Great Skellig

Island · Kerry

Great Skellig

Island · Kerry

Skellig Rock Great, Ireland

Highlights

Skellig Michael is a breathtaking rocky island with a 6th-century monastery, offering stunning views, abundant puffins, and a thrilling climb.

Skellig Rock Great, Ireland Get directions

@afar

"Christianmonks chose the Skelligs, two rocky islets lying seven milesoff the coast of CountyKerry, as a place to live in peaceful isolation in the 6th century, where they builtcylindrical stone beehive huts. Lucasfilm chose Skellig Michael, or Greater Skellig, as Luke Skywalker’s hideaway, featured heavily in 2017’s Star Wars:The Last Jedi. The rocks are also host to an important seabird colony, with thousands of puffinsand other species breeding here (no porgs, though). From May to October, visitors take the ferry thatrunsfrom the village of Portmagee to Skellig Michael. The crossing takes an hour and can be rough, and themonastery, which includes six beehive huts and two oratories, is at the summit of around 600exposed and uneven steep stone steps.However, be prepared—visitor numbers are limited, and the crossing is weather dependent. If you don’t make it out to the rocks, visit the Skellig Experience on nearby(and easily accessible) Valentia Island to learn more about the islands’ history and nature."

What Not to Miss in Cork and Kerry

View Postcard for Great Skellig

Natee Poopipathiranyakul

Google

Take medicine before starting the one hour boat to Skellig Michael island even you are not a sea sick. But it’s worth to go. During strong wave we saw many dolphins. 35,000 pairs of Gannets made the little Skellig island as an awe inspiring sight from the boat. My group can view thousand of lovely tamed puffins on May 28,2024. It’s easy to see closely, much better than in Iceland. I highly recommend to visit Skellig Michael island if you visit South Ireland. Do not afraid even vomiting from seasick I can say it’s worth to go. Don’t miss it

Merlijn van Hasselt

Google

Tricky to reach: not only are there limited slots (max 180 guests per day), it's expensive to get there and your tour might be cancelled due to weather, swells, wind, rainfall. It's 600 steps up, on uneven stone slabs. It will take you about 15 to 20 minutes of nonstop climbing, with not a lot of spots to catch your breath. Then you'll need to go down again, and your knees will have something to say about that. Wonderful views, intricately built monastery with a vivid history. Lots of birds and particular plant life. Quite the experience.

Madison Jones

Google

One of the highlights of our trip to Ireland. Unique and full of history. Preparing for this we read a lot of material that almost scared us out of the trek. Honestly, this is for beginners. Avid hikers will have zero issues. The biggest take away is TAKE YOUR TIME. Steps can be uneven, but watch your feet and catch your breath at each stair landing. Take a camelbak or small backpack for your water, snack, and camera. Nothing else needed. ENJOY!

Dr. W. Sennebogen

Google

This is simply a great place. If you are lucky with the weather and the waves you will have a wonderful experience. But be aware that you really have to climb all those steps. The old monastery is a great place to be. The birds on Little Skellig and the seals are great to watch. And in June there are many puffins on Skellig Michael which can be looked at from a short distance.

Vaida Šliupaite

Google

Awesome trip with Boat "Deva" the crew were just amazing. Booked landing tour, took 5 hours, first we did the tour around the islands, after landing to Great Skellig. Everything on time. This is the toilets in the island. Lots of puffins now in july.

Samantha Eastman

Google

This is a mind blowing tour! It only like 25-35 euro, maybe more I can’t remember, but it was dirt cheap for something that was AMAZING. it takes most of the day, you get an amazing boat ride, get to see dolphins, get to go onto a island that is gorgeous, the hike is steep, 612 steps up, but totally amazing once you get to the top!

Savannah Grossen

Google

The boat ride out there is pretty rough 😅 3 of our family members lost their breakfast on the way out. However, it was completely worth it! When you step off the boat onto Skellig, you feel like you are stepping onto another planet (a Star Wars planet). There were thousands of puffins everywhere on the ground, in their burrows, and flying through the air. The rock formations are very unique, and learning about the monasteries was fascinating. Make sure you get to your checkpoints on time so that you can hear the history. I would recommend absolutely taking motion sickness medicine (even if you think you won't get sick- trust me!), bring waterproof gear so that you can sit in the back of the boat because the waves will crash onto the boat and get you wet if it's not already raining (it made us less sick to sit outside in the back of the boat), bring layers (the boat ride was wet and cold but it was actually pretty warm and sunny on the island), and get ready to climb some steps. Have fun! 😊

john nemo

Google

One of the most cool experiences I've had. The island is like an island out of bond as you disembark the boat with a sheltered walk way and a helipad on the side of the cliffs. As you ascend the 600 or so steps to the monastic settlement you get the feeling of how special and spiritual this place is and can tell why they used it as luke skywalkers hideout in star wars. Its out of this world and well worth the money to see if you are lucky enough to get the weather to allow a landing.