Portree Travel Guide
City Main town on Isle of Skye, Scotland
Portree’s colorfully stacked houses face a working harbour on Skye; anglers, climbers, and photographers come for Cuillin views, seafood taverns, and access to nearby sea stacks and mountain trails.
Why Visit Portree? #
On the Isle of Skye, Portree works well as a base for exploring dramatic landscapes while offering a compact, friendly harbor scene. Colorful houses cluster around the harbour and local pubs serve fresh seafood and Gaelic music nights, giving a strong sense of island culture. Close access to the Old Man of Storr and the Quiraing makes it convenient for photographers and walkers. Small boat trips and craft shops add maritime character.
Top Things to Do in Portree
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- Portree Harbour - Colorful harbourfront with fishing boats, seafood restaurants, and views across the bay.
- Aros Centre (visitor info) - Local visitor centre offering maps, guided-walk information, and island cultural exhibits.
- Portree Old Town - Compact streets with independent shops, cafés, and a friendly local atmosphere to explore.
- Horgabost viewpoint - Nearby coastal viewpoint offering quiet panoramas and good photography opportunities near town.
- Local distillery tours - Small-scale whisky and gin distilleries offering tastings and insights into island production.
- Walk to Kilt Rock viewpoint - Short scenic walk to Kilt Rock cliffs and nearby waterfall viewpoint along the coast.
- Trotternish day tour - Drive north to the Trotternish Ridge for Quiraing and the Old Man of Storr.
- Skye boat trips - Short harbour excursions for wildlife watching, coastal caves, and dramatic sea cliffs.
Best Time to Visit Portree #
Portree on Skye is best late spring through early autumn when roads are clearer and hill routes are drier; summers are cool and busy. Winters are mild, wet and very atmospheric but often windy.
Best Time to Visit Portree #
Continental climate with cool summers (peaking in July) and cold winters (coldest in February). Temperatures range from 2°C to 17°C. Abundant rainfall (1747 mm/year), wettest in November.
January
January is cold with highs of 6°C and lows of 2°C. Significant rainfall (185 mm), mostly overcast skies, and breezy conditions.
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February
February is the coolest month with highs of 6°C and lows of 2°C. Significant rainfall (111 mm), mostly overcast skies, and breezy conditions.
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March
March is cold with highs of 8°C and lows of 3°C. Significant rainfall (142 mm), mostly overcast skies, and breezy conditions.
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April
April is cold with highs of 10°C and lows of 4°C. Regular rainfall (88 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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May
May is cool with highs of 13°C and lows of 7°C. Regular rainfall (86 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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June
June is cool with highs of 15°C and lows of 10°C. Significant rainfall (103 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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July
July is cool with highs of 17°C and lows of 12°C. Significant rainfall (103 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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August
August is cool with highs of 17°C and lows of 11°C. Significant rainfall (111 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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September
September is cool with highs of 15°C and lows of 9°C. Significant rainfall (187 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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October
October is cold with highs of 12°C and lows of 7°C. Heavy rain (212 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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November
November is cold with highs of 9°C and lows of 4°C. The wettest month with heavy rain (219 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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December
December is cold with highs of 7°C and lows of 3°C. Significant rainfall (200 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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How to Get to Portree
Portree has no rail link - most visitors arrive via Inverness by car or coach. Coaches from Inverness are reliable; renting a car gives flexibility to explore Skye's many sights and remote roads.
Inverness Airport (INV): Inverness is the nearest airport to Portree on the Isle of Skye. From Inverness airport you can hire a car (the A87 route) or take a scheduled bus; driving takes about 2.5-3 hours. Car rental prices typically start around £35-60/day; coach fares to Portree are roughly £15-30 depending on operator and time of booking.
Glasgow (GLA) / Edinburgh (EDI): Larger airports with more international flights. From Glasgow or Edinburgh you can take a direct bus or train partway then a connecting bus to Skye; travel times are 5-6 hours+ depending on connections.
Train: There is no rail service to Portree. The nearest mainland railheads are Inverness (with services from Glasgow/Edinburgh) and Kyle of Lochalsh (end of the line), though Kyle has a limited connection onward by road. Trains to Inverness are frequent from central Scotland.
Bus / Coach: Stagecoach and Citylink operate scheduled coaches from Inverness (and Glasgow/Edinburgh) to Portree. Expect journey times of ~2.5-3 hours from Inverness and ~5-6+ hours from Glasgow; fares typically range from £15-40 depending on advance booking and season.
How to Get Around Portree #
Portree’s compact town centre is very walkable; most visitors can reach shops, restaurants and the harbour on foot. Regular bus services connect Portree with other parts of Skye and the mainland (buses to Broadford, Uig and Inverness), but services are less frequent than in cities - a car gives more flexibility and there are local taxis for short trips.
Where to Stay in Portree #
- Portree Youth Hostel - Basic, centrally located hostel
- Portree guesthouses (various) - Several affordable B&Bs and guest rooms
- The Royal Hotel Portree - Comfortable rooms, central location
- The Isles Hotel / local mid-range inns - Classic island hotels and pubs
- Cuillin Hills Hotel - Hillside location with sea views
- Skeabost House Hotel (Skye luxury nearby) - Country-house luxury within short drive
Where to Eat in Portree #
Breakdown of cuisine types found across Portree's restaurants and food venues, based on OpenStreetMap data.
Nightlife in Portree #
Portree’s nightlife is informal and centred on pubs, hotel bars and occasional live music rather than large nightclubs. Evening life suits those looking for a friendly pub, a seafood dinner or live acoustic sessions rather than late-night partying.
Shopping in Portree #
Portree offers a selection of independent shops selling outdoor gear, local food products, and artisan crafts aimed at visitors. You’ll also find small grocery stores and galleries in the town centre; for a broader retail range you’ll need to travel to the mainland.
