2 Best Sights in Orkney and Shetland Islands, Scotland

Next to the Shetland Museum, this bold and beautiful (depending on your taste) building is Shetland's adventurous and ambitious arts center. It has a live performance space attracting national and international musicians, two cinemas showing art-house and mainstream films, and a café and bar area that showcases local crafts, acoustic musicians, and some very drinkable Shetland beers.

At the striking Pier Arts Centre, a gallery in a former Stromness merchant's house and adjoining buildings, huge sheets of glass offer tranquil harborside views. They combine perfectly with the space-maximizing design to make the best use of every shard of natural light and inch of wall to display the superb permanent collection. There are more than a hundred 20th- and 21st-century paintings and sculptures here, including works by Barbara Hepworth and Douglas Gordon, while edgy temporary exhibitions showcase international contemporary artists such as Damien Hirst. A chic shop sells design products and art books.