Best Hotels in Kirkwall

Explore Kirkwall from hotels near iconic landmarks, popular shopping streets, and top dining spots.

Kirkwall Youth Hostel
8.2 (26 reviews)

Kirkwall Youth Hostel ★★

📍 Old Scapa Rd, Kirkwall

"The location for hostel needs to have more signage from the Ayre Hotel as it can take a while to locate it..Once there the hostel is well laid out, receptionist Ebony was a great help explaining all the housekeeping instructions..all rooms appear to be large enough, we had a twin room with comfy beds, bathrooms and toilets were clean and tidy, shower mats and towels provided, the kitchen had everything you need with a large well laid out dining room, there was a comfy lounge and laundry facilities..our bikes were locked in luggage room with a code. Overall we would book again"

Albert Hotel
8.9 (73 reviews)

Albert Hotel ★★★

📍 Junction Rd, Kirkwall

Ayre Hotel & Ayre Apartments
8.3 (102 reviews)

Ayre Hotel & Ayre Apartments ★★★

📍 Ayre Rd, Kirkwall

"The location is excellent, not far from the airport bus stop and several restaurants, and it's right by the sea with a sea view. The facilities are a bit dated, but acceptable, and the heating works fine. There's a damp smell upon entering the room, which is much better with the windows open. For a small archipelago town, these conditions are acceptable."

The Kirkwall Hotel
8.2 (42 reviews)

The Kirkwall Hotel ★★★

📍 Harbour St, Kirkwall

"We went on a coach holiday touring Shetland and Orkney. The coach holiday was absolutely fabulous and the hotel accommodation also, however when it came to meals that was a different matter altogether. Breakfast was lovely - choice of cooked or continental or both if you wish, but because we were on a coach booking we had VERY limited choice for evening meal - when I say choice if you are a vegetarian - as I am and so were several of my fellow holidayers - you had NO CHOICE AT ALL. There was one meal. The first evening meal it was butternut squash and courgette rissotto. It was awful and there was so much of it with a complete vine of tomatoes on the top. Everyone sent it back hardly touched. The second night we were offered vegetable lasagne. We went to the chip chop around the corner, but we had paid for a full three course evening meal. It's not right. The meat eaters had a choice of three options, but even those were limited. My husband asked if we could have something from the main menu if we paid the difference but we were refused. It's such a shame because we were really pleased with our accommodation and the breakfast but the main meal was dreadful. I wouldn't book there again not if it included a three course meal in the deal. It's not worth the money. Such a shame. Spoiled an otherwise absolutely amazing holiday."

Royal Oak Guesthouse
9.7 (44 reviews)

Royal Oak Guesthouse ★★★

📍 Royal Oak House, Holm Rd, Kirkwall

"An amazing guest house, owned and run by a young couple who went out of their way to be helpful, nothing seemed to be too much trouble for them. We were a party of 5 and had 3 rooms, so we were kindly given the whole top floor of the guest house, which had a lovely cosy sitting area with facilities for making hot drinks, a microwave etc. We had a takeaway one evening and all sat around the table together. The rooms were very clean and cosy, and had everything you would need for a comfortable stay. Breakfast was first class and plenty to last the whole day. The hosts were very knowledgeable about Orkney and the surrounding islands, if they didn’t know the answer they would find it out. I would highly recommend this guest house, and will definitely stay here again on my next trip to Orkney. Thank you for making our stay enjoyable."

West End Guest House
7.5 (6 reviews)

West End Guest House ★★★

📍 14 Main Street, Kirkwall

"This place is very cute. Room was small but cosy and location couldn't be beat. It was within walking distance of downtown, restaurants, and sites. The breakfast was easy and just right for a chilly morning. The employees were very friendly and accommodating. We accidentally didn't book enough nights and the owner helped us find and book a room and even offered to take our bags there. A great start to our trip. "

The Shore
8.0 (48 reviews)

The Shore ★★★

📍 Shore St, Kirkwall

The Orkney Hotel
7.5 (56 reviews)

The Orkney Hotel ★★★

📍 40-41 Victoria St, Kirkwall

"I was travelling alone and staying at the Orkney Hotel was a great experience. The room was clean, well-stocked and comfortable. Staff friendly and attentive. The meals were good and breakfast overlooking the beautiful garden was lovely. It was a great base to explore Kirkwall and further afield in Orkney."

Grainbank Mews
9.4 (27 reviews)

Grainbank Mews ★★★

📍 Grainbank House, Kirkwall

"Excellent accomodation. Old fashioned house with modern interior. Stayed for six nights on a business trip. Room was great . Clean, warm and everything you need. Breakfast was first class. Albert and Aileen were excellent hosts . Organised everything for me when the ferry home was cancelled and had to stay extra night. Will definitely use this place again ."

