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It’s not hard to understand why tens of thousands of people flock to Scotland’s Isle of Skye every summer, but not all experiences are made equal. Your choice of accommodation on the Isle of Skye can completely transform your experience of Skye so it’s critical that you choose the right place to stay.
This list of the best accommodation in the Isle of Skye is not for those just looking for where to stay on the Isle of Skye but for those who are looking for where to experience Skye. After all, Skye is all about dramatic landscapes, unmatched hikes, centuries-old castles and impressive wildlife, so your choice of accommodation on Skye should place you right in those surroundings to create an unforgettable experience.
And Skye is also a great place to try the tastiest of Scotland’s amazing cuisine.
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Before you book: essential tips
The Isle of Skye is one of the UK’s best summer travel destinations, so accommodation is often booked out well in advance of the peak travel months of July and August. There isn’t yet a sufficient number of vacancies to service Skye’s influx of visitors, so you may need to stay in more than one accommodation on Skye while you are there.
Most people will stay in Portree which is the capital of Skye, but a number of the other villages including Dunvegan, Uig and Carbost can be better choices depending on the experience that you’re looking for. Overall, make sure you book well in advance to secure the best of what accommodation on Skye.
Best places to stay on Skye
You’ll notice that we haven’t numbered these. This is intentional: these aren’t all the most luxurious or most expensive accommodation on the Isle of Skye, but each offers a unique feeling to make your trip extra special. You can’t go wrong with any of them (except the one we suggest avoiding at the end).
Sconser Lodge in Sconser
We can confidently say that this is one of very few places that delivers on everything you want from a Skye experience: genuine and thoughtful Scottish hospitality, breathtaking views of the water and landscape, and balanced rustic decorations to create the right atmosphere – and all for what is unequivocally the most budget-friendly price on Skye.
Sconser Lodge is the perfect place for families, and, being family-run, the team knows how to create an experience that you won’t forget. They’re always on hand to help you figure out how to best enjoy Skye. You’ll get to wake up to an incredible view with uninterrupted views all the way to the Raasay, a neighboring small island.
Your only disappointment will be that you didn’t book for longer. As far as Isle of Skye accommodation goes, Sconser Lodge ticks all the boxes.
Toravaig House Hotel in Sleat
Only a short walk to a secluded beach (you’ll have to ask Silke who runs the hotel for directions), the Caisteal Chamuis castle ruins and the Torabhaig Distillery, Toravaig House Hotel has managed to place itself right next to so many of the best Skye experiences while retaining its quiet charm. This is also family-run, so you can expect attentive service – and that certain pride in the local area that larger hotels just can’t recreate.
The decoration will make you want to cozy up to the fireside with a dram of local malt from the highlands, all while overlooking the Sound of Sleat. And the rooms are each uniquely designed which is always a nice touch.
There are a number of newly renovated rooms, so make sure you ask for one of these. The location is magical in the truest sense with unobstructed sea views, making it some of the best accommodation on the Isle of Skye.
The chef at Toravaig House Hotel is known by locals for serving cuisine that would not be out of place in a fine dining restaurant but without the pomposity that usually accompanies such establishments. Amazing views and an amazing restaurant makes Toravaig House one of the best places to stay on the Isle of Skye.
The House Over-by in Colbost
Most people will have heard of The Three Chimneys which is famed throughout the UK and globally (it has a Michelin star) for serving local Hebridean cuisine like no other. It’s not well known enough that the restaurant also operates a small hotel just next door to it. Expect modern furnishings and comforting warmth, all with beautiful views of Skye’s iconic mountains and water.
The House Over-by is close to the famous Dunvegan Castle, so even if you’re not dining at The Three Chimneys, it can still be a wonderful place to stay, far away from it all.
Monkstadt 1745 Luxury Lodge in Trotternish
Located just a few miles from the oft-overlooked Rha Waterfalls, Monkstadt has managed to keeps its name as one of the best hotels on Skye for now hundreds of years. The quality and authenticity of the décor paired with the highest level of Scottish hospitality make this a truly exciting experience. Monkstadt is also on the far northern side of Skye, and this remoteness is part of what gives Monkstadt its charm.
If you’re looking for a particularly memorable experience, we recommend that you stay in one of the cottages (all with names harkening to Monkstadt’s history like Sir MacDonald Suite and Lady Margaret Suite).
You’ll get a cozy interior to take in the amazing views that only this far north of Skye can provide – and the privacy of distance from everything else. It really is one of the best places to stay on the Isle of Skye.
Isle of Raasay Distillery in Raasay
Admittedly, the Isle of Raasay Distillery is actually on Raasay, which is a small island neighboring Skye that you’ll need to take a ferry from Sconser to Raasay in order to get to. This is the perfect choice for those looking to maximize their time in Skye’s world-famous distilleries because you’ll be in a villa attached to the craft whisky distillery.
It also boasts spectacular scenery, and you can get up close and personal with the famous highlands cows. It’s right next to the Isle of Skye, so it’s still one of the best places to stay on the Isle of Skye.
We think all trips to Skye should include a ferry trip. Before the Skye Bridge was built, all journeys to Skye involved a ferry. You can experience a bit of the romance that comes with going to a rugged, remote terrain by taking a ferry. And the ferry ride over is itself breathtaking and is a great vantage point to take in the views of Skye.
The Isle of Raasay Distillery will also include quite a generous amount of their single malt whisky in your room so you can enjoy a few drams while looking out at the rolling hills. No trip here to Raasay would be complete without a tour and tasting of Isle of Raasay Distillery’s whisky, so make sure you carve out some time for this.
You’ll be even more remote during your stay on Raasay, but you don’t need to worry because the food at the Isle of Raasay Distillery will blow you away (the venison loin is something special).
If you like to hike, the Dùn Caan hike is unique for its flat-topped summit and something very people can say they’ve done. Leave about two to three hours.
Edinbane Lodge in Edinbane
Set in a 16th-centiry lodge, each of the four rooms in Edinbane Lodge is designed with the intention of retaining the original character. It’s usual to find this on a list of best places to stay on the Isle of Skye.
Like many of the best places on Skye, Edinbane Lodge is also host to an excellent restaurant which prides itself on food sourced from the Scottish highlands (most just within a few miles). The restaurant serves simple, hearty food with a focus on just a handful of ingredients, so you can expect a solid meal at a great price.
It’s a good change of pace for a cozier date night during your road trip through Skye. Their celery sorbet is also a very unique flavor profile that shouldn’t go unappreciated.
And (maybe) one to avoid…
Any cursory search for where to stay on Skye will almost certainly yield the Flodigarry Hotel as one of the best. And there’s good reason for it in theory: the hotel is nestled within some of Skye’s best ancient woodland and the Quiraing. Once upon a time, we suspect this was one of the best places to stay on the Isle of Skye.
You’ll get both mountain and sea views at Flodigarry, but it feels like the old-world charm isn’t being maintained as well as it should be so it just feels, frankly, old without the charm. The rooms can feel a bit overpriced given their size, but if you’re willing to put up with that then you’ll get an exceptional location at the very least. With a bit of time and effort, we have no doubt that the Flodigarry Hotel will return to its former glory.
An alternative experience
Skye is also known for its abundance of holiday rentals. We think you can have an amazing experience in a holiday rental (especially for a big group), but we would recommend a serviced hotel to get the full Skye experience. If you’re looking for a holiday rental, Vrbo has the best options on Skye (though book in advance because they’re one of a kind).
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