Snaefell

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The top of the Isle of Man at 621 metres, reached since 1895 by an electric mountain railway from Laxey.

Arrival: Isle of Man Airport · IOM
To the summit: About 30 minutes to Laxey by car, then 30 by tram
Private jets: Jet Centre FBO at Ronaldsway
Best time: May to August

The city

A tramway to the top of Man.

Snaefell rises to 621 metres, higher than anything else on the island. The Snaefell Mountain Railway opened in August 1895 and still climbs from Laxey on the east coast, a journey of about half an hour each way. In winter the overhead wires on the upper section come down so that ice cannot wreck them.

Halfway up, at the Bungalow, the line crosses the Mountain Road, part of the TT course. During race weeks the cars stop on either side and passengers walk over a footbridge. The 2026 season ran from 28 March to 1 November; for clear days, aim for May to August.

The summit The highest ground in the Isle of Man, and the end of the line for the mountain railway.
Snaefell Mountain Railway Electric cars on a 3 ft 6 in gauge line, running since 1895 between Laxey and the summit.
The Bungalow The one stop on the way up, where the tramway meets the TT Mountain Course.

Arriving

From Ronaldsway to the mountain.

The island's only airport is at Ronaldsway, about 23 km from the summit in a straight line. The road to Laxey, where the mountain railway starts, takes around half an hour.

Business & First Class Airline flights easyJet flies to Gatwick and Loganair to London City, and Loganair also covers Liverpool and Manchester. For Dublin there is Aer Lingus. Business & First fares Private Jet Private flights Business jets use the 2,110 m runway, which has an ILS. A handler is required on every flight; Jet Centre by NALJETS is the FBO. Customs clearance is available, and the field is open from early morning to 20:45, with later slots on request. Charter a jet

Approximate flying time by midsize jet

Dublin 35 min
London 55 min
Tunis 3 h 15
New York 7 h 00 long-range jet
Abu Dhabi 7 h 50 long-range jet

When to go

May to August.

These are sea-level figures from Douglas; the summit stands more than 600 metres higher. May is the driest month, and May and June have the most sun, about seven hours a day. July and August are the warmest, at 17 °C down by the coast.

6° J 164
6° F 110
7° M 123
10° A 91
13° M 85
15° J 91
17° J 90
17° A 123
15° S 142
12° O 171
9° N 170
7° D 168

Best months weather2travel.com, long-term averages (Douglas)

Where to stay

Rooms in Douglas, below the hills.

Shown for information. We have no arrangement with any of these hotels.

Four-star · Douglas, about 13 km from the summit Claremont Hotel In 2015 the first Manx hotel to hold four stars with a Gold award; its current award dates from 2019.
Four-star · Douglas, about 13 km from the summit Regency Hotel Four stars, and a Gold award dated 2021.
Four-star · Douglas, about 13 km from the summit Best Western Palace Hotel & Casino A big four-star hotel on Central Promenade with its own casino and a small cinema of two screens.
Four-star · Douglas, about 13 km from the summit Hotel Halvard Graded four stars, Silver award 2021.
Four-star · Douglas, about 13 km from the summit Mannin Hotel Four stars in the Manx grading, Silver award 2019.
Four-star · Douglas, about 13 km from the summit Sefton Hotel On the Visit Isle of Man list at four stars.

Where to dine

Where to book on the island.

This is a new tasting-menu restaurant in Douglas, reported by Manx News when it opened in August 2026.

Flurt Manx News Manx tasting menu North Quay, Douglas, about 13 km from the summit

Elsewhere in Isle of Man

More reasons to come.

All of Isle of Man

Flying to Snaefell?

Choose how you arrive.

A Business or First Class seat on a scheduled airline, or an aircraft of your own. Tell us the date and how many are travelling, and we reply with one final price, our margin included.

Business & First Private Jet