Just an hour’s train ride from Edinburgh, Glasgow is Scotland’s largest city. Visit Scotland’s guide offers suggestions on things to do, including museums, walking tours, what to do with just 48 hours, “must see” sights, and things to do with kids.
St Andrews is located about 30 miles northeast of Edinburgh and is home to Scotland’s oldest university, the University of St Andrews. Aside from touring the campus, highlights of St Andrews include The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews (which is where golf is said to have originated), ghost tours, and more. Visit Scotland offers a list of the 11 best things to do in St Andrews, including links to further resources to plan and book your time.
Much like their page on Glasgow, Visit Scotland offers information on what to do and see in Aberdeen. Highlights from the guide include the Aberdeenshire Costal Trail, 10 things to do for free in Aberdeen, and events and festivals.
Inverness, the northernmost city of Scotland, is considered to be the entryway to the Highlands. A great base from which to explore further north, Inverness has a lot to offer in its own right as well. Check out Visit Scotland’s page on Inverness, which includes suggestions on what to do and see within and around the city. Take a walk along the River Ness, visit the battlefield of Culloden, or head over to the Clava Cairns.
Any trip to Inverness would be incomplete without a visit to see Nessie! The official Loch Ness website includes information on the Loch, how to get there from Inverness, and what to do when you visit.
Free Things to do in the Highlands
This guide from Visit Scotland is a great resource for planning out some fun (and free!) things to do in the Highlands. The Highlands themselves are massive, taking up about one third of the land mass of Scotland, and there are many places to visit. This guide will help you sort through all the things to see and pick the right sights for your trip.
My Skye Time is the first place you should visit if you’re thinking about venturing out to see the beautiful Isle of Skye. The website includes a great deal of information, from driving around the island, determining what to see, and where to stay.
Visit Scotland also has a page on Skye, which rightly starts off by suggesting you visit the My Skye Time website above. The site also offers a list of 8 things to do in Skye and has links to various tours, undiscovered spots, and more for you to explore as you plan.
Fort William and Glencoe are on the western side of Scotland and definitely worth a visit if you have the time. Check out National Geographic’s guide on How to Spend a Weekend in Fort William and Glencoe. Ben Nevis, the tallest mountain in the United Kingdom, is nearby and there is much to do and see, from hiking to riding the Jacobite Steam Train (made famous as the Hogwarts Express in the Harry Potter films).
Looking for more? Check out these honorable mentions:
Visit the Castle’s official website for information on the site and ticket information.
The island’s official website offers all the information you could possibly need to plan your journey. Decide where to stay, what to see, where to eat, and book tours all directly through the website.
This website offers information on visiting the five islands that make up the Outer Hebrides. From here you can learn about each of the islands and explore things to do from historical tours and museum visits to boat trips and hiking trails. The site also provides great information on the food of the Outer Hebrides and what to eat when you visit.
