3-Day Weekend Road-Trip… Best Things to Do on the Isle of Man

Are you looking to spend 3 days on the Isle of Man? Here’s the ultimate weekend itinerary that’ll take you to some of the most iconic sights, a drive along the famous Isle of Man TT course, and see the best of the island’s natural beauty. So join us as we find the best things to do on the Isle of Man…

The Isle of Man is an amazing place to visit for a short-break! It took us a little by surprise to be honest. From its stunning coastlines and beautiful hills, to quaint towns and historic landmarks, there were so many best things to do on the Isle of Man.

It’s easy to get to from the UK or Ireland, with regular ferries and planes from major docks and airports. And we recommend taking a car to explore the island to its fullest… but definitely don’t miss using the heritage railways for some journeys too!

This is our ultimate 3-day itinerary of the best things to do on the Isle of Man…

Day 1… The Iconic & Best Things to do on the Isle of Man 

We’re starting our visit with the 3 most iconic and best things to do on the Isle of Man… taking the Victorian Mountain Railway to its highest peak Snaefell, seeing the most famous landmark the Great Laxey Wheel, and driving the world-famous TT Mountain Course circuit.

But first, we wake up in the capital Douglas to a beautiful sunrise, and go for a walk along the promenade to see the Victoria facades of the hotels. And we do some shopping in prep for our road-trip ahead... snacks, drinks, and of course some souvenirs! ( check out TT-Shirts for official TT memorabilia and other gifts).

Don't miss the horse tramway which runs along the promenade and has done for nearly 150 years!

Seeing the 7 Kingdoms on the Snaefell Mountain Railway

The Snaefell Mountain Railway is in the village of Laxey about 15 minutes drive from the capital Douglas. We get parked on the road outside the station and just make it in time for the next train, getting our tickets and boarding as the driver is going through his final prep.

The ride up takes half an hour and is super scenic... after just a couple of minutes we get a great view of the nearby Great Laxey Wheel which we’ll be visiting later, we see the Snaefell Mine which was the scene of the islands worst mining disaster in 1897, and we pass by waterfalls and the views as we near the top are amazing!

At the top there’s a café to get some food and a coffee, but first we explore the peak and head up to the Trig point to see the views… on a clear day it’s said you “can see seven Kingdoms from its top: The Isle of Man, England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, and the Kingdoms of Neptune and Heaven!”

The trains run every 30 minutes which is just the right amount of time to explore the peak, admire the views, and grab a coffee before heading back down.

The full timetable for all of the Isle of Man Heritage Railways can be seen online here.

Climbing the Great Laxey Wheel

After seeing the Great Laxey Wheel from the train, we make the (very) short drive there next. It’s the world’s largest working waterwheel, built in 1854. 

We climb to the top, tackling all 95 steps, and it gives us a unique perspective seeing the moving wheel so close up, even getting wet by the spray of it! And the views from the top are great too!

We also go into the old mine shaft and learn a little about the Laxey Miners from the 19th century… how they lived, how they worked, and why the wheel was built to pump water out of the mine.

Tickets cost £15 (including a charity donation), but to save money if you're following our itinerary and planning to visit more Manx National Heritage sites you can get a 2-week holiday pass for £35 which gives entry to all of their sites. Or, if you're a member of English Heritage or any of the other partners, entry is free. Full list of partners can be found here.

Driving the Isle of Man TT Mountain Course 

With the Isle of Man's 2 most iconic sites visited, next is the best activity to do on the Isle of Man… drive the world-famous TT Mountain Course!

Some may say driving it is an act of sacrilege… the course after all is used for motorcycle racing. But driving it is the next best thing! 

The 37.73 mile course has been used since 1907 and takes place on public roads, meaning you can drive all of it yourself too.

And it’s super fun to drive, navigating the famous corners and sections of the track, with the best bit being the iconic mountain section and “Bungalow” where the circuit crosses the Snaefell Mountain Railway track. It's a must-do for any bike or car enthusiast!

Don't miss the Grandstand at the start/finish line in Douglas. The pit lane and Grandstand are open so you can explore, and even climb the winner podium!

Day 2… Coastal Viewpoints & the Best Things to do on the Isle of Man  

We start day 2 in Ramsey with a refreshing walk along the seafront to see the Queen’s Pier and Ramsey Lighthouse. Overnight there’s been a huge storm, and although the rain has cleared, the winds are still super strong, so the sea is rough and the waves are splashing up onto us on the promenade.

Visiting the Isle of Man’s Only Cathedral

On the opposite side of the island is our next stop, in the seaside town of Peel. The Isle of Man’s Cathedral is here, rebuilt in the 19th century to replace the ruin at nearby Peel Castle. Although it only actually became a Cathedral in 1980. 

It’s interesting to look around, very different from the elaborate Gothic and Baroque Cathedrals we’ve seen in Europe, more simple and almost Viking feeling inside. Very nice! (Plus the locals are super friendly, coming over to talk to us and taking an interest in our visit).

