Where to Stay on the Isle of Skye: Regions & Accommodation Guide

Our in-depth guide on where to stay on the Isle of Skye will help you plan, find and book the best places to rest your head on this magical Scottish island.

So you’ve decided to visit the Isle of Skye, Scotland’s spectacular ‘Highlands island’. Get ready for an eye-wateringly gorgeous landscape of craggy peaks, dramatic rock formations, sea-lashed cliffs, rolling moors, glittering lochs, and plunging waterfalls. Skye is an island escape like no other.

With its spectacular scenery, this Scottish gem is also a heavy-duty magnet for visitors, especially over the peak travel season. For this reason, before you do anything else, we recommend you find and book your accommodation on Skye.

Our first road trip together to the Isle of Skye was a spontaneous and lastminute decision one early September, which was great fun until we discovered that just about every place to stay on the island was already booked.

The reality is, Skye is one of Scotland’s most popular destinations. Demand can often outstrip supply and accommodation can be snaffled up as soon as booking calendars open, sometimes six to nine months or more in advance. It’s critical to book ahead to avoid disappointment.

But where to even start?

In this post, we’ve done some of the leg work to help you get the ball rolling with your Isle of Skye accommodation search.

We’ve segmented the island into regions, highlighting the ‘main’ villages and top sites in each area. We’ve trawled dozens of accommodations around the island, and out of that search, we’ve curated a selection of great places to stay on Skye.

Once you know where you’ll be staying, you can get down to the business of planning an unforgettable adventure on this wonderful Inner Hebridean isle. If you’re keen for some suggestions, we can help you there too, with our Isle of Skye road trip itinerary.

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Best time to visit Isle of Skye

Magnificent in the sunshine, moody and atmospheric in the rain, the Isle of Skye is an all-weather immersion year-round. Pack for four seasons and expect all of them to make an appearance.

In terms of visitation, Skye’s main tourist season runs from April to October, with visitor numbers peaking over June, July and August.

For the broadest choice of stays and more scope with price points, it’s wise to book your accommodation well in advance, regardless of the time of year you plan to go. Booking ahead is a must if you’re intending to visit over the peak period.

We’ve written more about the best time to visit Skye in our Isle of Skye Road Trip Itinerary post.

Top tips for booking accommodation on Skye

Book your Isle of Skye accommodation as far in advance as possible, particularly if you want to visit Skye between April and October, and especially if you’re intending to visit during the peak months of June, July and August.  

If you can’t find accommodation in your first choice of place, cast the net more broadly or consider staying in several locations – you’re never too far from anything on the island.

Types of accommodation on Skye

On Skye, you’ll find just about every kind of accommodation, from village inns with easy access to pubs and restaurants, to restored bothies (traditional huts) in secluded locations where you’ll need to self-cater.

In between, you’ll find guesthouses and B&Bs, pub stays, hostels and lodges, as well as cabins, glamping yurts, cosy wooden pods, even lighthouse keepers’ cottages.

If you’re travelling with a tent (brave soul), wild camping is possible on land that isn’t enclosed.

Caravan and motorhome travel is also a very popular way to explore the island. Just be sure to check there aren’t any overnight parking restrictions in a place before you settle in (Park4Night is a useful resource with other travellers’ recommendations on good spots to ‘wild park’).

Or look to one of Skye’s highly-regarded and beautifully-sited camping and caravan parks, where you’ll have access to amenities and can hook up to the grid, surrounded by stunning views.

When we travel, Booking.com is our go-to for finding and booking our accommodation, as it has a huge range of options and the verified reviews by fellow travellers are critical in helping us choose where to stay. We also like being able to book stays with free cancellation so we can keep our plans flexible, just in case.

Is Skye accommodation expensive?

In our opinion, yes. We generally stay in mid-range accommodation when we travel (we may spend more if the stay is special or an experience in itself), and certainly by our standards, accommodation on Skye is pretty pricey, especially in peak season when supply gets squeezed.

