Planning a trip to the Isle of Wight? You’re in the right place! An Isle of Wight holiday is an amazing getaway and one that is perfect for all types of travelers. There is so much to do, see, eat and explore. The island itself is stunning and it makes for a very relaxing and scenic place to spend a few days (or a few weeks!)
Ready to have the best Isle of Wight holiday? Keep reading for my top tips, advice and recommendations for everything to do on the island.
How to Have the Perfect Isle of Wight Holiday
Consider When to Visit
While the Isle of Wight is beautiful year round, visiting in the summer months offers the best weather. Of course, the best weather comes with more crowds and higher accommodation prices.
While it may be the busiest time, I still recommend planning your Isle of Wight holiday for the summer. This way, you can take part in some of the island’s best activities – swimming, visiting the beaches, outdoor picnics, and so much more.
Even in the summer, it’s never particularly hot on the island. The sunny days are nice and warm, though, and honestly the “not too hot” weather is great for being outside and exploring all the island has to offer.
To still take advantage of the great weather, but beat some of the crowds, consider visiting during the shoulder seasons – May or September & early October.
How to Get to the Isle of Wight
Getting to the Isle of Wight is easy by ferry and there are several ferry ports on the mainland and on the island.
There are over 150 ferry crossings daily and, depending on the ferry you choose, you can go as a foot passenger or with a vehicle. Depending on the type of ferry, the length of travel also varies. You can book with Red Funnel, WightLink or Hovertravel.
Car ferries, that also carry foot passengers, travel from Lymington (mainland) to Yarmouth (IOW), Portsmouth (mainland) to Fishbourne (IOW), and Southampton (mainland) to East Cowes (IOW).
Dedicated foot passenger ferries depart from Southampton (mainland) to West Cowes (IOW) and Portsmouth (mainland) to Ryde (IOW).
Book Ferries in Advance
Ferries to the Isle of Wight, especially if you’re bringing a car, can be a little expensive. However, there are also very reasonable fares – particularly if you’re a foot passenger.
My best advice is to book as far in advance as you can so you have the most flexibility and can get the best prices.
The low season, of course, will be less expensive than the high season.
Bring a Car, if You Can
Although it makes the ferry a little more expensive, I absolutely recommend bringing a car. While the Isle of Wight does have public buses (and a small train system) it is so much easier to get around with your own car.
The buses are reliable, but they won’t get you everywhere you want to go.
How to Get Around the Isle of Wight
Once you’re on the Isle of Wight, you’ll have a few options for how to get around. First, and the easiest option, is to bring your car to the island so you can drive around on your own. While the car ferry is more expensive than the foot passenger ferry, in my opinion, it’s so worth it to have your own vehicle so you have maximum flexibility. While there is public transportation on the island, it’s not as fast as your own vehicle (obviously) and it also doesn’t reach everywhere on the island.
The next option is, you guessed it, public transportation. The Isle of Wight has a decent public bus system as well as a small train system. While the buses are reliable, they don’t go everywhere on the island.
There are taxis, but they need to be booked in advance.
You can also get around the island by bike or on foot. Of course, if you’re relying on walking, you’ll likely be staying in whatever town you get off the ferry in. Similarly with biking, while you can get far, it is more limiting than having a vehicle and much more weather dependent.
Choose the Right Town as a Base
The Isle of Wight is small and easy to get around, but you’ll still want to choose where you base yourself wisely. There are several different experiences you can have on the island and where to stay will play a large part in that!
Shanklin
If you’re looking for a beach-town getaway, I highly recommend Shanklin. There’s a lot to do here and the beach is one of the best on the island, in my opinion.
You can rent beach chairs and umbrellas, check out the local shops and eat at the wide variety of local restaurants. There’s also a great selection of accommodations, making it the perfect Isle of Wight holiday destination.
Great accommodations in Shanklin:
Cowes
If a charming waterfront town, that also happens to be the sailing capital of the island, sounds good to you, then Cowes is your spot! Cowes is an adorable, walkable town with tons of shops, restaurants and a beautiful waterfront marina to walk along.
While there’s no beach in Cowes, it’s right on the water and easy enough to drive to the beaches in Shanklin, Yarmouth or Ryde.
Wonderful accommodations in Cowes:
Yarmouth
Many Isle of Wight locals, including most of my family, consider Yarmouth to be the most charming place on the island! I agree it’s a very cute town, however, there is less going on in Yarmouth than there is in Cowes or Shanklin.
If you’re looking for a small town feel that’s removed from the “bigger” towns, Yarmouth is a great option. It’s right on the water, there’s shops and restaurants and cute accommodations to choose from.
Where to stay in Yarmouth:
Book Restaurants and Attractions in Advance Peak Season
Peak season on the Isle of Wight, like with many places, is the summer months. During the summer, you’ll have the best weather and, in my opinion, it’s the best time of year to take advantage of all the island has to offer. It’s also a time of year when many festivals take place and this, of course, will make the island even busier.
During the summer, I recommend booking any restaurants or attractions you want to go to in advance (when you can). This is especially important for dinner reservations as some restaurants can get very busy.
Some major attractions, like Osborne House and Carisbrooke Castle, can also be reserved online in advance.
A Day Trip Isn’t Enough
Visiting the Isle of Wight for a day trip is certainly possible, but trust me, you’ll want to stay for at least stay a night or two.
There is a lot to do on the island and you’ll want a couple days to explore – preferably more.
The Top Attractions on the Isle of Wight
Now that we have all of the practical information covered, it’s time to think about all of the great things to do during your Isle of Wight holiday.
Be sure to check out my very detailed post about The Top 10 Attractions on the Isle of Wight. Here you’ll find all of my top recommendations for things to do during your trip!
Here’s a short summary of the highlights:
- Visit Osborne House
- In the 1800s, this property served as a royal residence for Queen Victoria and Prince Albert.
- Book tickets online in advance here!
- Check out Carisbrooke Castle
- This 1,000+ year old castle was originally built to protect from Viking invasions. Later, it became a royal residence and now it’s open to the public.
- Book tickets in advance here!
- Visit the Needles
- A row of impressive rocks that extend 30 meters (100 feet) out of the water. Ride the chairlift for the most impressive views.
- Walk though Shanklin Chine
- A gigantic ravine that connects Shanklin village down to Shanklin beach.
- Hang out at Shanklin Beach
- Hangout at this beautiful beach, rent umbrellas and chairs and enjoy all of the restaurants and shops on the boardwalk.
- Visit the ruins of Appledurcombe House
- FREE! Stroll through the ruins of this 18th century Baroque mansion.
- Check out the Donkey Sanctuary
- Visit with rescued donkeys and wander around the beautiful farm where they live.
- Another amazing free thing to do during your Isle of Wight holiday.
- Enjoy tea at the teahouses
- There are tons of great tea shops on the Isle of Wight to enjoy. Two of my favorites include Chessell Pottery Cafe and Old Thatch Teashop.
- Shop in Cowes
- Cowes has one of the best shopping streets on the Isle of Wight. Enjoy a wide variety of shops and restaurants before wandering over to the harbor to see the sailboats.
- Wander around Yarmouth
- One of the quaintest towns on the Isle of Wight. Enjoy lunch by the water and wander around the cute village.
Now it’s time to pack your bags and head out on your Isle of Wight holiday! If you have any questions, or anything to add to this post, please let me know in the comments.
Be sure to check out my post all about the top attractions on the Isle of Wight to keep planning your trip and follow us on Instagram, @twosistersabroad, for tons of photo inspo and mini-guides.
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♡Kate
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