Scotland’s Isle of Skye is a bucket list destination for many travelers visiting the Scottish Highlands. Although you can visit in a very long day trip from nearby areas, you will really be glad you decided to stay overnight and allow yourself more time to explore.
With so many quaint villages scattered across the island, it can be difficult to choose where to stay on Isle of Skye. Fortunately, we’ve rounded up the best places to stay in the Isle of Skye, as well as Isle of Skye accommodation recommendations for every budget and travel style.
Below are 10 of the best areas in Isle of Skye to help you make the right decision when trying to work out the best accommodation on the Isle of Skye for you. We have tried to make the guide as easy to follow as possible. We have also included some things to do or places to visit within the areas on the Isle of Skye so you can use this as a go to guide.
We will cover off all types of accommodation in Isle of Skye, options from Hostels to luxury Isle of Skye hotels as well as how to decide where to stay in Isle of Skye 2023, the best Isle of Skye hotels, best places in Isle of Skye to visit, the best places to stay in Isle of Skye, hotels near Isle of Skye attractions, Isle of Skye neighborhood guide, the best towns Isle of Skye and many more. This guide will introduce you to some of the best places to stay on the Isle of Skye Scotland.
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Portree – Where to stay on the Isle of Skye for tourists
As the capital city, Portree, Isle of Skye, is the best area for tourists who have just one night to spend here. It’s the most populous village on the island, with around 5,000 residents. You’ll find the highest concentration of Isle of Skye hotels in Portree, and many day tours around the island should you decide not to rent your own car. Below are the best places to stay in Portree Isle of Skye.
Portree is also serviced by daily bus service from Glasgow and Inverness, making it one of the easiest places to stay in the Isle of Skye. If you’ve always wanted to stay in a Bed and Breakfast, Isle of Skye is a great place to find one! Portree is one of the best place to stay in Isle of Skye Scotland because of it’s ease of access to the island. If you’re wondering where the best places to stay in Portree Skye is, check out our below list of recommendations.
Where to Stay in Portree
Cheapest Backpacking Hostels in Portree
Portree Youth Hostel
Portree Independent Hostel
Budget Hotels in Portree
Grenitote Bed and Breakfast
The Tongadale Hotel
Oisean Sheonag
The Skye Inn
Mid range Hotels in Portree
Air Leth Bed & Breakfast
Portree Hotel
Caledonian Hotel
Gleann An Ronnaich
Family Friendly Hotels in Portree
Coolin View Guest House
Bosville Hotel
Braeside Guest Rooms
Affordable Luxury Hotels in Portree
Quayside Apartment
Cuillin Hills Hotel
Self contained apartment/rentals in Portree
Apartment 1
Apartment 2
Apartment 3
Apartment 4
Apartment 5
Broadford – Where to stay on the Isle of Skye for Outdoor Adventure
The island’s second-largest village is Broadford, which also happens to be one of the first villages you pass through after crossing the Skye Bridge from mainland Scotland. If you want to know where to stay in Isle of Skye for outdoor adventure, Broadford is an excellent choice.
There is a nice selection of accommodation, restaurants, activities, and tours, making this a very family-friendly location for your Isle of Skye visit. Backpackers looking for budget-friendly accommodation will also find several hostels and even campgrounds to stay in.
Where to Stay in Broadford
Cheapest Backpacking Hostels in Broadford
Skye Basecamp
Broadford Backpackers Hostel
Mid range Hotels in Broadford
Breakish Escape
Corry Lodge – Skye
Family Friendly Hotels in Broadford
Broadford Hotel
Dunollie Hotel ‘A Bespoke Hotel
Self contained apartment/rentals in Broadford
Apartment 1
Dunvegan – Where to stay on the Isle of Skye with family
Along the western side of the island, the village of Dunvegan. Many travelers come to this part of the island to visit Dunvegan Castle, home of the MacLeod clan and one of the oldest inhabited castles in Scotland. Aside from touring the castle, the village of Dunvegan offers a good selection of Isle of Skye family accommodation and budget-friendly options as well.
Travelers will find the convenience of grocery stores and a post office, as this is the third-largest village on the Isle of Skye. Dunvegan also has a daily bus service to Portree, just 30 minutes away.
