Douglas
Isle of Man · East Coast · 10 m
Description
Douglas is the capital of the Isle of Man and the point at which almost everyone arrives, a Victorian seaside town wrapped around a bay of boarding houses and hotels. Horse trams still work the promenade in the warm months, and both the electric railway north to Ramsey and the steam railway south to Port Erin start here. The Manx Museum sets out the island's Celtic, Norse and Manx history, and the Gaiety Theatre survives as a complete Frank Matcham interior. The Tower of Refuge stands on a reef in the bay. The grandstand where the TT mountain course begins is on the edge of town.
Length of stay
Recommended length of stay: 1 to 3 days (optimal 2 days)
Travel season
Best time to visit: June – August
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
Highlights
- Manx Museum
- Promenade and the horse trams
- TT Grandstand and the start line
- Gaiety Theatre
- Tower of Refuge on Conister Rock
- Douglas Head and its camera obscura
- Manx Electric Railway from Derby Castle
- Isle of Man Steam Railway terminus
- Douglas Bay beach
- Quayside restaurants along the harbour
- Manx kippers and queenie scallops
- Onchan Head and the coast path
- Villa Marina gardens
- Isle of Man TT race fortnight (May - June)
Getting there
- Airports:
- IOM
- Train stations:
- Douglas
- Seaport:
- Reachable by ship or ferry