Of course, travel budgets are entirely subjective and impacted by any number of personal considerations. For example, we travel on the Aussie dollar so the conversion to British pounds can make a significant difference for us and is often a factor when choosing our stays.

In this guide, we’ve included accommodation at various price points, from hostels through to luxury hotels.

If you’re looking for ways to save on accommodation costs:

• Book well ahead, especially if you’re planning to visit over the busier months; that way you’ll have more options at different price points.
• Travel outside of peak season where possible.
• Cast your net beyond the main villages of Portree and Broadford; they have the highest concentration of accommodation and amenities but they book out fast.
• Consider self-catering options so you can trim your spend on food and drink (or opt for an Isle of Skye B&B or pub stay and make the most of those Full Scottish breakfasts).

Have a base on Skye or move around?

One question we’re asked is whether it’s better to be based in one spot or find different places to stay on the Isle of Skye throughout your visit.

To be honest, it really depends on your preferences (and potentially accommodation availability when you intend to travel). It’s also worth noting that some places have a minimum number of nights policy.

Fortunately, Skye is reasonably compact: you can drive from Duntulm at the top of the island to Armadale at the very bottom in a little over 1.5 hours (weather and traffic permitting).

So you could base yourself in one spot for the entirety of your stay and know you’re never too much of a drive from anywhere else on the island. Though if you’re staying in a more remote area, you will need to factor in that longer drive in and out each day, as well as extra time to access amenities when needed.

Alternatively, staying in a couple of different locations means you can build your Skye itinerary around the places you stay and max your exploring time in each area.

Our experience: We’ve done it both ways and both have their benefits. We usually opt for a single base but on one visit to Skye, our eleventh-hour planning meant we ended up staying in a different place every night for four nights. We ultimately loved this approach as it gave us a chance to immerse in some very different corners of the island.

We’ve also used Portree as a base and liked being in a central location with a choice of pubs and restaurants.

Where to stay on the Isle of Skye

To help you work out where to stay on the Isle of Skye, we’ve segmented the island into five broad regions in the map below: the South, Central East, North, North West and Central West.

For each region, we’ve highlighted the ‘main’ villages and key sites, along with a selection of stays for each, including places we’ve stayed. We’ve curated this collection of places based on their quality, location and consistently excellent reviews from other travellers.

There are also plenty of other places to stay on the Isle of Skye, mostly smattering the rolling hills around the main roads skirting the island’s coastal edge. If you’re road tripping Skye with your own vehicle, you’ll have the flexibility to cast the net wider and see what’s available in those surrounding areas.

South: Strath and Sleat Peninsula

We’ll start in Skye’s south as this is where the gateway villages are if you’re coming to the island from the Scottish mainland via the Skye Bridge at Kyle of Lochalsh, the car ferry at Mallaig, or the turntable car ferry near Glenelg.

Kyleakin, Broadford & Surrounds

Kyleakin is the village immediately to the left as you arrive on Skye via the Skye Bridge. If you head to the right, Broadford is around ten minutes’ drive up the road.

Both villages are by the water and while they may not pack the scenic punch of other parts of Skye, they’re still very pleasant hubs and make for a practical stopover if you’re arriving late to Skye or leaving early.

As Skye’s second biggest settlement, Broadford (and the surrounding area) is also considered to be a good base for exploring the island. The village has decent amenities, including eateries, a supermarket and a petrol station. It’s around 40 minutes’ drive from Broadford to Portree, Skye’s ‘capital’.

Kyleakin has a smattering of accommodation more in the realm of ‘budget’ (comparatively), as well as a couple of pubs and cafés. Portree is around 50 minutes to an hour’s drive from Kyleakin.

The following stays in and around these two villages get consistently great reviews:

• B&B: Scorrybreac B&B – comfy rooms, some with sea views | highly-rated hosts | excellent breakfast
• Self-catered cabins: House of Juniper – modern, self-contained cabins, apartments and rooms | lovely waterside location | on-site restaurant and bar
• Holiday Homes: Old Kyle Farm – several spacious, self-contained stays | stylish and comfortable | peaceful spot yet close to amenities
• Historic Hotel: Broadford Hotel – traditional and comfortable 18th-century hotel | water views | bar and restaurant on-site.

