How do I get to Shetland?

There are daily flights and ferries connecting mainland UK to Shetland but booking is essential at Festival time.

Travel by Sea

Northlink Ferries currently operate the overnight ferry service between Aberdeen and Shetland. The ferry terminal building is about a 5 minute walk from the train and bus station. Please note, on Wednesday 30 April 2025 the ferry departs Aberdeen at 7pm. The very last check-in will be at 18.30 but as this is a busy ferry, you are advised to arrive earlier. You will arrive in Lerwick at 7.30am on Thursday 01 May 2025.

If you require cabin accommodation, booking the ferry is absolutely essential. Please check their website for more details www.northlinkferries.co.uk OR phone : 0800 111 4422 for reservations and booking enquiries .Or email [email protected] or book face to face in a NorthLink office

Parking at Aberdeen Ferry Terminal

Car parking (hourly/daily rates apply) is available nearby the Aberdeen Terminal at

  • The car park at Commercial Quay is operated by Aberdeen Harbour Board. Parking is allowed for a maximum of 72hrs.
  • Union Square (www.unionsquareaberdeen.com/parking) which is 3 minutes away. This is surface parking for standard parking bay size vehicles, with no height restriction.
  • NCP Ship Row (tel: 01224 594257) which is 15 minutes away . There is a height restriction of 1.9m. A discount is available to NorthLink Ferries passengers with a validated NCP ticket (tickets are validated on return in the NorthLink Ferries Terminal Aberdeen.) Please note: This Discount is subject to change by NCP without notice

Parking for oversized vehicles / vehicles with tows is available at Aberdeen Beach Boulevard and Esplanade.

Travel by Air

You can also fly from Glasgow, Edinburgh, Inverness and Aberdeen with Loganair to Sumburgh - Shetland's main airport. There are several flights per day.  Loganair flights can be booked online at https://www.loganair.co.uk or by contacting your local travel agent.

Is transport available to the concerts?

Transport to and from venues is NOT provided by the Shetland Folk Festival Society. You must make your own travel arrangements to Festival Concerts. If you intend to attend the concerts in the remoter parts of Shetland, a hire car is advisable and we encourage car sharing where possible. Service buses unfortunately don't have suitable schedules to tie in with the closing time of our evening concerts.  Ferry crossings will be required to attend some of the concerts held during the festival.  In 2025, there will be a concert in Yell.  Please find information of inter-island ferries here.  The ferry booking office is 01595 745804 and please note that in addition to the scheduled ferries, there may be additional bookable ferries out of Yell (Ulsta) .