I think St Andrews is an ideal day trip in Scotland, even if you don’t play golf.

👉 Jump to: Best Things | Where to Eat | How to Get to St Andrews | How to Golf in St Andrews | Best Time

I’ve never been golfing and I don’t plan on starting any time soon. Despite that, I love visiting the Home of Golf – St Andrews. 

This stunning town on Scotland’s east coast is packed with history, gorgeous views, and lively charm. Because of this, it’s one of my favourite places to visit in the whole country.

I think you should make St Andrews your next Scotland day trip – whether you’re a golfer or not. Here’s why and how to make the most of your time there.

Although I think St Andrews is ideal as a day trip, you can get even more out of your visit if you’re able to stay longer.

Here are my top hotel recommendations in St Andrews, in case you’d like to extend your trip and stay overnight: 

• 🏆 Best Overall Hotel – The Arran
• 📍 Best Location – The Albany
• ✨ Best Luxury Hotel – Seaton House
• ⛳ Best for Golfers – Old Course Hotel or Rusacks St Andrews
• 🏨 Best Boutique – Hotel Du Vin
• 🛏️ Best Budget – The SPACE To Stay Aparthotel

5 Best Things to Do in St Andrews

There’s plenty to keep you entertained in St Andrews, even if you only have a day to explore. Here are several highlights – from centuries old castle ruins to wild and beautiful beaches.

St Andrews Cathedral

Explore the ruins of a medieval church.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: +44 1334 477 196 | Website | Hours: 9.30 am – 5.30 pm daily 1 April – 30 September, 10 am – 4 pm daily 1 October – 31 March | Entrance: Free

The scale of St Andrews Cathedral is difficult to wrap your head around. Scotland’s largest and grandest medieval church has lain in ruins since the 16th century but the square St Rule’s Tower and the eastern wall of the cathedral remain standing. 

The tower was built in the 11th century and can still be climbed as part of a free guided tour, which has to be arranged by phone. Some of the grounds are inaccessible due to maintenance, but it’s possible to wander through parts of the graveyard to admire the scale of the site and visualise what the cathedral must’ve looked like almost 900 years ago.

Old Course

Visit the world’s most famous golf course.

📍 Google Maps | Website 

St Andrews is known as the home of golf, and for good reason. While there are still plenty of impressive things to do in the town, many visitors are rightfully determined to fit in a good game of golf. 

There are seven public golf courses in the area, but the most famous and prestigious is the Old Course. Appropriately, this is the oldest golf course in the world, while the adjoining Old Course Hotel is one of the most luxurious places to stay in Scotland.

If you’re someone who thinks golf is a good walk spoiled, then you’ll be pleased to know that the course is open on Sundays for strollers to enjoy the greens.

World Golf Museum

Learn about the origins of golf.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: +44 1334 460 046 | Website | Hours: 9 am – 6 pm daily 31 March – 2 November, 10 am – 4 pm 3 November – 30 March | Entrance: £17.50 adults, £12.50 seniors, free for children 16 and under 

If you’re a golf superfan, then you have to visit the World Golf Museum. 

These galleries chart the rise of golf from its early days in St Andrews to its international success. There are exhibitions displaying iconic moments from the Old Course and the Open Championship. Make sure to show off your skills on the interactive putting green.

St Andrews Castle

Discover the gruesome history of this former fortress, then wander its secluded beach.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: +44 1334 477 196 | Website | Hours: 9.30 am – 5.30 pm daily 1 April – 30 September, 10 am – 4 pm 1 October – 31 March | Entrance: £10, adults, £8 seniors, £6 children 7-15, free for children under 7 

The dramatic ruins of St Andrews Castle look out over the even more dramatic North Sea. Standing in this former palace, fortress, and prison, you can feel the weight of history here. 

This castle was built and destroyed several times until it was finally reconstructed in 1400. It was a bloody site with executions, murders, and a major siege. Note that as of March 2026, the mine, countermine, and foretower are closed to visitors due to maintenance works.

Tour the site with an audio guide and you can even visit the secluded Castle Sands beach which sits below the castle. There’s a tidal swimming pool here protruding from the rocks at low tide for those not afraid of the freezing cold North Sea. 

However, remember to stay safe, and do not swim in the Castle Sands tidal pool during storms or weather warnings. Currents can be extremely unsafe during high tide.

