skellig michael tours paul devane

How To Visit Skellig Michael In 2024 (A Guide To The Skellig Islands)

By Author Keith O'Hara

Posted on Last updated: February 1, 2024

The Skellig Michael tours are some of Ireland’s most sought-after. They’re also some of the most misunderstood .

There are two types of Skellig Islands tours:

• Landing tours : You physically explore Skellig Michael Island
• Eco tours : You sail around the two Skellig Islands but don’t leave the boat

In the guide below, you’ll find info on the different tours of the Skellig Islands, their history and, of course, the Star Wars link . Enjoy!

Table of Contents

Some quick need-to-knows if you want to visit Skellig Michael

Click to enlarge map

So, if you want to visit Skellig Michael Island, there are several  need-to-knows before you start planning your trip.

1. Location

The ancient Skellig Islands jut from the Atlantic Ocean around 13km from Ballinskelligs Bay off the tip of the Iveragh Peninsula in County Kerry .

2. There are 2 islands

There are two Skellig Islands. The smaller of the two, known as Little Skellig , is closed to the public and cannot be accessed. Skellig Michael (AKA ‘Great Skellig) is over 750 feet tall and is home to a number of historic sites.

3. There are 2 tour types

If you’re wondering how to get to Skellig Michael, you have 2 options – the Skellig Michael landing tour (you physically go onto the island) and the eco tour (you sail around the islands). The majority of Skellig Michael tours leave from Portmagee pier, although one leaves from Derrynane Harbour and another leaves from Valentia Island .

4. Star Wars fame

Yes, Skellig Michael is the Star Wars Island in Ireland. It featured Star Wars Episode VII “The Force Awakens” in 2014 . If you’ve watched the movie, you’ll see Skellig Michael at the end of the movie when Luke Skywalker gets reintroduced to viewers.

5. Warnings

• Book tickets well in advance:  They book out frequently
• Good fitness levels needed:  You’ll need to climb a bit on the landing tour
• Tours don’t run all year: The ‘season’ runs from from April until the beginning of October

6. Where to stay nearby

The best place to base yourself when visiting Skellig Michael, in my opinion, is Portmagee , however, Valentia Island and Waterville are two other great options.

About the Skellig Islands

Photos via Shutterstock

You’ll find Skellig Michael Island and Little Skellig jutting from the Atlantic around 1.5km from Ballinskelligs Bay off the tip of the Iveragh Peninsula.

And it’s from here that the Skellig Islands have been delighting those that have dared to visit long before George Lucas and Hollywood came knocking.

How they were formed

It was during the Armorican/Hercynian Earth Movements that Skellig Michael first peeked above the Atlantic Ocean.

These movements led to the formation of the mountains of County Kerry, which Skellig Michael is connected to.

The mass of rock from which the island was formed dates back over 400 million years and consists of compressed sheets of sandstone mixed with silt and gravel.

Mentioned as far back as 1400 BC

Of the two islands, Skellig Michael boasts the most Religious and historical significance.

The island was first referenced in history in   1400 BC and was called ‘home’ by a group of monks for the first time during the 8th century.

In pursuit of a greater union with God, a group of ascetic monks withdrew from civilisation to the remote island to begin a life of solitude.

A UNESCO World Heritage site

The remote and isolated islands have an almost prehistoric feel about them and the Skelligs are widely regarded as one of Europe’s most perplexing and remote sacred sites.

In 1996, UNESCO gave recognition to Skellig Michael and its “outstanding universal value” , placing it upon the World Heritage List , where it sits proudly next to the likes of the Giants Causeway and Yellowstone National Park.

“An incredible, impossible, mad place”

Once upon a time, over 20 years before Star Wars creator George Lucas was born, a Nobel Prize and Oscar-winning Irish playwright discovered the wonders of the Skellig Islands.

On September 17th, 1910, George Bernard Shaw left the Kerry coast in an open boat and sailed across the choppy waters that lay between the islands and the mainland.

In a letter penned to a friend, Shaw described the island as  “An incredible, impossible, mad place”  that is  “part of our dream world” . If that doesn’t make you want to visit, nothing will.

How to get to Skellig Michael in 2024

We get emails asking how to get to Skellig Michael constantly . They tend to start mid-summer. But by that time many tours are booked up.

So, there are several different Skellig Michael boat tours on offer. Now, as mentioned above, just 180 people can access the island each day .

So, getting a ticket on one of the boat trips that land on the island can be tricky. Here’s an overview of each of the tours:

1. The Eco Tour around the islands

The first of the two Skellig Michael tours is the Eco Tour. This is the tour that takes you around the islands, but that doesn’t ‘land’ on Skellig Michael.

These Skellig Island tours tend to involve visiting Little Skellig first and seeing some of the wildlife (ganets and seals to name a fiew) before sailing around Skellig Michael.

2. The Skellig Michael Landing Tour

The Skellig Michael Landing Tour involves taking a ferry to the larger of the islands and heading for a wander around it.

The landing tours is more expensive (info below) but it’ll treat you to one of the most unique experiences in Ireland.

Skellig Michael tours compared

Good God. It’s taken me over an hour to collect the info below about the various Skellig Michael tours. Why?!

Well, because some of the websites are an absolute mess and a half!

WARNING : The prices and times listed below may change so  please  double check them in advance!

1. Skellig Michael Cruises

• Run by: Paul Devane & Skellig Michael Cruises
• Location : Portmagee
• Eco tour : Lasts 2.5 hours. €50
• Landing tour : You get 2.5 hours when you visit Skellig Michael. €140
• Learn more here

2. Skellig Boat tours

• Run by: Dan and Donal McCrohan
• Eco tour : It lasts 2.5 hours and it costs €50 per person
• Landing tour : Costs €125 per person

3. Kerry Aqua Terra Boat & Adventure Tours

• Run by: Brendan and Elizabeth
• Location : Knightstown (Valentia)
• Skellig Coast Tour : Takes you around the most scenic sites in the area including the islands and the Kerry Cliffs. 3 hours. €75 p/p.

4. Sea Quest Skellig Tours

• Eco tour : It lasts just under 2.5 hours and it costs €50 for adults with lower priced tickets for kids
• Landing tour : €130 and you get 2.5 hours on the island

5. Casey’s Skellig Island Tours

• Eco tour : €45
• Landing tour : €125  

6. Skellig Walker

• Eco tour : €50 per person
• Landing tour : Tickets cost €125 per person 

Things to see and do on Skellig Michael

Skellig Michael was first referenced in history in   1400BC and was called ‘home’ by a group of monks for the first time during the 8th century.

It’s thanks to these monks that the island is home to a number of historical sites (the views are also out of this world).

1. Enjoy the journey over

If you do get a chance to visit Skellig Michael, your adventure begins from the moment you step on the ferry.

The journey across takes an hour from Portmagee (above) and you’ll be able to start soaking up views soon after your departure.

Now, if you’ve ever taken a ferry anywhere in Ireland, you’ll know that the water can be very choppy at times, so keep that in mind.

