The best day trips from Edinburgh
Why leave Edinburgh for a day
Organizingholidays in Edinburghdoes not mean locking yourself in the city. Scotland offers breathtaking landscapes, impressive castles, and coastal towns less than an hour and a half by train or car. This guide selects the 7 best day trips, with instructions on how to get there, what to see, and how much time to dedicate.
1. Rosslyn Chapel (40 minutes)
Why go:the Gothic chapel made famous by Dan Brown's "The Da Vinci Code." Carvings full of Templar and Masonic symbolism.
How to get there:bus 37 from Princes Street (40 minutes, £5 round trip). Or organized tour (£25 with transport).
What to see:the chapel (£10 ticket), the Rosslyn Glen (wooded path with waterfalls), the village of Roslin (The Original Rosslyn Inn pub for lunch).
Recommended duration:3-4 hours.
Tip:book your ticket online on weekends (there's a queue).
2. Stirling Castle (50 minutes by train)
Why go:Stirling Castle is historically more important than Edinburgh (Mary Stuart and James VI were crowned here). View of the Wallace Monument.
How to get there:train from Waverley to Stirling (50 minutes, £15 round trip). Then a 15-minute uphill walk.
What to see:castle (£17 ticket), Wallace Monument (tower dedicated to William Wallace, £10), Holy Rude Church (where James VI was crowned).
Recommended duration:5-6 hours.
Tip:combine the castle and Wallace Monument on the same day (they are a 20-minute walk apart).
3. Loch Lomond (1 hour and 20 minutes by train)
Why go:the first of the great Scottish lochs, just 80 km from Edinburgh. Highland scenery without going too far.
How to get there:train from Waverley to Balloch (1 hour and 20 minutes, £20 round trip). Balloch is on the south shore of the lake.
What to see:lake walk, boat cruise (£12, 1 hour), visit to Balloch Castle (free, park). Kayak or bike rental.
Recommended duration:6-7 hours.
Tip:bring a picnic (restaurants in Balloch are expensive and mediocre).
4. North Berwick (35 minutes by train)
Why go:coastal town with beaches, seabirds (puffins), and the volcanic rock of Berwick Law.
How to get there:train from Waverley to North Berwick (35 minutes, £10 round trip).
What to see:hike up Berwick Law (20 minutes), Seabird Centre (cameras on gannets, entry £8), West Beach, Tantallon Castle (ruins on a cliff, £7).
Recommended duration:5-6 hours.
Tip:if visiting between April and July, book the boat to see the puffins (£25).
5. St Andrews (1 hour and 15 minutes by train + bus)
Why go:the cradle of golf, with the ruined cathedral, the ancient university (where Prince William and Kate Middleton met) and the beach where "Chariots of Fire" was filmed.
How to get there:train from Waverley to Leuchars (1 hour, £15), then bus 99 to St Andrews (15 minutes, £3).
What to see:the ruins of the cathedral (free), the castle (£8), the old golf course (Old Course, you can walk on it for free on Sundays), West Sands beach.
Recommended duration:6-7 hours.
Tip:if you don't play golf, avoid the British Open (July) – the town is overrun.
6. Glasgow (50 minutes by train)
Why go:the second city of Scotland, with world-class museums (free), Victorian architecture, and a vibrant food scene.
How to get there:train from Waverley to Glasgow Queen Street (50 minutes, £15 round trip). Frequency every 15 minutes.
What to see:Kelvingrove Museum (masterpieces of art and natural history, free), Glasgow Cathedral (Gothic, free), Riverside Museum (transport, free), the Merchant City area for lunch.
Recommended duration:6-8 hours.
Tip:Glasgow is larger than Edinburgh, choose 2-3 museums and focus on those.
7. South Queensferry and Forth Bridge (15 minutes by train)
Why go:see the Forth Bridge (UNESCO World Heritage) up close, a masterpiece of Victorian engineering in red iron.
How to get there:train from Waverley to Dalmeny (15 minutes, £7 round trip). Then a 10-minute walk to the village.
What to see:walk along the South Queensferry waterfront, view the bridge from below, cruise under the bridge (£10, 30 minutes), The Hawes Inn pub (where Robert Louis Stevenson wrote).
Recommended duration:3-4 hours (half a day).
Tip:combine with North Berwick on the same day (they are on the same train line).
Quick comparison
| Destination | Travel time (one way) | Transport cost | Suitable for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rosslyn Chapel | 40 min bus | £5 | History, mystery |
| Stirling Castle | 50 min train | £15 | Castles, history |
| Loch Lomond | 1h20 train | £20 | Nature, lake |
| North Berwick | 35 min train | £10 | Sea, birds |
| St Andrews | 1h15 train+bus | £18 | Golf, beach |
| Glasgow | 50 min train | £15 | Museums, city |
| South Queensferry | 15 min train | £7 | Engineering, pub |
FAQ
Can I do more than one excursion in a day?
Only South Queensferry + North Berwick (same train line). The others require a full day each.
Which is the best for families with children?
North Berwick (beach and puffins) or Loch Lomond (nature and boat).
Do I need to book trains in advance?
For Glasgow, Stirling, and North Berwick, just buy the ticket at the station. For Loch Lomond, trains are less frequent, book online for safety.
Are there organized tours?
Yes, companies like Rabbie's and Timberbush offer day tours (from £40 to £70, transport included). Useful if you don't want to drive or use public transport.
Can I rent a car for multiple excursions?
Yes, but parking in Edinburgh is expensive. Rent only for the days of excursions, leave the car in a peripheral parking lot (Park & Ride) and take the bus into the city.
Which excursion is feasible even in the rain?
Glasgow (indoor museums), Stirling Castle (many indoor rooms), Rosslyn Chapel (indoors).
How much does a day of excursion cost on average?
Transport (£15) + entrance fees (£15) + lunch (£12) = about £42 per person.
A piece of Scotland different from the capital
Theholidays in EdinburghThey are immensely enriched with one or two excursions outside the city. Whether you choose the history of Stirling, the nature of Loch Lomond, the sea of North Berwick, or the engineering of the Forth Bridge, each trip will give you a piece of Scotland different from the capital. The advice: dedicate at least one day to an excursion if you have 4 or more days available. And remember that Scottish trains are punctual, scenic, and accept dogs.
For a complete overview of periods, itineraries, budgets, and transportation in the Scottish capital, check out our complete guide to holidays in Edinburgh.
Review date:March 21, 2026