Budgeting for a Week-Long Stay in Orkney

By Getting to Orkney by Ferry: A Practical Guide for Visitors
Comments 35
17 Sep 2026

Budgeting for a Week-Long Stay in Orkney

What a Week in Orkney Actually Costs

Orkney rewards the traveller who plans. A week here — whether you base yourself in Kirkwall, Stromness or a cottage on a quieter island — can comfortably come in at £700 to £1,200 per person, once you've paid to reach the islands. That range is wide because three things drive almost all of it: your bed, your ferry crossing, and how often you eat out. Get those three right and the rest of the week looks after itself.

As a rough weekly budget per person, in season:

Self-catering (your share of a cottage sleeping four): £175–£300
Guest house or B&B with breakfast: £350–£600
Ferries and inter-island travel: £80–£200
Food and drink: £150–£350
Car hire (shared between travellers): £150–£300
Attractions, tours and the odd dram: £50–£120

Two people travelling together and cooking half their meals will sit near the bottom of that. A solo traveller in a guest house in August, eating out every night, will comfortably exceed it.

Crossing to Orkney: Ferries, Flights and the Car Question

There are two main sea routes from the Scottish mainland: the longer crossing from Aberdeen into Kirkwall, and the shorter, more popular crossing from Scrabster to Stromness. A third, quick crossing runs from Gills Bay to St Margaret's Hope. Foot passengers pay modest fares; taking a car across adds considerably, sometimes as much as £100 each way in peak season.

That leads to a decision many visitors get wrong. If you're only exploring Mainland — and most of Orkney's headline attractions are there — it's often cheaper to cross as a foot passenger and hire a car on the island for the days you need it. If you're island-hopping to Hoy, Rousay, Sanday or Westray, bringing your own car usually wins, because it saves you hiring again on each island.

Flights from several Scottish airports are quick but pricier and have tight luggage limits. Book ferries as soon as your dates are fixed; summer sailings sell out months ahead.

Guest House or Self-Catering?

A guest house is the easiest introduction to Orkney. Breakfast is included, the owners know which beaches are worth the drive, and you don't have to think about shopping on your first evening after a long journey. Expect £55–£95 per person per night in high season.

Self-catering is where the real savings sit, particularly for families and groups. A cottage sleeping four at £600–£900 a week works out at roughly a third of the guest house rate per head. You also gain a washing machine, a drying room and the freedom to eat when you like — genuinely useful when the light lasts until nearly midnight in June.

Book self-catering four to six months ahead for July and August.
Many places set a minimum stay of three or four nights in peak season.
May, June and September are quieter and often £10–£20 a night cheaper.

Eating Well Without Overspending

Kirkwall and Stromness both have supermarkets and excellent local butchers, bakers and fishmongers. Loading a cool bag before a day out is the single biggest saving available to you: a picnic on the Brough of Birsay beats a £15 sandwich-and-crisps stop.

Evenings out are worth budgeting for properly, because Orkney's food is genuinely part of the trip. A pub main course runs £13–£18, a restaurant main £18–£28, and a locally landed seafood plate is worth every penny. In summer, book evening tables a day or two ahead, or you'll be cooking whether you planned to or not.

A workable pattern for a week: breakfast at your accommodation or cottage, a packed lunch out, and one proper meal in town. That lands around £30–£40 per person per day without feeling frugal.

Getting Around Without Overspending

Distances on Mainland look short on the map and take longer than you expect — single-track roads, livestock, and the temptation to stop at every viewpoint. Budget for fuel at mainland prices and fill up in Kirkwall or Stromness rather than on the smaller islands.

Car hire: £40–£70 a day; book early, as the fleet is small.
Buses: cheap and reliable on Mainland, but infrequent on Sundays.
Inter-island ferries: inexpensive for foot passengers; a good option if you're leaving the car behind.
Guided tours: £40–£70 per person for a half day, worthwhile if you'd rather not drive.

Many of Orkney's best moments cost nothing: the Ring of Brodgar, the Standing Stones of Stenness, the cliffs at Yesnaby, and the endless summer twilight. Maeshowe is the notable exception — it must be booked, and it's worth booking early.

Timing, Bookings and the Small Savings That Add Up

Shoulder season is Orkney's open secret. Late May and September bring settled weather, fewer people and lower prices on both beds and crossings. Midweek sailings are often cheaper than weekend ones, and travelling outside the school holidays can shave a surprising amount off a self-catering week.

Finally, watch the extras that quietly inflate a holiday budget: luggage charges on flights, car supplements on ferries, and the temptation to upgrade every tour you book. Set aside a modest contingency — £100 or so — and you'll come home relaxed rather than reaching for a calculator.

Plan the three big costs and a week in Orkney becomes not just affordable but remarkable value: the archaeology, the coastlines and the welcome cost you nothing extra at all.

Practical Tips

Exploring Orkney's Mainland Without a Car

Discover how to pick a warm and welcoming guest house when visiting Orkney outside the summer season, with tips on heating and hospitality.

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5 Comments

Robert Sonny says Jul 21, 2024 at 10:00am

I must explain to you how all this mistaken idea of denouncing pleasure and praising pain was born and I will give you a complete account of the system
Reply
- John Abraham says Jul 21, 2024 at 10:00am
  
  I must explain to you how all this mistaken idea of denouncing pleasure and praising pain was born and I will give you a complete account of the system
  Reply
  - Robert Sonnysays Jul 21, 2024 at 10:00am
    
    I must explain to you how all this mistaken idea of denouncing pleasure and praising pain was born and I will give you a complete account of the system
    Reply
Robert Sonny says Jul 21, 2024 at 10:00am

I must explain to you how all this mistaken idea of denouncing pleasure and praising pain was born and I will give you a complete account of the system
Reply

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