We’ve personally watched twilight fall over Loch Alsh from the 3-star Kings Arms Hotel in Kyleakin. This historic stay is one of Skye’s oldest, with the building dating back to the 1600s. It could definitely do with some improvements and its ratings reflect that, but it’s apparently had a refurb since we were there last, there’s a bar and restaurant, and the Skye Bridge is a stone’s throw away.

Armadale & Surrounds

Skye’s most southerly area, the Sleat Peninsula, is known as the ‘Garden of Skye’ for its lush, gentle landscapes. Here you’ll find Armadale Castle and Gardens, and the Museum of the Isles, along with pretty villages, atmospheric castle ruins, woodland walking trails and, generally, far fewer tourists.

The village of Isleornsay is touted as Skye’s prettiest clutch of houses, while the main settlement at Armadale is the port for the Mallaig car ferry, making it a practical overnight spot if you’re arriving late or leaving early from the mainland via this route. The drive from Armadale to Portree can take an hour to an hour-and-a-half.

The following stays around this area stand out for their features and great reviews:

• Hotel: Hotel Eilean Iarmin – traditional features | waterside location in Isleorsay | warm and welcoming staff | excellent breakfast
• Cabins: Armadale Castle Cabins – cosy, well-equipped, self-contained cabins | peaceful location with water views | 15 minute walk to castle
• Renovated Byre: Byre 7 Aird of Sleat – modern, tastefully renovated barn | well-equipped throughout | beautiful views | welcoming hosts | quiet, coastal location 6km from Armadale
• Hotel: Toravaig House Hotel – tastefully decorated rooms | friendly, attentive staff | short walk to Toravaig Distillery | 7km from Armadale
• Inn: The Inn @ Aird a’ Bhasair – large, cosy rooms | bar and restaurant on-site | tasty breakfast | lovely location overlooking the water in Ardvasar village near Armadale.

Central East: Sligachan & Surrounds

Lovely cottages and B&Bs dot the coastal route north from Broadford to Sligachan, the launchpad for epic hikes into the dramatic landscape of the Cuillin mountains.

It’s a 15 to 20 minute drive from Sligachan to Portree. While there’s very little Skye accommodation along that stretch of the A87, take the B883 road just south of Portree and you’ll find a range of places scattering the rolling green fields overlooking the Sound of Raasay and Raasay Island.

A couple of stays that caught our eye around this broad Central East region include:

• Apartments: Kinloch Ainort Apartments – compact, modern apartments | loch and mountain views | well equipped kitchenette | beautiful, secluded location
• Hotel: Sligachan Hotel – spacious, comfy rooms | friendly staff | on-site microbrewery and cosy whisky bar | iconic location near the famous Sligachan Old Bridge viewpoint
• Self-Catered: Sligachan Lodge – Large house for group stays | well-equipped, self-catered stay | spectacular mountain setting next to Sligachan Old Bridge
• B&B: Skye Photo Centre – cosy rooms and excellent host | outstanding brekkie | beautiful, serene location with water views.

North: Trotternish Peninsula

The large footy-shaped wedge of land in Skye’s north is the Trotternish Peninsula and this is where you’ll find many of the island’s most iconic natural sites: the Old Man of Storr, the Quiraing, Kilt Rock and the Fairy Glen, among others.

For this reason, it’s also the busiest part of the island and there’s a wide range of accommodation options in and around Portree, and peppering both sides of the loop road skirting the peninsula.  

Portree & Surrounds

While not technically on the Trotternish Peninsula itself, Portree is effectively its gateway village. This is Skye’s ‘capital’ and the island’s largest village (‘largest’ being relative here – the population is around 2,500).

Portree is a great base for a Skye itinerary if you’re after a central location with a good selection of restaurants, pubs, shops and tour options, including wildlife watching boat trips from the harbour in season.

