Last Updated: 2026-10-20 20:24:02
Skellig Michael
Monks' beehive cells at the top of 600 stone steps, 12 km out in the Atlantic.
The edge of the known world
Skellig Michael rises steeply out of the ocean about 12 km off the Iveragh Peninsula. Sometime between the 6th and 8th centuries, a community of monks built a monastery near its summit: stone beehive huts, oratories and terraced gardens, reached by a stairway of around 600 steps cut into the rock. The monastery is remarkably well preserved and was made a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1996.
Its neighbour, Little Skellig, is home to one of the largest gannet colonies in the world, and puffins nest on Skellig Michael itself in early summer. The island later found new fame as Luke Skywalker's hideaway in the recent Star Wars films.
Good to know
- Landings are limited: a small number of licensed boats sail from Portmagee and nearby piers, roughly mid-May to the end of September, and only when the sea allows.
- Book well ahead for landing tours; eco-tours that circle both islands without landing are easier to get.
- The climb is steep and unguarded: wear good shoes and expect about two and a half hours on the island.
Quick facts
Where: Off the coast of Co. Kerry
Region: Wild Atlantic Way
Boats from: Portmagee (about 45 min crossing)
From Dublin: about 4 h 30 min to Portmagee
Season: mid-May to September, weather permitting
Good for: history, seabirds, adventure
Local tip
Build a spare day into your plans. Sailings are cancelled often when the swell is up, and boat operators will usually move you to the next calm morning.