Dunvegan Castle & Gardens
Dunvegan Castle & Gardens: Hours, Address, Dunvegan Castle & Gardens Reviews: 4/5
Dunvegan Castle & Gardens
Dunvegan Castle & Gardens
4
10:00 AM - 5:30 PM
Monday
10:00 AM - 5:30 PM
Tuesday
10:00 AM - 5:30 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 5:30 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 5:30 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 5:30 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 5:30 PM
Sunday
10:00 AM - 5:30 PM
About
Any visit to the Isle of Skye is incomplete without enjoying the wealth of history and clan legend at 5* Dunvegan Castle & Gardens. Built on a rocky outcrop on the shores of Loch Dunvegan, Dunvegan is the oldest continuously inhabited castle in Scotland and has been the ancestral home of the Chiefs of Clan MacLeod for 800 years. Award winning gardens, seal boat trips, cafe, gift shops and holiday cottages. For more information about our opening times, admission prices, speical events and exhibitions, please visit our website.
Suggested duration
More than 3 hours
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Top ways to experience Dunvegan Castle & Gardens
The area
Address
Best nearby
Restaurants
10 within 3 miles

MacLeod Tables Cafe
78
0.2 mi$ • Cafe • British • Scottish

Jann's Cake Shop
665
1 mi$$ - $$$ • Dessert • Vegetarian Friendly • Vegan Options

Dunvengan Hotel Dining
89
0.9 mi$$ - $$$ • Bar • British • Scottish

Dunvegan Prawn and Mussel Bar
37
1 mi$ • Seafood • Scottish

Blas Skye
134
0.9 mi$$ - $$$ • Cafe • British • Scottish

The Misty
47
0.9 mi$$ - $$$ • Pizza • British

The Old School Restaurant
1,874
1.3 mi$$ - $$$ • Seafood • European • British

Waterside Cafe Bistro
259
1.2 mi$$ - $$$ • Cafe • European • British

Dunvegan Bakery
337
1.3 mi$ • Bakeries • Cafe • British

The Three Chimneys
2,602
2 mi$$$$ • Contemporary • Vegetarian Friendly • Vegan Options
Attractions
14 within 6 miles

Colbost Croft Museum
115
69 ftSpeciality Museums

Giant Angus Macaskill Museum
142
1 miSpeciality Museums

Dunvegan Two Churches Walk
53
0.7 miScenic Walking Areas

Flora MacDonald's Grave
208
1.4 miPoints of Interest & Landmarks

Loch Dunvegan
19
1 miBodies of Water

Claigan Coral Beach
767
Beaches
Raven Press Gallery
2
1.9 miArt Galleries

Colbost Folk Museum
9
2.1 miSpeciality Museums • Natural History Museums
Dun Studio
3
Art Galleries