I’d recommend decent footwear, also. Aside from the fact that you’ll be doing a lot of walking on the island, the area where you step off the ferry can be slippy.

This isn’t helped by the fact that the boat will be rocking. So, decent footwear and a sturdy belly (keep away from the pints the night before!) are both needed. 

2. The Stairway to Heaven

Cast your mind back to a time when monks lived on Skellig Michael (AKA ‘Great Skellig’). They needed to eat, and the water was their main source of food.

The monks needed to conquer a grueling 600+ steps each day as they made their way from the summit, where they lived, to the icy waters below, where they caught fish.

Those that visit the island will need to climb these 600+ steps to reach the top of the island. This will be a challenge for those with poor mobility.

3. Views galore

If you visit Skellig Michael on a clear day, you’ll be treated to outstanding views of Little Skellig and the Kerry coastline. 

And after climbing the 600+ steps to the top, you’ll have earned a bit of kick-back-and-take-it-all-in-time.

When you arrive here, try and switch off, put the phone/camera away and bask in the brilliance that surrounds you. 

4. The beehive huts

Life in the middle of the Atlantic was by no means easy, so the monks got to work and built several structures to make the island suitable to live on.

Over time, they managed to construct a Christian monastery, six beehive huts, two oratories and some terraces.

The cluster of six beehive huts that housed the island’s inhabitants were constructed with slate and stand proud to this day – an immense feat considering the intense storms they’ve been subjected to over many years.

5. The Skellig Michael monastery

Although the Skellig Michael monastery is a ruin, much of the inner and outer enclosure is still visible. The monastery is situated on the east side of the island, as this location gets some good shelter.

The monks built three different staircases that would allow them to access the area, depending on the weather. Only the steps I mentioned earlier are accessible to the public today, for safety reasons.

You’ll be able to see one of the staircases from the monastery. This was one of the paths that was shown in Star Wars: Force Awakes.

FAQs about visiting Skellig Michael

We’ve had a lot of questions over the years asking about everything from whether or not the Skellig boat trips are worth the price they charge and where to stay nearby.

In the section below, we’ve popped in the most FAQs that we’ve received. If you have a question that we haven’t tackled, ask away in the comments section below.

Is Skellig Michael worth it?

Yes. It’s worth the hassle of planning your trip and dealing with the potential cancellation if the weather is bad. This is one of those experiences you’ll remember forever.

Are there many Skellig Islands boat trips to choose from?

There are a lot of different tour operators, each of which tends to offer both an Eco Tour (where you sail around the islands) and a landing tour (where you visit Skellig Michael).

Was Star Wars filmed on Skellig Michael?

Yes. The Skelligs featured in Star Wars film Episode VII “The Force Awakens” in 2014. If you’ve watched the movie, you’ll see Skellig Michael at the end of the movie when Luke Skywalker gets reintroduced to viewers.

Is Skellig Michael open in 2024?

Yes, tours are running to the Skellig Islands in 2024. The ‘season’ runs from from April until the beginning of October.

Keith O’Hara has lived in Ireland for 35 years and has spent most of the last 10 creating what is now The Irish Road Trip guide. Over the years, the website has published thousands of meticulously researched Ireland travel guides, welcoming 30 million+ visitors along the way. In 2022, the Irish Road Trip team published the world’s largest collection of Irish Road Trip itineraries . Keith lives in Dublin with his dog Toby and finds writing in the 3rd person minus craic altogether.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed .

Tuesday 25th of April 2023

Very useful info for planning our trip. Thanks for taking the time.

Sunday 16th of April 2023

Thank you for this post. Because of it, I was able to find a tour that actually had space on their boat!

Pat Mulcahy

Thursday 16th of February 2023

Very useful information Keith thanks

Tuesday 21st of June 2022

Very useful info. A great website source. Well done

Monday 21st of March 2022

As the world's foremost Star Wars scholar, I feel I must point out that The Force Awakens premiered on December 17, 2015, not 2014. :)

SKELLIG MICHAEL TOURS AND SKELLIG LANDING TOURS

With casey’s skellig islands tours.

On the  Skellig Michael Landing Tour you get off the boat and step on to the island . With the Skellig Michael Boat Tour you stay on the boat as it goes around both the Skellig Islands getting right up close to see the historic sites and wildlife on Skellig Michael and the gannet colony on Little Skelligs. The Skellig Landing Tour season begins mid May and finishes on Sept 30th . The Skellig Boat Tour season runs from April to end September .

SKELLIG MICHAEL ECO TOURS

See the wildlife, historical sites and little Skelligs gannet colony

SKELLIG MICHAEL LANDING TOURS

Climb the 618 steps to the monastery on Great Skellig

STAR WARS FILMING ON SKELLIG MICHAEL

Scenes from the latest Star Wars trilogy were filmed on Skelligs

BIRD LIFE ON THE SKELLIG ISLANDS

Thousands of birds such as puffins, gannets and guillemots nest here.

Two types of Skellig Michael Tour

Skellig Michael Eco Tour around both Islands and Skellig Michael Landing Tour

The Skellig Michael Eco Tours depart regularly throughout the day. On this tour the boat circles around Skellig Michael and Little Skelligs. This allows you get up close to both Skellig Islands. From here you can see both the wildlife and the historical sites. The Skellig Michael Landing Tour departs Portmagee marina only once per day. The departure time changes frequently depending on the sea conditions as well as the available Skellig Michael Landing time slots. The boat arrives back from the Skellig Islands in the afternoon. There is also an option of an  Audio Visual Boat Tour   about Skelligs History and Wildlife. All our Skelligs Michael Tours are dependent on the sea and weather conditions. The tours are popular especially in the busy season so it is advisable to book well in advance.

SKELLIG MICHAEL (Great Skellig Rock)

The Skellig Islands are 12 km (8 miles) off the coast. However, they can be accessed by boat from Portmagee in South West Kerry. Skellig Michael rises from the sea, reaching a height of 218 metres above sea level. On the summit of Skellig Michael there is a well-preserved 6th century monastic settlement. Skellig Michael gets its name from Saint Michael the Archangel.

How much are the Skellig Michael Tours?

SKELLIG MICHAEL ECO TOUR Adults: €45 Students / Seniors: €42 Children: €37  Family: €150 (2 adults + 2 children) Each additional child:  €30 (Plus booking fee)

SKELLIG LANDING TOUR € 125 plus booking fee per person

What options are there to see the wildlife on Skellig Michael and Little Skelligs?

The Skellig Michael Boat Tour around the Skellig Islands (Skellig Michael and Little Skelligs Nature Reserve) has multiple departure times throughout the day. The boat tour lasts approximately 2 hours and 25 minutes and circles both islands getting right up close to Skellig Michael and the Little Skelligs to see both the wildlife and the historical sites.  This tour can get quite busy especially in the peak season so it is advisable to book well in advance.  The season runs from April to the end of September. The tour departs from the marina in Portmagee, Co. Kerry .