That said, of all the places to stay on Skye, Portree is the most popular and accommodation can book out well in advance over the warmer months.

Parking can also be a bit tricky if you’re staying in the village centre and arriving late, as the local car parks can fill up – best to check with your stay on where to park.

The following options get consistently good reviews:

• Hostel: Portree Youth Hostel – spacious clean rooms | comfortable beds | well equipped shared kitchen | centrally located
• B&B: Rockview – cosy rooms with comfy beds | tasty local breakfast | welcoming hosts | harbourside location close to town
• Hotel: The Skye Inn – nicely appointed, compact rooms | excellent breakfast | on-site parking | quiet location 5 minutes’ walk from Portree
• Guesthouse: Sithean Beag – cosy, comfy rooms with view | right on Portree Harbour | access to Portree amenities and local attractions
• Hotel: Cuillin Hills Hotel – elegant, comfortable rooms | bar and restaurant | spectacular bay and mountain views | 10 minute walk from town.

We’ve stayed at the very central Rosedale Hotel in Portree, once a group of fisherman’s houses on the harbourfront. The rooms are cosy and comfortable, with lovely harbour views, friendly staff, and decent food in the wee restaurant.

Staffin, Uig & Surrounds

The other main ‘settlements’ on the Trotternish Peninsula are Staffin and Uig.

Located on either side of the Trotternish ridge, they’re perhaps less like villages and more like clusters of rural homesteads with a couple of local cafés, restaurants and pubs.

On the eastern side of the peninsula, Staffin sits in full view of the spectacular Quiraing escarpment. Just south of Staffin is Kilt Rock and Mealt Falls, while on its seaward side is An Corran Beach, home to some Jurassic dinosaur tracks. Staffin is around 30-40 minutes’ drive from Portree.

On the western side of the peninsula, Uig is the launch point for ferries to the Outer Hebridean islands, wildlife watching boat trips, and wanderings in the enchanted dale of the Fairy Glen.

Uig is around 20 minutes from Portree if driving anti-clockwise on the peninsula, or an hour to an hour-and-fifteen if going clockwise.

The stays below scatter the region between Staffin and Uig and all are highly-rated:

• B&B: Tigh Quiraing Heather – super friendly hosts | clean, cosy rooms | tasty breakfast | beautiful location with Quirang views close to Staffin
• Self-Catering: Skyefall Self Catering – nice welcome pack | spacious room with very comfy bed | well-equipped kitchen | beautiful loch views | short walk to Uig harbour
• Lodge: Monkstadt 1745 Restaurant with Rooms – historic lodge 7km north of Uig ferry | nicely appointed rooms | on-site bar and restaurant | friendly service
• Cabin: Flora’s Cliff View – modern cabin in beautiful remote setting | well-equipped kitchen | lovely coastal views | great hosts | 20 minutes north of Uig ferry
• Hotel: Flodigarry Hotel – recently renovated historic building | beautifully decorated luxury rooms | spectacular location and views | excellent breakfast and restaurant | highly-rated staff.

North West: Waternish & Duirinish Peninsulas

Skye’s northwestern expanse takes in the peaceful, slow-paced environs of the Waternish Peninsula, and the wild and rugged Duirinish Peninsula.

In this region, you’ll find Dunvegan Castle and Gardens, wildlife watching boat tours, the famous Coral Beach, Neist Point (Skye’s most westerly tip), whale and basking shark spotting in season, epic coastal cliff scenery, and vivid west coast sunsets.

The main village in this corner of the island is Dunvegan, which has some shops and cafés and a petrol station. It’s quieter than Portree (a 30 to 40 minute drive away), and there are a number of cottages and guesthouses in the surrounding area, skirting the island’s northern edge along the two peninsulas.

