Attractions and Boat Tours near Waterville
The attractions worth a tour near Waterville lie mostly on the coast to the west and north of the village. This page covers the Skellig boats first, then the nearer stops.
Quick reference
| Attraction | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Skellig Michael landing | roughly €115 to €150 | closed for 2026, reopens 2027 |
| Skellig sea cruise | about €42 to €70 | no landing, about 2.5 hours |
| Derrynane House | €5 adult, €3 child | 13 March to 1 November 2026 |
| Geokaun Mountain | €8 car, €4 walker | open 24 hours |
| McGill’s Brewery | €20, €25 or €40 | adults only |
Skellig Michael
This rock 11.5 km out in the Atlantic is a UNESCO World Heritage Site with an early monastery on its summit. The OPW says it is closed for the 2026 season and will welcome visitors again in 2027. In recent years boats ran from mid-May to late September. Dates for 2027 will appear on the OPW’s Skellig Michael page.
Who can take you: only permit-holding operators, with 15 named for 2026. Their boats leave from Portmagee, Glen Pier on Valentia, Ballinskelligs and Derrynane Harbour, and none leave from Waterville village. Allow about 35 minutes to drive to Portmagee. Casey’s books through skelligislands.com, and Skellig Experience sells trips from Valentia.
What to know before booking:
- Entry to the island is free, and the cost is the boat. Skellig Experience lists landing tours from €115 and Casey’s lists €145.
- You get about 2.5 hours on the island, plus the crossing. There are guided tours and toilets ashore.
- The climb is 618 uneven, steep steps rising over 180 m. They are slippery in the wet and there are rockfall warnings. Wear closed shoes with grip.
- No one under 12 may land, and no animals are allowed.
- Crossings are often cancelled for weather, and a local radio report put 2024 cancellations at about 40 per cent. Choose a flexible booking, keep a spare day, and expect a same-morning decision.
- Casey’s takes a €15.50 per person fee for cancellations made 7 or more days ahead, gives no refund inside 7 days, and refunds in full if it cancels for weather.
Kayaks, paddleboards and private boats are not a way to reach the island.
Sea cruises
A cruise circles Skellig Michael and Little Skellig without landing. Prices start at about €42 with Skellig Experience and about €60 with Casey’s. Gannets nest on Little Skellig. Under-12s may join a cruise.
Derrynane House
The OPW house is open daily 10:00 to 16:45 until 30 September and 10:00 to 16:00 from 1 October, closing for the season after 1 November. A family ticket is €13, and seniors and groups pay €4. It has a café, toilets and guided tours, and only assistance dogs are admitted.
Geokaun Mountain and Fogher Cliffs
Valentia Island’s viewpoint is open all year, at any hour. A family pays €8, a motorbike €8, a cyclist €4, a campervan €10 and a minibus €15.
McGill’s Brewery
The Murreigh brewery runs a Brewery Tour of about 50 minutes, a Barrel Aged Tour of about an hour and a two-hour Irish Experience Tour. Check that it is running before you go.
Read more: day trips from Waterville puts these stops into driving routes.
The OPW publishes Skellig Michael and Derrynane House details, Geokaun lists its entry fees , and boat trips can be found on GetYourGuide .