The Scottish capital Edinburgh is an incredibly versatile and fun destination for a city trip. Do you have a few days to spend? Then take a day trip from Edinburgh to other parts of Scotland. The most impressive landscapes can be visited relatively easily in a day. Curious? Take a look at the best day trips from Edinburgh below.
Visit Scottish Highlands and Loch Ness in 1 day
One of the most beautiful day trips you can make from Edinburgh is a tour to the Scottish Highlands. For me the highlands are the most beautiful part of Scotland and I think your visit is not complete if you haven’t seen it. The landscape in the highlands is truly unique and super impressive. After the hustle and bustle of Edinburgh, it is a relief to find the peace and space of the highlands.
Scottish HighlandsLoch Ness, the famous loch where legend has it a monster lives, is located near the highlands and you can easily combine the two in a day trip. Of course it is possible to take a boat trip on the lake, but it is also nice to just enjoy this beautiful place from the shore.
From Edinburgh to the Highlands and Loch Ness: The best way to travel from Edinburgh to the Highlands and Loch Ness on your own is by rental car. You drive to this region in about 3.5 hours. Public transport is not really an option, as it takes about 5.5 hours to get to Loch Ness alone. As far as I am concerned, it is most convenient to book an organized day trip. You will be picked up in Edinburgh and will be on the road for a total of 12.5 hours. A long, but wonderful day full of highlights. For this guided tour you pay around €65.
Visit Trossachs National Park and Ben Nevis in 1 day
A second region in Scotland that I absolutely love is Trossachs National Park. At the heart of the Trossachs is Loch Lomond, the largest lake in all of Britain. In addition, there are a number of other beautiful lakes in the Trossachs, including Loch Katrine. Trossachs National Park is perfect for a day of walking. If you have a little more time and like to walk, I definitely recommend that you spend the night in the park.
Ben Nevis is about a 2 hour drive from Trossachs. This is the highest mountain in the United Kingdom and it is very impressive to see this colossus rise in the otherwise hilly landscape. Ben Nevis is on the border of Rannoch Moor. This area is also called one of the last true wildernesses in Europe. Rannoch Moor is truly unique and in my opinion a part of Scotland you want to see.
From Edinburgh to Trossachs National Park and Ben Nevis: It is possible to travel to Trossachs by public transport. You get on the train in Edinburgh to Stirling and change to the bus there. In total you will be on the road for about 1.5 hours. Unfortunately, you cannot get to Ben Nevis by public transport. You really need a car for that. Another good option is an organized tour. In 12.5 hours you will explore the Trossachs, Glencoe, Loch Ness and the area around Ben Nevis. The price of this day trip is about €65 per person.
Explore Stirling in 1 day
The city of Stirling is an hour’s drive from Edinburgh and you can even get there in just 45 minutes by train. This makes Stirling a very nice day trip to make from Edinburgh. Stirling’s history is full of intriguing stories and history buffs in particular will enjoy themselves here. Stirling Castle, for example, is the place where the Stewarts, the former royal house of Scotland, lived. You can imagine that this has left a huge mark on the entire town. Those looking for a combination of nature and history can opt for a day trip from Edinburgh to the Trossachs and Loch Lomond in combination with Stirling. Stirling is located on the edge of Trossachs.
From Edinburgh to Stirling: You can drive to Stirling in an hour by car. Every hour a train runs from Edinburgh directly to Stirling and you are in the center of the city in 45 minutes. If you also want to go to Trossachs from Stirling, you can take the bus to the village of Callander. The bus ride takes half an hour. Another option is an organized day trip from Edinburgh to Loch Lomond with a stop at Stirling Castle on the way back. The price of this 9-hour day tour is around €50.
Visit Outlander filming locations in 1 day
Have you seen the Outlander series on Netflix and would you like to visit some of the filming locations? You can! The entire season 1 was filmed in Scotland and most of the places you see in the series can be visited. With an organized tour you depart from Edinburgh with your first stop in the 16th century village of Culross. Then drive to Doune Castle, called Castyle Leoch in the series. In Doune Castle there is a very cool audio tour to do. This one is voiced by Sam Heugan (Jamie Fraser). Then the tour continues to Linlithgow Palace, Blackness Castle and of course Jamie’s Lallybroch. This day trip is an absolute must for Outlander fans.
From Edinburgh to Outlander locations: For about €65 you are on the road for 9 hours and you stop at various places that play a central role in the Outlander series. Of course it is also possible to cover this route with a rental car. Public transport is unfortunately not an option, as the travel times are much too long.
Visit Glenfinnan viaduct (Hogwards Express) and Glencoe in 1 day
One of the most famous places in all of Scotland is the Glenfinnan viaduct. This is where the Hogwarts Express in the Harry Potter films drives over on its way to Hogwarts. The viaduct is located in the middle of the Highlands and it is really impressive to see. Do you actually want to ride the ‘Hogwarts Express’ on the track? You can! Check out the Jacobite Steam Train website for all the information.
The Glenfinnan viaduct is a long way from Edinburgh and I definitely recommend that you immediately go and admire the beautiful Glencoe. Glencoe is Scotland’s largest valley and it is otherworldly beautiful. You can walk beautifully here, but even if you just drive through it, a visit to Glencoe is already worthwhile. In my opinion this is one of the most beautiful areas in Scotland.
From Edinburgh to Glenfinnan and Glencoe: Do you have a rental car at your disposal? Then leave early in the morning for Glenfinnan. You drive it for about 3.5 hours. Like many day trips from Edinburgh, you cannot visit Glenfinnan Viaduct in one day using public transport. If you would like to use public transport, make sure you allow at least two days for this trip. You travel by train from Edinburgh to Glasgow and then change to a train to Glenfinnan. This trip takes 6 hours in total. Do you prefer an organized tour? Then the day trip below is recommended. You will visit Glenfinnan and Glencoe. You will also have time to visit the harbor town of Mallaig and the village of Pitlochry. For this 13-hour day trip from Edinburgh you pay €76.
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Explore Glasgow in a day trip
Scotland’s second city is centrally located Glasgow. Glasgow was originally a real industrial city and that is clearly visible. Where Edinburgh really is a historic, lovely town, Glasgow is a bit rougher. This contrast is very cool to see and if you like to see more cities in Scotland then I definitely recommend a day trip to Glasgow. Some must-see places include the Kelvingrove Art and Gallery Museum, the People’s Palace, the Botanical Gardens and the Gallery of Modern Art.
From Edinburgh to Glasgow: You can easily travel from Edinburgh to Glasgow by train. Get on at Edinburgh Waverley Station and get off in Glasgow city center 50 minutes later.
3-day tour to Isle of Skye, the highlands and Loch Ness
If you really want to discover the rest of Scotland, then a 3-day tour to the Isle of Skye, the highlands and Loch Ness is a very nice option. This three-day trip to the Scottish Highlands and the Isle of Skye is accompanied by a experienced guide. You will stop in the beautiful Glencoe Valley and at the Eilean Donan Castle. You will also explore the Isle of Skye and visit Loch Ness. You can book two nights in Portree on the Isle of Skye. It is also possible to book accommodation yourself.
