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- St Magnus Cathedral — The heart of Kirkwall: imposing red sandstone, medieval carvings, the tomb of St Magnus and surprisingly atmospheric light inside. Climb the tower (when open) or join a short guided tour to pick up the Norse stories that make the place tick.
- The Earl’s Palace — Dramatic 17th-century ruin with crumbling staircases and a real sense of political soap opera (think feuding earls and royal displeasure). It’s right beside the cathedral and gives great context to Orkney’s power struggles after the Middle Ages.
- The Bishop’s Palace — Smaller and moodier than the Earl’s Palace, this set of ruins and grassy courts tells the ecclesiastical side of Kirkwall’s past; great for wandering, photos and imagining medieval life.
- Tankerness House / Orkney Museum — A compact townhouse-turned-museum
- St Magnus Cathedral — The heart of Kirkwall: imposing red sandstone, medieval carvings, the tomb of St Magnus and surprisingly atmospheric light inside. Climb the tower (when open) or join a short guided tour to pick up the Norse stories that make the place tick.
- The Earl’s Palace — Dramatic 17th-century ruin with crumbling staircases and a real sense of political soap opera (think feuding earls and royal displeasure). It’s right beside the cathedral and gives great context to Orkney’s power struggles after the Middle Ages.
- The Bishop’s Palace — Smaller and moodier than the Earl’s Palace, this set of ruins and grassy courts tells the ecclesiastical side of Kirkwall’s past; great for wandering, photos and imagining medieval life.
- Tankerness House / Orkney Museum — A compact townhouse-turned-museum full of Pictish stones, Viking finds and local social history. If you want the archaeological highlights without leaving town, this is it.
- Orkneyinga Saga Centre — Short, sharp introduction to the Norse sagas and Orkney’s Viking roots, with maps, displays and a film to tie it together. Useful if you want the backstory before hitting wider island archaeology.
- Highland Park Distillery — Famous local whisky produced in Kirkwall; tours and tastings explain the peat, the old methods and the stories behind the bottles. Book ahead if you want a proper tasting slot.
- Kirkwall Harbour & Fish Quay — The working waterfront where ferries, fishing boats and wildlife meet; good for seal-spotting, watching boats come and go, and sampling fresh seafood. Also where many boat trips to nearby islands start.
- Broad Street & Cathedral Close — Not just a shopping street: narrow closes, independent craft shops, bakeries and cafes clustered around the cathedral give a real feel for daily life in Kirkwall. Walk slowly — the best discoveries are the small bakeries and local studios tucked off the main drag.
- Orkney Library & Archive — Small but rich: local archives, historic photographs, ship records and genealogy resources. If you’re curious about family history or local life, the staff are helpful and the collections are worth a browse.
- The Kirkwall Ba (town game) — Not a building but a living tradition: a town-wide handball match played on Christmas and New Year’s Day that’s utterly Orkney. If you’re in town for it, it’s a brilliant, chaotic slice of local culture — if not, the story of the Ba still tells you a lot about community identity here.
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Hi, I’m Johan (Netherlands 🇳🇱), the creator of TakeYourBackpack. Over the past 3 decades, I’ve backpacked through 90+ countries across six continents, gaining extensive experience with independent travel, long-term trips, and overland routes.