Skellig Michael

Skellig Michael also known as Great Skellig, is a steep rocky island in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of County Kerry

Skellig Michael also known as Great Skellig, is a steep rocky island and is the larger of the two Skellig islands in the Atlantic Ocean about 14.5 kilometres (9 miles) from the coast of Kerry.

Skellig Michael towers 218 metres (714ft) above the ocean, it is is one of Europe's better known but least accessible monasteries and is a designated World Heritage Site. On the summit you will find a remarkably well-preserved sixth century monastic settlement. The monks lived in stone 'beehive' huts, perched above nearly vertical cliff walls.

A visit to the monastery will entail a climb on 618 steps, it is a demanding climb and any person with health issues should consider carefully their own physical limitations before exploring this part of the site.

Along with its smaller neighbour, Little Skellig, Great Skellig is an important nature reserve.

Guide Service Available: Mid May - October. At all other times this site is unmanned and visits are prohibited.

Free (separate charges for boat trip)

View Similar Tourist Attractions

• The Hunt Museum
• National Leprechaun Museum
• National Museum of Ireland - Archaeology
• Larne Museum & Arts Centre
• Emo Court
• Ceide Fields
• Clare Museum
• Dingle Oceanworld
• Aras an Uachtarain
• Fort Lucan
• Lough Key Forest & Activity Park
• Museum at the Mill
• Giants Causeway
• Old Mellifont Abbey
• Bushmills Distillery
• Titanic Belfast
• Athenry Castle
• Dalkey Castle & Heritage Centre
• Ulster Museum
• Guinness Storehouse
• Wicklow Mountains National Park
• Christ Church Cathedral
• Imaginosity - Dublins Children Museum
• Sentry Hill & Visitor Centre
• Shelbourne Park Greyhound Stadium
• Ballyhack Castle
• Corlea Trackway Visitor Centre
• National Aquatic Centre - AquaZone
• Crag Cave
• Kilbeggan Distillery Experience
• St Marys Church
• Cahir Castle
• Cruachan Ai Heritage Centre
• Marble Arch Caves & Global Geopark
• Dublin City Hall - Story of the Capital
• Patrick Pearses Cottage
• Parkes Castle
• Carrowmore Megalithic Cemetery
• Tower Museum
• Tayto Park
• Donegal County Museum
• King Johns Castle
• Scattery Island Centre
• Hook Lighthouse & Heritage Centre
• Skellig Michael
• Farmleigh House & Estate
• Reginalds Tower
• Viking Splash Tours
• Famine Warhouse
• Burren National Park
• Newmills Corn & Flax Mills
• Belfast Zoo
• Arigna Mining Experience
• Waterways Ireland Visitor Centre
• Cliffs of Moher - Visitor Experience
• Castle Ward House & Demesne
• Pearse Museum & St. Endas Park
• National Gallery of Ireland
• The Ark
• Eagles Flying
• Hugh Lane Gallery
• Dan OHaras Heritage & History Centre
• Carrickfergus Museum
• Skellig Experience Visitor Centre
• Muckross House & Gardens & Traditional Farm
• Navan Centre & Fort
• Cobh Heritage Centre
• Donegal Castle
• Dublinia
• Trim Castle
• Armagh County Museum
• Kerry County Museum
• Natural History Museum
• Belleek Pottery Visitor Centre
• St Marys Abbey
• Mid Antrim Museum at The Braid
• Dublin Zoo
• King House
• Funtasia Bettystown
• Jerpoint Abbey
• Skerries Mills
• Dun Aonghasa
• The Old Jameson Distillery
• Government Buildings
• Newgrange & Knowth - Bru na Boinne Visitor Centre
• Dungarvan Castle
• Hill of Tara
• Maynooth Castle
• Casino Marino
• Desmond Hall
• Chester Beatty Library
• Tintern Abbey
• Queens University
• Carrick a Rede Rope Bridge
• Foynes Flying Boat Museum
• National Photographic Archive
• Ennis Friary
• Glebe House & Gallery - The Derek Hill Collection
• Jeanie Johnston Tall Ship Famine Museum
• Castletown House
• Avondale House & Forest Park
• Aughnanure Castle
• Ferns Castle
• St Stephens Green
• Dunbrody Famine Ship
• Lullymore Heritage & Discovery Park
• Ros Tapestry Exhibition Centre
• Garylough Mill
• National Museum of Ireland - Decorative Arts & History
• National Wax Museum Plus
• Derrynane House
• VISUAL Centre for Contemporary Art & The George Bernard Shaw Theatre
• The Burren Centre - Gateway to the Burren
• Charles Fort
• Lahinch Seaworld & Leisure Centre
• Dwyer McAllister Cottage
• Exploris Aquarium & Seal Sanctuary
• Swiss Cottage
• Iveagh Gardens
• Rock of Cashel
• Dublin Castle
• Wexford Wildfowl Reserve
• Mizen Head Signal Station
• Glenveagh National Park
• Desmond Castle
• Xtreme.ie - Adventure Centre
• Skibbereen Heritage Centre
• Trinity College Dublin & Book of Kells
• Barryscourt Castle
• Adare Heritage Centre
• Galway Atlantaquaria
• Portumna Castle & Gardens
• Glendalough
• Craggaunowen - The Living Past
• Jameson Experience Midleton
• Rothe House & Garden
• Battle of the Boyne
• Ballycroy National Park
• Ormond Castle
• National Museum of Ireland - Country Life
• Killarney National Park
• Thomond Park Stadium
• John F Kennedy Arboretum
• Phoenix Park Visitor Centre - Ashtown Castle
• Roscrea Castle & Heritage Centre
• Lusk Heritage Centre
• Coole Park
• Leopardstown Racecourse
• Gallarus Oratory & Gallarus Castle
• Ulster Folk & Transport Museum
• National Concert Hall
• Boyle Abbey
• Somme Heritage Centre
• Clonmacnoise
• National Library of Ireland
• Saint Patricks Cathedral
• Number Twenty Nine - Georgian House Museum
• Aillwee Cave
• Ulster American Folk Park
• National Sea Life Centre
• Funtasia Waterpark
• Aviva Stadium
• Phoenix Park
• Russborough House
• Kilmainham Gaol
• Doneraile Wildlife Park
• Kilkenny Castle
• Florence Court
• Blarney Castle
• Croke Park & GAA Museum
• Armagh Planetarium
• Rathfarnham Castle
• Irish National Stud & Japanese Gardens
• Dunmore Cave
• Sligo Abbey
• National Transport Museum
• The Main Guard
• Caherconnell Fort
• Listowel Castle
• Edmund Rice Heritage Centre
• Castlecomer Discovery Park
• Galway City Museum
• Waterford & Suir Valley Heritage Railway
• Tullamore Dew Heritage Centre
• Connemara National Park
• Adare Castle
• The Science Gallery
• House of Waterford Crystal
• Dromore Wood
• The Blascaoid Centre - Ionad an Bhlascaoid Mhoir
• The Butlers Chocolate Experience
• Doolin Cave & Visitor Centre
• Enniskillen Castle Museum
• Irish Museum of Modern Art (IMMA) - Royal Hospital Kilmainham
• Ross Castle
• Malahide Castle
• Ardfert Cathedral
• Westport House, Gardens & Pirate Adventure Park
• Bunratty Castle & Folk Park

