Lerwick - Aberdeen
Ferry to Scotland
Lerwick - Aberdeen
Ferry to Scotland
Fares for the Lerwick to Aberdeen crossing usually range somewhere between $66* and $1127*. Most travellers pay around $463* for a Lerwick Aberdeen ferry ticket, and the cheapest fares on this route begin at $66*. Foot passengers can expect to pay roughly $169* on average. Bringing a car along typically brings the average fare up to $1021*.
Fares vary according to passenger count, vehicle type, the route itself and what time you sail. Figures come from fares searched in the previous 30 days, don't include service fees, and were last checked September 26.
There's a quick way to stack up ferry fares and operators from around the world side by side, so you can pick the crossing that best suits you. Getting in early tends to open up the widest choice of prices and sailing times.
Direct Ferries has discounts running throughout the year. Where a senior discount applies to your crossing, it's applied the moment you pick the matching age bracket in the passenger section of your search.
If you're a student or recent graduate, a 5% discount is up for grabs. Head to our partner Student Beans to confirm your status and you'll receive a code to enter at checkout.
A handful of Spanish and Italian ferry routes also offer a resident discount — choose the "Residents" option if it appears during your search and the lower fare is applied straight away. You'll usually need to show proof of address, like a residency card or certificate, when you check in.
Sailings on the Lerwick Aberdeen route generally kick off from Lerwick at around 17:30, and the last departure of the day is usually around 19:00.
With a longer crossing time, a trip between Lerwick and Aberdeen is better suited to a weekend away or an extended stay, so you get proper value out of the journey.
Yes, Northlink Ferries carries vehicles on the Lerwick to Aberdeen route. Check our Deal Finder for up-to-date car ferry pricing on this crossing.
Whether a caravan or campervan is welcome on board the Lerwick to Aberdeen ferry comes down to the ship and operator running the sailing. Pop your travel details into our Deal Finder, and we'll check the operators on this route for you.
Yes, Northlink Ferries takes bicycles on the Lerwick to Aberdeen crossing. Most operators are happy to carry bikes, but it's always worth confirming their exact policy before you turn up at the terminal.
Yes, Northlink Ferries carries foot passengers between Lerwick and Aberdeen.
Pet owners are in luck — Northlink Ferries allows pets on board between Lerwick and Aberdeen. Travelling with a pet on this crossing costs an average of $650.
Fares reflect searches from the last 30 days, exclude service fees, and were last checked September 26.
Before you bring a pet on board, it helps to have the following sorted:
It depends on which operator you're sailing with — some ferries keep pets in your vehicle for the whole trip, while others have dedicated pet areas, kennels, or even pet-friendly cabins. Our Deal Finder lays out the options so you can pick the crossing that works for your pet.
There's a bit to know before travelling with a guide or assistance dog. Let our customer service team know in advance, or mention it to the ferry operator when you book, so everything's arranged ahead of time.
Carry any certification or documentation your dog needs, since you could be asked to show it at boarding or partway through the crossing.
Rules for guide dogs and assistance dogs can differ from general pet policy, even on sailings where pets aren't otherwise allowed. Reach out to our customer service team to check what applies to your sailing, or visit our Special Assistance Help page for more detail.
Whether the Lerwick to Aberdeen route has an overnight sailing depends on a mix of factors. Search with your travel dates, and we'll show you whether an overnight option exists, plus current timetables, crossing times and daytime alternatives.
Note that overnight sailings can occasionally take a bit longer than daytime crossings.
What you'll need to travel varies by route, so it pays to check ahead of your sailing. A valid passport is typically required for the Lerwick to Aberdeen crossing, along with any visa or national ID required for your nationality. As rules depend on both where you're from and where you're headed, our Check-in, Travel Documents & Tickets guide is worth a read to avoid any hold-ups at check-in.
Booking couldn't be simpler — select your departure port, arrival port and travel date to see everything on offer. From there, you can weigh up alternative routes and departure times to land on the best fit.
