:

  • English
  • Español
  • Italiano
  • Deutsch
  • Nederlands
  • Français
  • English
  • Español
  • Italiano
  • Deutsch
  • Nederlands
  • Français
Navigation generated at 2026-9-5 14:13:58
Visit Scotland Home
    • All Places to go

      Cities

      • All Cities
      • Aberdeen
      • Dundee
      • Dunfermline
      • Edinburgh
      • Glasgow
      • Inverness
      • Perth
      • Stirling

      Popular Places

      • Ben Nevis
      • Glencoe
      • Loch Lomond
      • Loch Ness

      Towns

      • All Towns
      • Aviemore
      • Dumfries
      • Fort William
      • Kirkwall
      • Lerwick
      • Oban
      • Peebles
      • Pitlochry
      • St Andrews

      Islands

      • All Islands
      • Isle of Arran
      • Isle of Islay
      • Jura
      • Lewis & Harris
      • Mull
      • Orkney
      • Outer Hebrides
      • Shetland
      • Skye

      Regions

      • Aberdeen & Aberdeenshire
      • Argyll & The Isles
      • Ayrshire & Arran
      • Dumfries & Galloway
      • Dundee & Angus
      • Edinburgh & The Lothians
      • Fife
      • Glasgow & Clyde Valley
      • Loch Lomond, Trossachs, Stirling & Forth Valley
      • Highlands
      • Perthshire
      • Scottish Borders
    • All Things to do

      Attractions

      • All Attractions
      • 20 Top Attractions
      • Ancestry
      • Arts & Culture
      • Castles
      • Free Attractions
      • History & Heritage
      • TV & Film Locations

      Outdoor Activities

      • All Outdoor Activities
      • Cycling
      • Golf
      • Mountain Biking
      • Ski & Snowsports
      • Walking & Hiking
      • Watersports

      Food & Drink

      • All Food & Drink
      • Beer & breweries
      • Gin tours & tastings
      • Scottish whisky

      Landscapes & Nature

      • All Landscapes & Nature
      • Beaches
      • Ben Nevis
      • Lochs
      • National Parks
      • Northern Lights
      • Standing Stones
      • Wildlife Watching

      Tours, Routes & Trails

      • All Tours, Routes & Trails
      • Itineraries
      • Scotland's UNESCO Trail
      • Tours
      • Walking routes and trails

      Events

      • All Events
      • Edinburgh's Summer Festivals
      • Highland Games
      • Scottish music festivals
      • The Tour de France 2027 in Scotland
    • All Accommodation

      Hotels & Lodgings

      • B&Bs & Guesthouses
      • Hostels
      • Hotels

      Caravan & Camping

      • All Caravan & Camping
      • Glamping
      • Wild Camping

      Self Catering

      • All Self Catering
      • Cabins & Lodges
      • Cottages

      Unique Places

      • All Unique Places
      • Castles

      Other Accommodation

      • Luxury Accommodation
      • Pet Friendly Accommodation
      • Romantic
      • Wedding Venues
    • All Travel & planning

      Travel to Scotland

      • From England & Wales
      • From Europe
      • From Ireland
      • From North America
      • From Other Continents

      Travel in Scotland

      • Air
      • Bus & Coach
      • Ferry
      • Train

      Driving in Scotland

      • All Driving in Scotland
      • Driving Routes

      When to visit

      • All When to visit
      • Spring & Easter
      • Summer Breaks
      • Autumn Breaks
      • Winter, Christmas & New Year

      Practical Information

      • Eco-Travel
      • FAQs
      • Passes & Offers
      • Passports & Visas
      • Visitor Levy
      • Weather

      Ideas & Advice

      • Outdoor Safety Information
      • Travel Blog
      • Travel Newsletter

      Holiday Types

      • Accessible Holidays
      • Beauty Spots
      • Budget-Friendly Holidays
      • Countryside Breaks
      • Family Holidays
      • Farm Stays
      • Off the Beaten Track Holidays
      • Weekend Breaks
      • Wellness Retreats
  • Map of Scotland
BETA: Our site is evolving to give you a better experience.
Your feedback helps us improve.

Talisker Bay

  1. Home
  2. Places to go
  3. Islands
  4. Skye

Isle of Skye

Whether you want to visit the Isle of Skye for a few days whilst on a tour of Scotland, or stay for a longer spell, the island has countless ways to enchant you with its mountain ranges, miles of dramatic coastline and captivating history.  

Great things to do on Skye

From untouched landscapes and famous filming locations to elusive wildlife and centuries of history and heritage to uncover, Skye has it all!

Wildlife on Skye

Discover the wildlife on Skye.

Visit the Isle of Raasay

Find out more about this island near Skye.

Visit Plockton

Discover the "jewel of the Highlands".

Skye activities and experiences

Discover a fantastic range of activities and experiences awaiting you on the Isle of Skye.

Top days out ideas

Explore coast to coast and top to bottom of the island, with a range of activities, attractions and day trips to enjoy.

The Skye Museum of Island Life

Step back in time and experience how islanders really lived at the unique and informative Skye Museum of Island Life.

Arts and crafts on Skye

Explore the inspirational arts and craft scene of the island.

The Hebridean Whale Trail

The Hebridean Whale Trail brings together over 30 of the most beautiful corners of Scotland's west coast.

Staffin Dinosaur Museum

The Staffin Dinosaur Museum is home to an internationally acclaimed collection of dinosaur fossils.

