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We can’t even begin to say how stoked we are for you to visit Shetland! We spent six weeks in Shetland in the fall of 2016, and loved every moment of it! Throughout those six weeks, we explored as much as possible, taking our campervan out every weekend, and have compiled a list of 25 things to do in Shetland.
We’ve broken these top things to do in Shetland into the four main areas of the islands, so if you aren’t visiting Shetland for long, you can target a general area and go from there. Don’t forget, before you take off on your Shetland holiday, prepare yourself with all you need to know about the Shetland Islands.
Okay, let’s dig on in!
Visiting Shetland | Things To Do In Lerwick
Clickimin Broch
On the way out of Lerwick heading south, you’ll find ruins of a broch on the right-hand side. Walk through the ruins and learn a bit of history at this broch on the water. Like most things in Shetland, this is free to enter, just treat the area with respect so it will stay that way!
Eat At Queens Hotel In Lerwick
Located on the water in the “city center”, you’ll find the Queen’s Hotel. They have amazing risotto, and bottles of wine that are delicious and pretty cheap for a hotel! Enjoy walking along the water through the village and then sipping on wine here.
Walk Around The Knab
If you’re spending time in Lerwick, the peninsula in the southeast side of town is a nice walk. You’ll walk along the water’s edge and can extend your walk into a really cute neighborhood in Lerwick. If you’re lucky, you may find harbour seals or even a whale!
Scalloway Castle (Scalloway)
Technically not in Lerwick, but only a short drive away is Scalloway Castle. This Historic Scotland site is free to enter and fun to explore. Grab the keys from the visitor’s center near the castle or from Scalloway Hotel just down the road. Be sure to not lock anyone in on your way out, we’ve heard stories of this happening to people!
Eat At North Atlantic Fisheries Restaurant (Scalloway)
Maybe not the fanciest place to eat, but by far the best tasting food around! Our only regret with the North Atlantic Fisheries Restaurant is not going at the beginning of our time in Shetland so we could go back. Amazing fresh seafood full of flavor right on the water – can’t beat it. It’s tucked away on the far side of Scalloway, and is a true hidden gem!
READ MORE | Spending 6 Weeks in Shetland
Visiting Shetland | Things To See In The South
Sumburgh Head
This lighthouse on the southern tip of the Shetland Islands holds so much history, amazing birdwatching, and beautiful views. The visitor’s center/museum here is only open April-September, but visiting the lighthouse is worth it outside of those times as well!
Traveler’s Tip… Sumburgh Head is a great place to spot a puffin or two! If you’re visiting Shetland during puffin season (May-July) be sure to keep on the lookout for those cute little guys!
Jarlshof Settlement
The Jarlshof Settlement is an old village that was uncovered during a major storm in the 1890s. It is an area of many different ages of settlements built on top of one another. There’s a fee to get in (is this part of historic Scotland?), but if you go after hours, you can just pop yourself through the gate and explore on your own.
To read more about the Jarlshof Settlement and a bit more in-depth explanation of what exactly it is, check out this post here.
St. Ninian’s Isle
If you’re up for a nice walk, this isle is just the place! It’s a 6km 3 hour walk around an island that’s connected to the mainland by a large strip of sand. The cliffs are beautiful, and if you’re lucky, you may even see a harbor seal or two! If you’re not up for walking the whole isle, it’s still a nice place to visit and interesting to see!
Traveler’s Tip… Since living in Shetland, there’s now a camping site right at St. Ninian’s Isle. From what we’ve heard, it’s donation based, and looks like a fabulous place to stay the night!
Meal Beach
This beach will make you feel like you’re in the Caribbean somewhere. The colors of the water are breathtaking, and with an easy walk to and from the beach, it’s the perfect place for a picnic or short walk on the sand! Keep an eye out for harbour seals playing in the waves here!
Mousa Broch
Access to this broch is via ferry only and runs from April-September. We were unable to visit because we were in Shetland a bit too late in the season, however, we’re sure this place is awesome to see. Walk the 3 km around the inner part of the island to visit this slice of history.
Visiting Shetland | Northern Mainland
Esha Ness Lighthouse
This lighthouse is surrounded with some of the most dramatic scenery in Shetland. Walk along the volcanic rock to the cliff’s edge and try to find the two blowholes! You can also enjoy the cliff views from the easier grounds along the grass. Keep on the lookout for whales and dolphins – they’re often spotted here!
Traveler’s Tip… This is a perfect place for catching the Northern Lights! Get the Aurora Borealis App to get notified of the chances of seeing them!
A Wee Walk From Hillswick
The walk from the public parking in Hillswick (pronounced Hellswick) is fairly easy. Walking along a sheep pasture, you’ll have sheep on one side of you, and cliffs on the other. You can enjoy seals and sea otters swimming around and enjoy great views of the cliffs on the other side of the inlet.
