Lerwick lies on the east coast of the Shetland Mainland. It was founded in the seventeenth century as a herring seaport, and still thrives as a fishing and ferry port and oil terminal.
Ferries from Lerwick sail to Aberdeen, Stromness in the Orkney Islands, Fair Isle, Bergen in Norway and Torshavn in the Faroe Islands, as well as to the Out Skerries and Bressay.
Lerwick is the focus of most events in Shetland, including Up Helly-Aa, the annual fire festival.
Significant buildings in Lerwick include Fort Charlotte, Lerwick Town Hall, the Böd of Gremista and Clickimin Broch.