Look for early-booking deals and flexible fare types, like upgrades or flexi-tickets, which give you room to change plans later. Double-check details such as passenger numbers and vehicle specs as you go, to keep the booking process painless.
You'll get a confirmation email the moment your booking goes through. From there, how your boarding pass turns up depends on the operator.
Some operators send the boarding pass straight away, while others want you to check in at the port. Where it's on offer, online check-in through the Direct Ferries app can save you time at the terminal.
Ticket desks tend to sit right by the ferry terminal. Building in some extra time before you sail means you won't be rushed collecting tickets and getting checked in.
Have your confirmation email and valid photo ID — a passport or identity card — ready at check-in. If a pet's travelling with you, bring their vaccination and insurance papers, and hold onto proof of address if you booked with a resident discount.
A gap in sailings from Lerwick to Aberdeen on your chosen date usually comes down to something like a timetable adjustment, limited space, or a seasonal dip in service. Try a different date, or browse other options with our Route & Port finder.
Generally speaking, booking your Lerwick to Aberdeen ferry sooner rather than later pays off — earlier bookings usually mean lower fares and more choice of departure times and cabins.
A few weeks' lead time is usually enough to catch a good deal, though fares can still move around depending on the season and what's left available.
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| Lerwick - Aberdeen Ferry Route Prices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Foot Passenger | $169 | |
| Average Price with Car | $1021 | |
| Average Price with Motorbike | $212 | |
| Average Campervan Price | $862 | |
| Average Cabin Price | $508 | |
| Lerwick - Aberdeen Ferry Route Summary | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Shetland Islands |
| Destination | Scotland |
| No. of Operators | 1 |
| Operators | Northlink Ferries |
| Average Price | $463 |
| Average Pet Price | $650 |
| Average Daily Sailings | 1 |
| Average Weekly Sailings | 7 |
| Average Sailing Duration | 12 h |
| Fastest Sailing Duration | 12 h |
| First Ferry | 17:30 |
| Last Ferry | 19:00 |
| Distance | 190 Nautical Miles |
* Prices subject to change, pricing is taken from last 30 days, last updated 1 September 2026.
The town of Lerwick is the main port, and capital, of the Shetland Islands in Scotland. The town which is located on the east coast of Shetland is roughly 160 km off the north east coast of Scotland, 340 km to the north of the city of Aberdeen and 370 km to the west of Bergen in Norway. The town has many amenities which one would normally expect to see in much larger towns on the British mainland which include leisure and entertainment facilities with a good selection of restaurants, bars and nightclubs. The town is centred around its busy harbour while Hay’s Dock was once the centre of Shetland’s fishing industry and boatbuilding and is now home to the splendid Shetland Museum and Archives.
The port, which lies at the crossroads of the North Sea and the north east Atlantic, is the UK's most northern port. The port has a new elevated passenger walkway to facilitate the new roll-on, roll-off ferries. There are daily ferry services operating between Lerwick and Aberdeen, regularly calling at Kirkwall in the Orkney Islands. The Shetland Islands Council also operate a ro-ro ferry service to Out Skerries and Bressay from a terminal in the centre of the town.
Located in the north east of Scotland, the city of Aberdeen is Scotland's third most populous city. The city's architecture is famous for its wide use of granite which has led to the city often being referred to as "the Granite City". The city is well known for its floral displays which include 2 million roses, 11 million daffodils and 3 million crocuses. So impressive is the city's floral displays that it was won the RHS's Britain in Bloom 'Best City' award ten times, the overall Scotland in Bloom competition 20 times and the Large City category every year since 1968. It is also known for its parks and gardens, of which it has over 45 throughout the city.
Aberdeen's port has good road, air and rail connections and passenger facilities at its terminal that includes a cafe and a supermarket. The terminal also has good facilities for disabled passengers. There are regular services from the port to Lerwick on the Shetland Islands with a crossing time of around 1 hour and 30 minutes. There are also three sailings each week to Kirkwall with a crossing time of around 6 hours.
