Portree
Portree is a working harbor town where you can base yourself for the mountains, cliffs and coastline of the Isle of Skye.
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Portree is the largest town on the Isle of Skye, in the Inner Hebrides off Scotland's west coast. It sits on a sheltered harbor on the island's east side, where brightly painted houses line the waterfront. Most of Skye's shops, restaurants and bus services are here, so many visitors stay in town or use it as a stop on the way to the rest of the island. The name comes from a Gaelic phrase meaning king's harbor.
The main draw is the island around it. The Black Cuillin, the Old Man of Storr and the Quiraing are all within reach by road, but the single-track lanes between them are narrow and slow, so allow extra time. Portree suits walkers, photographers and anyone who wants a base with food and supplies. Plan at least two nights for the nearby sights and three or more to go further. Late spring to early autumn brings the longest days and easiest access, though rain can fall in any month and midges are common in summer.
Portree in five
- Book a bed in Portree early in summerPortree is small, so beds fill fast in July and August. Book your room before you fix flights if your dates are firm.Where to stay
- Rent a car for the island's roadsBuses reach Portree, but many of the island's walks and viewpoints are off the bus routes. Single-track roads have passing places, so pull into one to let oncoming traffic through.Getting around
- Set up offline maps before the hikesPhone signal drops on many island roads and trails. Download the area offline before you leave Portree.Phones and eSIM
- Carry waterproofs and midge repellentMidges, tiny biting insects, are common on Skye from late spring through summer, especially in still, damp weather. Pack a windproof waterproof jacket for the exposed ridges.
- Insure your hill walks before you goSome policies exclude mountain rescue or charge extra for hill walking. Read the activity exclusions before you buy.Travel insurance
Things to do in Portree
See all attractions in PortreeNeed to know
- Currency
- Pound sterling (GBP)
- Entry
- Visa-free for many passports; ETA needed by many visitors Read more
- Emergency
- 999 or 112 police, fire and ambulance; ask for mountain rescue
- Tipping
- 10% at sit-down restaurants if no service charge is added
- Time
- UTC+0 in winter, UTC+1 in summer (daylight saving)
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Snowy days
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryRain21 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh6°Low3°Dark, wetJanuaryRain
Poor
- High
- 6°
- Low
- 3°
- Precipitation
- 184 mm
- Rainy days
- 21
- Snowy days
- 1
- Days with storms
- 0
Dark, wet
- FebruaryRain21 rainy daysHigh7°Low3°Cold, darkFebruaryRain
Poor
- High
- 7°
- Low
- 3°
- Precipitation
- 197 mm
- Rainy days
- 21
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, dark
- MarchRain19 rainy daysHigh8°Low4°Changeable, quietMarchRain
Mixed
- High
- 8°
- Low
- 4°
- Precipitation
- 158 mm
- Rainy days
- 19
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Changeable, quiet
- AprilRain15 rainy daysHigh10°Low5°Showers, longer daysAprilRain
Good
- High
- 10°
- Low
- 5°
- Precipitation
- 94 mm
- Rainy days
- 15
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Showers, longer days
- MayRain17 rainy daysHigh12°Low8°Long days, quietMayRain
Best
- High
- 12°
- Low
- 8°
- Precipitation
- 116 mm
- Rainy days
- 17
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Long days, quiet
- JuneRain20 rainy daysHigh14°Low10°Long days, midgesJuneRain
Best
- High
- 14°
- Low
- 10°
- Precipitation
- 136 mm
- Rainy days
- 20
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Long days, midges
- JulyRain22 rainy daysHigh15°Low11°Busy, midgesJulyRain
Mixed
- High
- 15°
- Low
- 11°
- Precipitation
- 160 mm
- Rainy days
- 22
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Busy, midges
- AugustRain22 rainy daysHigh15°Low11°Busiest, midgesAugustRain
Mixed
- High
- 15°
- Low
- 11°
- Precipitation
- 203 mm
- Rainy days
