Hotels in Orkney
8 handpicked places to stay
Photo © rick carter, Google Maps
Most of Orkney's hotels and B&Bs sit in or near Kirkwall and Stromness, the two towns that anchor the mainland and make sensible bases for exploring the islands. The Albert Hotel, The Ayre Hotel and The Lynnfield Hotel are all within easy reach of Kirkwall's shops and the cathedral, while The Stromness Hotel and The Ferry Inn put you close to the harbour where boats leave for Hoy and the outer isles.
Further out, The Foveran looks over Scapa Flow and suits those wanting quiet and views over town-centre convenience, and The Storehouse Restaurant with Rooms pairs a bed with a serious dinner. Sanderlay Guest House offers a simpler, homelier option for shorter stays.
Given how spread out Orkney's sites are, it is worth choosing a base near whichever ferry terminal or attraction matters most, since driving times between towns can eat into a day's sightseeing.
The Storehouse Restaurant with Rooms
Hotel · Bridge Street Wynd, central Kirkwall
Eight luxury en-suite rooms above a serious restaurant in a converted Kirkwall storehouse, a minute from the cathedral and the harbour.
The Foveran
Hotel · St Ola, overlooking Scapa Flow
Restaurant with rooms in a low modern building above Scapa Flow, three miles from Kirkwall and long regarded as one of Orkney's best tables.
The Lynnfield Hotel
Hotel · Holm Road, St Ola, above Kirkwall
Small four-star country-house hotel looking north over Kirkwall Bay, with a well-regarded restaurant and a notable whisky collection.
Sanderlay Guest House
Guest House · Viewfield Drive, Kirkwall outskirts
Family-run bed and breakfast on Viewfield Drive, about a mile from central Kirkwall, with en-suite rooms and family suites at sensible prices.
The Albert Hotel
Hotel · Mounthoolie Lane, central Kirkwall
Independent 30-bedroom hotel in the historic heart of Kirkwall, with stylish en-suite rooms and the popular Neuk bar and restaurant.
The Ferry Inn
Inn · John Street, Stromness harbour
Friendly harbourside inn on John Street in Stromness, with en-suite rooms above a bar and restaurant that is a hub for locals and visitors.
The Ayre Hotel
Hotel · Ayre Road, Kirkwall seafront
Long-established seafront hotel on Ayre Road in Kirkwall, offering hotel bedrooms plus self-catering apartments, with a bar known for folk music.
The Stromness Hotel
Hotel · The Pierhead, Stromness waterfront
Landmark 42-bedroom Victorian hotel on the Stromness pierhead, directly opposite the Scrabster ferry terminal and the harbour.