West Sands Beach

Enjoy a picnic on the sand or warm up in a sauna after a plunge in the sea.

📍 Google Maps 

St Andrews has no shortage of golden sandy beaches, and West Sands Beach may just be the most impressive. With almost two miles of sand, it’s the perfect spot for a beach stroll or picnic on a sunny day. To really up the relaxation, visit the Wild Scottish Sauna and take a dip in the sea. 

Where to Eat in St Andrews

St Andrews has an impressive range of restaurants considering its size. Because it’s a student town, there are plenty of affordable options, too. Here are a few of my favourites.

The Cheesy Toast Shack

🍽️ Toasties | £ |📍 Google Maps

You can’t go wrong with a good toastie. The Cheesy Toast Shack lies just off St Andrews Beach and it only serves toasties, breakfast rolls, and hot dogs, but they’re all delicious. Wash down their iconic mac n cheese toastie with a milkshake or coffee while looking out over the beach or wandering along the shore.

Tanon

🍽️ Thai | ££ | Website | 📍 Google Maps | 📞 +44 1334 477 088

Tanon is a fantastic spot for fresh, delicious Thai food at a reasonable price. It’s a small restaurant so there may be queues, but the atmosphere is warm and it’s well worth a short wait. Alternatively, you can order online for collection or delivery. You could even take your dinner down to enjoy on the beach if it’s warm enough!

Northpoint Cafe

🍽️ Scottish | £ | 📍 Google Maps | 📞 +44 1334 473 997

Northpoint Cafe does simple food well. It’s cheerful, it’s affordable, and it’s good for the soul. What else can you ask for? Enjoy a nice cup of tea with a classic bagel, filled roll, or bowl of soup. 

Jannettas Gelateria

🍽️ Ice cream | ££ | Website | 📍 Google Maps | 📞 +44 1334 473 285

No trip to the beach in Scotland is complete without ice cream. It’s a bonus that Jannettas has some of the tastiest ice cream on offer anywhere. There’s a wide range of flavours to try out, from Scottish Tablet to tart raspberry sorbet. 

How to Get to St Andrews

From Edinburgh

It’s a simple drive from Edinburgh to St Andrews along the M90 and then the A91. By public transport, it’s slightly more complicated, but still manageable. St Andrews doesn’t have a train station, so from Edinburgh, take the train from Haymarket to the town of Leuchars. From there, take the 99 bus to St Andrews. 

From Glasgow

St Andrews works particularly well as a day trip from Glasgow. Driving from Glasgow to St Andrews takes around 2 hours along the M80 and M90. 

The quickest way to travel by public transport is to go via Edinburgh. Take the train to Haymarket, change to Leuchars, and then take the 99 bus. Alternatively, you could go by train to Dundee and catch the 99 bus there, or take the longer but direct X24 bus from Glasgow to St Andrews.

How to Golf in St Andrews

Getting a tee time on the Old Course can be very difficult due to its popularity. One option for attaining one is via the Old Course ballot. A minimum of two and a maximum of four players provide their information online, by phone or at one of the clubhouses before 2 pm, two days before the day they wish to play. The ballot is then drawn. 

Single players can enter the singles daily draw between 9 am and 4 pm on the day before they wish to play at the Old Pavilion or Links Clubhouse. There are also Authorised Providers of guaranteed Old Course tee times, which come as part of larger golfing holiday packages.

There are several other beautiful courses in St Andrews which are far easier to play on. Tee times for courses such as the Castle Course, the New Course, and the Jubilee Course can be requested in advance through a booking form on the St Andrews Links website. Plus, the nine-hole Balgove Course usually doesn’t require an advance booking.

Best Time of Year to Visit St Andrews

St Andrews is a university town, so it gets a lot busier when students return to campus in September each year. For the best weather, without the student crowds, visit from May to August, which is the best time to visit Scotland generally.

St Andrews can be beautiful and festive in December, but it may also be very cold with few hours of daylight. If you’d like to watch some golf while in town, visit in September or October when the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship is played at the Old Course. 

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I hope this information inspires you to hop over to St Andrews and see all the town has to offer. You may even want to include it in your Scotland itinerary. Have questions? Leave me a comment and I’ll help you out!