- 22
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Busiest, midges
- SeptemberRain21 rainy daysHigh14°Low10°Clearer, quieterSeptemberRain
Best
- High
- 14°
- Low
- 10°
- Precipitation
- 193 mm
- Rainy days
- 21
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Clearer, quieter
- OctoberRain22 rainy daysHigh11°Low8°Autumn colorOctoberRain
Good
- High
- 11°
- Low
- 8°
- Precipitation
- 232 mm
- Rainy days
- 22
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Autumn color
- NovemberRain20 rainy daysHigh9°Low6°Wet, windyNovemberRain
Mixed
- High
- 9°
- Low
- 6°
- Precipitation
- 190 mm
- Rainy days
- 20
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Wet, windy
- DecemberRain21 rainy daysHigh7°Low4°Dark, stormyDecemberRain
Poor
- High
- 7°
- Low
- 4°
- Precipitation
- 221 mm
- Rainy days
- 21
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dark, stormy
Average daily high and low in Portree, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Portree
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
10
- Feels like
- 8°
- Humidity
- 96%
- Wind
- 6 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 4%
Portree
08:47 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today11°7°4%Monday: Drizzle. High 11°, Low 7°. Chance of rain 4%.
- Tue11°5°0%Tuesday: Cloudy. High 11°, Low 5°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Wed11°3°0%Wednesday: Fog. High 11°, Low 3°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Thu8°0°0%Thursday: Fog. High 8°, Low 0°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Fri9°3°2%Friday: Cloudy. High 9°, Low 3°. Chance of rain 2%.
- Sat9°5°2%Saturday: Cloudy. High 9°, Low 5°. Chance of rain 2%.
- Sun8°4°19%Sunday: Cloudy. High 8°, Low 4°. Chance of rain 19%.
Updated 05:20 PM local time · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Money
Mid-market rate1 USD = 0.7469 GBP
Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API
Day trips by train
- Old Man of Storrabout 20 minutes by carA steep path to the rock pinnacles, best done early before the car park fills.
- Quiraingabout 30 minutes by carA rocky landslip with trails across the ridge, best in clear weather.
- Dunvegan Castleabout 45 minutes by carThe home of the MacLeod clan on the west side of the island, with gardens by the loch.
Before you go to Portree
Rules for Portree, checked
- Many visitors need an ETA before arriving in the UK, depending on passport. Check entry rules on gov.uk before you book.Source
- Drive on the left. On single-track roads, use the passing places to let oncoming vehicles through.
- On hill walks, follow the Scottish Outdoor Access Code: close gates, keep dogs under control and leave livestock alone.Source
Plan around Portree
The island, its walks and where to base yourself
Read the guideAll of ScotlandEntry, transport and money for a Scotland trip
Read the guideGetting around SkyeCar hire and buses for the island and the mainland
Read the guideWhere to stayCompare bases and where to sleep
Read the guideVisas and entryWho needs entry permission and what to check
Read the guideMoney and costsPrices, cards and what to budget
Read the guidePortree FAQ
How many days do you need in Portree?
One day covers the town and harbor plus the Old Man of Storr. Three or four days let you add Quiraing and Dunvegan Castle with a car.
Is Portree worth visiting?
Yes, if you want a harbor town as a base for walks and viewpoints on Skye. It is small, so it suits a few nights rather than a long stay on its own.
How do you get to Portree?
Most visitors drive over the Skye Bridge from the mainland, and buses run to Portree from mainland towns such as Inverness. Check timetables with the operator before you travel.
Can you get around Skye without a car?
You can walk around Portree itself, and buses link the town with other parts of the island. Most walks and viewpoints are a long way from the bus stops, so a car makes full days out far easier.
When is the best time to visit Portree?
May, June and September give the best mix of daylight and weather. July and August are busiest, and midges are common through the summer.