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Major city · United Kingdom

Isle of PortlandPortland

Give Portland one full day from Weymouth, or one night if you want Chesil Beach at sunrise; two nights max — it is small and windy.

Weather
see forecast
Currency
GBP
Best months
May–Sep
avoid Nov–Feb (wind, rain, many closures)
Airports
BOH · LHR
Nights
1
Not field-verifiedbasic guide
Print / PDF guide
3 pages, for the metro and roaming-off days
Map
Google Maps Apple Maps Street View
Rules in force · 8Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window…
  • Europe ↗Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window, counted across all 29 Schengen states together — not per country; the Entry/Exit System now logs each crossing, so an overstay is detected automatically.
  • Europe ↗On the first Schengen entry since EES began, non-EU travellers give four fingerprints and a face photo at the border instead of a passport stamp; there is nothing to apply for or pay in advance.
  • Britain and Ireland ↗Neither the UK nor Ireland is part of Schengen: days spent here do not count towards the 90/180-day Schengen limit, and a Schengen visa does not admit you to either country.
  • Britain and Ireland ↗The island of Ireland runs on two currencies: euro in the Republic, pound sterling in Northern Ireland and Great Britain. Carry a card that pays in both without fees.
  • Britain and Ireland ↗Both islands drive on the left. Speed limits are in miles per hour in the UK (including Northern Ireland) and in kilometres per hour in the Republic of Ireland.
  • United Kingdom ↗Most visitors who do not need a UK visa now need an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) before travelling; this includes EU nationals. Irish citizens are exempt. Check the UK government site for your passport.
  • United Kingdom ↗The UK is outside the EU and the Schengen area; a Schengen visa is not valid for the UK.
  • United Kingdom ↗Driving is on the left; London has congestion and emissions charges for most vehicles, so do not drive in the city.

Portland is a tied island in Dorset, joined to the mainland by the 29 km Chesil Beach shingle spit, not a tombolo. It is 13,000-odd people, a working quarry landscape, three castles, a lighthouse at the southern tip and the 2012 Olympic sailing harbour. Most travellers see it as a day trip from Weymouth, 15–25 minutes by bus; a night buys you empty clifftop paths at dawn and sunset.

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

The questions people ask first about Isle of Portland, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.

Cost cheat-sheet

2026 desk estimate · check

Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.

  • Coffee£3–4.50 (≈ US$4–6)
  • Sit-down mealPub main course£12–20 (≈ US$16–30)
  • Street or quick mealCrab sandwich or seafood lunch£8–15 (≈ US$11–20)
  • BeerPint of draught beer£4–6 (≈ US$6–8)
  • Taxi, about 5 kmTaxi across the island£8–15 (≈ US$11–20) (check)
  • Metro or bus rideBus ride (First, single)£2–3 (≈ US$3–4) (check)
  • Museum or sight ticketPortland Castle entry£4.80 (≈ US$7) adult, £2.90 (≈ US$4) child, £4.30 (≈ US$6) concession
  • Budget bedHostel or guesthouse bed, a night, per person£30 (≈ US$40)
  • Mid-range bedGuesthouse or inn double room, a night, per room£120 (≈ US$160)
  • High-end bedGuesthouse or inn double room, a night, per room£200 (≈ US$300)

A day, not counting the bed: Budget £50 (≈ US$70) · Mid £95 (≈ US$130) · High £180 (≈ US$250)

Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →

Decide

What it is known for, and when the weather works

At a glance

What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.

Portland Bill LighthouseChesil BeachPortland CastlePortland stone quarries2012 Olympic sailing harbour
Airports
BOH Bournemouth (About 1 h by road; limited routes) · LHR London Heathrow (About 2 h 30 min–3 h by road or rail via London Waterloo)

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

Isle of Portland: next 7 days

Loading forecast…

Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.

Air quality

Loading…

Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.

Jan

9°C

5°C

14 rd

Feb

8°C

5°C

11 rd

Mar

10°C

6°C

11 rd

Apr

12°C

7°C

10 rd

May

15°C

10°C

9 rd

Jun

17°C

12°C

8 rd

Jul

19°C

14°C

7 rd

Aug

20°C

15°C

8 rd

Sep

18°C

13°C

8 rd

Oct

15°C

11°C

12 rd

Nov

12°C

8°C

13 rd

Dec

10°C

6°C

14 rd

High / low °C · rd = rain days

Arrive & move

Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Getting around

First bus route 1 runs Weymouth–Portland every 7–8 minutes on weekday days; the FirstDay ticket covers Portland, Weymouth and Dorchester on First services for one day (about £4.10, check). Route 1X continues to Portland Bill. The island is walkable in parts but the coast path is exposed and the interior is hilly; taxis are cheap and local.

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time

Weymouth

go

Door to door: About 25–40 min

First bus 1 from Portland to Weymouth seafront

The practical base for Portland: rail station, coaches, more beds and food.

Corfe Castle

go

Door to door: 1.5–2 h

Bus or train to Weymouth, then the heritage railway or bus to Corfe

Village and ruined castle; pairs well with a Swanage stop.

