diff --git a/DESCRIPTION b/DESCRIPTION
index 0f330b4499..54ef97ef68 100644
--- a/DESCRIPTION
+++ b/DESCRIPTION
@@ -43,7 +43,8 @@ Suggests:
     rpart,
     rmarkdown,
     sf (>= 0.3-4),
-    svglite (>= 1.2.0.9001)
+    svglite (>= 1.2.0.9001),
+    viridisLite
 Remotes:
     hadley/scales,
     hadley/svglite
@@ -169,6 +170,7 @@ Collate:
     'scale-.r'
     'scale-alpha.r'
     'scale-brewer.r'
+    'scale-colour.r'
     'scale-continuous.r'
     'scale-date.r'
     'scale-discrete-.r'
@@ -181,6 +183,7 @@ Collate:
     'scale-shape.r'
     'scale-size.r'
     'scale-type.R'
+    'scale-viridis.r'
     'scales-.r'
     'sf.R'
     'stat-bin.r'
diff --git a/NAMESPACE b/NAMESPACE
index e285d7114e..0e6e8cf27a 100644
--- a/NAMESPACE
+++ b/NAMESPACE
@@ -384,6 +384,8 @@ export(scale_color_grey)
 export(scale_color_hue)
 export(scale_color_identity)
 export(scale_color_manual)
+export(scale_color_viridis_c)
+export(scale_color_viridis_d)
 export(scale_colour_brewer)
 export(scale_colour_continuous)
 export(scale_colour_date)
@@ -397,6 +399,8 @@ export(scale_colour_grey)
 export(scale_colour_hue)
 export(scale_colour_identity)
 export(scale_colour_manual)
+export(scale_colour_viridis_c)
+export(scale_colour_viridis_d)
 export(scale_fill_brewer)
 export(scale_fill_continuous)
 export(scale_fill_date)
@@ -410,6 +414,8 @@ export(scale_fill_grey)
 export(scale_fill_hue)
 export(scale_fill_identity)
 export(scale_fill_manual)
+export(scale_fill_viridis_c)
+export(scale_fill_viridis_d)
 export(scale_linetype)
 export(scale_linetype_continuous)
 export(scale_linetype_discrete)
diff --git a/NEWS.md b/NEWS.md
index f1c0b52416..1ab2510b7f 100644
--- a/NEWS.md
+++ b/NEWS.md
@@ -1,5 +1,14 @@
 # ggplot2 2.2.1.9000
 
+* Default colour maps for continuous data are controlled by global options
+  `ggplot2.continuous.colour` and `ggplot2.continuous.fill`, which can be set to
+  either `"gradient"` or `"viridis"` (@karawoo).
+
+* Adds built-in support for `viridis` and related colour maps. Use the functions
+  `scale_colour_viridis_c()`/`scale_fill_viridis_c()` for continuous data and
+  `scale_colour_viridis_d()`/`scale_fill_viridis_d()` for discrete data
+  (@karawoo, #1526).
+
 * Updated datetime scales for `alpha`, `size`, `colour`, and `fill` can take
   `date_breaks` and `date_labels` arguments (@karawoo, #1526).
 
diff --git a/R/scale-colour.r b/R/scale-colour.r
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..d3fd460336
--- /dev/null
+++ b/R/scale-colour.r
@@ -0,0 +1,46 @@
+#' Continuous colour scales
+#'
+#' Colour scales for continuous data default to the values of the
+#' `ggplot2.continuous.colour` and `ggplot2.continuous.fill` options. If these
+#' options are not present, `"gradient"` will be used. See [options()] for more
+#' information.
