Whether or not you’re a Star Wars fan, Skellig Michael Island off the western coast of Ireland is a phenomenal destination. If you can add it on to your Ireland vacation, you won’t be disappointed. A fair number of visitors lately have come to see the filming location of Star Wars: A Force Awakens and The Last Jedi, but the island is just as beguiling for those who crave remote, rugged landscapes that fly under the radar of typical tourist attractions. Here’s how to visit Skellig Michael Island.
How Do I Get to Skellig Michael Island?
Visiting Skellig Michael Island requires a bit of pre-planning and research (a good reason to use a trusted travel advisor). The island is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and, as such, welcomes just 180 people per day. There are only a few boats that make the trip to the island from Portmagee harbour, so you’ll have to get your tickets well in advance (at least four weeks). You’ll need a flexible attitude as well because due to storms and high winds, excursions are often cancelled. As a general rule, boats will sail to Skellig Michael Island five days out of seven.
Once you’ve secured a berth on a boat, you’ll make the seven-mile journey from Portmagee across mildly rough seas (even when the weather is good) in about an hour. Take caution when exiting and re-entering the boat as the ocean swells may throw you off balance and make the landing platform slippery.
What Can I on Skellig Michael Island?
Generally, your boat tour to the island will allow 2.5 hours to explore. There are guides stationed at various places along the path to regale you with stories of the island’s history.
Climb more than 600 steps to the summit of the island – keep going, the view only gets better as you climb.
At the summit, you’ll find the 6th-century Christian monastery, where for hundreds of years Christian monks lived in stone beehive hut structures, surviving off the land. Those same structures are still intact today.
From the summit, you can walk on several of the paths that were filmed in Star Wars.
When Is the Best Time to Visit Skellig Michael Island?
Boat tours to the island run from May 15th to October 2nd. You can see migrating, nesting puffins if you arrive before August 1st.
What If I Can’t Get Tickets?
It’s still possible to sail out to the island and get views from the water. Many of the same boat operators who sell landing tours will also offer circle tours of Skellig Michael and Little Skellig with making landfall.
Is There an Age Limit for Visiting Skellig Michael Island?
Check with your chosen boat operator, but typically the boat tour is available for those ages 12 and up. There is a lot of hiking on steep, narrow paths on the island, making it unsuitable for most younger children.
What Was in Star Wars?
The monastery you see at the summit of Skellig Michael was used as a set in Star Wars: A Force Awakens. There were later concerns that the island was being damaged, so a replica of the monastery was built at a separate location in Ireland for The Last Jedi (near Dingle overlooking the Blasket Islands).
What Can I Do After Visiting Skellig Michael Island?
From Portmagee, you can drive on the Skellig Ring Road to the Cliffs of Kerry. From there, you can actually see the Ring of Kerry.
Extend your trip by driving the whole Ring of Kerry, a famous stretch of Ireland, including lush hillside and rugged coastline. You can drive the 120-mile loop around the Inveragh Peninsula yourself, or take a tour bus. Loops typically start in Killarney, which is a good place to stay when exploring the area.
At the start of the day, you’ll drive through Killarney National Park, up over mountain passes and past lakes, forests and massive rhododendrons. Next up, Molls Gap, Kenmare and Sneem before you arrive at the Staigue Stone Fort, one of the largest stone forts in Ireland. Arrive at the western edge of the Inveragh Peninsula and the views of the Atlantic Ocean and Skellig Islands start to open up.
From here, you can drive the narrow Skellig Ring Road – too narrow for tour buses, so it’s a nice way to get out of a slow caravan if you’re driving your own vehicle. If you’d like, take a detour to the ruins of Ballinskelligs Castle. Stop by Skelligs Chocolates for a treat, then move on to the spectacular Kerry Cliffs.
In Portmagee (where you took the boat out to Skellig Michael Island), cross the Valentia Island bridge to visit the Skellig Experience Center. You’ll learn all about the monks who once lived on the Skellig Islands – a good alternative if you’re not able to take the boat tour to Skellig Michael).
Continue along the drive, with views of the Dingle Peninsula on a clear day, all the way back to Killorglin or Killarney.
Another option is to drive the Dingle Peninsula on the southwestern coast of Ireland, where you’ll also find the Wild Atlantic Way. Experience Ireland in miniature here, with rugged coast, beautiful beaches, quaint Irish villages and lush, green pastures. Keep in mind that the roadways are narrow and winding, even one-way at spots, including Slea Head Drive the Conor Pass.
Take a full day to drive the loop, so that you can spend time enjoying Dingle, Killarney and Tralee. Other highlights include Inch Beach (actually 4 miles long!), Conor Pass, Eask Tower, Coumeenoole Beach, the views to the Blasket Islands, Clogher Head and the Gallarus Oratory.
When Is the Best Time to Visit Ireland?
We’ll preface this by saying this is Ireland, so you should always expect rain. However, for the best weather, visit Ireland during the spring and summer. The summer is mainly dry and boasts the warmest temperatures, as well as longer daylight hours for sightseeing.