Local Recommendations

Hospitality

• Moorings, The
  (17.5km)NE
• Skelligs Chocolate Co
  (18.4km)NE
• Cill Rialaig Café
  (19.8km)NE
• Valentia Island Farmhouse Ice Cream
  (22.9km)NE
• Smugglers Inn, The
  (24.5km)NE
• O'Neills - The Point Bar
  (25.3km)NE
• Quinlans Kerry Fish
  (25.3km)NE
• Sea Lodge Waterville
  (25.6km)NE
• Dooley's Waterfront Bar & Restaurant
  (25.7km)NE
• Butler Arms Hotel
  (25.7km)NE
• Old Cable House, The
  (26.1km)NE
• Quinlan & Cooke Boutique Townhouse & QCs Seafood Restaurant
  (29.0km)NE
• Kerry Black Faced Mountain Lamb
  (36.0km)NE
• Irish Atlantic Sea Salt
  (40.3km)SE
• Milleens
  (40.5km)SE
• Kells Bay House and Gardens & Sala Thai Restaurant
  (40.9km)NE
• Caifé na Caoloige @ Louis Mulcahy Pottery
  (42.2km)NE
• Burns Butchers
  (44.1km)NE
• Sacre Coeur Restaurant
  (44.2km)NE
• O'Sullivan's Butchers
  (44.3km)NE

Self Catering

• Oceanfront Cottages at Derrynane Hotel
  (30.5km)SE
• Dingle Marina Cottages
  (44.7km)NE

Farmers Markets

• Valentia Island - Co Kerry - Wednesday & Saturday
  (24.5km)NE
• Cahirciveen - County Kerry - Thursdays (seasonal)
  (29.2km)NE
• Caherdaniel - Fridays (seasonal) - Co Kerry
  (29.9km)NE
• Dingle Farm Produce & Craft - County Kerry - Fridays
  (45.1km)NE

Tourist Attractions

• Skellig Michael
  (0.0km)NE
• Skellig Experience Visitor Centre
  (17.7km)NE
• Derrynane House
  (27.8km)NE
• The Blascaoid Centre - Ionad an Bhlascaoid Mhoir
  (40.7km)NE
• Dingle Oceanworld
  (45.0km)NE
• Gallarus Oratory & Gallarus Castle
  (46.8km)NE

Golf Courses

• Waterville Golf Club
  (24.8km) NE
• Skellig Bay Golf Club
  (25.4km) NE
• Dooks Golf Club
  (54.6km) NE

Gardens

• Glanleam House & Subtropical Garden
  (23.7km)NE

Nearby Towns/Areas

• Portmagee
  (17.5km) NE
• Ballinskelligs
  (18.5km) NE
• Valentia Island
  (24.3km) NE
• Waterville
  (25.7km) NE
• Cahirciveen
  (28.9km) NE
• Caherdaniel
  (30.5km) SE
• Castle Cove
  (34.4km) NE
• Eyeries
  (40.5km) SE
• Ventry
  (42.4km) NE
• Castletownbere
  (44.8km) SE