Being Blown Away at Peel Castle… Literally! 

Peel Castle is an old Viking fortress and over 1,000 years old, but it’s not this which blows us away. The Castle is on top of a hill on a small island jutting out to sea, and the winds today are unreal! So much so, that when we get to the entrance of the castle they’re just closing it for safety!

The guy at the entrance lets us go in quickly and have a look around, as long as we stay down close to the entrance and don’t venture too far up the hill close to the castle walls. A quick visit, but an interesting one all the same.

Don’t miss the views of the castle from the hill on the opposite side of Fenella Beach… the views were made even more dramatic by the winds crashing the waves over the wall onto the road and soaking the passing cars! There's also good views of the harbour from the hill too, and a nearby RNLI lifeguard station where you might see a boat getting launched from!

Learning the Isle of Man’s Heritage at the House of Manannan Museum

We need to get inside and take a break from the winds so stop at the House of Manannan Museum, which takes us on a journey through time on the Isle of Man from its Celtic origins, through the Viking times, to its more recent shipping and fishing history. 

It’s interesting to visit and definitely one of the best things to do on the Isle of Man. The highlight is the Viking ship Odin’s Raven, which sailed from Norway to the Isle of Man in 1979 to celebrate the millennium of Tynwald, the Isle of Man’s Viking Parliament.

We read in a few places that Tynwald is claimed to be the oldest running Parliament in the world, and this reminds us of our trip to Iceland who also claimed that their Althing (Alþingi) Parliament is the oldest!

There’s also a good exhibition on the RNLI Lifeguards which tells the story of some of the ship rescues performed in the island’s waters. 

Paul’s particular favourite was a story from 1890 when a ship with 38,000 litres of spirits got into trouble, and the locals rushed to the beach to drink the booze washed up on the shore! So much so that people ended up in hospital from alcohol poisoning!!

Admiring the Stunning Coastline at Niarbyl and The Sound

Ready to brace the winds again we head out of Peel to 2 of the best viewpoints and best things to do on the Isle of Man.

Niarbyl (“The Tail”) is a beautiful bay 10-minutes from Peel. We park at the closed café at the top of the hill at first and the views over the rocks and the Irish sea are amazing! 

And further down on the beach there are traditional Manx thatched cottages. It’s a stunning and unique place… there's a visible fault line where two ancient continents collided!

Right on the bottom edge of the Isle of Man is The Sound, a viewpoint looking over the Calf of Man, a small rocky island famous for birdwatching. 

There’s a visitor centre and café but we’re quite late and they’ve already closed, so we have to just make do with the stunning views instead… oh well!

Day 3… Manx Heritage & the Best Things to do on the Isle of Man 

We stayed in Port Erin last night and so we start our day with a trip to the train station to see the steam train, before stopping at another viewpoint overlooking the town on our way to Cregneash. 

The view is Sneha’s favourite on the whole island as we can see the sea in 2 directions… Port Erin looking left, and Port Mary looking right. And the whole Isle of Man in front of us, check the map for the location!

Searching for Manx Loaghtan sheep & Manx Cats at Cregneash Open Air Museum

Cregneash village is the oldest open air museum in the British Isles and we get a glimpse into the history of how the Manx people lived. 

We explore the cottages and farm buildings, learning about some of the people who used to live here from guides who tell their stories.

But the best is we see the 4-horned Manx Loaghtan sheep in the farm yard! Unfortunately the no-tailed Manx cats which live in the village evade us though, so we have to make do with seeing one in the Manx Museum later.

Exploring the Isle of Man’s Heritage at Castle Rushen & Rushen Abbey

Our next stop is in Castletown, the Isle of Man’s capital city up until 1869. The main sight to see is Castle Rushen which dominates the Old Town.

The castle is one of the best preserved medieval castles in the British Isles, and the displays walk us through its history in each room… from its time as a Viking stronghold and defensive castle, a home to the Isle of Man’s rulers, it’s time as a prison, to today’s restoration as a heritage visitor attraction.

Don't miss a walk around the town and to the seafront, it's a really nice little town.

And nearby is Rushen Abbey which is worth a visit too, a beautiful 12th-century Cistercian monastery with ruins and gardens to explore. 

Greeting the Fairies at Fairy Bridge

On our way back to Douglas we cross the Fairy Bridge and have to pull over to greet the fairies to allow us to cross… it’s a beautiful spot and other passers by have left all sorts of things on the bridge as gifts for the fairies… photos and memories of loved ones, toy motorbikes, and someone even a lighter and some lip balm?!

And as we’re heading back to the car we hear an approaching steam train so rush to see the last of the heritage railways to tick off the list… that’s the horse tram, electric railway, mountain railway, and steam railways all seen or ridden!

More Heritage & Culture at the Manx Museum

Our last stop of our weekend trip is back in Douglas at the Manx Museum, the island’s history and art museum. 

We see some of the Viking artefacts we read about yesterday at the House of Manannan, with Sneha particularly looking for a brightly coloured glass necklace.

