Isle of Skye is Scotland’s most famous isle with many different options for accommodation. If you need help narrowing down where to stay on Isle of Skye, look no further! In this guide, we’ve rounded up the best hotels, guesthouses, glamping stays and campsites so you can figure out the best option for your stay.
When it comes to finding accommodation on Scotland’s most famous isle, you may be scratching your head in uncertainty trying to discern where to stay on Isle of Skye.
From budget-friendly campgrounds to unique glamping pods to luxurious guesthouses, there truly is something for everyone.
In this article, we’ve rounded up the best places to stay on Isle of Skye for every type of traveler. We’re including accommodation recommendations in Portree (Isle of Skye’s main town). As well as options in the countryside, including where we personally stayed on both our trips (one trip we did in 2022 and one trip our Director of Content, Amanda, did in 2024).
Important: If you plan to visit the Isle of Skye while in Scotland, we’d recommend booking this accommodation first and well in advance. Being that it is a popular tourist destination (aka high demand) and an island (limited supply), Isle of Skye accommodation may book out months in advance (especially during the peak summer months!).
Isle of Skye Accommodation Guide
For more tips and advice for planning your trip to Isle of Skye, jump to the following sections (or just keep scrolling to see it all!).
- Portree stays
- Hotels & guesthouses outside of Portree
- Glamping stays on the Isle of Skye
- Best Isle of Skye campsites
- Getting around Isle of Skye
- FAQs
- What to pack
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Best stays in Portree
As the largest town on the Isle of Skye, Portree is where you’ll have the most options for accommodation and be within walking distance of conveniences like restaurants and grocery stores.
Here are our top hotel recommendations for Portree:
Cuillin Hills Hotel: This 1880s hotel overlooking Portree Bay once belonged to the Macdonald clan. With modern and upscale rooms, 15 acres of private land, and over 130 malt whiskies onsite, this makes the perfect basecamp for exploring Skye.
Bosville Hotel: These harbor-side, 19-century cottages have been restored and converted into a boutique hotel. Stay in the heart of Portree with some of the best views in town.
Viewfield House: Located in Portree, this lovely B&B makes a great homebase. In addition to a full Scottish breakfast, guests can enjoy the onsite bar, large fireplace in the common area, and fast wi-fi. The property sits on 20 acres, so it feels secluded, yet it’s within easy walking distance of Portree proper.
Marmalade Hotel: Housed in an early 1800s Georgian-style home, this beautiful hotel overlooks Portree Bay and well-manicured gardens. Dine in the onsite restaurant or garden, enjoy a cocktail in the heated courtyard, and take advantage of the boat and distillery tours that depart just minutes away.
Tianavaig View Apartments: If a vacation rental is more your style, these apartments offer a perfect middle-ground. The self-contained, modern apartments are centrally located and well-equipped, but come with hotel-like amenities and services such as housekeeping.
Portree Independent Hostel: If you’re on a budget or looking for a more social atmosphere, this hostel is ideally located right on Portree Bay. The shared kitchen, dining, and living rooms have fantastic views and great wi-fi connection, and dormitory-style rooms are spacious and comfy.
Best stays outside of Portree
If staying right in the center of town isn’t your jam, or you just want to be more immersed in nature or closer to other highlights of the isle, here are some great hotel and guesthouse recommendations.
Sligachan Hotel: Tucked into rural farmland on a scenic loch in Sconser, this hotel is in one of the best places to visit in Scotland if you’re hoping to spot Highland cows. The property is right next to the iconic Sligachan Old Bridge and less than 30 minutes from the Fairy Pools, plus it has its own micro-brewery and whiskey bar onsite.
Kinloch Lodge: Stay in a 17th-century hunting lodge on the banks of Loch Na Dal in Southern Skye. They also have campsites available.
Minch View Cabins: These tiny homes are ultra modern and fully equipped one-bedroom cabins in Earlish. They’ve got great views of the sea (west-facing so good sunsets right from the picture windows!) and are located right next to The Galley Cafe (one of our top recommend seafood restaurants on Isle of Skye. Amanda stayed here during her trip and rated them 5 stars!
Glamping stays on the Isle of Skye
Glamping has become super popular on Isle of Skye in recent years and as such there are some pretty neat glamping pods you can choose to stay in. Here are some of our top recommendations:
Skeabost View Pods: These secluded, countryside cabins are the perfect escape just west of Portree. Each pod has its own kitchenette, WiFi, and private patio.
Skye Red Fox Retreat: These sleek and compact wood cabins are the epitome of luxury glamping with full-service kitchens, working spaces, and an intimate deck with glass roofs and floor-to-ceiling windows.
North Skye Pods: Feel immersed in nature along the Trotternish Ridge while being close to all the main highlights in Skye. Each pod comes with all the creature comforts and even heated floors!
Psst! Looking for more unique places to stay? We’ve got an entire list of the best glamping in Scotland with your name on it!
Best Isle of Skye Campsites
If you’re traveling around Scotland in a campervan like we were, or you prefer to tent camp, the are lots of Isle of Skye campsites for you to choose from. We’ve rounded up some of our top recommendations below.
