Hotels in Shetland
8 handpicked places to stay
Photo © Google Maps contributors, Google Maps
Most beds in Shetland are found in and around Lerwick, where the Grand Hotel, The Shetland Hotel and Kveldsro House Hotel put you within walking distance of the harbour, shops and ferry terminal. Fort Charlotte Guest House and Alder Lodge Guest House offer a quieter, more personal alternative if you would rather avoid a larger hotel.
Beyond the capital, the choice thins out but the character grows. Busta House Hotel, a 16th-century laird's house near Brae, suits those exploring the north mainland, while Scalloway Hotel puts you close to the old capital and its castle on the west side. Down at the southern tip, Sumburgh Hotel is the obvious base for early flights or ferries and for visiting Jarlshof and the cliffs at Sumburgh Head.
With distances between settlements often considerable, it is worth picking a base near whichever part of Shetland you plan to spend most time in rather than trying to cover the islands from one spot.
Fort Charlotte Guest House
Guest House · Charlotte Street, Lerwick
A five-room, five-star boutique guest house on Charlotte Street in central Lerwick, with breakfasts cooked to order from local Shetland produce.
Alder Lodge Guest House
Guest House · Clairmont Place, Lerwick Old Town
A family-run guest house since 1984 in Shetland's first bank building, on a quiet street in Lerwick's Old Town, close to the harbour and museum.
Scalloway Hotel
Hotel · Main Street, Scalloway
A family-run waterfront hotel on Main Street in Scalloway, Shetland's former capital, with sea-view rooms, a restaurant and bar.
The Shetland Hotel
Hotel · Opposite the ferry terminal, Lerwick
A modern, harbour-view hotel opposite the NorthLink ferry terminal in Lerwick, with large en-suite rooms and the Waterfront Bar & Grill.
Sumburgh Hotel
Hotel · Sumburgh, South Mainland
A former laird's house dating from 1867, five minutes from Sumburgh Airport and close to Jarlshof and the Sumburgh Head puffin colonies.
Grand Hotel Lerwick
Hotel · Commercial Street, Lerwick
A straightforward, central hotel on Commercial Street in Lerwick's Old Town, with free parking and shops, bars and restaurants on the doorstep.
Busta House Hotel
Hotel · Brae, North Mainland
A 16th-century laird's house on the Busta coastline in Brae, with period rooms, a restaurant serving local produce and a central North Mainland location.
Kveldsro House Hotel
Hotel · Lerwick town centre
A quiet, non-smoking townhouse hotel in central Lerwick with modern en-suite rooms, many looking out over the water to Bressay.