Where to stay on the Isle of Skye with family or friends

Skye is bigger than most first-time visitors expect, and the roads are slow, so where you stay shapes the whole trip. For a group of six to eight, it also decides whether you spend the week in four hotel rooms or under one roof. This guide compares the island's main bases, then looks at the choice every group faces: hotel rooms or a whole house.

Is Portree the best place to stay on Skye?

For most visitors, yes. Portree is the island's main town. It has the harbour, supermarkets, a swimming pool, a bank, a petrol station and many of Skye's restaurants, and it sits in the middle of the island. The Old Man of Storr is about 12 minutes north by car, the Quiraing about 35 minutes, Talisker Distillery about 27 minutes and Dunvegan Castle about 32 minutes. You can drive out to one corner of Skye each day and be back in town for dinner, on foot.

The trade-off is that Portree gets very busy in July and August, and the best houses book out early. If you want those dates, book months ahead.

Portree or Broadford?

Broadford is the practical southern village, closer to the Skye Bridge, with a supermarket and a handful of places to eat. It suits a short trip focused on the south (Elgol, the Cuillin from the south) or an early start home. For the Storr, the Quiraing, Neist Point and Dunvegan, Portree saves you a lot of driving: Broadford is about 35 minutes further south.

Dunvegan, Waternish and the west

The west is quieter, with Dunvegan Castle, Coral Beach and Neist Point nearby. It's lovely if you want to stay put, but every trip to Trotternish or the south becomes a long drive, and there are fewer places to eat.

Sleat, the "garden of Skye"

The southern peninsula is green and peaceful. It's a different, slower holiday, about an hour or more from the headline sights in the north.

Trotternish, Sligachan and Carbost

Trotternish puts you close to the Storr and the Quiraing for early starts, but there are fewer places to stay and eat.
Sligachan and Carbost sit under the Cuillin, close to the Fairy Pools and Talisker. They're good for walkers, quieter in the evenings, and about 15–25 minutes from Portree.

Where to stay on Skye as a group of six to eight

Groups usually choose between booking several hotel or guesthouse rooms and renting a whole house.

Hotel rooms: breakfast is made for you, but you split up at night, there is nowhere to sit together, and in summer it can be hard to find four rooms in one place.
A whole house: one booking, shared evenings, a kitchen for big dinners and space to spread out. On Skye, look for one bathroom per bedroom if you are two families or several couples, because some large houses share one or two bathrooms between all the bedrooms.

Large group accommodation in Portree: The Oberoi House

The Oberoi House is a Victorian house, built in 1889, on Staffin Road in central Portree.

Four bedrooms, every one en-suite (4.5 bathrooms), for up to eight guests.
A wood-burning fire, a custom-made dining table with views over Loch Portree and a fully equipped kitchen.
A fenced back garden and free driveway parking for two cars.
A short walk to the harbour and restaurants.
Rated 4.95 from 101 Airbnb reviews.

See the house · Check availability and book direct

Quick answers

How many nights do we need on Skye? Three nights covers the highlights. Five to seven gives you room for the weather.
Do we need a car? Yes, for most of the island. Portree itself is easy on foot.
When should we book? For June to August, as early as you can. Spring and autumn are quieter.