Orbost Gallery
2
Art Galleries
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
4.0
3,124 reviews
Excellent
1,290
Very good
1,133
Average
474
Poor
150
Terrible
77
Beachdeac
Gaiole in Chianti, Italy343 contributions
So many castles are in ruins and all you see are the stone walls; but Dunvegan is different. It is lived in and modern on the inside in many ways. Yet there lingers the harshness of the dungeons and the past. If you are a McLeod, you must go! Early in the day at 10:00 is better.
Written July 28, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
MaryCork
Cork, Ireland550 contributions
Fabulous castle. Amazing views. The guides were very knowledgeable. The information on the MacLeod clan was very interesting.
Written July 16, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
SandraR
Landgraaf, The Netherlands118 contributions
We very much enjoyed walking around the castles and the gardens are beautiful! You can do a little boat tour to get closer to the seals which we didn't do but looked like fun. Worth the money!
Written July 8, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
mariatiggs
Stirling, UK85 contributions
Family
After looking at the castle and how grand it looked from the outside with the gardens and gates - when we entered it we were disappointed at what we could see. Lots of it closed off. After visiting a castle the previous day on the main land which was slightly cheaper we thought we would have seen more and been able to learn a bit about the history of the castle. There wasn’t much to read and no tours available or audio tours.
Written July 6, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Hatton
Stafford, UK41 contributions
Friends
We very much enjoyed talking with Lucy who was one of the castle guides. Her enthusiasm and knowledge of Scottish history was amazing.
We were also very impressed with the beautiful gardens and the scenery.
We were also very impressed with the beautiful gardens and the scenery.
Written July 6, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
MikeDyserth
Cwm Dyserth, UK29 contributions
If you go to Skye, you have to go to Dunvegan Castle. We were lucky with the weather and the £10 pp first come first served boat trip to watch the seals. Wow! What great value for money and not disappointed as plenty to see, including newly born seal pups. Rory, our skipper, gave us a guide too. The castle was great to look around, love the history and our 2 hour visit, again was value for money.
Written July 5, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
faunachain
12 contributions
Great place to visit, so much intersting history and beautiful gardens... and wild life, including the seal in the pictures, if you see her please contact Dunvegan Castle and SPCA Scotland or British Divers Marine Life Rescue as we are trying to find a way to get the debri off of her
Written July 5, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
minsterman66
Chippenham, UK113 contributions
A must see destination on the island. The castle is fascinating and still lived in by the Clan Chief. There is a one way system round the exhibits, no flash photography though. Be warned it gets very busy from about 1030 onwards. The gardens are spectacular and need time to go around. The walled garden was a great treat and there are a number of small waterfalls feeding the water gardens.
Written July 4, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Wanderlust For Life
La Canada Flintridge, CA38 contributions
Interesting history of the area, especially related to the MacDonalds/MacLeods and Bonnie Prince Charlie. Nice displays but nothing interactive or very creative in the layout. Worth a visit but not a highlight if you just visit the castle.
Written June 30, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Aint_Life_Great
Huntsville, AL527 contributions
Couples
Loved our visit to Dunvegan Castle. We toured the castle and wandered the beautiful grounds. The castle is filled with furnishings, paintings, personal items. Lots of history, and I especially liked the connections to Bonnie Prince Charlie and Flora McDonald. Highly recommend.
Written June 22, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Voyage48374081477
1 contribution
Is it worth going off-season, when it's closed? Can you see anything from the outside, or is it better to skip it?
blackfaceewe
Scottish Borders338 contributions
No point going out of season as you cannot access the grounds.
Gibt es auch eine Ermäßigung für Schwerbehinderte?
Ursula J
Limburg, Germany90 contributions
Ja, In England und Schottland gibt es fast überall Ermäßigungen für Schwerbehinderte und bei Merkzeichen "B" auch freien Eintritt für die Begleitperson. Man ist generell sehr hilfsbereit. Auch die Parkmöglichkeiten für "Disabled" sind fast überall und dort auch nicht von Nicht-Behinderten besetzt.
Allison K
Durham, UK8 contributions
Are dogs allowed in the gardens
DunveganCastle
11 contributions
Yes on a lead and please clean up any mess. Thank you
Karen_Lee_Holt
Utrecht, The Netherlands38 contributions
I plan to visit Dunvegan Castle in mid-August with three friends. How busy is it around that time of year? Is there a maximum number of visitors allowed? Is it advisable to buy tickets in advance, or can you always be sure of being able to get them when you arrive?
MomNicoleM
Toronto 32 contributions
This attraction can accommodate a very large amount of people. You will not have a problem getting tickets at the location when you arrive. There is no way they would reach the limit for visitors at any one time. It's huge and relatively out of the way for many travellers to go. Be sure to leave yourself enough time to tour. They close the gates and ask you to leave by 5:00 and the souvenire shop closed at 4. We only arrived just before 4 so we had to rush and didn't get to enjoy the amazing gardens surrounding the castle. It's well worth spending at least 2 hours there.
Enjoy!
Monica C
Toledo, Spain89 contributions
Vamos muy mal de tiempo, por lo que no se si nos va a dar tiempo a visitar el interior del Castillo y los jardines.
Se puede ver por fuera? Se puede llegar hasta la entrada del Castillo, por lo menos para verlo y hacer una foto...?
Almoraima74
Algeciras, Spain109 contributions
Como bien te han comentado, poco vas a poder ver desde fuera :)
ashwolf26
Wilsonville, OR6 contributions
I know I can buy tickets online but we are doing a lot of hiking the same day and I'm not sure if we will have time to visit Dunvegan Castle. If we do have time can we buy tickets on site? We will be there October 6th. How busy do you think it will be around that time?
Bill B
Pueblo, CO1,137 contributions
On site is a good option and you should not have a problem with it being overly busy.
Culture730455
21 contributions
Hello
Is the castle anywhere near Glen Brittle?
Thanks
Jasper1944
Newark-on-Trent, UK209 contributions
Sorry for late response to this question - been incomunicado in the Oz outback.
It's an easy enough drive and well worth the effort.
Frequently Asked Questions about Dunvegan Castle & Gardens
- Dunvegan Castle & Gardens is open:
- Sun - Sat 10:00 AM - 5:30 PM
- We recommend booking Dunvegan Castle & Gardens tours ahead of time to secure your spot. If you book with Tripadvisor, you can cancel up to 24 hours before your tour starts for a full refund. See all 9 Dunvegan Castle & Gardens tours on Tripadvisor
- According to Tripadvisor travelers, these are the best ways to experience Dunvegan Castle & Gardens:
- 3-Day Isle of Skye and Scottish Highlands Small-Group Tour from Glasgow (From $485.38)
- 3-Day Isle of Skye and Scottish Highlands Tour Including "Hogwarts Express" Ride (From $589.20)
- Full Day Tour (From $76.26)
- Isle of Skye, The Highlands and Loch Ness- 3 Day Group Tour from Edinburgh (From $215.26)
- Isle of Skye, The Highlands and Loch Ness - 3 Day Tour from Glasgow (From $215.26)
- Hotels near Dunvegan Castle & Gardens:
- (1.38 mi) The Tide B&B
- (0.89 mi) The Tables Guest House
- (1.86 mi) Kilmuir Park Bed and Breakfast
- (2.39 mi) Hillstone Lodge
- (3.21 mi) Ardmorn Holiday Accommodation
- Restaurants near Dunvegan Castle & Gardens:
- (0.15 mi) MacLeod Tables Cafe
- (1.29 mi) The Old School Restaurant
- (0.98 mi) Jann's Cake Shop
- (1.96 mi) The Three Chimneys
- (1.31 mi) Dunvegan Bakery
- Attractions near Dunvegan Castle & Gardens:
- (0.01 mi) Colbost Croft Museum
- (1.19 mi) Skye Minibus Tours
- (0.98 mi) Giant Angus Macaskill Museum
- (0.74 mi) Dunvegan Two Churches Walk
- (1.44 mi) Flora MacDonald's Grave