Psst! Be sure to read our Scotland camping guide before you head out on your trip! It’s packed with inside tips and advice we wish we would have known before going camping all around Scotland.
Skye Camping and Caravanning Club Site: This is where we personally stayed during our time on the Isle of Skye and we had a nice experience. The amenities are nice enough (not the best nor the worst). The location is not exactly near any major attractions, but it’s not too far out of the way, either. It is roughly a 20-minute drive to and from Portree.
Kinloch Campsite: It doesn’t get much better than this small campground overlooking Loch Dunvegan (yep — Dunvegan Castle is just minutes away!). Campsites can accommodate tents, campervans, or motorhomes, and they’re thoughtfully tiered so everyone has a great view. Amenities include free hot showers and free wi-fi.
Camus More: This campsite on the north end of the Trotternish Loop makes the perfect basecamp for exploring the top things to do in the Isle of Skye.
Portree Campsite: Conveniently located in the town of Portree, this campground has well-appointed amenities. Its proximity to town means you can enjoy a nice meal in Portree before retiring to your campervan or motorhome.
Insider Tip: This is the most popular campsite on the island and it books up well in advance, so be sure to make your reservations ahead of time. We tried to stay here, but they were completely full when we called several days in advance of our stay.
Getting around the Isle of Skye
Without a doubt, the best way to get around the Isle of Skye is self-driving.
There are buses, but they aren’t very frequent, so we wouldn’t recommend relying on public transport.
The only other ways to get around would be by hitchhiking (which we wouldn’t recommend unless you have unlimited time to wait around and a super adventurous spirit!), and by a guided tour of Skye.
You can either rent a car or hire a campervan in Scotland. We recommend the later as Scotland is one of those countries that’s really well set up for campervan travel!
If you want to know more, check out our guide to renting a campervan in Scotland.
And whether you’re renting a car or a campervan, you’ll want to read over our guide to driving in Scotland before you hit the road…
FAQs about where to stay on Isle of Skye
We’ve covered a lot in this guide on where to stay on Isle of Skye, but here are the answers to some popular questions regarding where to base yourself.
What is the best part of Skye to stay in?
The answer to this question entirely depends on what you prefer in your accommodation style.
If you want to be in town close to conveniences like restaurants: Stay in Portree
If you want to stay more rural, pretty much anywhere on the isle outside of Portree makes a good place to stay. And you’ll never be more than an hour or so drive away from the town.
How long does it take to drive around the Isle of Skye?
At only 50 miles long and 25 miles wide, the Isle of Skye is a relatively small island. You could drive around the entire coastline in a matter of 4-6 hours.
Can you stay on the Isle of Skye without a car?
Of course you can stay on Isle of Skye without a car. But we wouldn’t recommend it. See our section on getting around on Isle of Skye for your alternative transportation options.
Is the Isle of Skye walkable?
Not all over.
While there are tons of great hikes and walking paths around the isle, the isle itself is 50 miles long and 25 miles wide, so you wouldn’t be able to get around anywhere outside of the towns by walking.
That said, Portree, the main town on Isle of Skye, is quite small and walkable.
Is the Isle of Skye too touristy?
Of course this is a matter of opinion, however, in recent years the popularity of tourism on Isle of Skye has skyrocketed during high season (the summer months).
Our experience: When we were there in September 2022, there were plenty of people around but it didn’t feel busy. It wasn’t too difficult to find parking and accommodation. However, we learned the hard way that you have to make reservations ahead of time when dining in Portree.
Amanda’s experience: When I went in August 2024 (August being peak season!) it was a lot more busy! Finding parking in town and at all the viewpoints and trailheads was a bit of a challenge. There was some waiting around for the next car to leave so we could swoop in and take their parking spot. Portree was also pretty busy by midday, but when we went around 9 a.m. it was dead.
What to pack for visiting Isle of Skye
With variable weather conditions, excellent hiking opportunities, and some nice restaurants, there are a few things you definitely don’t want to forget when you’re packing for a trip to the Isle of Skye.
Check out the exact items we recommend for traveling in Scotland.
- Rain gear
- rain jacket (make sure it’s waterproof, not just water resistant)
- travel umbrella
- dry bag: to keep your valuables from getting wet on a hike
- Hiking backpack
- Hiking boots (trust us – with the wet weather – you’ll want boots here)
- Wool socks
- Layers
- Smart outfit if you plan to have a nice meal in Portree
- Bug repellent: midges are common in Skye, especially during the summer months
- Camera and lightweight tripod (optional)
Be sure to download our complete packing list for Scotland! It’s packed with good suggestions and insider tips to help plan your Scotland trip. And it’s completely FREE, so why not!?
Are you planning a trip to Scotland?
We have lots of resources on travel in Scotland and destinations throughout the country. Check out our Scotland Travel Homepage for everything you need to know, or read some of our favorite articles below.
- Bucket List Things to Do in Isle of Skye: Ultimate Guide
- Perfect Isle of Skye Itinerary + Map
- Best Places to Visit in Scotland
- Best Campervan Hire in Scotland: Ultimate Guide
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