Lyme Regis

caution

Door to door: 2–2.5 h

Bus or train via Weymouth and Dorchester, then bus

Doable but long; better as an overnight on the Jurassic Coast.

Bournemouth

go

Door to door: 1.5 h

Train from Weymouth, about 50 min

Beach and airport connections; a half-day rather than a full one.

Eat & sleep

Which area to sleep in

Where to sleep

Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.

Castletown and Osprey Quay

Near Portland Castle, the marina and the sailing academy; flattest ground, easiest with bags.

Fortuneswell and Chiswell

West side under the cliffs; pubs, buses and the causeway to Weymouth; some streets are steep.

Easton

Island centre: museum, shops, a couple of inns; quiet at night.

Practical

What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Cost per day

2026 estimate, excluding the bed unless stated
Budget
£45–70 (≈ US$60–95) excl. bed
Mid
£70–120 (≈ US$95–160) excl. bed
High
£120 (≈ US$160)+ excl. bed

Trip budget

2026 estimate · converts to your currency
Guesthouse or inn double room1 × 1 night × £120£120
Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × £95£190
FirstDay bus ticket, one day2 × £4£8
Weymouth–Portland ferry, return2 × £15£30
eSIM, about a week of data2 × £10£20
Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge£37
Trip total≈ £203 per person per day, bed included£405≈ US$550

2026 estimate in pounds; travel to Dorset excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.

Prices of common things

Coffee£3–4.50 (≈ US$4–6)
Pub main course£12–20 (≈ US$16–30)
Crab sandwich or seafood lunch£8–15 (≈ US$11–20)
Pint of draught beer£4–6 (≈ US$6–8)
Bus ride (First, single)£2–3 (≈ US$3–4) (check)
Taxi across the island£8–15 (≈ US$11–20) (check)
Portland Castle entry£4.80 (≈ US$7) adult, £2.90 (≈ US$4) child, £4.30 (≈ US$6) concession
Portland Bill Lighthouse tower climb£7 (≈ US$10) adult, £5 (≈ US$7) child, £6 (≈ US$8) concession, £20 (≈ US$30) family (2 adults + 2 children)

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

Low crime and a small, well-lit centre; the real risks are cliff edges and quarry drops, wind and rain on the coast path, and cold water at Chesil Beach — do not swim there.
  • The coast path and quarries have unfenced drops and loose stone: stay on marked paths.
  • Portland Bill and Chesil Beach are exposed in any wind; take a layer even in July.
  • Several sights are seasonal or weekend-only: Portland Castle closes in winter, Castletown D-Day Centre is weekend-only, Grove Prison Museum opens Thursday–Sunday.
  • Swimming off Chesil Beach is dangerous — the shingle shelf drops away and the current is strong. Do not swim there.

Emergency numbers

NHS non-urgent
111
Police non-urgent
101

Pocket card

One page · print or save as PDF

Fill in, then print or save as PDF

Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.

Isle of PortlandPortland

Pocket card · Voykit

My bed tonight

—

—

—

To this address, pleaseTo this address, please

Emergency

  • NHS non-urgent111
  • Police non-urgent101

Embassy

No embassies on Portland; the US embassy is in London. Consular help for most countries: London, with honorary consulates in the region (check).

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • Weymouth station → Portland (bus 1): about £2–3 (≈ US$3–4), 25–40 min (check)
  • Weymouth → Portland ferry, return: £15 (≈ US$20) adult, £10 (≈ US$14) child, 45 min each way
  • Taxi across the island: £8–15 (≈ US$11–20) (check)

Say or show

  • Single to Portland, please — Single to Portland, please
  • Does this bus go to Portland Bill? — Does this bus go to Portland Bill?
  • A table for two, please — A table for two, please
  • Can I pay by card? — Can I pay by card?
  • Where is the nearest bus stop? — Where is the nearest bus stop?

999 and 112 work from any phone, including mobiles with no signal from your own network.

Deep dive

What this guide covers so far, and its sources

Not a trip line yet

This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Isle of Portland. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.

What we know, and what is coming

On this page

  1. Best months: May–Sep · avoid Nov–Feb (wind, rain, many closures) · month by month →
  2. 2 airports and 3 areas to sleep in
  3. Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
  4. Cost per day in 3 bands
  5. 4 day-trips, door to door
  6. 4 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers

Coming as the guide grows

  1. Airport-to-bed contract for BOH and LHR: last rail and bus departures to Weymouth field-checked, taxi fallback, overnight rung.
  2. Four walking clusters with rescue anchors: Castletown and Osprey Quay, Fortuneswell and Chiswell, Easton, Portland Bill.
  3. Place pages with verified cutoffs (Portland Castle, Portland Bill Lighthouse, Tout Quarry, Chesil Beach Visitor Centre) and eat pages with last orders.
  4. Wind and rain fixtures so gates A–D can go green.

Meanwhile

Back to United Kingdom

Sources