ST FIONAN OF SKELLIG MICHAEL

On our Skellig Michael Tours you will see the 6th century monastic settlement on the north peak of the island. Great Skellig was home to the monks of St Fionan. These monks led very simple lives out in the wild Atlantic, living in stone beehive shaped huts. The huts are round-shaped on the outside. In contrast, they are rectangular on the inside. In fact, they were carefully built to prevent a single drop of rain from coming in. The monks spent their days praying in the church, while dedicating some of their time for studying and tending to their gardens. In general, it is thought that the rock was the permanent home to about 12 monks. In the 13th century the climate started to change and life became very harsh out in the Atlantic. For this reason, the monks left the Skelligs and moved to the mainland in Ballinskelligs. Subsequently, the Great Skellig became a place of pilgrimage.

KERRY CLIFFS AND PUFFIN ISLAND

On the Skellig Michael Tours and the Audio Visual Boat Tour you will see the Kerry Cliffs and Puffin Island. Kerry Cliffs were formed more than 400 million years ago. The cliffs are located on the edge of the Atlantic Ocean. For the most part, they reach 300m in height. For this reason, they are a spectacular sight to look up at from the boat at sea level. Puffin Island is a designated a nature reserve under the conservancy of BirdWatch Ireland. It is separated from the mainland by a narrow sound. Hence, it is isolated from the mainland. As a result, it is home to thousands of pairs of birds such as Puffins, Manx Shearwaters, Storm Petrels and other breeding seabirds.

Where do the Skellig Michael Tours depart from?

All our tours depart from the marina in Portmagee, County Kerry. – Ask for BRENDAN CASEY. Arrive at least 15 minutes before the tour is due to depart.

How do I change or cancel my Skellig Tour booking?

Login to our customer area to update or cancel your booking. Enter the same email address you used when you made your booking.

It is advisable to stay as near as possible to Portmagee.

You should stay locally the night before the tour because the sea conditions vary a lot and we are often not sure if the tour will go ahead until right before it is due to depart.

AUDIO VISUAL INTERACTIVE BOAT TOUR

The  interactive boat tour  is an Audio Visual experience and is both educational and fun. As an alternative to our Skellig Michael Tours, the boat stays within relatively calm waters. The boat moves from the departure point at Portmagee marina to explore the harbour and the small coastal islands. To begin with, you will learn the history of Skellig Michael and the birdlife living in the area. At the same time, you will experience the joy of wildlife and nature.  Find out about the movies that were filmed in the area including Star Wars and Harry Potter. In summary, the tour is a fun adventure and can be enjoyed by people of all ages. The tour takes about 1 hour.

The Audio Visual Tour is not running for the 2023 season .

Explore The Best Of The West With Skellig Michael Tours

Visit one of UNESCO’s World Heritage sites from the comfort of a well-equipped passenger boat and take back home a treasure trove of memories of an unforgettable trip.

A Confluence Of Natural & Cultural Heritage

Experience a different world altogether, far away from the mainland, encompassing natural rock formations, monastery, hermitage, and lighthouses, of historic and cultural relevance.

Enjoy A Leisurely Sail Around Skellig Islands Onboard The Skellig Star

Let our Skellig Michael boat trips offer you a spectacular view of the mesmerizing islands, rich in biodiversity and home to sites of cultural importance.

Skellig Michael Tours

About Skellig Island

The twin crags of Skellig Michael Islands appears in the horizon, shortly after the Skellig Michael Boat Trips start off from Portmagee Village.

The natural formation of the islands could date back to at least 300 million years ago in the prehistoric period. The islands can be divided into two portions— The Great Skellig Michael & Little Skellig.

The Skellig Michael landing tour is not permitted on the Little Skellig island, while the Great Skellig Michael, with its easily noticeable twin peaks, is among Europe’s most ancient and sacred places. It used to be home to a group of Gaelic monks in the 6th century. The monks had built the Skellig Monastery to mark as the finishing line of an ancient pilgrimage going through France, Italy, Greece and Palestine — The St. Michael Axis. The monastic settlement is also highly regarded for its architectural genius, exemplified by the beehive huts and the 3 steps and pathways, with over 600 stairs leading up to the monastery— all still in brilliant condition to this day.

Apart from the historical importance of the site, the island also has a rich biodiversity and is home to one of the world’s largest colonies of Northern Gannets. Other fauna includes seabird species like puffins and razorbills and marine animals including a thriving population of grey seals. Earlier known as just Skellig, which in Gaelic means “splinter of stone” the site, especially the twin crags was later named after the Archangel Michael, as a dedication. It got the status of UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1996. It was recently the filming location for the movie Star Wars: The Force Awakens in 2015.

Why Choose Skellig Michael Tours

• Gives You A Memorable Experience With An Up & Close View Of The Islands From The Comfort Of Spacious And Cozy Passenger Boats
• Offers Two Different Options Of Skellig Islands Boat Trips & Skellig Michael Eco Tours
• Wheelchair Accessible Boats Allow Tourists Of Different Physical Conditions To Gain Access
• Takes You On A Fully Insured And Licenced Passenger Vessel
• Competitively Priced For A Wider Range Of Tourists

The Most Important Sites Include

• The Skellig Michael Monastery
• The Stairs & Pathways leading up to the Monastery’s main complex
• The Christ’s Saddle Valley between the two mountains
• The Tower House, or Wailing Woman — a megalithic rock formation, from where you get breathtaking sites of the Little Skellig in the distance

About Skellig Star (The Boat)

Skellig Star is an accommodating boat of ours. It is definitely a true charmer! Built to take you around the Skellig Islands, it’s a 40ft Lochin running on twin engines, promising a smooth and safe sail, all the way to the Skellig Michael and Little Skellig islands. Its specialty lies in accessibility, presenting you breathtaking sights you wouldn’t have had access to by land. Rest assured by taking the Skellig Michael landing tour the Skellig Star is well capable of bringing you as close as possible to the island and landing you safely.

Our Skellig Star is well-equipped with life jackets and waterproof gear for our passengers. While safety is mandatory for every passenger as we value lives more than anything, the latter is optional and intended to keep you dry even during the heaviest downpour. Accommodating a maximum of 12 passengers at once, our boat is spacious, with cabin seating offering marvelous views of the Skellig Islands. Purposely designed with the seating arrangement inside the cabin, it ensures shelter from harsh weather conditions without compromising on passenger comfort.

Among its other state of the art facilities, there’s a toilet on-board. All in all, it’s a true star, completely insured and licensed, encompassing advanced facilities so that you enjoy a leisurely Skellig Michael boat trip.

Bookings Are Now Open For  2024 Skellig Michael Tours

Book Your Skellig Michael Tour Early In Advance. You Can Book Online, Or Give Us A Call at 00353 87 617 8114 for guidance.

Skellig Michael Eco Tour Departure Timings:

10:00 am, 12:30 pm, 3.00pm, 5:30pm

From where does Skellig Michael Tours depart?

