Things to do in Scotland
Day Trips from Edinburgh12 optionsEdinburgh Underground City14 optionsEdinburgh Tour Highlands44 optionsJacobite Steam Train Tours30 optionsEdinburgh Ghost Tour24 optionsStirling Castle Tours39 optionsWhiskey Tour Edinburgh13 optionsLoch Ness Tours60 optionsEdinburgh Walking Tour94 optionsBoat Tour Loch Ness9 optionsEdinburgh Airport Taxi10 optionsIsle of Skye Tours29 options
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Stirling Castle & Loch Lomond Cruise from GlasgowYou get Stirling Castle entry and a full Loch Lomond cruise without booking them separately, travel in a small group through the Trossachs in an air-conditioned coach, and return to Glasgow with the day's logistics already handled. The fixed itinerary and included transport mean you're not juggling multiple bookings or transport options.Is it for me?This tour suits anyone in Glasgow who wants to see Stirling Castle and Loch Lomond without arranging separate transport, tickets, and timing — the coach, the castle entry, and the cruise are all locked in, which is what makes a full day possible without a car or multiple bookings.
Holyrood Distillery Whisky and Gin Tour Edinburgh's First MaltHolyrood Distillery's whisky and gin tour in Edinburgh pairs a guided walk through the working distillery with a seasonal cocktail, samples of single malt whisky and award-winning gin, and a tutored tasting that explains how oak barrels shape flavour. The tour runs about an hour with a live English-speaking guide, and children from age 8 are welcome.Is it for me?Most distillery tours in Edinburgh are heritage sites or visitor attractions built around the building itself; Holyrood puts you on the working floor where the stills are actually running and the whisky is being made, so the tasting at the end connects to what you watched happen.
Glasgow Walking Tour: Victorian Architecture and LandmarksA three-hour walking tour of Glasgow city centre led by Johnny, a local guide who covers Victorian architecture, landmarks from George Square to Glasgow Cathedral, and the stories behind the city's growth and renaissance. Groups stay under 15 people, and you get a non-alcoholic Scottish drink at the end plus personalized recommendations tailored to your interests.Is it for me?Book this tour if you want the real story of how Glasgow built itself, rebuilt itself and became what it is now — told by someone who knows the city and conducts every departure himself. The small group size and the personalized recommendations at the end make it work for first-time visitors who want to know where to go next, not just what to see today.
Bungee jump from Killiecrankie Bridge, Scotland: 40 metersBungee jumping from the Garry Bridge in Killiecrankie, Scotland, is a 40-meter jump from a purpose-built platform fitted to the underside of the bridge over the river Garry. You leap, freefall, and are winched back to the platform after the jump. Minimum age is 14; moderate physical fitness is required. Not suitable for travelers with spinal injuries, cardiovascular concerns, or pregnancy.Is it for me?Two hours is enough time to jump and return to the platform, but not enough to combine this with other activities in the same day—plan the bungee jump as its own outing, or book it early so the rest of your day is still open.
Edinburgh: West Highland Lochs, Mountains & CastlesYou travel by air-conditioned coach through the Scottish Highlands, stopping at four castles and two lochs in a single day. The tour includes Doune Castle, Loch Lomond views at Luss, an hour in Inveraray, and a photo stop at Kilchurn Castle on Loch Awe, with live commentary from the driver-guide throughout. Arrive 15 minutes early at your Edinburgh departure point.Is it for me?Pick this tour if you want to see multiple Highlands castles and lochs in one day without renting a car or planning the route yourself — the fixed itinerary and included transport handle all the logistics, leaving you to watch the scenery.
St Andrews Walking Tour: Main Sights with Local GuideA 1.5-hour walking tour of St Andrews' main sights with a local guide in English, covering the Cathedral, Castle, Old Course exterior, and University of St Andrews. The tour runs at 11am and 2pm daily and sells out in summer. Wheelchair accessible; suitable for all fitness levels.Is it for me?Book this tour if you're new to St Andrews and want the main sights and their stories without arranging a guide yourself. The fixed 11am or 2pm start means you can plan the rest of your day around it, and the local guide handles the history and the route so you just walk and listen.