+#' 
+#' @param ... Additional parameters passed on to the scale type
+#' @param type One of "gradient" (the default) or "viridis" indicating the
+#'   colour scale to use
+#' @seealso [scale_colour_gradient()], [scale_colour_viridis_c()],
+#'   [scale_fill_gradient()], and [scale_fill_viridis_c()]
+#' @export
+#' @rdname scale_colour_continuous
+#' @examples
+#' v <- ggplot(faithfuld, aes(waiting, eruptions, fill = density)) +
+#' geom_tile()
+#' v
+#' 
+#' v + scale_fill_continuous(type = "gradient")
+#' v + scale_fill_continuous(type = "viridis")
+#' 
+#' # The above are equivalent to
+#' v + scale_fill_gradient()
+#' v + scale_fill_viridis_c()
+scale_colour_continuous <- function(...,
+                                    type = getOption("ggplot2.continuous.colour", default = "gradient")) {
+  switch(
+    type,
+    gradient = scale_colour_gradient(...),
+    viridis = scale_colour_viridis_c(...),
+    stop("Unknown scale type", call. = FALSE)
+  )
+}
+
+#' @rdname scale_colour_continuous
+#' @export
+scale_fill_continuous <- function(...,
+                                  type = getOption("ggplot2.continuous.fill", default = "gradient")) {
+  switch(
+    type,
+    gradient = scale_fill_gradient(...),
+    viridis = scale_fill_viridis_c(...),
+    stop("Unknown scale type", call. = FALSE)
+  )
+}
diff --git a/R/scale-viridis.r b/R/scale-viridis.r
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..0b99b27dc9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/R/scale-viridis.r
@@ -0,0 +1,105 @@
+#' Viridis colour scales from viridisLite
+#'
+#' The `viridis` scales provide color maps that are perceptually uniform in both
+#' color and black-and-white. They are also designed to be perceived by viewers
+#' with common forms of color blindness. See also
+#' <https://bids.github.io/colormap/>.
+#' 
+#' @inheritParams viridisLite::viridis
+#' @inheritParams scales::gradient_n_pal
+#' @inheritParams continuous_scale
+#' @param ... Other arguments passed on to [discrete_scale()] or
+#' [continuous_scale()] to control name, limits, breaks, labels and so forth.
+#' @family colour scales
+#' @rdname scale_viridis
+#' @export
+#' @examples
+#' dsamp <- diamonds[sample(nrow(diamonds), 1000), ]
+#' (d <- ggplot(dsamp, aes(carat, price)) +
+#'   geom_point(aes(colour = clarity)))
+#' d + scale_colour_viridis_d()
+#'
+#' # Change scale label
+#' d + scale_colour_viridis_d("Diamond\nclarity")
+#'
+#' # Select palette to use, see ?scales::viridis_pal for more details
+#' d + scale_colour_viridis_d(option = "plasma")
+#' d + scale_colour_viridis_d(option = "inferno")
+#'
+#' \donttest{
+#' # scale_fill_viridis_d works just the same as
+#' # scale_colour_viridis_d but for fill colours
+#' p <- ggplot(diamonds, aes(x = price, fill = cut)) +
+#'   geom_histogram(position = "dodge", binwidth = 1000)
+#' p + scale_fill_viridis_d()
+#' # the order of colour can be reversed
+#' p + scale_fill_viridis_d(direction = -1)
+#' }
+#'
+#' # Use viridis_c with continous data
+#' v <- ggplot(faithfuld) +
+#'   geom_tile(aes(waiting, eruptions, fill = density))
+#' v
+#' v + scale_fill_viridis_c()
+#' v + scale_fill_viridis_c(option = "plasma")
+scale_colour_viridis_d <- function(..., alpha = 1, begin = 0, end = 1,
+                                   direction = 1, option = "D") {
+  discrete_scale(
+    "colour",
+    "viridis_d",
+    viridis_pal(alpha, begin, end, direction, option),
+    ...
+  )
+}
+
+#' @export
+#' @rdname scale_viridis
+scale_fill_viridis_d <- function(..., alpha = 1, begin = 0, end = 1,
+                                 direction = 1, option = "D") {
+  discrete_scale(
+    "fill",
+    "viridis_d",
+    viridis_pal(alpha, begin, end, direction, option),
+    ...
+  )
+}
+
+#' @export
+#' @rdname scale_viridis
+scale_colour_viridis_c <- function(..., alpha = 1, begin = 0, end = 1,
+                                   direction = 1, option = "D", values = NULL,
+                                   space = "Lab", na.value = "grey50",
+                                   guide = "colourbar") {
+  continuous_scale(
+    "colour",
+    "viridis_c",
+    gradient_n_pal(
+      viridis_pal(alpha, begin, end, direction, option)(6),
+      values,
+      space
+    ),
+    na.value = na.value,
+    guide = guide,
+    ...
