Updated March 2025–Visitors interested in visiting Skellig Michael this year should know that the iconic attraction will reopen on May 10th and be accessible to tourists through Sept. 29th.
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It is only accessible for a few months out of the year due to uncertain weather conditions and the danger that it poses to passengers, especially those who want to climb to the top of the island.
Skellig Michael is famous with modern-day visitors as being one of the filming locations used for the shooting of two Star Wars movies.
Before booking, visitors should know that there are two types of tours available, including landing tours, which allow an exploration of the island, and eco tours, where passengers see the two Skellig islands from a vessel.
How to Get to Skellig Michael
It is essential book tours to Skellig Michael ahead of time as they are extremely popular.
The 12-km (7.5 miles) trip can be taken from either Portmagee, Valentia Island, Ballinskelligs, or Derrynane Harbour, which is located in Caherdaniel.
The following companies run tours to the island and surrounding area. This list includes the names of the vessels, the companies that own them and the port they are based in. Many of them have opened up bookings for 2025.
The Lady Clare, Skellig Boat Trips, operates from Portmagee
Shelluna, Skellig Cruises, operates from Portmagee
The Mary Frances, Skellig Michael Voyage, operates from Portmagee
The Deva, The Ursula Mary, the Skellig Walker, & The Celtic Victor Skellig Coast Adventures, operates from Portmagee
The Jerdemar, Skellig Michael Boats, operates from Portmagee
The Force Awakens, Skellig Michael Boat Trips, operates from Ballinskelligs
The Atlantic Endeavour, Skellig Rock Tours, operates from Portmagee
The Skellig Crest, Skellig Michael Tours, operates from Portmagee
Ken Brencent, Skellig Michael Tours and Skellig Landing Tours, operates from Portmagee
Sea Breeze 3, Skellig Michael Cruises, operates from Portmagee
Fionnuala, Skellig Michael Cruises, operates from Portmagee
L'Oursin, Skellig Tours, operates from Derrynane Harbour.
You can find a complete list of these tour providers, including their email addresses and phone numbers, on the Skellig Michael Heritage Ireland website.
Landings on Skellig Michael must be carefully choreographed due to the sensitivity of the site, which is why only 180 people are allowed on the island at any one time.
What to See on Skellig Michael
The windswept pinnacles of Skellig Michael, a massive rock that is 217 meters high (717 feet) is perhaps Ireland’s most iconic ancient site.
The UNESCO World Heritage site was once home to a group of monks who survived here from the 6th through 12th centuries.
For modern-day visitors, it’s hard to believe that anyone could live in such a remote place.
However, that's just what the monks did here, building two oratories and six beehive huts on this stark piece of land using a system called “drystone architecture.
There is also evidence of a vegetable garden and a cistern that the monks used for collecting water.
St. Michael’s Church and a cemetery, where the monks are reputedly buried, is also part of this ancient site.
The monastery was abandoned in the 12th century, but it continued to be a place of pilgrimage for years after that, even hosting weddings during Lent from the 16th century onwards, a practice that was frowned upon in mainland Ireland at the time.
There are also two lighthouses on the island, one on the southwestern end and the other on the northwest side of the island.
Tour guides provide a full history of the island, as well as the mythology that surrounds it.
Little Skellig, which is about 1.4 km (0.86) from Skellig Michael, contains the second-largest colony of gannets in the world.
Landings are not permitted on Little Skellig.
Both islands are home to thriving communities of puffins, arctic terns Manx shearwater, fulmar, cormorants, and guillemots.
Improvements to the UNESCO Heritage Site
In recent years, staff from Ireland’s Office of Public Works have made significant improvements to the site.
The 600 steps that lead to the top of the monastic site were repaired and cleaned and the landing area was also updated.
Work was also conducted on the lighthouse road and to both lighthouses on the island.
Perhaps more importantly, a dry toilet system and tank with hand sanitizer dispensers were also installed, a much-needed addition to the tourist attraction.
Read More: 6 of Ireland's Coolest Lighthouses to Visit in 2025