Portmagee situated in County Kerry is the exact location from where our boats depart. For further information, kindly refer to our Contact Us page.

Is it necessary for an enthusiastic passenger to book in advance for Skellig tours?

We don’t want to disappoint you. Therefore, our advice would be to book in advance to avoid the rush during the peak season.

Can I cancel my bookings during adverse weather/sea conditions?

Skellig Island tours are entirely weather-dependent. We will cancel the tour if the sea conditions are not suitable to travel and refund your money. To get a better insight, kindly refer to our Cancellation Policy.

How can I identify the Skellig Star?

Please make a call to our booking office once you reach the vicinity. One of our staff members will assist you to Skellig Star.

How would advise on clothing & shoes for a boat ride to the Skellig Islands?

Our advice to you would be to put on warm comfortable clothes. We have waterproof gears ready on-board.

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Book your Tour to the Skelligs

Booking for the 2024 season is now open..

Skellig Michael Boat Tours are popular especially in the peak season so booking is advance is advisable.

Skellig Michael non-landing eco tour Around The Skellig Islands

This tour departs daily at 10am, 12:30pm, 3pm and 5:15pm. It takes approximately 2.5 hours in total. This tour takes you up close to Skellig Michael, you see all the island has to offer, wild life( puffins, gannets etc), light house, the monastery, old path taken by the monks etc… but you do not get off the boat.

We depart from Portmagee Marina.

We operate these tours from April to October.

Please ensure that the phone number and email address provided is correct so we can contact you if departure times change or if tour needs to be cancelled.

About the Non-landing tour

It takes approximately 1 hour to get to Skellig Micahel

The boat circles the small Skelligs and Skellig Michael itself for approximately 40minutes – you get up close to the island to see historical sites before returning to Portmagee.

Tour tour is suited for all ages and abilities.

We have a toilet on the boat.

Cost of Non-landing Tour: Adult €50, Student €45, child €40, family (2adults & 2 children) €170

What time do I arrive for the tour?

You need to arrive at Portmagee Marina 15minutes ahead of your tour to check in.

Skellig Michael Landing Tour

Landing Boat Operator Dermot Walsh.

This tour departs daily between 8:30am and 9:30am. It takes approximately 1 hour to get to Skellig Michael, you are allowed off the boat and onto Skellig Michael for approximately 2.5 hours before returning to Portmagee.

We recommend that children are at least 12 years old to do this tour.

About the landing Tour

This tour is approx. 5 hours in total. We depart daily from Portmagee Marina between 8:30am and 9:30am. When you arrive at Skellig Michael you can get off the boat onto the island. There are approx. 618steps to climb to the Monastery. You are allowed 2.5hours to explore the island. There are guides on the island to give you the full history.

This is a very popular tour and is usually booked well in advance.

Cost of Landing Tour: €140 per person

Departure times can change due to weather conditions as we are in contact with the guides on Skellig Michael while we monitor the landing conditions at Skellig Michael. Times can be delayed up to 12:30/13:00 depending on sea conditions.

Please be aware of this when booking and planning activities for later in the day.

Please arrive at least 15 minutes before departure time to check in

What to bring:

Wear comfortable footwear suitable for walking

Warm clothes and rain gear

A packed lunch, Water

About The Skellig Islands

Skellig Michael is a UNESCO World Heritage site . It is one of the only two in the republic of Ireland.

On the summit of this magnificent island off the South Kerry coast is St Fionan’s monastery. It is one of the earliest foundations in the country.

The monks lived there in the 6 th century. They prayed and slept in beehive-shaped huts made of stone, many of which can be seen on the island today.

The monks left the island in the thirteenth century. It became a place of pilgrimage and, during the time of the Penal Laws, a haven for Catholics.

There are 618 steep steps to the Monastery at the top of Skellig Michael. This is a challenge but well worth the effort.

There are guides on the Island who will give the full history of Skellig Michael.

There are many types of birds on and around the island with the most popular being the Puffin. Skellig rock puffins come here to breed at the beginning of April and leave by the beginning of August, back towards the east coast of Canada (across the pond) and the mid-Atlantic ridge where they forage for the winter months on shoals of Capelin. The Skelligs have one of the largest Puffin populations which is of international importance.

Little Skellig is the second-largest gannet colony in the world. The rock looks white as it is occupied with so many gannets.

There is limited availability for the landing tours to Skellig Michael which are very popular so booking well in advance is advisable.

We also operate the non-landing eco tour around Skellig Michael where you get up close to the island but you do not get off the boat. This is also a popular tour for families and people who are unable to do the climb.

When do the tours operate?

We operate the non-landing tours from April until October.

We operate the landing tours from May 15 st – September 30 th

Where do the tours depart from? All our tours depart from the Portmagee Marina, Co. Kerry, Ireland

Do I need to book in advance? It is advisable to book well in advance to reserve your preferred departure date and time.

Weather Conditions and Cancellations All our tours are weather dependent. If we need to cancel you will be given the option of rescheduling your tour for another time or a full refund.

Can I reschedule my Tour if it is cancelled due to adverse sea/weather conditions? Yes, if your Tour is cancelled we will try our best to get you on the next available Tour when the weather/sea conditions improve.  The landing tours are usually booked well in advance so therefore are difficult to reschedule.

How do I book the tours? We take all our bookings online via our website using a safe well known payment processing service – if you have any difficulty please email [email protected]

Do you take group bookings? Yes  we can accomodate large groups for the non-landing tours.

Get in touch

Portmagee Marina,

Eircode: V23 XD93

Email: [email protected]

Phone: +353 (0)87 901 0994

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Skellig Michael Tours

Beautiful evening in Portmagee.

Skellig Michael Boats ready for 2019.

You can book this Skellig Michael tour online  https://www.skelligmichaelcruises.com/booking-skellig-michael-tours/  or call to our booking office by the Marina.

Skellig Boats ready for 2019 Season

Latest News

We have started operating tours around Skellig Michael. You can book your preferred time of departure here : https://www-1557q.bookeo.com/bookeo/b_skelligmichaelcruises_start.html?ctlsrc2=zaAhcC0M4JEyr0TK1uBj53X%2Bc7r47vR8YdGbX7HXvYY%3D&src=02r           Read Full Story here https://www.facebook.com/260491857303744/posts/3274902352529331/?d=n

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Paul Devane - Skellig Michael Cruises

• Europe    
• Ireland    
• Province of Munster    
• County Kerry    
• Portmagee    
• Portmagee - Things to Do    
• Skellig Michael Cruises

Nicky was our captain and had a great sense of humor. We really enjoyed the eco tour ride to view... read more

Jay was an expert at helming our little boat, riding above the choppy waves & stopping for well... read more

Paul Devane

Fantastic boat trip the weather was amazing the views breathtaking the wildlife beautiful and Paul was a great captain gave us loads of information and the absolute highlight was the dolphins that swam beside the boat Thank you

Awesome experience to visit the islands, unfortunately we could not climb off on the island. There are thousands of birds and we spotted a puffin!