+  )
+}
+
+#' @export
+#' @rdname scale_viridis
+scale_fill_viridis_c <- function(..., alpha = 1, begin = 0, end = 1,
+                                 direction = 1, option = "D", values = NULL,
+                                 space = "Lab", na.value = "grey50",
+                                 guide = "colourbar") {
+  continuous_scale(
+    "fill",
+    "viridis_c",
+    gradient_n_pal(
+      viridis_pal(alpha, begin, end, direction, option)(6),
+      values,
+      space
+    ),
+    na.value = na.value,
+    guide = guide,
+    ...
+  )
+}
diff --git a/R/zxx.r b/R/zxx.r
index 42ac96eb30..1728dbd0d9 100644
--- a/R/zxx.r
+++ b/R/zxx.r
@@ -5,11 +5,6 @@
 #' @usage NULL
 scale_colour_discrete <- scale_colour_hue
 
-#' @export
-#' @rdname scale_gradient
-#' @usage NULL
-scale_colour_continuous <- scale_colour_gradient
-
 #' @export
 #' @rdname scale_gradient
 #' @usage NULL
@@ -53,11 +48,6 @@ scale_colour_date <- function(...,
 #' @usage NULL
 scale_fill_discrete <- scale_fill_hue
 
-#' @export
-#' @rdname scale_gradient
-#' @usage NULL
-scale_fill_continuous <- scale_fill_gradient
-
 #' @export
 #' @rdname scale_gradient
 #' @usage NULL
@@ -75,7 +65,6 @@ scale_fill_datetime <- function(...,
     guide = guide,
     ...
   )
-  
 }
 
 #' @export
@@ -154,3 +143,13 @@ scale_color_identity <- scale_colour_identity
 #' @rdname scale_manual
 #' @usage NULL
 scale_color_manual <- scale_colour_manual
+
+#' @export
+#' @rdname scale_viridis
+#' @usage NULL
+scale_color_viridis_d <- scale_colour_viridis_d
+
+#' @export
+#' @rdname scale_viridis
+#' @usage NULL
+scale_color_viridis_c <- scale_colour_viridis_c
diff --git a/man/scale_alpha.Rd b/man/scale_alpha.Rd
index 374e625a2a..ae94242ce5 100644
--- a/man/scale_alpha.Rd
+++ b/man/scale_alpha.Rd
@@ -39,5 +39,6 @@ p + scale_alpha(range = c(0.4, 0.8))
 Other colour scales: \code{\link{scale_colour_brewer}},
   \code{\link{scale_colour_gradient}},
   \code{\link{scale_colour_grey}},
-  \code{\link{scale_colour_hue}}
+  \code{\link{scale_colour_hue}},
+  \code{\link{scale_colour_viridis_d}}
 }
diff --git a/man/scale_brewer.Rd b/man/scale_brewer.Rd
index d959311a24..eca7aca155 100644
--- a/man/scale_brewer.Rd
+++ b/man/scale_brewer.Rd
@@ -110,5 +110,6 @@ v + scale_fill_distiller(palette = "Spectral")
 Other colour scales: \code{\link{scale_alpha}},
   \code{\link{scale_colour_gradient}},
   \code{\link{scale_colour_grey}},
-  \code{\link{scale_colour_hue}}
+  \code{\link{scale_colour_hue}},
+  \code{\link{scale_colour_viridis_d}}
 }
diff --git a/man/scale_colour_continuous.Rd b/man/scale_colour_continuous.Rd
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..d7590ec55b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/man/scale_colour_continuous.Rd
@@ -0,0 +1,41 @@
+% Generated by roxygen2: do not edit by hand
+% Please edit documentation in R/scale-colour.r
+\name{scale_colour_continuous}
+\alias{scale_colour_continuous}
+\alias{scale_fill_continuous}
+\title{Continuous colour scales}
+\usage{
+scale_colour_continuous(..., type = getOption("ggplot2.continuous.colour",
+  default = "gradient"))
+
+scale_fill_continuous(..., type = getOption("ggplot2.continuous.fill", default
+  = "gradient"))
+}
+\arguments{
+\item{...}{Additional parameters passed on to the scale type}
+
+\item{type}{One of "gradient" (the default) or "viridis" indicating the
+colour scale to use}
+}
+\description{
+Colour scales for continuous data default to the values of the
+\code{ggplot2.continuous.colour} and \code{ggplot2.continuous.fill} options. If these
+options are not present, \code{"gradient"} will be used. See \code{\link[=options]{options()}} for more
+information.