Edinburgh: Underground Vaults & Canongate Graveyard Ghost TourYou descend into Edinburgh's exclusive Blair Street Underground Vaults with a Mercat Tours storyteller, hearing curated audio of the city's sounds while learning the dark histories of Old Town's closes. Then you walk to Canongate graveyard, where famous figures and notorious criminals rest. Small groups, all-weather operation, and the audio devices stay with you—so the stories do too.Is it for me?Right for travelers who want Edinburgh's darker history told with real depth and sensory detail, not a rushed overview. The vaults are genuinely unsettling—narrow, cold, dark—so expect to feel the atmosphere, not just hear about it.
Edinburgh: Lind & Lime Gin Distillery Tour & TastingYou arrive with a gin and tonic, learn the story of Lind and Lime, bottle and label your own 5cl bottle on the production line, then mix and sip a Gimlet cocktail while hearing more about the distillery. The whole thing takes 75 minutes and includes two drinks plus tastings in the shop. You leave with a bottle you made yourself and the skills to mix a proper Gimlet at home.Is it for me?Pick this if you want a hands-on distillery experience rather than just a tasting — the bottling line and cocktail-mixing parts are what turn it into something you actually do, not just watch.
Edinburgh: Harry Potter Walking Tour & Hogwarts InspirationYou walk through Edinburgh's Old Town with an expert guide, stopping at J.K. Rowling's handprints at the City Chambers, the Tom Riddle gravestone at Greyfriars Kirkyard, Victoria Street (Diagon Alley inspiration), George Heriot's School (Hogwarts), and Edinburgh Castle's witch trials history. The tour ends with a view of the Balmoral Hotel, where Rowling finished the final book. Children under 5 accompanied by an adult join free; the tour lasts around 2 hours and covers steep hills and narrow streets.Is it for me?This tour works well if you're a Harry Potter fan who wants to understand the real Edinburgh behind the books without arranging your own route — the guide connects specific locations and local history directly to Rowling's life and the series, which is what makes the 2 hours feel complete rather than scattered.
Hampden Park Stadium & Museum Tour GlasgowYou get a guided walk through Hampden Park's changing rooms and tunnel with the Hampden Roar playing as you go, then move into the museum to see the original Scottish Cup and watch legendary goals on film. The tour includes a shot at goal with speed measurement and access to the cup presentation stairs. It wraps in 2 hours and ends inside the museum, so you make your own way back from there.Is it for me?Book this if you want to see inside a working football stadium and Scotland's oldest trophy without arranging separate transport or tickets — the guide handles the route and timing, so you just show up and follow along for 2 hours.
Edinburgh: Alnwick Castle, Holy Island & Northumbria Day TripYou travel south from Edinburgh in an air-conditioned coach with a knowledgeable driver-guide providing live commentary. You'll walk Lindisfarne Priory on Holy Island and sample monk-brewed mead, spend time at Alnwick Castle and its poison gardens, and stop at Flodden Field battlefield if time permits. Admission to castle and gardens is optional and purchased on the day; the tour handles all transport and timing around tides.Is it for me?Book this if you want to see Alnwick Castle and Holy Island without arranging your own transport or worrying about tidal access times — the fixed schedule and tide knowledge built into the itinerary is what makes both stops possible in one day from Edinburgh.
Edinburgh: Loch Ness & Inverness 2-Day Highlands TourYou travel north from Edinburgh through the Cairngorms with a driver-guide and small group, stop at Pitlochry or Dunkeld based on what interests you, spend a night in Inverness with breakfast included, then cruise Loch Ness and explore Urquhart Castle and Glencoe before returning. The route is flexible, both major attractions are paid for upfront, and the group stays under 16 people, which keeps the pace human.Is it for me?Book this if you want the main Highlands attractions in two days without arranging transport, accommodation, or attraction tickets separately — the small-group format and included guide mean you're not navigating logistics or following a rigid schedule, just traveling at a pace that lets you actually see the landscape.