Where to Stay in Dunvegan
Mid-Range & Family Friendly Hotels in Dunvegan
Skye Lodge
Brae Cottage
Hame on Skye
Edinbane – Where to stay on the Isle of Skye for Amazing Scenery
Between Portree and Dunvegan lies the small village of Edinbane, a village practically designed by a member of the MacLeod clan. The central location makes it a good home base for exploring the nearby Trotternish Peninsula, known for some of the most dramatic landscapes in all of Scotland.
This village is a bit more remote than others on the list, with fewer services, but the town of Portree is only 20 minutes away by car. While it’s a quieter place to stay, if you can snag a room at the Edinbane Inn, you’ll find a lively restaurant and pub with live music sessions throughout the week. Edinbane has some of the unique places to stay Isle of Skye, check them out here:
Where to Stay in Edinbane
Budget Hotels in Edinbane
B&B Kilcamb
Mid range Hotels in Edinbane
Ronan House
Family Friendly Hotels in Edinbane
Greshornish House Hotel
Affordable Luxury Hotels in Edinbane
Edinbane Lodge
Self contained apartment/rentals in Edinbane
Apartment 1
Uig – Where to stay on the Isle of Skye for the Fairy Glen
This port village on the Trotternish Peninsula is a charming place to stay off the beaten tourist path on the Isle of Skye. From Uig, one can take a ferry to Uist or Harris, or simply enjoy staying in this small village for a day or two. One of the more popular places to visit near Uig is the Fairy Glen, a unique landscape created by landslides. In town, there are a few choices for accommodation, as well as a few restaurants, but beware this will be a quiet place to stay, with the conveniences of Portree nearly an hour away. Personally i think Uig is the best area to stay in Isle of Skye.
Where to Stay in Uig
Mid range Hotels in Uig
Uig Lodge
Affordable Luxury Hotels in Uig
Stones Bed and Breakfast
Uig Hotel
Abhaig Boutique B&B – Isle of Skye (best suited for couples or singles)
Self contained apartment/rentals in Uig
Apartment 1
Apartment 2
Apartment 3
Staffin – Where to stay on the Isle of Skye on a budget
Thirty minutes north of Portree, almost to the tip of the Trotternish Peninsula, you’ll find the small village of Staffin. The main draw here is the amazing geology of the Trotternish Peninsula, something that is almost out of this world. Specifically, many visitors come here to see the Quiraing, a popular hiking area.
The dramatic Kilt Rock is another popular photo opportunity near Staffin. If you visit in the summer, you can enjoy a day at Staffin Beach, a family-friendly beach where dinosaur prints were recently discovered. The village has a small market, laundry, and cafe, while there are several accommodation options scattered throughout the countryside.
Where to Stay in Staffin
Budget Hotels in Staffin
Benview Bed & Breakfast
Mid range Hotels in Staffin
Taigh Rob
Family Friendly Hotels in Staffin
Beinn Edra House Bed & Breakfast
The Glenview
Self contained apartment/rentals in Staffin
Apartment 1
Apartment 2
Armadale – Where to stay on the Isle of Skye for the ferry
At the southern tip of the Isle of Sky lies Armadale, a village on the Sleat Peninsula. You can get to Armadale in one hour from Portree, or by taking the ferry from the mainland town of Mallaig. The landscape here is more subdued than the northern part of the Isle of Skye, however, this fishing village offers plenty of charm.
Activity in Armadale centers around the ferry pier, with several shops and cafes in the immediate vicinity. Of course, many travelers pass through on their way to Armadale Castle, which includes 18th-century castle ruins, a museum, and gardens that are open to the public.
Where to Stay in Armadale
Cheapest Backpacking Hostels in Armadale
Flora MacDonald
Mid range Hotels in Armadale
Sonas Bed & Breakfast
Hotel Eilean Iarmain
Family Friendly Hotels in Armadale
Inn @ Aird a’ Bhasair
Affordable Luxury Hotels in Armadale
Toravaig House Hotel
Self contained apartment/rentals in Armadale
Apartment 1
Apartment 2
Apartment 3
Apartment 4
Carbost – Where to stay on the Isle of Skye for Fairy Pools
Just 30 minutes from Portree, Carbost is best known for the Talisker Distillery, which has been operating here since the mid-1800s. Most visitors choose to visit the distillery visitors center. The village is fairly small, with one hotel and a bunkhouse, so you should book early if you are visiting in peak season and wish to stay here.
