Lerwick Cruise Port
Lerwick, United Kingdom · Northern Europe
Cruise ships anchor offshore in Lerwick — tenders ferry passengers to the port.
Shetland's capital — small ships berth at Victoria Pier; larger ships tender into Lerwick town centre.
At a glance
Port summary
Lerwick Port Authority runs several cruise berths. Small and mid-size ships berth at Victoria Pier or Albert Pier in the town centre; larger cruise ships anchor in Bressay Sound and tender to Victoria Pier, or berth at Holmsgarth or Mair's Pier about 2 km north of the centre. The town itself is tiny and walkable; Scalloway and the south mainland (Jarlshof, Sumburgh Head) need a car or coach.
Cruise docks
🚢 Victoria Pier
The in-town cruise berth — small and mid-size ships dock here directly, and larger ships tender to the same pier. Commercial Street is a one-minute walk.
📍 Latitude: 60.1549, Longitude: -1.1453
See dock on port map →🚢 Holmsgarth / Mair's Pier
Deep-water berths used by larger cruise ships. About 2 km north of Lerwick town centre — shuttle or taxi is needed to reach the centre.
📍 Latitude: 60.1687, Longitude: -1.148
See dock on port map →Getting to Lerwick
From the cruise terminal to the city centre
Victoria Pier lands you in the heart of Lerwick town — the museum, shops and cafés are within 5 minutes on foot.
📍 Step off at Victoria Pier straight onto Commercial Street.
Used when ships berth 2 km north at Holmsgarth or Mair's Pier rather than Victoria Pier.
📍 Cruise-line shuttle stop at the Holmsgarth berth when operating.
Pre-book for longer runs to Scalloway or Sumburgh — Shetland taxi capacity is limited on cruise call days.
📍 Taxi rank at Victoria Pier and Holmsgarth when ships berth.
Local ZetTrans buses serve Scalloway (route 4), Sumburgh (route 6) and the rest of Shetland — limited on Sundays.
📍 ZetTrans bus stops at Viking Bus Station, 5 min walk from Victoria Pier.
Bookable in advance only — walk-up availability is rare on cruise call days. Best option for reaching Eshaness, St Ninian's Isle or remote sights.
📍 Bolts and Star Rent-a-Car have offices near the port with pre-booked deliveries.
Map & things to do
Money & payments
Cards work for nearly everything; carry a small amount of cash for honesty boxes and small stalls
Things to do
Scalloway Castle
Short stop⭐ Highlight
Ruined 17th-century Stewart castle overlooking Scalloway harbour.
🕐 Morning
Jarlshof Prehistoric and Norse Settlement
⭐ Highlight
4,000 years of settlement layers on the Sumburgh headland.
🕐 Late morning to afternoon
Clickimin Broch
Short stop⭐ Highlight
Atmospheric 2,000-year-old Iron Age broch at the edge of Lerwick.
🕐 Any daylight hour
Commercial Street and Lerwick Lanes
Short stop🚶 Walk
Flagstone high street with knitwear shops and historic hillside closes.
🕐 Any daylight hour — shops roughly 10–17
Bressay Ferry and Walk
🚶 Walk
Short council ferry across to Bressay for coastal and lighthouse walks.
🕐 Clear weather
St Ninian's Isle Tombolo
Short stop🏖️ Beach
Slender white-sand tombolo linking Shetland to St Ninian's Isle.
🕐 Low to mid tide for the clearest sand
Scalloway Museum
🏛️ Museum
Museum of the WW2 Shetland Bus — Norwegian resistance fishing boats.
🕐 Morning
Shetland Museum and Archives
🏛️ Museum
Excellent waterfront museum covering 6,000 years of Shetland life.
🕐 Morning
Sumburgh Head Lighthouse and RSPB Reserve
📸 Viewpoint
Cliff-top lighthouse with puffins May–early August and seabird colonies.
🕐 May–early August for puffins
Fort Charlotte
Short stop📸 Viewpoint
17th-century fort above Commercial Street with free battlement views.
🕐 Clear weather for the views
Build your perfect day in Lerwick
Tell us how long you have, who you're with, and what you enjoy — our AI will create a personalised itinerary just for you.
Plan my day →Frequently asked questions
- Where does my cruise ship dock in Lerwick?
- Lerwick is a tender port: your ship anchors offshore and passengers transfer to shore by small boat.
- Can I walk from the cruise port into Lerwick?
- Yes. Lerwick is walkable from the cruise port — many cruisers reach the city centre on foot.
- How do I get from the cruise port to Lerwick centre?
- Typical options include On foot, Shuttle bus, Taxi, Local bus, Car rental. Durations and costs are listed in the transport section above.
- How much time do I need in Lerwick?
- Plan for at least 4 hours ashore to see Lerwick independently and return to the ship with a safe buffer.
- What currency is used in Lerwick and are cards accepted?
- Lerwick 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?
- Free Wi-Fi is available at the Lerwick cruise terminal.
- 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.