Quick Navigation
- Cruise passengers, ferry day-trippers and everyone with one precious day
- Arriving at Kirkwall: getting from the pier or ferry to town
- Loved it? Even one night changes everything
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Can you do Orkney as a day trip from the Scottish mainland?
- How do cruise passengers get from Hatston Pier to Kirkwall town centre?
- Do you need to pre-book Skara Brae in advance?
- Is the Ring of Brodgar free to visit?
- What is the best way to get around Orkney in a single day?
- Is one day enough to see the highlights of Orkney?
- Sources & further reading
A day trip to Orkney is one of Scotland's most rewarding short adventures — provided you know what to prioritise. Thousands of cruise passengers step ashore at Kirkwall each year with just eight hours to fill, while mainland day-trippers arrive on the morning ferry from Gill's Bay or Scrabster and need to catch the last sailing home. This guide gives you a tight, road-tested itinerary that takes in a 5,000-year-old stone village, a Viking cathedral and the most atmospheric stone circle in Britain, without once feeling rushed. Day trips to Orkney are entirely doable; you simply need a plan.
Cruise passengers, ferry day-trippers and everyone with one precious day
This itinerary is built for three types of visitor: cruise passengers docking at Hatston Pier who have a fixed all-aboard time; mainland travellers arriving on early NorthLink or Pentland Ferries sailings who need to catch the last return; and independent road-trippers who want to fit a day into a driving holiday through northern Scotland. The route assumes you have a hire car or are happy to use the T11 Discover Orkney bus. If you are relying on public transport alone, the itinerary still works with slightly tighter timing between stops.
Arriving at Kirkwall: getting from the pier or ferry to town
For a full overview of routes, timetables and booking tips, our complete guide to getting to Orkney covers every option. For the purposes of your day, here is what matters on arrival.
Cruise passengers — Hatston Pier: Around 95% of cruise ships dock at Hatston Pier, about 2.5 miles (4 km) north-west of Kirkwall town centre. Orkney Islands Council runs a free shuttle bus to the Kirkwall Travel Centre, operating from around 08:30 and taking approximately seven minutes each way. No ticket is required. Do not attempt the walk along the industrial road — there is no pavement and it takes 35 to 40 minutes.
Ferry passengers — NorthLink: NorthLink’s Aberdeen sailing berths at Hatston Pier, about two and a half miles north-west of Kirkwall town centre, and arrives late in the evening rather than in the morning — so it suits an overnight-before start, not a same-day itinerary. A shuttle bus meets sailings for the short run into town. No ticket needed.
Planning your trip
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Loved it? Even one night changes everything
A day in Orkney is enough to fall in love with the islands — but not nearly enough to see them properly. If your schedule allows even a single overnight stay, the experience changes entirely: you can visit Maeshowe at dusk in summer, take a wildlife boat trip out to the sea cliffs at Yesnaby, or linger over a plate of local crab and Orkney cheese at a harbour restaurant. For accommodation in Orkney — from cosy guest houses in Kirkwall's old town to sea-view cottages on the Atlantic coast — our full guide covers every type and budget.