This was a fantastic tour! We knew we wanted to see Skellig but I also know my limitations. I trip over nothing so I knew I would be too clumsy to do the landing tour so I am glad they have another option. The boat ride out there was very, very, very rough. Please be prepared. Take dramamine. It saved us. I was a little scared going out there because I was worried I would get sick but really, it just felt like a rolling coaster and it was awesome! On the way to Skellig we saw dolphins. The views were stunning, even with a bit of rain and fog. And then finally seeing the Skelligs was just...I can't even describe it. There were about 10 of us on the boat and the guys running the tour were great. They took us around the islands, idling for 10 minutes at a time allowing us to take pictures. They had rain jackets we could put on or put over our legs to stop the waves from hitting us (which helped a lot). There is a small restroom on the boat. Really, I can't recommend this tour enough. I'm sure the landing tour is even better.

This experience was a highlight of our Ireland trip. We were running a few minutes late and when we called they we super friendly and told us to take our time. The captain was great, knowledgeable, and kind. The islands are awesome and unlike anything I have seen in my life. Was a wonderful trip and we plan on using them again in the summer when we can actually hike the island.

An absolutely wonderful experience! While it was the wrong time of year to get off the boat at Skellig Michael, the trip out and back was amazing, The dolphins swimming next to the boat were a wonderful and surprizing addition, one caution, the seas are a bit rough, so have a lighter than usual breakfast before heading out.

We showed up to the marina with reservations with a company that ended up being a no show. Paul Devane with Skellig Michael Cruises was quick to help us out by offering to take us out on his boat. He didn’t ask us for any additional money since we had already paid the the company we originally booked with. We were concerned that Paul wouldn’t get paid and he said not to worry about it, that he would get reimbursed from them. Paul was a great Captain! He took pictures of us, explained some of the history of the Skelligs. The sea was rough but Paul obviously knows his way around high swells! I highly recommended Paul. He was incredible!

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Skellig Michael landing tour - Skellig Michael Cruises

• Europe    
• Ireland    
• Province of Munster    
• County Kerry    
• Portmagee    
• Portmagee - Things to Do    
• Skellig Michael Cruises

Nicky was our captain and had a great sense of humor. We really enjoyed the eco tour ride to view... read more

Jay was an expert at helming our little boat, riding above the choppy waves & stopping for well... read more

Skellig Michael landing tour

I would highly recommend the landing tour to Skellig Michael with Paul Devane Cruises Portmagee. There were clean toilets and cafes and even live music played by a fiddler at 8am at the pier b4 we left. Very nice touch for the international visitors. Life jackets were compulsory and we were comfortably seated throughout our cruise each way. The crew were informative and friendly. And we were blessed with beautiful sunshine. Definately an added bonus. On the island, there was a guide who gave us ample advice and safety instruction. We did watch a video on line b4 we left which helped us know what to expect too. We were advised go slowly,and how to take care. Some pple like my husband who doesnt like heights didt go to the top but he enjoyed his time observing the wildlife etc anyway. Those of us who did take the 600 step journey carefully, were delighted and enthralled with the views and the information received on monastic life from another guide waiting for us at the top. It was worth the time and money to experience this unique island. I would encourage any adult (not child) even with average fitness or mobility to do so, if you've any interest in it. R&R Cork Irl.

We stayed at Moorings Guesthouse in Portmagee located near the harbour. Skellig Walker made our day unforgettable with this fascinating cruise to The mighty Skellig Michael.

We took the cruise to Skelig Island (not the landing). It was a rainy foggy day, but they went anyway. The water was very choppy on the way out so the boat ride was a little like riding a roller coaster. Thank goodness we had on rain gear provided by the captain. Captain Butch told us about the history of the island and it’s mate Little Skelig Island. Despite the weather, we were able to get a good view of the islands. My advice, if it is a bad weather day and you get sea sick don’t go. There were 3 people out of 9 who got sick and I don’t think it was much fun for them. I loved it!

Our trip to Skellig Michael with SEQ QUEST SKELLIG TOURS was an amazing experience. inspiring location, breathtaking views & knowledgeable crew made the excursion a true highlight of our two-week trip to Ireland. We booked early (April for trip in July) because seats sell out way ahead of time but worried knowing the weather is a HUGE factor and could cancel the trip- we kept our excitement in check. Seanie Murphy contacted us by text two days prior and said the trip was a go barring any unexpected weather conditions. Met Seanie and his daughter at the Portmagee dock and they talked with us about what our interest was in Skellig Michael and the local history of Portmagee. We boarded our boat and headed out. Our expedition was led by the colorful and knowledgeable Derrick who told us all about Skellig Michael, what to expect when we got there, history and nature we could hope to see on our trip. The 45-minute ride to the island was relatively calm and an easy arrival to the island as the weather was good. However, we could definitely see how if the weather/seas were bad it would be quite difficult to unload at the dock on the island. The OPW guide, Maggie, gave us our safety briefing and we began our climb of the 640 narrow stone stairs to the top of Skellig Michael. Amazingly, Puffins nesting on the ground right next to the steps made for great close-up pictures and entertainment during the tiring climb. Stopping to take pics enabled us to catch our breath too. The views to the sea and of Little Skellig were breath-taking and while you need to be careful on stairs, it was not as scary or insurmountable as some make it out to be. On the summit of this awe-inspiring rock you will find a remarkably well-preserved sixth century monastic settlement. The beehive stone huts of the monastery illustrate the very spartan existence of these early Irish Christians. An OPW guide at the summit led an archaeological and historical discussion of the ruins and helped us imagine the trials these monks met with during their time on Skellig Michael in 600 AD. It is mind-blowing these structures are still standing roughly 1400 years later. The descent down the staircase was exciting and the need to practice patience with fellow travelers was important, nothing however, took away from the beauty of the island. Adorable Puffins stared at us from their burrows or from the side of the cliffs and made the descent seem to go quickly. Safely back on our SEA QUEST boat, the trip continued with a tour circling Skellig Michael and an additional treat to circle Little Skellig to view more geological sights, birds and sea mammals. With the ever-informative Derrick, we saw Gannets, Puffins, Guillemots, Razorbills, and Seals all making the Skelligs their home. Derrick also provided information on the Lighthouses, pointed out other stairways leading to the summit of Skellig Michael and further discussed the history (human and nature) of the Skelligs. The day was one my family and I will always remember. The crew and team at SEA QUESTS SKELLIG TOURS were wonderful and informative. They gave us an adventure of a lifetime and we wholeheartedly would recommend them to anyone planning to visit Skelling Michael!

Had the most amazing Skellig Michael trip from start to finish. Patrick the skipper was kind, friendly and utterly professional. Michael out boat guide was also very friendly, funny and extremely knowledgeable. We went for the landing tour and it was one of the best trips we have ever done-worth every cent! Couldn’t recommend Casey’s Skellig Islands Tours highly enough!!