Views From Braewick
On the way to Esha Ness Lighthouse, there’s the “town” of Braewick. It’s basically a cluster of three or four buildings and a little campground. Stop in at the Braewick café and check out the gorgeous views of the rock stacks in the water! It’s basically a closer/different angle of the views you can see from the Hillswick walk, and it’s beautiful!
Frankie’s Fish And Chips
Hands down, the best fish and chips in the United Kingdom. In fact, they even boast about that fact. Their fish and chips and scampi are both to die for. We purposely went out of our way a few times to get fish and chips at Frankie’s! Don’t forget to get some of their homemade tartar sauce too.. Sooo good!
Traveler’s Tip… Get your food to go. The dine-in prices are £1-2 more than the take out options, and you can always find a nice place on the water to eat!
READ MORE | Top 3 Fish and Chips Spots in Scotland
Muckle Roe
This area is a great stop on the way to Esha Ness Lighthouse. You can hike the whole loop around Muckle Roe in about half a day finding yourself a lighthouse and yet again gorgeous views.
Traveler’s Tip… Just before the bridge to Muckle Roe, there’s a harbour on the right. Eat your fish and chips there, or even walk from the harbour along the water’s edge for a shorter and not too strenuous hike.
Finding A Shetland Pony
You’ll see Shetland Ponies everywhere in Shetland, but our favorite spot that we found them was on the way to Esha Ness Lighthouse. Here they roam around freely, even on the road, so you’ll be able to get up close and personal with them! And they’re so stinking cute!!
Lighthouse And Fishing Village
At the end of A970 (the main highway), you’ll find yourself at someone’s house. Park here, and head up the driveway to the left. It’s a 3-hour round trip walk to an old fishing village and lighthouse! This is quite a long walk with lots of elevation for Shetland, however, the old fishing village and views from the lighthouse are worth the hard work!
Visiting Shetland | The Northern Isle (Yell + Unst)
Hermaness Nature Reserve (Unst)
Wander along a wooden path through heather bush and sheep to be greeted with hundreds if not thousands of birds. As you get closer and closer to the cliffs you’ll start hearing birds chirping and squawking, then you get to the edge and see hundreds soaring through the air! You’ll have about a ten-minute walk with an incline, and then the rest is completely flat and boarded. This place is truly spectacular – Definitely one of our favorite places in all of Shetland.
Traveler’s Tip… This is a great place for spotting puffins and for watching the sunset! Take a snack and sit back and enjoy the beauty of this place!
Muness Castle (Unst)
One of two castles in all of Shetland, this one is again free and super fun to wander through. Grab a flashlight from the box provided, give the door a good push to get it opened, and explore the remains of this castle.
Shetland Brewery And Gin Distillery (Unst)
With the brewery and distillery on the same plot of land, this is a great stop for a rainy day. Pop in (open only during the week) and have a look around. Taste some of the interesting flavors of Shetland Reel, and even bring some home for later!
Bobby’s Bus Shelter (Unst)
One of our favorite things about Shetland is how cute all the bus stops and even public toilets are. Bobby’s Bus Shelter is exceptionally special. Seeing this will surely put a smile on your face.
Burravoe Walk (Yell)
The walk from Burravoe is supposed to be one of the easier walks in Shetland for seeing puffins. You park at the harbour/pier, and then walk along the side of the water out and around the peninsula. It’s basically all flat and fairly easy terrain.
Breckon Beach (Yell)
Another one of those beaches where the color of the water will blow your socks off! Enjoy a picnic here and don’t forget to check out the super cute colored shed and old building just before the parking lot!
Visitng Shetland | Things All Over The Shetland Islands
Join In On A Sunday Tea
If you’re interested in really getting a feel for what life is like on Shetland, join the locals at a Sunday tea. The locals are welcoming, the tray bakes are delicious, and the experience as a whole is definitely special to only Shetland.
Traveler’s Tip.. Check out times and locations for Sunday teas and other community events here.
Search For The Northern Lights
With Shetland being so far north, there’s a good chance you’ll see the Northern Lights if you’re visiting between mid-October and mid-March. Download the app AuroraWatch, and get notified of when there’s aurora activity.
Find The Puffins
If you haven’t seen pictures of puffins, you aren’t really living! They are the cutest birds around! Lucky for you, Shetland is a great place to see them! They’re out to sea most of the year, but on land between May-July.
You can find them in numerous spots across Shetland, and we suggest checking this website to find the best places within the islands to spot a puffin.
More Shetland Information
- How to get to and from Shetland | Making the Most of Your Northlink Journey
- What you Need to Know BEFORE Traveling to the Shetland Islands | 9 Travel Tips for Visiting Shetland
- Six Weeks in Shetland | Our Personal Stories of Our Time There
- Find the Best Walks For You | A Super Useful Shetland Walks Website with Distance and Difficulty
As always, feel free to comment below if you want more specific details or have any questions. And, if you’ve visited the islands and feel that we’ve missed some of the things to do in Shetland, please let us know so we can let future traveler’s in on your tips as well!
We suggest downloading this offline map app so you can not only pin the places to visit but also have a map to use when you don’t have service driving around the island.
