As someone who’s lived in central Scotland all her life, I’ve noticed that tourists often base themselves in Edinburgh — for good reason.
The capital city offers a brilliant slice of Scotland, with plenty of historic sites, interesting museums, and scenic vistas.
No country is just its capital, though, and there’s plenty to explore beyond Edinburgh itself. I’ve taken full advantage of the country’s well-connected train system by going on countless last-minute day trips to historic hubs and quaint towns.
Stirling, Glasgow, Dundee, and St Andrews are my four favorite places to visit from the Scottish capital, and they’re all easily accessible by bus and train.
Stirling is home to many historic highlights
Stirling is about an hour’s train ride from Edinburgh, with a round-trip ticket costing £12. Although it’s less of a tourist hot spot, I actually think it has a better castle.
Both fortresses are scenically perched on a hill, but Stirling Castle is less crowded and includes a guided tour in the ticket price. I also find the interior much more interesting.
Another historic site worth exploring in Stirling is the Old Town Jail, which is about a 10-minute walk from the castle. The “performance tours,” featuring actors dressed in period-appropriate outfits, really bring the darkly fascinating history of the Victorian jail to life.
Also within walking distance of Stirling Castle is the Settle Inn, Stirling’s oldest alehouse. Dating back to the 1730s, it’s the perfect place to experience Scottish pub culture, offering a friendly and cozy atmosphere in which to enjoy a whisky.
I also love visiting The Wallace Monument, which is a short bus ride from Stirling’s center. The towering Gothic monument is full of history about William Wallace — Scotland’s freedom-fighting hero.
There’s a 246-step climb up a spiral staircase to reach the top, but the panoramic view is worth the effort.
Glasgow has the coolest art scene
Glasgow is Edinburgh’s friendly rival, and although they’re only an hour apart by train, they feel completely different. Edinburgh is traditional and tartan-trimmed, whereas Glasgow is contemporary and quirky. A round-trip ticket from Edinburgh costs £16.80.
I recommend walking the mural trail, which is a route highlighting Glasgow’s street art. The pieces are wonderfully eclectic, and even if you don’t do the full trail, you’ll likely pass a few while wandering the city.
Glasgow also has many museums, including Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum and the Tenement House, which is a time capsule of an early 20th-century Glaswegian home.
For a more unusual option, head to the Sharmanka Kinetic Theatre, which is an art museum full of mechanical figures that perform kinetic shows a few times throughout the day.
And look out for the Duke of Wellington statue outside the Gallery of Modern Art. In comedic Scottish fashion, locals often accessorize the Duke by placing orange traffic cones on his head.
Dundee is a hidden cultural gem
Dundee is less than an hour and a half away from Edinburgh by train.
Although it didn’t always have much to offer tourists in the way of museums and attractions, that’s changed over the past decade.
Just minutes from the train station is the V&A Museum, which opened in 2018. The striking building holds a permanent Scottish design gallery, alongside ever-changing exhibitions — I once visited a fascinating one on the history of tartan.
My favorite Dundee attraction is the RRS Discovery, the ship that first took Robert Falcon Scott to Antarctica in 1901. The Discovery was built in Dundee and is now docked right next to the V&A. There’s an interesting exhibition center, but the best part is setting foot on the ship itself.
To learn more about Dundee’s history, head to The McManus art gallery and museum, and for a more in-depth look at the city’s once-thriving jute industry, visit Verdant Works Museum.
St Andrews is a charming seaside town
St Andrews doesn’t have a train station, so you either need to take a direct bus from Edinburgh for about £10, or a £10 train to nearby Leuchars and then a short bus ride from there. Either way, the journey shouldn’t take longer than two hours.
St Andrews is right on the sea, and West Sands beach makes for a lovely walk, even in the winter months. Visitors can also explore St Andrews Castle and St Andrews Cathedral; both buildings are now ruins, but what remains is fascinating and picturesque.
The town is also famous for golf, with the Old Course — which is regularly used for the Open — being the world’s oldest golf course.
I’m not a golf lover, but I still think the course, which features a medieval-era bridge, makes a nice walk … particularly with a Fisher & Donaldson fudge doughnut in hand.
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