He was rude. Didn’t want us to ask questions when he told about the islands. Didn’t smile. The trip was great, but choose another company.

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Skellig Coast Adventures

Providing skellig michael tours by boat. explore the beautiful skellig islands with us, skellig michael tours.

Skellig Michael Landing Tour

Skellig Michael Eco Tour

Our vessels.

Here at Skellig Coast Adventures, we are an amalgamation of 4 boat tour operators. We have over 50 years of experience providing boat tours of Skellig Michael. We aim to provide a quality service to all our customers. Our fleet is made up of 4 vessels – The Skellig Walker , Celtic Victor , Ursula Mary and The Deva .

Skellig Michael

Skellig Michael dates all the way back to the 6th century. It is a world renowned early Christian monastic, UNESCO world heritage site. Both Skellig Michael and its twin little Skellig are only accessible by boat. Recently, it made an appearance in the Star Wars Franchise where it was home to Luke Skywalker.

You can experience the Skelligs along with the Kerry Cliffs and Valentia Harbour on one of our Skellig Michael boat tours. You will be immersed in the fascinating history and stories of the Skellig Coast and see an abundance of wildlife creatures that call this place home.

Stay - Savour - Seek

Accommodation

Check out our Kerry accommodation partners

• +353 (0)87 901 7338
• Portmagee Marina, Portmagee, Co. Kerry
• @skelligcoastadventures
• Skellig Landing
• Skellig Coast Eco
• Celtic Victor
• Skellig Walker
• Ursula Mary

skellig coast

Wild Irish Walks

Visiting Skellig Michael

Skellig Michael is classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site . One of only 3 sites in Ireland with this designation. The others being Newgrange and the Giant’s Causeway. It’s pretty easy to see why Skellig Michael keeps such illustrious company. In a word, the island is spectacular. Visiting Skellig Michael is a must.

Visiting Skellig Michael had been on our wish list of places to visit for pretty much as long as I can remember. We finally got to complete the trip at the end of August in 2021.

Skellig Michael is one of two islands that form the Skellig Islands. The other island being Little Skellig (or Skellig Beag). I say islands but these are in reality giant rocks rising vertically from the ocean and soaring to heights of 520ft and 440ft respectively.

Apart from the natural beauty, what makes visiting Skellig Michael even more impressive is that a group of monks set up a monastery on this rocky outcrop 12km from the Irish coastline in the 6th century. Monks continued to inhabit the island up until the 13th century. The remains of the monastic settlement remain (relatively intact) on Skellig Michael to this day. We walked the 618 steep and tricky steps to get the settlement near the summit of the island. It was worth every step. Simply Amazing!

How to Get to Skellig Michael?

Notionally it is free to enter Skellig Michael. However, you need to pay a licensed tour operator to ferry you over. There are 15 licensed boats allowed to bring tourists to the Island. I’ve provided a list below of many of these (as of the time of writing).

Booking well in advance is strongly encouraged as demand for landing trips to Skellig Michael is extremely high. Indeed, the number of people wishing to visit the island has expanded even further over the past few years ever since Skellig Michael appeared as a location in the Star Wars films (The Force Awakens and The Last Jedi).

If demand for tickets is one obstacle for fulfilling your ambition of visiting Skellig Michael; there is also one other problem. The weather. Boat trips can be cancelled if weather conditions do not allow safe crossing to the islands. The Office of Public Works (OPW) manage and maintain the islands. They decide on what companies receive licenses to land on the island with tourists. The OPW also make the decision on whether it is safe for these landings. Conditions on Skellig Michael can often be different from the mainland due to its exposure to the elements.

One interesting fact from skelligmichael.com is that during the Summer landing season, boats only get to land about 65% – 70% of the time.

So for many people, their planned trip can be cancelled at very short notice. While this is obviously very disappointing, some consolation can be taken from the many other tourist attractions in the area (such as The Kerry Cliffs ).

Skellig Michael Tour Operators

We organised our trip to Skellig Michael with Paul Devane Skellig Michael Cruises . It’s important to note that there is no one central booking repository for trips to Skellig Michael. All licensed operators run independently from each other and bookings will need to be made directly with the boat company themselves. Some of the other 15 licensed operators are as follows:

From Portmagee

• Skelligcoastadventures.ie
• Skelligmichael.voyage
• Skelligmichaelboattrips.com
• Skelligwalker.ie
• Skelligmichaelboats.ie
• Skelligrocktours.com

There are also sailings from Ballinskelligs with theskelligsforceawakens.com . Ballinskelligs is a fishing village about 15km south of Portmagee.

Most of the above mentioned operators also include non-landing trip options. Here you stay on the boat and circle the islands. I would strongly recommend the landing trip option if at all possible.

What’s included in a Skellig Michael Landing Tour

A typical landing tour from Portmagee involves a one hour boat trip to the island, usually 2.5 hours on the island itself before making the one hour boat trip back again. Two and a half hours is sufficient time to spend on Skellig Michael and take in all the island has to offer.

Departure times are normally between 8.30am and 9.30 but can be earlier or later depending on landing slot times issued by the OPW. We paid €125 per person with Skellig Michael cruises plus a €10 booking fee. All other operators seem to be around the same price range though it may be possible to get a slightly cheaper price by shopping around.

The Boat Trip

I’m usually early for everything and the trip to Skellig Michael started off along those lines. We were the first ones to board the boat. The boat itself measures about 30 feet in length with passenger seating at an open deck section at the back of the vessel.

To be honest, I was a little worried about the trip over to Skellig Michael. Any time I sail anywhere with my wife, I can’t help but think of the old superstition to never get on a boat with a redheaded woman.

My fears increased steadily as each couple that boarded the boat after us seemed to contain a red headed female. In all, of the 8 passengers and 2 crew (Rachel and Hugh), we had 3 red haired women on board!

Any fears proved unfounded and the trip to Skellig Michael was nice and calm (as an aside, the Independent has a nice article to other seafaring superstitions ).

Any worries we had in relation to weather conditions and accessing the island were allayed as soon as we got up that morning. The sea was calm and the skies were blue. A perfect day to visit Skellig Michael. As we sauntered out to sea, we took in the lovely views back over Valentia Island and the Iveragh Peninsula behind us. We even saw a pod of dolphins on the way over. So keep your eyes peeled on the trip.

Little Skellig

Visiting Skellig Michael means travelling past Little Skellig. Little Skellig is home to the largest colony of Northern Gannets in Ireland. Access to Little Skellig is not permitted. Our boat tour sailed us around the island so it was great to get as close of possible to this giant Gannet colony.

Circling Little Skellig offers some pretty spectacular views in itself. My favourites were those where you could see Skellig Michael shimmering temptingly in the background. The below image is an example of this. The rock formation is fittingly known as the “Elephant Trunk”.

Approaching the Island

Soon we were on our final stretch. The last 1km of ocean before we reached Skellig Michael. From the back of the boat, we took in the lovely image of Little Skellig with the Irish coast in the background.

