7 Day Trips from Edinburgh that Prove Scotland is Awesome
Experience the best of Scotland’s emerald countryside with these can’t-miss day trips from Edinburgh to the Highlands and more.
There’s no doubt that Edinburgh, Scotland is a wonderful city to explore. In fact, it’s one of my favorite cities in the world.
From Edinburgh Castle to the Royal Mile and food tours to ghost tours, there’s plenty to see and do in Scotland’s capital city. Tip: I highly recommend booking a hotel in Edinburgh’s Old Town for easy access to all the best sights.
Read More: The Best Edinburgh Hotels in Old Town (for Easy Exploring!)
But if you’re visiting Edinburgh, hopefully, you’ve also planned enough time to venture beyond the city limits.
The lush, rolling hills and historic sites of the Scottish countryside are calling. It’s the perfect opportunity to see what Scotland has to offer beyond the capital’s borders.
Luckily, there are a ton of great options available for day trips from Edinburgh! From the Scottish Highlands and Loch Ness to castle ruins and Harry Potter movie sites, there’s something for everyone from nature lovers to history buffs.
But first, you may be wondering…
Should I rent a car or book a tour?
Either! You can easily book an organized tour or rent a car and explore on your own. There are plusses and minuses to both.
Note: This post may contain affiliate links. If you choose to book through these links, I receive a small commission, which I will undoubtedly blow on more flights (it’s a vicious cycle). All of this internet voodoo takes place at no additional cost to you.
Yes, they do drive on the left in Scotland. But as long as you’re comfortable with that, driving in Scotland is not difficult at all. The road system is excellent and let’s just say it’s nowhere near as potentially traumatic as driving in Ireland.
Read More: How to Survive Driving in Ireland (and Actually Enjoy It!)
So if you want to explore Edinburgh’s surroundings on your own schedule, don’t be afraid to rent a car.
Tip: I go into much more detail about what it’s like to drive in Scotland in this post: The Bucket List Scotland Road Trip Itinerary in 7 Amazing Days. If you’re not sure whether you want to drive yourself to the countryside or book a tour, read that first!
If you do rent a car, we rented our car through DiscoverCars.com (my favorite booking site) but there are several options to choose from in and around the city.
Discover Cars
My favorite rental car booking site to use all over the world. No hidden costs, free cancellation, and 24/7 customer support.
Tip: I recommend picking up the car at the airport so you don’t have to drive in the city.
But whether you decide to drive yourself or let someone else do the driving, get out of the city and explore Scotland’s stunning countryside.
Now let’s talk about where to go!
Best Day Trips from Edinburgh
All of these day trips are possible to do with or without a tour. Here are some of my favorite day trips within a reasonable drive from Edinburgh:
1. The Scottish Highlands & Loch Ness
This is easily the #1 day trip from Edinburgh and it’s a fantastic way to see more of the Scottish countryside. Fair warning, this is a lot of driving and it’s nearly impossible to do the Scottish Highlands any justice on a simple day trip.
But if you’re short on time and hoping to get a glimpse of this gorgeous landscape, a day trip is certainly better than nothing!
The legend of the Loch Ness “monster” is synonymous with Scotland. Unexplained mysterious sightings at this deep, dark loch date back to 565 AD, and the iconic mystery continues to draw visitors and explorers to this day.
You can visit the Loch Ness Exhibition Center and take the 1-hour tour to learn about the history of the Loch Ness Monster. There’s also a 50-minute cruise to see if you can spot Nessie for yourself.
Full-day tours from Edinburgh typically also include nearby Urquhart Castle and beautiful Glencoe. If you only have one day, an organized trip is your best bet due to the distance (the drive takes about 3 hours, one-way).
However, if you have more than one day to devote to the Highlands, I highly recommend renting your own wheels and spending one night in the area. There are plenty of things to see and having a car will help you maximize your time.
Best Day Trips to the Scottish Highlands
There are several good ones but these two are my top picks (they have slightly different itineraries but both include Loch Ness):
Loch Ness and Highlands Day Tour Including Cruise from Edinburgh – This small group tour packs a lot into 12 hours and includes stops at Fort Augustus, Callander, and the 50-minute cruise on Loch Ness.