Carbost also happens to be one of the towns nearest to the famous Fairy Pools, which are colorful rock pools filled with ice-cold spring water. If you plan to hike to the pools at sunrise or sunset, then you’ll want to stay in Carbost, just 15 minutes away. The Neist Point lighthouse is another popular attraction, just 20 minutes from Carbost.
Where to Stay in Carbost
Mid-Range & Family Friendly Hotels in Carbost
This must be the place – Skye, Carbost
Elgol – Where to stay on the Isle of Skye for Relaxation
About 30 minutes from Broadford is the port town of Elgol on the west coast of the Isle of Skye. Set on a hillside overlooking the bay, Elgol is perhaps most popular for eco-tours, both in the surrounding mountains and out on the water. From here, you can also travel to some of the smaller isles neighboring the Isle of Skye.
There are also some famous caves in the area, which you can only access from the water, so booking a boat tour is a must in this region. Accommodation and services are light here, but with advance planning, you can stay at the Coruisk House and enjoy their Michelin-starred restaurant on-site.
Where to Stay in Elgol
Family Friendly Hotels in Elgol
Rowan Cottage B&B
Self contained apartment/rentals in Elgol
Apartment 1
Kyleakin- Where to stay on the Isle of Skye near the Mainland
Before the Skye Bridge was constructed, Kyleakin was the main entry point for visitors to the Isle of Skye, as it was just a short ferry ride from the mainland. As such, there are still a surprising number of tourist services, despite being such a sleepy town.
If you are arriving to the Isle of Skye late in the day and can’t bear the thought of driving another 15 minutes to Broadford, then Kyleakin is a good place to stay. You’ll find a marina, several hotels, and hostels, pubs, and cafes. And Broadford is just over ten kilometers away should you need anything.
Where to Stay in Kyleakin
Budget Hotels in Kyleakin
Corran Guest House
Mid range Hotels in Kyleakin
Breakish Escape
The Cliffe House, The Pier, Kyleakin
Family Friendly Hotels in Kyleakin
White Heather Hotel
Kings Arms Hotel
Ceol-Na-Mara
Blairdhu House
Affordable Luxury Hotels in Kyleakin
Kinloch Lodge
Duisdale House Hotel
Colbost – Where to stay on the Isle of Skye off the beaten track
Across the bay from Dunvegan, you’ll find the village of Colbost. With a few attractions such as the Colbost Folk Museum and the Neist Point Lighthouse, this is really off the beaten path and perfect for travelers seeking a quiet getaway.
There’s not much of a central village, but you’ll find a few restaurants and attractions scattered around the area. Accommodation choices are limited to a few guesthouses, bed and breakfasts, or self-catering cottages.
Where to Stay in Colbost
Budget Hotels in Colbost
Creag House B&B
Mid range Hotels in Colbost
Dunvegan Hotel
Carters Rest Guesthouse
Family Friendly Hotels in Colbost
Hazeldean
Brae Cottage
Skye Lodge
Affordable Luxury Hotels in Colbost
Glendale View
FAQs for Where to stay in the Isle of Skye
Where is best as a base for Skye?
Portree, with its lovely harbour area but no actual “sights” to see compared to other sights in Skye. Portree is, however, the best place to start exploring Skye. There are a few hotels, hostels, and bed-and-breakfasts in the town centre, and there are many more B&Bs lining the highways leading into and out of the city.
Is it worth staying on Isle of Skye?
Scotland’s second-largest islands, the Isle of Skye, sometimes known as the Cloud Isles in Old Norse, is without a doubt its most beautiful island – at least in my opinion. With its towering mountains, cascading waterfalls, and stunning sunsets, it’s no surprise that the Isle of Skye is the nation’s second-most popular tourist destination after Edinburgh.
How many nights do you need in Isle of Skye?
I would highly recommend 2-4 days in the Isle of Skye, most people only stay for 2 days but if you have the time, I’d recommend spending an extra day or two so that you can take your time to see the whole island without having to rush.
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