Stanley (also known as Port Stanley) is the capital city of the Falkland Islands. It is located on the island of East Falkland, on a north-facing slope. The population is 3662 (2021 Census). Almost 70% of the population identifies as Falkland Islanders, British, or a combination of both. There was an incredible 86 different nationalities counted in this census, with people from 68 different countries having chosen to make the Falkland Islands their home; almost half of those not born in the Islands are from the UK, followed by St. Helena (19%), the Philippines (9%) and Chile (9%) and Zimbabwe (3%).
On 14 June 2022, Stanley received letters patent, formally awarding it city status. |
Stanley is the main shopping centre on the islands and the hub of East Falkland's road network. Attractions include the Falkland Islands Museum, Government House - built in 1845 and home to the Governor of the Falkland Islands - and a golf course, as well as a whale-bone arch, a totem pole, several war memorials and the shipwrecks in its harbour. The capital city has several shops, pubs, hotels, restaurants and the main tourist office. There are three churches, including the Anglican Christ Church Cathedral, the southernmost Anglican cathedral in the world, and the Roman Catholic St. Mary's Church.
The community centre includes a swimming pool (the only public one in the islands), a sports centre, and school. A grass football pitch is located by the community centre. |
A separate building houses the college of further education and the library. A new sports centre is under construction to the south of the town centre, next to a newly-laid floodlit all-weather pitch.
Stanley Racecourse, located on the west side of Stanley, holds a two-day horse racing meeting every year on 26 and 27 December. The Christmas races have been held here for over 100 years. Stanley Golf Course has an 18-hole course and a club house. It is also located to the west of Stanley. King Edward VII Memorial Hospital is the islands' main hospital, with doctors' practice and surgery, radiology department, dental surgery and emergency facilities. The Port Stanley Airport operates internal flights, and scheduled international passenger flights operate from the RAF Mount Pleasant military airbase. |
Stanley is ideal if you only want to stay in the city for a week or as a base pre or post outer islands experience. From Stanley you can do day tours to different attractions or enjoy several adventure activities. One of the main attractions and a must visit is Volunteer Point, the largest colony of King Penguins in the Falklands. Visits to the settlements are fascinating and give you a great insight of sheep farming and life in the Falklands in its early days.
There are several tracks for walking and hiking, a popular one is a trek of the battlefields. |
Operators are constantly introducing more activities as the demand for visiting some of the outer islands is higher than what they can offer, some destinations are already fully booked for a couple of years at certain times of the year, so when planning think early season Sept, October and towards the end of the season March and April. Most of the lodges close during the winter months but Stanley never closes and you can always come back to your hotel at the end of the day to relax and enjoy some of the local produce in one of our restaurants.
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Day trips from Stanley
where you can still experience the wildlife at its best
where you can still experience the wildlife at its best
Volunteer Point
Bertha’s Beach Bull Point Cape Dolphin |
Kidney Island
Mount Usborne Seal Bay Ajax Bay |
Whale Point
Goose Green Darwin North Arm |
Fitzroy
Race Point |