+}
+\examples{
+v <- ggplot(faithfuld, aes(waiting, eruptions, fill = density)) +
+geom_tile()
+v
+
+v + scale_fill_continuous(type = "gradient")
+v + scale_fill_continuous(type = "viridis")
+
+# The above are equivalent to
+v + scale_fill_gradient()
+v + scale_fill_viridis_c()
+}
+\seealso{
+\code{\link[=scale_colour_gradient]{scale_colour_gradient()}}, \code{\link[=scale_colour_viridis_c]{scale_colour_viridis_c()}},
+\code{\link[=scale_fill_gradient]{scale_fill_gradient()}}, and \code{\link[=scale_fill_viridis_c]{scale_fill_viridis_c()}}
+}
diff --git a/man/scale_gradient.Rd b/man/scale_gradient.Rd
index e164d9e8b0..a49f054738 100644
--- a/man/scale_gradient.Rd
+++ b/man/scale_gradient.Rd
@@ -7,10 +7,8 @@
 \alias{scale_fill_gradient2}
 \alias{scale_colour_gradientn}
 \alias{scale_fill_gradientn}
-\alias{scale_colour_continuous}
 \alias{scale_colour_datetime}
 \alias{scale_colour_date}
-\alias{scale_fill_continuous}
 \alias{scale_fill_datetime}
 \alias{scale_fill_date}
 \alias{scale_color_continuous}
@@ -178,5 +176,6 @@ palette
 Other colour scales: \code{\link{scale_alpha}},
   \code{\link{scale_colour_brewer}},
   \code{\link{scale_colour_grey}},
-  \code{\link{scale_colour_hue}}
+  \code{\link{scale_colour_hue}},
+  \code{\link{scale_colour_viridis_d}}
 }
diff --git a/man/scale_grey.Rd b/man/scale_grey.Rd
index 0617aa9b3a..cd9ff31761 100644
--- a/man/scale_grey.Rd
+++ b/man/scale_grey.Rd
@@ -93,5 +93,6 @@ ggplot(mtcars, aes(mpg, wt)) +
 Other colour scales: \code{\link{scale_alpha}},
   \code{\link{scale_colour_brewer}},
   \code{\link{scale_colour_gradient}},
-  \code{\link{scale_colour_hue}}
+  \code{\link{scale_colour_hue}},
+  \code{\link{scale_colour_viridis_d}}
 }
diff --git a/man/scale_hue.Rd b/man/scale_hue.Rd
index 6d4f828f00..d282aeaa4b 100644
--- a/man/scale_hue.Rd
+++ b/man/scale_hue.Rd
@@ -127,5 +127,6 @@ ggplot(mtcars, aes(mpg, wt)) +
 Other colour scales: \code{\link{scale_alpha}},
   \code{\link{scale_colour_brewer}},
   \code{\link{scale_colour_gradient}},
-  \code{\link{scale_colour_grey}}
+  \code{\link{scale_colour_grey}},
+  \code{\link{scale_colour_viridis_d}}
 }
diff --git a/man/scale_viridis.Rd b/man/scale_viridis.Rd
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..4907154963
--- /dev/null
+++ b/man/scale_viridis.Rd
@@ -0,0 +1,99 @@
+% Generated by roxygen2: do not edit by hand
+% Please edit documentation in R/scale-viridis.r, R/zxx.r
+\name{scale_colour_viridis_d}
+\alias{scale_colour_viridis_d}
+\alias{scale_fill_viridis_d}
+\alias{scale_colour_viridis_c}
+\alias{scale_fill_viridis_c}
+\alias{scale_color_viridis_d}
+\alias{scale_color_viridis_c}
+\title{Viridis colour scales from viridisLite}
+\usage{
+scale_colour_viridis_d(..., alpha = 1, begin = 0, end = 1,
+  direction = 1, option = "D")
+
+scale_fill_viridis_d(..., alpha = 1, begin = 0, end = 1, direction = 1,
+  option = "D")
+
+scale_colour_viridis_c(..., alpha = 1, begin = 0, end = 1,
+  direction = 1, option = "D", values = NULL, space = "Lab",
+  na.value = "grey50", guide = "colourbar")
+
+scale_fill_viridis_c(..., alpha = 1, begin = 0, end = 1, direction = 1,
+  option = "D", values = NULL, space = "Lab", na.value = "grey50",
+  guide = "colourbar")
+}
+\arguments{
+\item{...}{Other arguments passed on to \code{\link[=discrete_scale]{discrete_scale()}} or