Loch Ness, Scottish Highlands, Glencoe and Pitlochry Tour – Slightly more economical than my other pick, this one is the standard motorcoach group tour and does not include the Loch Ness boat trip (though you can elect to purchase the separate ticket for it when you arrive). It also makes stops in the town of Pitlochry and Urquhart Castle.
2. Loch Lomond, Kelpies & Stirling Castle
Known for its stunning scenery and tranquil waters, Loch Lomond is nestled within the Trossachs National Park. This iconic loch is the largest inland stretch of water in Great Britain by surface area. It’s a serene escape from the hustle and bustle of city life and the perfect day trip for nature lovers.
Located about 70 miles from Edinburgh, the travel time to Loch Lomond by car is about 1.5 to 2 hours. So it’s a great day trip from Edinburgh if you’re looking to enjoy the lovely landscapes of Scotland’s largest lake.
Most organized day trips to Loch Lomond also include a stop at the Kelpies and Stirling Castle.
The Kelpies are a striking pair of 30-meter-high horse head sculptures located near Falkirk. Designed by artist Andy Scott, the sculptures are the world’s largest horse sculptures and the largest sculptures in Scotland. Inspired by the mythical creatures in Scottish folklore known to possess the strength and endurance of 100 horses, the famous monument is a nod to Scotland’s horse-powered heritage.
Stirling Castle is one of Scotland’s most historically significant sites. Perched dramatically atop a volcanic rock, the castle was a pivotal military stronghold throughout Scottish history due to its strategic position at the gateway to the Scottish Highlands.
Best Day Trip to Loch Lomond
The most popular day trip to Loch Lomond is the full-day Loch Lomond, Kelpies & Stirling Castle Small Group Tour.
This 9-hour tour starts with a visit to the Kelpies monument. From there, the tour continues to Loch Lomond where you’ll have the option to join the guide on a nature walk. The last stop of the day is an interior tour of Stirling Castle.
3. Hit the links at St. Andrews
Whether you’re a die-hard golfer or just a history buff, St. Andrews is a fascinating place to visit.
Renowned worldwide as the “Home of Golf,” the popular sport has been played here since around 1400 AD. But St Andrews is more than just the holy grail for golf enthusiasts. This charming town on Scotland’s east coast is a blend of historic sites and stunning coastal scenery so it’s an excellent day trip from Edinburgh.
This one’s an easy day trip from Edinburgh, the drive takes less than 90 minutes one-way. When you get there, you can walk in the footsteps of golfing legends with a guided walk of the old course.
Best Day Trip to St Andrews
The best day trip to St. Andrews is the St Andrews & the Fishing Villages of Fife Small-Group Day Tour from Edinburgh. This 8-9 hour tour includes plenty of free time to explore the home of golf. You can visit the Old Course, the cathedral, and the winding streets of the historic town.
This tour also stops in the traditional fishing village of Anstruther (known locally as “Ainster”) and Falkland Palace.
4. Balmoral Castle
The Scottish home to the Royal Family, Balmoral Castle is open to visitors each summer from early May until early August.
I almost skipped this one on our last trip around the Scottish Highlands due to reviews from visitors who were disappointed that you couldn’t see more of the inside of the castle. But I’m so glad we didn’t skip it!
The grounds are magnificent and I felt it was totally worth the trip. Of course, we were already in Aberdeen at the time and it’s a shorter drive from there.
From Edinburgh, this one is a trickier drive on your own and requires significant time spent on narrow country lanes. No big deal if you’re accustomed to that but possibly a white-knuckle experience for anyone not comfortable driving on the left.
Most of the Balmoral tours go from Aberdeen, not Edinburgh, and that’s the easiest way to visit. But it is possible to visit from Edinburgh on your own if you’re up for a very long day trip.
Need to Know: The grounds, gardens, and exhibitions are open from 10:00am – 5:00pm from May 4th through August 11th, 2024. For dates and tickets, visit the Balmoral Castle official website.
5. Harry Potter Highlights & the Hogwarts Express
Scotland is famous as a filming location for the popular Harry Potter films and this Edinburgh day trip is a great way to see the Harry Potter highlights outside of Edinburgh.