Hebridean Whisky Trail

The Hebridean Whisky Trail is an exciting and unique opportunity to experience the rich culture, provenance and landscape of four Hebridean islands.

Dunvegan Castle & Gardens

Explore the oldest continuously inhabited castle in Scotland.

Inspiring routes, trails & itineraries

Neist Point, Isle of Skye

Follow a route

Check out our ideas for short breaks and trips around Skye.

  • Scotland's islands
  • Great walks on the Isle of Skye

See what's on on Skye

Discover the latest events and festivals taking place on the Isle of Skye. 

Portree harbour

SEALL Festival of Small Halls across the Isle of Skye, Raasay, and Lochalsh, September – November 2026 – a lively season of live performances across village halls, bringing together music, theatre, storytelling and community arts in unique Highland settings.

Hebridean Whisky Festival in Teangue, 5 – 12 September 2026 – set off on an island-hopping whisky adventure across the Hebrides with distillery tours, tastings, masterclasses, live music, ceilidhs and local food – a celebration of Scotland’s whisky culture! 

Skye Live, May 2027 (dates TBC) – get your toes tapping at this unique music festival in Portree showcasing some of the best Scottish contemporary folk music and electronica, all with Skye's iconic landscapes as a backdrop.

SEALL - Fèis an Eilein, July 2027 (dates TBC) – step into Skye and celebrate the rich Gaelic culture you can find here, with Gaelic language and song, island music traditions, and contemporary and acoustic performances. 

Isle of Skye Highland Games, August 2027 (dates TBC) – a highlight in the events calendar on the Isle of Skye, enjoy traditional games and classics, including tossing the caber and tug o' war, as well as Highland dancing, bagpiping and more. 

Travel to and around Skye

Getting to

Ferry

The Caledonian MacBrayne ferry (Mallaig to Skye) runs daily from the port of Mallaig in the west Highlands to Armadale in Sleat on the south of Skye. You can get to Mallaig by road or train.

Plan your trip on the CalMac website

The privately-operated Glenelg ferry connects Glenelg on the mainland with Kylerhea on Skye.

Visit the Glenelg-Skye ferry website

Driving

The Skye Bridge is a road bridge spanning Loch Alsh between the mainland village of Kyle of Lochalsh which is connected to Scotland's rail network, and Kyleakin on Skye. Buses go directly from Glasgow to Skye and Inverness to Skye too.

Find out more about driving to Skye

Bus and coach

A new Scottish Government / Transport Scotland 12-month initiative to make bus travel more affordable for both visitors and locals is now available. It applies to short and long-distance routes and all main bus operators (Stagecoach, Ember, CityLink), meaning single bus fares are capped at £2 across the Highlands and Islands. The scheme runs until early 2027.

Find out more about the single fare cap

Getting around

Bus and coach

The island is served by Stagecoach buses, connecting the main villages.

Check out the Stagecoach Skye timetables

Ferry

Fancy an island hopping adventure? There are three main ferry ports on Skye operated by Calmac.

  • Mallaig (mainland) to Armadale (Skye)
  • Sconser (Skye) to Raasay
  • Uig (Skye) to Lochmaddy (North Uist) or Tarbert (Harris)

Please note, if you're planning to take the ferry from Mallaig to Armadale that onward public transport travel is limited to the rest of Skye. Private taxi hire can be booked in advance as bus services are very limited. Alternatively, consider the Skye Bridge where more public transport options are available.

Check out the full ferry timetables on the Calmac website

Driving

Driving around Skye is the preferred option for many visitors as it offers the most flexibility and access to more remote spots. However, it is good to remember that some of the island's roads are single track, with ample passing places.

Find Isle of Skye driving tips

Portree harbour

Places to stay on Skye

Find out all you need to know about the best places to stay on Skye. From hotels and cosy holiday cottages to caravan and camping experiences.

  • Accommodation on the Isle of Skye

Mussels from The Oyster Shed

© Kim Walton

Places to eat on Skye

Beyond its breathtaking landscapes, Skye is a destination to savour. Shortlisted for Gourmet Island Escape of the Year in the olive Travel & Taste Awards, the island invites you to experience exceptional local produce, freshly landed seafood and unforgettable places to eat.

  • Isle of Skye restaurants
  • Hebridean Whisky Trail
Browse food & drink options

Dunvegan Castle & Gardens

© VisitScotland / Kenny Lam

Scottish Island Adventures - Skye

With its array of indoor and outdoor activities and wildlife offering, it’s no surprise Skye is the ultimate island getaway. Join host Coinneach MacLeod with special guest Sarah Cruickshank on what makes this island so special. 

  • Scottish Island Adventures - Skye
Listen to the Scottish Island Adventures podcast series

Share on

Facebook
Pinterest
WhatsApp
Twitter
Email

Other things you might like

Subscribe to our newsletter

Receive stories and soul‑stirring ideas from those who know Scotland best – the experts. With unforgettable journeys, trip ideas and bucket list destinations, your next adventure begins the moment our inspiration arrives in your inbox.

Get the Scotland newsletter

Get in touch

  • Contact us
  • Feedback & Complaints
  • Submit an event

Our other sites

  • Business Events
  • Business Support Hub
  • Travel Trade
  • Asset library
  • Corporate
  • Brand Scotland

Find us on

Find us on

  • About us
  • Accessibility
  • Acceptable use
  • Cookies
  • Environmental policy
  • Privacy
  • Social media
  • Terms of use
Brand Scotland

© 2026 VisitScotland. All rights reserved.