Edinburgh: Outlander Castles & Palaces Day TourYou travel in an air-conditioned vehicle with a knowledgeable driver-guide who provides live commentary on the Outlander filming locations and Scottish history. The day includes stops at Culross village, Linlithgow Palace, Blackness Castle, Doune Castle, and either Midhope Castle (summer) or the Forth Bridges (winter), with a lunch break built in. Arrive 15 minutes before departure.Is it for me?Book this if you're an Outlander fan who wants to see the main filming locations without renting a car or planning the route yourself — the fixed itinerary covers five major sites and handles all the driving, so you just show up and follow the guide.
Edinburgh to St Andrews: Day Trip with Fife Villages & Photo StopsYou’ll cross iconic bridges from Edinburgh into Fife, stroll through fishing villages like Anstruther, and get free time to explore St Andrews’ winding streets and university charm. With a local guide sharing stories along the way and plenty of photo stops—including Falkland—this day trip offers small surprises and real moments you’ll remember long after you’re home.
Edinburgh: Alnwick Castle & Bamburgh Day Trip with GuideYou visit two major castles in one day—Bamburgh in Northumberland and Alnwick in England—with a local guide handling the driving, the history, and the route. Transport, guide commentary, and an air-conditioned coach are included; you handle your own lunch stops and any castle entry fees beyond what's covered. Expect to be out from morning until early evening, with the drive itself being part of the experience rather than dead time.Is it for me?A good fit if you want to see two major castles and the Scottish-English border region in one day without driving yourself or piecing together public transport connections. The full-day format—morning until early evening—is what makes visiting both castles and hearing the guide's history of the region possible in a single trip.
Edinburgh: Literary Pub Tour with Actors & Old Town TavernsYou’ll trail behind two quick-witted actors through Edinburgh’s winding streets and storied pubs, laughing at their duels and learning odd facts you won’t find in guidebooks. Expect plenty of banter, local color, and maybe even a new toast or two by night’s end.
Glasgow: Gothic Walking Tour at Night with Storytelling HostYou’ll walk Glasgow’s nighttime streets with a seasoned local host who brings ghost stories, body snatchers, and infamous murderers to life. Expect laughter mixed with chills as you explore hidden corners and hear tales you won’t find in guidebooks. If you’re up for some grown-up humor and real city legends after dark, this is your kind of evening.
Loch Ness Tour from Glasgow: Glen Coe & Fort AugustusYou travel by minibus from Glasgow through Scotland's most recognizable landscapes—Loch Lomond, Glen Coe, and Loch Ness—with a local guide who knows the history and the stops. The optional boat cruise on Loch Ness is weather-dependent, and you'll have time to explore Fort Augustus on foot. Transport, guide, and route planning are all included; you return to Glasgow in the evening.Is it for me?Right for travelers based in Glasgow without a rental car who want to see the Highlands' most iconic valleys and lochs in one day. Expect a full day out—that's what fits Loch Lomond, Glen Coe, and Loch Ness into a single trip, and the small-group format means you're not crammed into a coach.
Edinburgh Gin: Classic Tour & Tasting in Old TownYou spend ninety minutes in a working gin distillery learning how botanicals shape flavour, then taste three different gins with proper mixers and garnishes. The Flavour Arch—where you smell and taste the actual ingredients—is the part people remember. Entry, welcome drink, and all three tastings are included, plus access to the shop and bar if you want to stay longer.Is it for me?Right for gin drinkers who want to understand how flavour actually builds, not just taste spirits. The ninety minutes are paced for learning and tasting together, which means you're not rushed but also not standing around between pours.
Edinburgh: Big Bus Hop-On Hop-Off 24 & 48 Hour ToursYou board at Waterloo Place and choose your route: the City Tour hits Edinburgh Castle, the Royal Mile, Holyrood Palace and the National Museum; the 48-hour option adds the Britannia Tour to the Royal Yacht. Hop off whenever you want, listen to audio commentary in nine languages, and ride the open-top deck for views of the castle and Georgian streets. The whole thing is wheelchair accessible, dogs travel free, and you're back on the next bus whenever you're ready.Is it for me?Best for travelers who want to see Edinburgh's main sights without committing to a guided group or fixed schedule — you hop off when something catches your eye and catch the next bus when you're ready to move on.