The most famous filming sights are the Glenfinnan Viaduct and Glencoe.
Glenfinnan was featured in both The Chamber of Secrets and The Prisoner of Azkaban as the Hogwarts Express famously crosses the viaduct. You can relive the magic with a ride aboard the Jacobite Steam Train, which offers stunning views of the Scottish Highlands.
Glencoe is also a backdrop for some of the most famous scenes from the Harry Potter movies. Glencoe was featured in multiple films, most prominently in The Prisoner of Azkaban. This rugged valley served as the location for Hagrid’s hut and the backdrop for the bridge leading to the entrance of Hogwarts.
Best Harry Potter Themed Day Trip
The Hogwarts Express & Scottish Highlands Tour from Edinburgh – This day trip from Edinburgh is a fantastic day tour for Harry Potter fans (like my husband!). The day begins with a stop in the fishing village of Mallaig before boarding the famous Jacobite Steam Train (the inspiration for the Hogwarts Express) for a ride along the Glenfinnan Viaduct to Fort William.
The best reason to book this tour is that it includes the train ride – which is a tough reservation to get, especially in the summer high season! After the train ride, the tour also visits Glencoe.
6. Aberdeen, Stonehaven & Dunnottar Castle
Aberdeen is another great Scottish city to explore and it’s easy to reach by public transport from Edinburgh (the train journey takes about 3 hours) if you want to take a day trip on your own.
About a 2.5-hour drive north of Edinburgh (and just 25-minutes from Aberdeen) sits the magnificent Dunnottar Castle. Perched atop a rocky outcrop surrounded on three sides by the North Sea, it’s a true seaside beauty.
The adorable nearby village of Stonehaven makes the perfect waterfront lunch stop. This one is best done on your own with a car. Like Balmoral, most day trips to Dunnottar Castle leave from Aberdeen.
However, there is a terrific Private Tour from Edinburgh to St Andrews, Dunnottar Castle & Dundee that’s a great option if you don’t want to drive.
Need to Know: Open 361 days a year, summer hours are 9:00am – 6:00pm. For more information and to book tickets, visit the Dunottar Castle official website.
7. Glasgow
Just a short 40-minute train ride away, Glasgow is a fun city to explore.
The city is home to a lively music scene and a number of museums, including the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum and the Riverside Museum. You’ll also find plenty of green space with several parks, including the Glasgow Botanical Gardens and Kelvingrove Park.
No car or tour is needed for this one, just head to the train station!
However, if you want to learn more about the city’s history from a local guide, book this inexpensive Glasgow City Centre Daily Walking Tour, it’s just 90 minutes long and offered 3 times daily so it’s easy to work into your day.
BONUS: The Isle of Skye
I wish I could say that a day trip to the spectacular Isle of Skye was possible from Edinburgh. But unfortunately, it’s really not.
With a distance of 200+ miles from the city center, you’d need more than just one entire day to make it worthwhile. The drive takes at least 4 1/2 hours one way.
However, if you’re visiting Inverness, a day trip is entirely possible and this Isle of Skye and Eilean Donan Castle Day Trip from Inverness is my top pick.
From Edinburgh, do yourself a favor and spend at least one night on Skye in the charming main town of Portree. There’s so much to see and do there!
Read More: Isle of Skye: 10 Irresistible Things to Do on Scotland’s BEST Island
If you can spare a couple of days in your Scotland itinerary, this 3-Day Isle of Skye and Highlands Tour Including Accommodation from Edinburgh is a terrific experience. It includes many of the top sights in the Scottish Highlands along the way and all of the best things to see on the Isle of Skye.
And that’s a wrap!
These are my picks for the 7 best day trips from Edinburgh, Scotland’s largest city.
I hope you find time on your visit to Edinburgh to get out and explore. For panoramic views and rich history, it’s hard to beat Scotland’s beautiful countryside, it really is awesome!
And while you’re exploring Edinburgh, don’t miss my favorite things to see and do in the city – Epic Edinburgh: 16 Things Not to Miss in Scotland’s Capital City.
