Scotland

✨ Things to Do

You’ll find dozens of activities of interest in Scotland. Take in the views, try local delicacies, and experience a booming cultural scene.

• Sail on a loch – Cruising along a loch is one of the best ways to take in the scenery, especially if you don’t fancy the effort involved in a hike!
• Visit a castle – More than 1,000 castles are standing in Scotland, and many are well-preserved. 
• Take a distillery tour – Many whisky distilleries offer tours so you can see the whole process and top it off with a dram-tasting session. 
• See the Fringe – The Fringe is the world’s largest performance arts festival. It takes place in Edinburgh over the whole month of August. 
• Drive the North Coast 500 – This scenic route is one of the most beautiful road trips in the world, showing off untouched natural marvels.

🗺️ Where to Stay

Not sure where to stay in Scotland? We recommend staying in these places for first-time visitors:

• Glasgow – Glasgow is a cultural hub for music, contemporary art and theatre, with a real cool factor.
• Isle of Skye – Isle of Skye is an island of fishing villages and beautiful lochs, connected to the mainland by a bridge. 
• Fort William – This popular town is on the shores of Loch Linnhe, close to the UK’s highest peak Ben Nevis. 
• Edinburgh – Scotland’s capital is packed full of activities for tourists and locals alike.
• Inverness – The “Capital of the Highlands” is more than just a base for trips to Loch Ness: it’s a vibrant city with a gorgeous castle of its own.

👉 Read the complete guide to where to stay.

🛎️ Best Hotels

Looking for unique accommodations? Here are some one-of-a-kind and luxury hotels to be found in Scotland:

• The Scotsman – This hotel is an iconic part of the Edinburgh skyline and was previously home to The Scotsman newspaper.
• The Ballachulish Hotel – This famous Highland hotel can’t be beaten on location as it is nestled in the Glencoe Mountains. 
• Blythswood Square Hotel – Offers old-fashioned luxury with a central Glasgow location and a recently refurbished spa facility. 
• New Lanark Mill Hotel – This hotel is part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the experimental 18th-century village of New Lanark. 
• Cameron House on Loch Lomond – This hotel has a championship golf course, rooftop infinity pool, and several restaurants. Guests can also take a trip on its motor cruiser boat down Loch Lomond. 

🚗 Best Road Trips

Aside from stunning scenery, these routes feature great hiking trails, castles, or whisky distilleries to sweeten the deal.

• North Coast 500 – This 516-mile round trip around the north coast of Scotland is one of the most beautiful routes in the world. You’ll pass sandy beaches, mountains and remote fishing villages. 
• Borders Historic Route – Begins over the border in England, winds through important sites in southern Scotland, and ends in Edinburgh. 
• Argyll Coastal Route – Along the west coast you’ll see lochs Lomond and Fyne and finally reach Ben Nevis, the highest peak in the UK. 
• North East 250 – There will be plenty to admire on this route through the Cairngorms National Park, including tours of Speyside whisky distilleries. 
• Isle of Skye – Access to a car is essential for seeing the best of Skye, and the A87 will take you most of the way across the island.

🏰 Best Castles

It’s impossible not to be wowed no matter how many castles you visit. These are some of the most impressive castles in Scotland.

• Edinburgh Castle – This former royal palace has buildings dating back to the 12th century. It dominates the Edinburgh skyline. 
• Craigievar Castle – This castle stands out from the crowd for its well-preserved striking pink walls. 
• Culzean Castle – This country estate hangs over the Ayrshire cliffsides and has adventure playgrounds, beaches, and trails.
• Eilean Donan Castle – A postcard-perfect castle on an island at the foot of 3 lochs. It was destroyed in a battle and rebuilt in the early 20th century. 
• Dunnottar – One of the most dramatic castles in Scotland sits on a 160-foot rock south of Aberdeen. 

 🚣 Best Lochs

Scotland has over 30,000 freshwater lochs (Gaelic for lakes). Each is unique and some have water sports and shoreside attractions.

• Loch Ness – Loch Ness is by far the most famous loch in Scotland and home to everyone’s favourite sea monster, Nessie. 
• Loch Lomond – Discover attractions ranging from water skiing to hiking and zip wires to a sea aquarium. Loch Lomond is a no-brainer place to visit.  
• Loch Tay – Loch Tay is a perfect spot for a weekend getaway or nature retreat. 
• Loch Fyne – Visit Inveraray on the shore of Loch Fyne for fresh seafood and high-quality whisky. 
• Loch Long – This sea loch is often home to grey seals and on occasion pilot whales, porpoises, and dolphins.

👉 Tips & Things to Know

• 💷 – Bank notes – Each country in the United Kingdom prints its bank notes with different designs which are all Pound Sterling. These should legally be accepted by any business in the UK, but some are reluctant to take notes from outside of England. 
• 🍺 – Drinking – Like the rest of the UK, the drinking age in Scotland is 18. However, there are some restrictions on the hours you can buy alcohol and where you can drink it which do not apply in England, Wales or Northern Ireland. 
• 🗣️ – Gaelic – Gaelic, the native language of Scotland, is not widely spoken in many areas. However, in some parts of the Highlands and Islands, it is the first language used. You will be able to communicate in English, but it is polite to learn a few words in Gaelic. 
• 💰 – Tipping – Tipping culture isn’t as prevalent as in the USA, but it is still polite and common to leave waiters 5-10% tips at restaurants. 
• 🚰 – Tap Water – Tap water is safe to drink in Scotland. It’s also delicious. There’s no need to buy bottled water, just refill a reusable one and save yourself money.

👉 Read my complete list of Scotland travel tips

🧳 What to Pack

• 🧥 – Rain jacket – Scotland is a rainy country, regardless of the season. It’s best to always be prepared. 
• 🐝 – Bug spray – In summer months swarms of biting midges spread across the Highlands and coastal areas. Their bites are painful, so make sure to load up on bug spray.
• 👟 – Comfortable shoes – It’s likely you’ll do a lot of walking, whether you’re visiting a city or the countryside. Proper safety equipment is also vital for any hike. 
• 👚 – Layers – Temperatures can fluctuate rapidly from day to day and even hour to hour, so layering is key. 
• 🗺️ – Road Map – Some areas of scenic routes may have limited or slow internet access, so keep a physical copy of a map in case you get lost.

👉 Read my complete guide to packing for Scotland

🤓 Facts & Info

• Population (2024) – 5,546,900 
• Capital – Edinburgh
• Largest Metro Areas – Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen 
• Time Zone – Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) and British Summer Time (BST) (UTC/UTC+1 during daylight savings)
• Airports – Edinburgh Airport (EDI), Glasgow Airport (GLA), Aberdeen International Airport (ABZ), Glasgow Prestwick Airport (PIK), Inverness (INV)
• Colleges & Universities – University of Edinburgh, University of St Andrews, University of Glasgow
• Name in Gaelic – Alba
• Demonynm – Scottish
• First Minister – John Swinney

💵 Costs & Budgeting

• 3-Star Hotel Room – £180/night
• 1 Bedroom Apartment Rental – £215/night
• Rental Car – £15/day
• Public Transit Ticket – ~£2.60 (£10 to airport from centre)
• Take Out Meal for Two – £25
• Sit Down Dinner for Two – £35
• Draft Beer – £5