The following options in the area get consistently great reviews:

• Cabins: AURORA rural RETREATs – cosy, nicely designed cabins | kitchen and washing machine | stunning mountain and loch views | 18km from Dunvegan Castle
• Apartment: Babas Rooms – clean, comfy room | separate lounge with fridge and microwave | friendly host | quiet location 3km from Dunvegan Castle | short walk to local pubs and restaurants
• Hotel: Greshornish House Hotel – well-presented spacious rooms | lovely restaurant and bar | peaceful location on the shore of Loch Greshornish
• Hotel: Skeabost House Hotel – lovely boutique hotel overlooking Loch Snizort | excellent restaurant | great service | 10-minute drive from Portree.

We’ve stayed at the charming Stein Inn on the Waternish Peninsula. This is Skye’s oldest inn, located in the historic crofting village of Stein, a charming wee loch-side hamlet around 15-minutes from Dunvegan and 35-minutes from Portree.  

When we arrived in Stein late-afternoon, the sun was blasting molten gold through the clouds over the loch. We ordered fresh local scallops at the Stein Inn pub and followed them up with Isle of Skye Brewing Co beers. Happy days.

If you’re up for a fancy dinner, Stein is also home to Skye’s only Michelin-starred restaurant, Loch Bay (book well ahead).

Central West: Minginish & Strathaird Peninsulas

The central west of Skye is dominated by the spectacular Cuillin range and has a wonderfully secluded and wild feel, perfect for outdoor immersion.

This region is sparsely populated, with a limited amount of accommodation clustered around the village of Carbost on the Minginish Peninsula, and the hamlet of Elgol on the Strathaird Peninsula.

Skye’s famous Fairy Pools and Talisker Distillery can be found in this gorgeous region, along with epic mountain hiking trails, and scenic and wildlife watching boat tours out of Elgol to beautiful Loch Coruisk and the isles of Canna, Rum, Eigg and Soay.

The Cuillins rise between Carbost and Elgol so if you want to travel between them, you’ll have to drive around the mountains via Sligachan and Broadford (or hike over them).

Carbost & Surrounds

Loch-side Carbost is rural and peaceful but quite popular as the home of the famous Talisker Distillery. There are a couple of eateries, a café, and a handful of guesthouses and B&Bs. Carbost is a 15 minute drive from Sligachan and around 30 to 40 minutes from Portree.

A couple of stand-out stays in this area include:

• Pods: Portnalong Pod B&B – spacious pods with private bathroom | great continental breakfast | beautiful views
• B&B: Bracadale House – comfy rooms with ensuite | beachfront access and seaviews | excellent hosts.

We’ve stayed at The Old Inn in the heart of Carbost village, a short walk from Talisker Distillery. It has a handful of B&B rooms and a bunkhouse. Our room was clean and simple (our door didn’t have a lock, which didn’t bother us but worth a heads up). The pub is a lively spot for a beer and dinner in the evening, and has traditional music a couple nights a week.

Elgol & Surrounds

The tiny village of Elgol has very little by way of amenities, but its wild and remote location is absolutely stunning.

This is the gateway to epic scenery, stellar mountain hikes and brilliant boat tours. The only way in and out, however, is a 30 to 40 minute drive along the beautiful but narrow B8083 road to Broadford, the nearest ‘centre’.

There are a handful of accommodation options in the Elgol area, including:

• Tiny Home: 1-Bed Tiny Home in Isle of Skye – bright, modern and cosy | self-contained with kitchen | stunning sea and mountain views | a few steps from Elgol harbour.
• Apartment: The Rowanberry Suite at Rowan Cottage – small and comfortable apartment | friendly host | basic kitchenette | secluded location with loch views | 3km from Elgol harbour
• Cottage: Tigh Phadraig at Marys – cosy, thatched 2-bedroom cottage | welcome pack of supplies | kitchen and laundry facilities | local dining options nearby at Coruisk House and Elgol Bistro | 2km from Elgol harbour.

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We hope you’ve found our guide useful in helping you plan where to stay on the Isle of Skye and lock in those accommodation bookings well ahead of time! If have any questions or comments, drop us a message below.

If you’re after some Skye itinerary ideas, check out our 3-Day Isle of Skye Road Trip Itinerary post. Happy travels!