We circled again. This time around Skellig Michael itself. To the south of the island is the Skelligs Lighthouse. They completed construction of two Lighthouses on the island in 1826. Amazingly, the island hosted lighthouse keepers who lived on the island up to as recently as 1987 when the south lighthouse was automated. The construction of a helicopter pad in 1969 made it easier to transport workers to and from the island. The northern lighthouse only stayed in operational use up until 1870.

Unfortunately a number of lighthouse keepers died while working on the island. The most tragic story being that of two children of a lighthouse keeper who died in 1868 and 1869. The children are buried in the monastery cemetery beside the monks of the island.

The northern lighthouse no longer stands, however the road hewn into the rock between the lighthouses is still in place. The pathway plays a critical function allowing tourists to visit the island as it connects the landing jetty to the most accessible set of steps up to the monastery.

Landing on Skellig Michael

Our boat pulled up to the pier and we needed to jump from the boat on to the stone structure as our little craft bobbed up and down on the water. It’s easy to see how this would be difficult in more adverse weather conditions. We again counted ourselves lucky that we were visiting Skellig Michael on such a glorious day.

We followed the pathway past the helicopter pad and basic toilet facilities (a new addition) and on to the base of the steps that would bring us upwards to the monastic site.

Here, we needed to listen to a health and safety talk from one of the OPW workers on the island. Visitors are not allowed ascend the steps without first completing this safety briefing. The talk only took about 5 minutes. I could feel a keen sense of anticipation among the group of 20-30 people as we listened. Soon we would be making our way up the steps!

One of the main pieces of advice given was in relation to the 618 steps we needed to take to reach the monastery. The steps are steep in some places and uneven in other places. Caution is needed in all places. The seemingly vertical drops can be quite scary!

Going down the steps is actually the more difficult part. Some people choose to sit and scooch down each step for some of the more intricate sections. This is fine and perfectly usual and acceptable when visiting Skellig Michael.

Not too far into the climb, Star Wars fans will recognise the Wailing Woman Rock which features in the The Last Jedi Film. Rey destroys the rock with her lightsabre in the movie but it miraculously still stands in real life.

The Monastery

After climbing the steps, we finally reached the settlement at the top of the north peak of the island. We entered through the terraced gardens. Upper and lower gardens exist with the remains of a number of other buildings also.

These include the famous Beehive Huts where the monks slept, St. Michael’s Church, a large and small Oratory, an alter and a cemetery. In addition, the remains of the drainage systems and water cisterns used by the monks are also visible.

There is a beautiful feeling of serenity and tranquillity around the settlement. With the numbers of visitors capped by the amount of boats landing, it never felt overly busy (in fact, a limit of 180 visitors per day is in place on the island).

OPW tour guides give an information talk every hour or so explaining the history of the island. We found this very informative. The guides certainly know how to communicate their knowledge in a light and easy manner. For the rest of our time there, we strolled around at our own leisure, exploring the buildings and taking in the views. We sat and ate our packed lunch in one of the small terraced gardens. The views were amazing and it certainly was a memorable meal.

Time seemed to fly by and soon we took our last glances before setting off towards the steps. This time going down and back to the boat.

South Peak Hermitage

The slow walk downwards gave us a good view of the south peak of the island. Amazingly, some of the monks didn’t think the North Peak of Skellig Michael was isolated enough. As a result, they sought out something even more extreme. The result is the Hermitage on the south peak where lone monks would retreat to in order to try to get closer to God. The Hermitage is too dangerous to allow tourists access.

When to Visit Skellig Michael?

Our slow and steady pace down the steps eventually got us back to the access road. From there we strolled back towards the waiting boat. All in all, it was an amazing experience visiting Skellig Michael.

The only advice I would give is to try and book a trip before the Puffins migrate from the island. The Puffins arrive on Skellig Michael in late April and stay until early August. We had just missed them as our visit was at the end of August.

Landing Season for tourists is generally from mid May until the end of September. Although this can vary from year to year and is at the discretion of the OPW.

As mentioned above, visiting Skellig Michael is subject to the weather and also the huge volume of demand to visit the islands. The impressive skelligmichael.com offers an in depth guide on how to go about booking a tour. As with a lot of these things, sometimes you do need a bit of luck…..may the force be with you.

DISCOVER THE SKELLIGS.

Welcome to skelligs rock cruises.

Experience the best that the Wild Atlantic Way has to offer and join us on a boat tour to the Skellig Islands. A World Heritage site, and so listed with Mount Everest and the Great Barrier Reef for its significance to humankind, you’ll be glad you made the trip.

The Skellig Islands float on the Atlantic Ocean, twelve kilometres off the coast of county Kerry. When you first reach the Islands you will be struck by their rugged beauty – as they scale some 700ft above you. An internationally renowned bird sanctuary, you’ll encounter a wonderful array of birdlife as you climb the six hundred steps to the peak. Here you’ll find  one of the oldest and best-preserved monasteries in Europe . At the summit allow your imagination to take you back to the time of the Monks or to transport you to a ‘Galaxy far far away’.

The makers of Star Wars were so taken by the Skellig Michael that they used it as a location for 2 Star War movies The Force Awakens and The Last Jedi. Find out more about  how the Skelligs were used in the Star Wars movies here .

How can you describe the Skellig Michael to someone who has never visited this place of peace, serenity and absolute beauty, yet with ruggedness all around you?

No one has ever painted a picture of the Skellig Michael with words, better then the famous Irish playwright George Bernard Shaw when he wrote to Frederick Jackson: “Parknasilla Hotel, Sneem, 18th September 1910.”

“The most fantastic and impossible rock in the world: Skellig Michael… where in the south west gales spray knocks stones out of the lighthouse keeper’s house… the Skelligs are pinnacled, crocheted, spired, arched, caverned, minareted; and these gothic extravagances are not curiosities of the islands:they are the islands: there is nothing else.The rest of the cathedral may be under the sea for all I know …An incredible, impossible, mad place…I tell you the thing does not belong to any world that you and I have lived and worked in: it is part of our dream world.”

“This was a brilliant experience and nothing will ever compare to the sight of Skellig Michael appearing above the mist as we headed into the fresh Atlantic from the calm waters of Portmagee harbour.”

-Farranboy62, Dublin

“We travelled to the Skelligs with Sea Quest and they could not have been more helpful. From the well-run and friendly first approach on the quayside to leaving them 4 hours later nothing could have been improved. The Captain was extremely personable and told us things of interest throughout the trip.”

“The islands are even more remarkable up close and in person than they are in pictures and movies. We took a boat ride around them, and it was the most rewarding investment of time we have had here in Ireland.”

-Charles M, UK

“If there is a chance still to go by boat to Skellig, this should definitely be used. Even the rocks from the ship is incredibly impressive, the monastery huts and the stairs are clearly visible. Cost: €35 per person. Highly recommended!!”