+\code{\link[=continuous_scale]{continuous_scale()}} to control name, limits, breaks, labels and so forth.}
+
+\item{alpha}{The alpha transparency, a number in [0,1], see argument alpha in
+\code{\link[grDevices]{hsv}}.}
+
+\item{begin}{The (corrected) hue in [0,1] at which the viridis colormap begins.}
+
+\item{end}{The (corrected) hue in [0,1] at which the viridis colormap ends.}
+
+\item{direction}{Sets the order of colors in the scale. If 1, the default, colors
+are ordered from darkest to lightest. If -1, the order of colors is reversed.}
+
+\item{option}{A character string indicating the colormap option to use. Four
+options are available: "magma" (or "A"), "inferno" (or "B"), "plasma" (or "C"),
+and "viridis" (or "D", the default option).}
+
+\item{values}{if colours should not be evenly positioned along the gradient
+this vector gives the position (between 0 and 1) for each colour in the
+\code{colours} vector. See \code{\link{rescale}} for a convience function
+to map an arbitrary range to between 0 and 1.}
+
+\item{space}{colour space in which to calculate gradient. Must be "Lab" -
+other values are deprecated.}
+
+\item{na.value}{Missing values will be replaced with this value.}
+
+\item{guide}{A function used to create a guide or its name. See
+\code{\link[=guides]{guides()}} for more info.}
+}
+\description{
+The \code{viridis} scales provide color maps that are perceptually uniform in both
+color and black-and-white. They are also designed to be perceived by viewers
+with common forms of color blindness. See also
+\url{https://bids.github.io/colormap/}.
+}
+\examples{
+dsamp <- diamonds[sample(nrow(diamonds), 1000), ]
+(d <- ggplot(dsamp, aes(carat, price)) +
+  geom_point(aes(colour = clarity)))
+d + scale_colour_viridis_d()
+
+# Change scale label
+d + scale_colour_viridis_d("Diamond\\nclarity")
+
+# Select palette to use, see ?scales::viridis_pal for more details
+d + scale_colour_viridis_d(option = "plasma")
+d + scale_colour_viridis_d(option = "inferno")
+
+\donttest{
+# scale_fill_viridis_d works just the same as
+# scale_colour_viridis_d but for fill colours
+p <- ggplot(diamonds, aes(x = price, fill = cut)) +
+  geom_histogram(position = "dodge", binwidth = 1000)
+p + scale_fill_viridis_d()
+# the order of colour can be reversed
+p + scale_fill_viridis_d(direction = -1)
+}
+
+# Use viridis_c with continous data
+v <- ggplot(faithfuld) +
+  geom_tile(aes(waiting, eruptions, fill = density))
+v
+v + scale_fill_viridis_c()
+v + scale_fill_viridis_c(option = "plasma")
+}
+\seealso{
+Other colour scales: \code{\link{scale_alpha}},
+  \code{\link{scale_colour_brewer}},
+  \code{\link{scale_colour_gradient}},
+  \code{\link{scale_colour_grey}},
+  \code{\link{scale_colour_hue}}
+}
diff --git a/tests/testthat/test-viridis.R b/tests/testthat/test-viridis.R
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..d1531c1e40
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/testthat/test-viridis.R
@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+context("Viridis")
+
+df <- data.frame(x = 1, y = 1, z = "a")
+
+test_that("Viridis scale changes point color", {
+  p1 <- ggplot(df, aes(x, y, colour = z)) +
+    geom_point()
+  p2 <- p1 + scale_colour_viridis_d()
+
+  expect_false(layer_data(p1)$colour == layer_data(p2)$colour)
+  expect_equal(layer_data(p2)$colour, "#440154FF")
+})