Kirkwall Cruise Port
Kirkwall, United Kingdom · Northern Europe
Cruise ships anchor offshore in Kirkwall — tenders ferry passengers to the port.
Compact Orkney capital with strong DIY options, but Hatston Pier is 2.5 km from town.
At a glance
Port summary
Most ships berth at Hatston Pier, around 2.5 km from Kirkwall centre; smaller ships tender to the inner harbour. Cruise-line shuttles, public buses and taxis all run.
Cruise docks
🚢 Hatston Pier — Main Cruise Berth
The main cruise berth in Kirkwall, used by larger ships. Located about 2.5 km north-west of the town centre. Cruise-line shuttles, Stagecoach buses and taxis run from the pier gates into Kirkwall.
📍 Latitude: 59.000228, Longitude: -2.974343
See dock on port map →🚢 Kirkwall Pier — Inner Harbour
The smaller inner-harbour quay on the edge of Kirkwall town centre. Used by smaller cruise ships and as the tender landing when ships anchor in the bay. About 5 minutes on foot to St Magnus Cathedral.
📍 Latitude: 58.986258, Longitude: -2.960794
See dock on port map →Getting to Kirkwall
From the cruise terminal to the city centre
Cruise-line shuttle from Hatston Pier to Kirkwall town centre when offered
📍 Cruise-line shuttle stop right outside the Hatston gangway
Stagecoach service 8/8S links Hatston with Kirkwall centre and the onward Stromness route
📍 Stagecoach bus stop at the Hatston Pier gates
Reliable for short hops to town; book ahead for Skara Brae or Stones runs
📍 Taxis queue at Hatston Pier when ships are in
Hatston is 2.5 km from town along an exposed road; possible but not pleasant in wet weather
📍 Follow the Hatston Road footpath south toward Kirkwall
Useful for full-island days but requires advance booking; left-hand drive on narrow roads
📍 Orkney Car Hire delivers to Hatston on request
Map & things to do
Money & payments
Cards work for almost everything; carry a few pounds for the smallest cafés
Things to do
Ring of Brodgar
Short stop⭐ Highlight
Massive 5000-year-old stone circle on a narrow strip between two lochs
🕐 Late afternoon for the best light if the weather plays along
Bishop's and Earl's Palaces
Short stop⭐ Highlight
Twin ruined palaces opposite the cathedral with great views from the Earl's Palace tower
🕐 Pair with the cathedral visit
Maeshowe
⭐ Highlight
Neolithic chambered tomb you crouch into through a low passage — Viking runes line the inner walls
🕐 Book the earliest slot you can; tours run hourly and fill
Standing Stones of Stenness
Short stop⭐ Highlight
Four towering monoliths from one of Britain's earliest stone circles — under 2 km from Brodgar
🕐 Bundle with Brodgar in either direction
Skara Brae
⭐ Highlight
UNESCO-listed 5000-year-old stone village on the Bay of Skaill — the highlight of any Orkney visit
🕐 Open from 09:30; arrive by mid-morning to beat tour buses
Kirkwall Old Town Walk
Short stop🚶 Walk
Self-guided wander down Albert Street and Bridge Street between the cathedral and harbour
🕐 Anytime in daylight
Highland Park Distillery
🎯 Activity
Working single-malt distillery with guided tours and tastings on a hill above town
🕐 Pre-book the morning slot to be back well before sailaway
Italian Chapel
Short stop⛪ Church / Cathedral
Two Nissen huts painted inside as a Catholic chapel by Italian POWs in 1943
🕐 Pair with a Churchill Barriers drive
St Magnus Cathedral
Short stop⛪ Church / Cathedral
Orkney's 12th-century cathedral and the most striking landmark in Kirkwall
🕐 Late morning organ recitals when scheduled
Orkney Museum
Short stop🏛️ Museum
Free museum inside Tankerness House covering Orkney from Neolithic times to today
🕐 Mid-morning when tour groups thin out
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Plan my day →Frequently asked questions
- Where does my cruise ship dock in Kirkwall?
- Kirkwall is a tender port: your ship anchors offshore and passengers transfer to shore by small boat.
- Can I walk from the cruise port into Kirkwall?
- Walking into Kirkwall from the cruise port isn't practical. Plan to use a shuttle, taxi, or public transport.
- How do I get from the cruise port to Kirkwall centre?
- Typical options include Shuttle bus, Local bus, Taxi, On foot, Car rental. Durations and costs are listed in the transport section above.
- How much time do I need in Kirkwall?
- Plan for at least 5 hours ashore to see Kirkwall independently and return to the ship with a safe buffer.
- What currency is used in Kirkwall and are cards accepted?
- Kirkwall uses the Pound Sterling. Carry some cash for markets, taxis, and smaller vendors — cards aren't accepted everywhere.
- Is there Wi-Fi at the cruise port?
- Wi-Fi isn't reliably available at the Kirkwall cruise terminal. Consider a local SIM or your cruise line's data package.
- When should I be back at the ship?
- Cruise lines usually require all passengers on board about 30 minutes before scheduled departure. Confirm the exact all-aboard time on your daily programme.