyllic beaches and dramatic sea cliffs, get up close to amazing wildlife and sample Orkney's delicious local produce.
Whether this is for a week-end or a longer break, there's no better time to book your holiday in Orkney!
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The island of Hoy © Colin Keldie
Destinations and maps
Orkney
10 things to do in Orkney
Get your history fix at world-class attractions across Orkney, see excellent art and crafts inspired by island life, and explore the islands' breath-taking scenery too.
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VisitScotland ICentres
Burray
Towns & Villages
Eday
Islands
Hoy & Graemsay
Islands
Kirkwall
Towns & Villages
North Ronaldsay
Islands
Papa Westray
Islands
Rousay, Egilsay, Wyre & Eynhallow
Islands
Sanday
Islands
Shapinsay
Islands
South Ronaldsay
Sub-region
Stromness
Towns & Villages
Stronsay
Islands
Westray
Islands
Kirkwall iCentre
VisitScotland iCentres
One with Orkney
We'll let you in on a secret - Orkney is a unique and magical group of islands that are shaped by the elements of water, air, earth and fire.
Discover what makes these islands special and plan a trip to see historical sites, wildlife, beaches and much, much more.
These islands will stir your soul. Discover why with our One with Orkney eBook.
Travel in Orkney
Getting here
Orkney has great transport links with the rest of the UK and can be reached by plane or ferry, with connections by bus, car or train.
Planes fly to Kirkwall from the airports at Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen, Inverness and Sumburgh, with all flights lasting an hour or less.
There are four ferry routes to choose from, with up to 12 sailings a day, depending on the season. Travel times vary from as little as 40 minutes on the seasonal passenger ferry from John O'Groats to Burwick, to six hours on the ferry from Aberdeen to Kirkwall.
Getting around
The road, flight and ferry network throughout Orkney is good, with many major attractions, towns and villages well connected by public transport. Famously, the shortest scheduled flight in the world is between Westray and Papa Westray, and takes less than two minutes!
Cars and bikes can be hired to explore the islands, and taxis are available too - what's more, there are four islands that can be reached from Orkney Mainland by road thanks to the Churchill Barriers.
Quiet roads and fairly flat islands make for good cycling, with routes including the Prehistoric Loop Ride.
Plan your travel around Orkney