-Uetliberg, Switzerland

BOOK A SKELLIGS TRIP: ECO/LANDING

DISCOVER HISTORY

EXPLORE WILDLIFE

RE-ENACT STAR WARS

• Preplanned tours
• Daytrips out of Moscow
• Themed tours
• Customized tours
• St. Petersburg

Moscow Metro 2019

Will it be easy to find my way in the Moscow Metro? It is a question many visitors ask themselves before hitting the streets of the Russian capital. As metro is the main means of transport in Moscow – fast, reliable and safe – having some skills in using it will help make your visit more successful and smooth. On top of this, it is the most beautiful metro in the world !

. There are over 220 stations and 15 lines in the Moscow Metro. It is open from 6 am to 1 am. Trains come very frequently: during the rush hour you won't wait for more than 90 seconds! Distances between stations are quite long – 1,5 to 2 or even 3 kilometers. Metro runs inside the city borders only. To get to the airport you will need to take an onground train - Aeroexpress.

RATES AND TICKETS

Paper ticket A fee is fixed and does not depend on how far you go. There are tickets for a number of trips: 1, 2 or 60 trips; or for a number of days: 1, 3 days or a month. Your trips are recorded on a paper ticket. Ifyou buy a ticket for several trips you can share it with your traveling partner passing it from one to the other at the turnstile.

On every station there is cashier and machines (you can switch it to English). Cards and cash are accepted. 1 trip - 55 RUB 2 trips - 110 RUB

Tickets for 60 trips and day passes are available only at the cashier's.

60 rides - 1900 RUB

1 day - 230 RUB 3 days - 438 RUB 30 days - 2170 RUB.

The cheapest way to travel is buying Troyka card . It is a plastic card you can top up for any amount at the machine or at the ticket office. With it every trip costs 38 RUB in the metro and 21 RUB in a bus. You can get the card in any ticket office. Be prepared to leave a deposit of 50 RUB. You can get it back returning the card to the cashier.

SamsungPay, ApplePay and PayPass cards.

One turnstile at every station accept PayPass and payments with phones. It has a sticker with the logos and located next to the security's cabin.

GETTING ORIENTED

At the platfrom you will see one of these signs.

It indicates the line you are at now (line 6), shows the direction train run and the final stations. Numbers below there are of those lines you can change from this line.

In trains, stations are announced in Russian and English. In newer trains there are also visual indication of there you are on the line.

To change lines look for these signs. This one shows the way to line 2.

There are also signs on the platfrom. They will help you to havigate yourself. (To the lines 3 and 5 in this case). 

Claudia Looi

Touring the Top 10 Moscow Metro Stations

By Claudia Looi 2 Comments

Komsomolskaya metro station looks like a museum. It has vaulted ceilings and baroque decor.

Hidden underground, in the heart of Moscow, are historical and architectural treasures of Russia. These are Soviet-era creations – the metro stations of Moscow.

Our guide Maria introduced these elaborate metro stations as “the palaces for the people.” Built between 1937 and 1955, each station holds its own history and stories. Stalin had the idea of building beautiful underground spaces that the masses could enjoy. They would look like museums, art centers, concert halls, palaces and churches. Each would have a different theme. None would be alike.

The two-hour private tour was with a former Intourist tour guide named Maria. Maria lived in Moscow all her life and through the communist era of 60s to 90s. She has been a tour guide for more than 30 years. Being in her 60s, she moved rather quickly for her age. We traveled and crammed with Maria and other Muscovites on the metro to visit 10 different metro stations.

Arrow showing the direction of metro line 1 and 2

Moscow subways are very clean

To Maria, every street, metro and building told a story. I couldn’t keep up with her stories. I don’t remember most of what she said because I was just thrilled being in Moscow.   Added to that, she spilled out so many Russian words and names, which to one who can’t read Cyrillic, sounded so foreign and could be easily forgotten.

The metro tour was the first part of our all day tour of Moscow with Maria. Here are the stations we visited:

1. Komsomolskaya Metro Station  is the most beautiful of them all. Painted yellow and decorated with chandeliers, gold leaves and semi precious stones, the station looks like a stately museum. And possibly decorated like a palace. I saw Komsomolskaya first, before the rest of the stations upon arrival in Moscow by train from St. Petersburg.

2. Revolution Square Metro Station (Ploshchad Revolyutsii) has marble arches and 72 bronze sculptures designed by Alexey Dushkin. The marble arches are flanked by the bronze sculptures. If you look closely you will see passersby touching the bronze dog's nose. Legend has it that good luck comes to those who touch the dog's nose.

Touch the dog's nose for good luck. At the Revolution Square station

Revolution Square Metro Station

3. Arbatskaya Metro Station served as a shelter during the Soviet-era. It is one of the largest and the deepest metro stations in Moscow.

Arbatskaya Metro Station

4. Biblioteka Imeni Lenina Metro Station was built in 1935 and named after the Russian State Library. It is located near the library and has a big mosaic portrait of Lenin and yellow ceramic tiles on the track walls.

Lenin's portrait at the Biblioteka Imeni Lenina Metro Station

5. Kievskaya Metro Station was one of the first to be completed in Moscow. Named after the capital city of Ukraine by Kiev-born, Nikita Khruschev, Stalin's successor.

Kievskaya Metro Station

6. Novoslobodskaya Metro Station  was built in 1952. It has 32 stained glass murals with brass borders.

Novoslobodskaya metro station

7. Kurskaya Metro Station was one of the first few to be built in Moscow in 1938. It has ceiling panels and artwork showing Soviet leadership, Soviet lifestyle and political power. It has a dome with patriotic slogans decorated with red stars representing the Soviet's World War II Hall of Fame. Kurskaya Metro Station is a must-visit station in Moscow.

Ceiling panel and artworks at Kurskaya Metro Station

8. Mayakovskaya Metro Station built in 1938. It was named after Russian poet Vladmir Mayakovsky. This is one of the most beautiful metro stations in the world with 34 mosaics painted by Alexander Deyneka.

Mayakovskaya station

One of the over 30 ceiling mosaics in Mayakovskaya metro station

9. Belorusskaya Metro Station is named after the people of Belarus. In the picture below, there are statues of 3 members of the Partisan Resistance in Belarus during World War II. The statues were sculpted by Sergei Orlov, S. Rabinovich and I. Slonim.

10. Teatralnaya Metro Station (Theatre Metro Station) is located near the Bolshoi Theatre.

Teatralnaya Metro Station decorated with porcelain figures .

Taking the metro's escalator at the end of the tour with Maria the tour guide.

Have you visited the Moscow Metro? Leave your comment below.

January 15, 2017 at 8:17 am

An excellent read! Thanks for much for sharing the Russian metro system with us. We're heading to Moscow in April and exploring the metro stations were on our list and after reading your post, I'm even more excited to go visit them. Thanks again 🙂

December 6, 2017 at 10:45 pm

Hi, do you remember which tour company you contacted for this tour?

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