Guest Reviews for Kirkwall Hotels

9.5
Excellent Traveler Rating
Real & verified guest reviews from around the world
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Guest User

Other
Kirkwall Youth Hostel ★★
"As other Reviewers have stated, it is a hostel. It is clean and tidy and bare bones. I stayed here with a group of 15 people for a week as we used the Hostel as our base while we traveled by car and ferry to hike around the Orkney Islands. We shared basic rooms and there are communal showers/toilets that are separated for women/men. Sheets and towels are provided. There is a communal kitchen where we cooked every night and cubbies & fridge to store food. A pub is a quick 15 min walk away for drinks and the town is probably 20-25 mins walk. There is a large communal area to eat and a large lounge to read, be on your phone or otherwise relax. Overall great staff and had no issues the days we were there. We were up early every morning and back around 5 pm each night. The glorious week of sun and a little rain kept us outside exploring the beautiful Islands"
★★★★★
2026-02-18
Y

Yuandong Shen

Traveling with friends
Ayre Hotel & Ayre Apartments ★★★
"Good hotel. At the centre of Kirkwall. Great food at its restauran"
★★★★★
2026-01-13
K

Kat D

Solo traveler
The Kirkwall Hotel ★★★
"The staff and local residents are friendly and helpful, after travelling a lengthy time my next flight was canceled do to weather wind! Buses had canceled but the driver offered to take me to the Kirkwall hotel and showed me how to get back to the airport in the morning offering to pick me up when need the next day. Front desk set me up in a room with a view over the harbour. Very clean and updated."
★★★★★
2025-01-05
G

Guest User

Other
Royal Oak Guesthouse ★★★
"We stayed with Eric and Alice for just over a week, and it truly felt like home. Their hospitality and warmth were exceptional—second to none. Even before we arrived, they were incredibly kind and accommodating, and that kindness only grew throughout our stay. I would choose staying here over any hotel without hesitation, and I would gladly return if I ever visit again. I can’t recommend Eric and Alice highly enough. Thank you both so much!"
★★★★★
2025-07-26
G

Guest User

Other
West End Guest House ★★★
"Nice place: clean comfortable and with a very pleasant Magyar owner. Good breakfast (good strong tea bags and nice poached egg). My only quibble is the unopenable Georgian window in our room -- it is a lovely building. "
★★★★★
2023-07-30
G

Guest User

Family
The Orkney Hotel ★★★
"A bit overpriced, rooms are a bit dated. Peeling wallpaper on ceiling in room. Breakfast was good otherwise."
★★★★★
2024-09-12
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Guest User

Other
Grainbank Mews ★★★
"We had the most beautiful and relaxing stay at Grainbank Mews. From the very beginning, the hosts were incredibly welcoming and attentive, promptly answering our questions before arrival and offering excellent recommendations for places to eat. The guest house has been beautifully converted, and we stayed in both a king room and a ground-floor twin room. Each was tastefully decorated, spotlessly clean, and thoughtfully equipped with everything we could possibly need for a comfortable stay. A generous continental breakfast was included, with a wide selection of cereals, porridge, toast, and fresh fruit. It was more than enough to set us up perfectly for a full day of sightseeing around the island. We would highly recommend Grainbank Mews to anyone visiting the area and wouldn’t hesitate to stay here again if we return."
★★★★★
2026-02-16
G

Guest User

Other
Karrawa Guest House ★★★
"Guesthouse perfection in orkney"
★★★★★
2026-04-29

Kirkwall Travel Information

Power Plug & Voltage

230V/Type G

💵

Exchange Rate

GBP

💳

Local Payment

Cards/ApplePay/Cash

📱

Connectivity

EE/Vodafone/O2/Three

🌡️

Current Weather

Showers

More Information About Kirkwall Hotels

Key Info

Details

Number of reviews

503

Total properties

19

Weekday Avg. Price

£162

Weekend Avg. Price

£157

Trending hotel

The Shore

FAQ – Hotels in Kirkwall

  • What are some of the best hotels in Kirkwall?

    The most popular Kirkwall hotels for your stay: The Shore (from £147), Albert Hotel (from £129) and Kirkwall Youth Hostel (from £32) are the preferred hotels.

  • What hotels in Kirkwall offer an especially good breakfast ?

    Albert Hotel (from £129),The Shore (from £147) and Ayre Hotel & Ayre Apartments (from £154) provide high-quality breakfast. Start your day with a delicious breakfast!

  • How to get good deals on hotels in Kirkwall?

    To get the best hotel deals, try these Trip.com tips: 1. Log In Trip.com first and unlock member-only rates and Trip Coins (loyalty points). 2. Book Midweek: Sun–Thurs stays are much cheaper than weekends. 3. Set Price Alerts: Monitor price drops and rebook if needed. 4. Use “We Price Match” Policy: If you find a lower price elsewhere, Trip.com will refund the difference. 5. Avoid major holidays, conventions, and big events. 6. Check the Deals Page to see what promotions are available now on Trip.com.

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