Skellig Michael, Killarney: How to Visit and What to Do Nearby

Skellig Michael is a rocky island pinnacle rising 218 meters from the Atlantic Ocean 12 kilometers off the southwest coast of Ireland's Iveragh Peninsula. Between the 6th and 12th centuries, a small community of monks maintained a monastery near the summit, consisting of six beehive-shaped stone huts, two oratories, and a small graveyard, all remarkably intact. The 618 stone steps carved into the rock face are the only access to the monastic site. UNESCO inscribed Skellig Michael as a World Heritage Site in 1996. Boat trips depart from Portmagee and Valentia Island, weather permitting, between May and October. is just one of many options in Killarney. Major attractions worth considering include Aghadoe Cathedral (Aghadoe Church and Round Tower), Blarney Castle & Gardens, and Derrynane Beach.