The art gallery has some great local pieces in, there’s an Olympians gallery celebrating sportsmen and women who have competed and won medals, and we finally see a Manx cat in the natural history section (ok so its not a real one, but still counts right?)

But Paul’s favourite section is the TT gallery… after driving the course on our first day, we now get to see some of the motorbikes, trophies, and accidents which have made the TT the most famous motorbike race in the world. 

Farewell to the Isle of Man

We just have time to get a last meal in Douglas before we head to the terminal to get our ferry home, and as we’re leaving the restaurant, what’s that curled up on the floor outside? IT'S A MANX CAT… WE FINALLY SEE A MANX CAT FOR REAL!!

We've had an amazing weekend on the Isle of Man! For such a small island there are so many best things to do on the Isle of Man, we definitely recommend a visit!

The Heritage Railways of the Isle of Man

We've mentioned some of the heritage railways throughout our itinerary, but as they are definitely one of the best things to do on the Isle of Man we wanted to tell you about them in their own section.

The Isle of Man is serviced by a unique set of historical railways allowing you to travel from the north to the south of the island by horse, electric, and steam railways!

The Douglas Bay Horse Tramway is one of the last surviving Horse Tramways in the world. The tram runs between Derby Castle under the Electric Railway sign to Villa Marina outside the Gaiety Theatre, with stops along the promenade.

The Snaefell Mountain Railway takes you on a journey winding high up into the Manx Hills to the Islands Highest Summit; Snaefell Mountain. The train runs between Laxey and Snaefell summit, with a stop at Bungalow half way up.

The Manx Electric Railway takes you on a journey along the East Coast to the North of the Island. The train runs between Derby Castle in Douglas to Ramsey, with lots of stops on the way.

The Isle of Man Steam Railway takes you on a journey of nostalgia as it gently rocks through the countryside in the south of the Isle of Man. The train runs between Douglas and Port Erin.

Best places to eat on the Isle of Man

Trying the local food is one of the best things to do on the Isle of Man, with the local “Queenie” Queen Scallops being delicious everywhere we tried them! 

But food was one thing we struggled with a little... not because it wasn't good, just that we struggled to find places open to eat at!

There were lots of choices in the capital Douglas, and we had 2 great meals at Wine Down and Frank Matchams.

But on a Sunday night in Ramsey, and a Monday night in Port Erin, we weren't quite so spoilt for choice! We had one of the best pizzas we've ever had though at Byrons in Port Erin, but pizza 2 nights in a row wasn't quite what we expected as Paul also had a pizza at Ravioli House in Ramsey while Sneha had Queenie's Ravioli (good job Paul loves pizza!)

For drinks, head to The Rovers Return, the oldest pub in Douglas for an open roaring fire and local beers and gins, and Frank Matcham's have some local beers and smoking cocktails too! And in Ramsey, the Fynoderee Distillery is the bar to try with locally made gin, rum and vodka on the menu, making up some unique cocktails.

Isle of Man Hotels… Where to stay on the Isle of Man

We stayed in Douglas, Ramsey and Port Erin during our 3-day trip finding the best things to do on the Isle of Man.

In Douglas we stayed at Inglewood 4star Guest House… it's a traditional Victorian hotel on the seafront with amazon views out to the bay, and our Superior Suite with Sea View room was really big and comfortable.

In Ramsey we stayed at the Ramsey Park Hotel… a modern hotel with rooms overlooking the sea or a lake. The guy on reception was super nice and helpful and changed our room to one with a better view where we could see both! 

And in Port Erin we stayed at the Falcon’s Nest Hotel… although it’s going through a renovation at the moment, it was still a good stay. Our sea view room had a good view of the bay, although the corridor outside did smell a little funky (we’re sure this will soon be fixed during the renovations, as the reception area and stairs are really nice and modern now). 

Ferries to the Isle of Man… How to get to the Isle of Man

We took the Isle of Man Steam Packet ferry from Liverpool and back to Heysham, which meant we could take our own car for our road-trip. They were running a 5-day short-break offer so it cost us £253 return which wasn’t bad, it worked out roughly the same as flights and hiring a car would have. And it meant we could take as much luggage as we could fit into the car!

Ferries run daily and can be booked online… Isle of Man Steam Packet Website

Is the Isle of Man part of the UK or EU?

No it’s not. The Isle of Man is part of the British Isles and is a British Crown dependency, but has its own parliament and laws. 

Do I need a passport or visa for the Isle of Man?

The Isle of Man is part of the Common Travel Area (CTA), which includes the United Kingdom, Ireland, the Channel Islands, and the Isle of Man. Within the CTA, there are no routine immigration controls, allowing free movement for residents.

However, transport operators like airlines and ferry services may require valid photo identification for boarding. It's advisable to carry a form of ID, such as a driver's licence or passport, to comply with their policies. 

For visitors from outside the CTA, entry requirements differ. Non-CTA nationals may need a visa to enter the Isle of Man. It's important to check specific entry requirements before planning your visit.