For the visitor, Shetland offers the opportunity for adventure and a return to nature – with epic coastal hikes, deserted white-sand beaches and a rich array of wildlife, from otters and orcas to Shetland ponies and bustling gannet colonies. You’ll eat amazing local produce, from Britain’s best mussels to tender lamb from free-roaming sheep. All the while, you’ll experience the famous Shetland welcome and the islands’ unique culture, with clearer Viking and Scandinavian influences than anywhere else in the UK.
But Shetland is much more than just a place to visit. You’ll be welcomed into a vibrant society, where community and sustainability are more than buzzwords, with great schools, world-class infrastructure and loads to do, from sports clubs to events and outdoor activities. With low crime (it’s not really like the Shetland TV series), Shetland is a place where children can roam freely, and where many people live with a view of the sea.
Flying to Shetland from the mainland
There are regular scheduled flights from London Heathrow and four Scottish mainland airports, as well as inter-island flights to Kirkwall (Orklney Islands) and weekly flights to Bergen during the summer months. Connections are available in Aberdeen with flights to and from many regional airports including Dublin and Belfast.
With 60 years of experience serving Scotland and beyond, Loganair is proud to be the UK’s largest regional airline. From modest beginnings in 1962 with a single aircraft, we’ve grown to operate a fleet of over 30, connecting communities across the UK and beyond with warmth, professionalism, and a commitment to outstanding service. Every journey with Loganair is guided by our passion for hospitality, ensuring each passenger feels valued and at home.
All Loganair flights arrive and depart Sumburgh Airport about 25 miles south of Lerwick.
Sumburgh Airport, ZE3 9JP, is located on the southern tip of the Shetland Mainland, nearly 25 miles south of Lerwick.
Airport Runway Road Crossing
One of the many things that are special about Sumburgh Airport is its island location. If you are collecting a passenger or driving to catch a flight there, you need to be aware that the public road crosses the runway.
For everyone’s safety, please make sure that when you are driving between the road barriers, don’t stop or deviate from the road and follow any instructions given by staff.
Public Transport
An hourly bus to Lerwick (Service 6 – South Mainland) operates directly opposite the main terminal front – click on the Bus Times link below.
Taxis
Taxis can usually be found right outside the terminal front door. Please speak with a member of airport staff if you have any difficulties finding a taxi.
Inter-Island Flights to Fair Isle and Foula
You can reach two of Shetland’s more remote islands by plane.
The inter-island flight service operated by Airtask Group makes it easy to go ‘island-hopping’ to some of Shetland’s more remote locations. Flights depart from Tingwall airport (just 6 miles outside Lerwick) flying direct to Fair Isle and Foula.
Please note there is no regular bus service to Tingwall Airport. To book a Dial-A-Ride service, call +44 (0)1595 745745. Dial-A-Ride bookings must be made at least 24 hours ahead of your departure.
Ferries to Shetland from Aberdeen
Your journey begins as you set sail with NorthLink Ferries. On board the ferry to Shetland you’ll be able to enjoy many comforts before arriving at your destination feeling refreshed and ready to begin your island adventure. With regular overnight sailings for passengers and cars from Aberdeen, travelling to the Shetland Islands from the Scottish Mainland is more convenient than ever before.
NorthLink Ferries sail daily from Aberdeen to Shetland and from Shetland to Aberdeen, sailing every evening and arriving the following morning.
These ships call in at Orkney frequently, arriving in the late evening before sailing on to Aberdeen or Lerwick.
Inter-Island Ferries
Inter-Island Ferries are operated on behalf of Shetland Islands Council. The following schedules show the departure times from each terminal: For more information visit https://www.shetland.gov.uk/ferries
Buses around Shetland
Public transport on Shetland is operated by a variety of local bus companies, details of whuch can be found on the Shetland Travel website.
Click on one of the buttons below to download the current timetables:
Visiting Fair Isle
Famous for its birds, knitwear and historic shipwrecks, Fair Isle is a tiny jewel of an island, half-way between Orkney and Shetland, owned by the National Trust for Scotland.
A quick introduction
Fair Isle is the southernmost Shetland island and lies 24 miles from the Shetland Mainland and 27 miles from North Ronaldsay, the most northerly island in Orkney.
Norse settlers named it Fridarey – ‘the island of peace’ – but this stepping stone in the sea was also vital in times of strife, when the Earls of Orkney, and Viking warlords before them, used it as a look-out post and for sending fire signals to and from Shetland.
The island passed into the ownership of the National Trust of Scotland in 1954. Today, it is home to around 60 people. Fair Isle is a hotspot for ornithologists thanks to its importance as a breeding ground for seabirds and a stopping point for migrant species.
How to get to Fair Isle
You can travel by ferry or plane, and both must be pre-booked.
The ferry ‘Good Shepherd IV’ carries 12 passengers and takes 2.5 hours. It leaves from Grutness Pier at the southern tip of Shetland and once a fortnight (summer only) from Lerwick. Please note that this is not a car ferry. View the timetable by clicking the link in the ‘Inter-Island Ferries’ section above.
Most flights leave from Tingwall Airport, six miles west of Lerwick, and take around 25 minutes. The flights operate three times a week and, from April to October, there is also weekly service from Sumburgh (April – October). View the timetable on the Airtask website.
Island Transportation 