10+ Best Day Trips From Edinburgh (by a local)

Last Updated on 25th August 2024 by Sophie Nadeau

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There’s so much to see and do in the enchanting capital city, Edinburgh, that it’s hard to imagine yourself spending time anywhere else. But trust us when we say, it’s worth taking yourself on a day trip (or five) beyond the city boundaries. To make planning a bit easier, we’ve compiled a list of our top suggestions for the best day trips from Edinburgh and how to get there…

Getting Around Scotland

Scotland is well connected by an extensive road and rail transport network system. Although some areas are a longer journey to reach, there are pockets of amazing places that are easy to get to and from within a day if you’re wanting to see as much of Scotland’s beauty as possible.

With multiple options for trains, buses (and boats to the Isles!) you don’t have to rely on having your own transport. That being said, if you do have a chance to use your own transport, it’s definitely worth it when venturing further up into the Highlands. Check car rental comparison prices here.

Guided day excursions from Edinburgh

If you’re the kind of traveller who likes all of the details taken care of for them, then the good news is that there’s a myriad of guided excursions you can book from the city, including to must-see destinations, as well as more off the beaten path attractions. Here are some of the best guided tours from Edinburgh:

• From Edinburgh: Loch Ness, Glencoe, Highlands & Ben Nevis
• From Edinburgh: Hogwarts Express and Scottish Highlands Tour
• From Edinburgh: Holy Island, Alnwick Castle & Northumbria
• From Edinburgh: “Outlander” Filming Locations Explorer Tour
• Hadrian’s Wall & Roman Britain 1-Day Tour from Edinburgh

Best Day Trips From Edinburgh

Edinburgh has long since been referred to as a “fairytale city”. Rich with history and culture, its characterised by cobbled alleyways, stunning architecture, and mesmerising landscapes of volcanoes that erupted over 400 million years ago.

If it’s your first time in the city, do be sure to check out our suggestions for how to spend one day in Edinburgh, how to spend 3 days in Edinburgh, and the best-hidden gems of Edinburgh.

However there’s so much beyond the city that is just waiting to be explored, from charming seaport towns and long stretches of beach, dramatic skies, to vast rugged landscapes that will leave you feeling as though you’re in the Lord of the Rings movies, there’s no shortage of day trip destinations to take from Edinburgh!

Plus, if it’s raining during your time in Edinburgh itself, chances are that it won’t be raining in some of these nearby destinations…

Walk out to Cramond Island

Starting off close to the city with Cramond Island, a tidal island nestled in the Firth of Forth, and when the tide is low you can walk over to it and explore its hidden gems!

Uninhabited and filled with hidden beaches and a gorgeous forest, this small island is littered with concrete bunkers that were used in the war. Like much of Scotland, you can wild camp on the island, but be aware that once the tide goes in, you won’t be able to cross over until it comes back out again.

Just off of Cramond Beach, this island makes for the perfect escape from the city and a great way to spend your day!

• Bus: Lothian bus number 41
• Car: approximately 20 minutes drive

South Queensferry

Located just to the west of Edinburgh, “The Ferry” is a beautiful town that boasts of stunning views of the River Forth and the Forth Bridges that cross over to Fife. It is absolutely worth visiting, making for the perfect place to spend the afternoon on a sunny day!

Whether it’s strolling along the Shore Walk, admiring the iconic Forth Bridge’s, or taking a boat tour down the river and visiting Inchcolm Island, the town is abundant with things to do.

The quickest way to reach South Queensferry is actually by public transport! But here are the available options for your trip:

• Train: 20 minutes from either Haymarket or Waverly railway stations, to Dalmeny Station
• Bus: Lothian bus number 43 takes approximately 50 minutes (£1.80 for a single ticket)
• Car: 30 minutes drive

Rosslyn  Chapel

One of the more magical day trips you can take from Edinburgh if you want to enjoy the Scottish countryside served with a side of history is that of Roslin. The quaint settlement of Roslin can be found seven miles from the Scottish capital.

Just outside of Edinburgh lies the stunning 15th-century building, Rosslyn Chapel. Known for its intricate stone carvings and as the setting for the pivotal plot moment in the Da Vinci Code film! This gorgeous chapel gets a lot of hype, but it’s completely worth shouting about.

Roslin itself is a charming and traditionally Scottish village, with plenty to do and see. You can immerse yourself in nature and take a stroll through Roslin Glen, or get cosy in The Original Rosslyn Inn and enjoy a hot chocolate!

Easy to get to from the city centre, everything in the village (including the chapel) is in close proximity to each other, it’s the perfect way to spend an afternoon away from the hustle and bustle of citylife.

• Bus: Lothian bus number 37 from city centre
• Car: approximately a 30 minute drive
• Guided tour: This one will take you to Rosslyn Chapel, Stirling Castle & Dunfermline Abbey

Glasgow

Glasgow is the largest city in all of Scotland! It’s a vibrant hub of diversity, and rich with art, history and culture. Because of its size it has much more of a ‘big city’ vibe than Edinburgh, and the things to see are a little more spread out.

Similar to Edinburgh, the city has some magnificent architecture! Although the city has had to rebuild and transform itself again after the WW2 bombings, meaning it has a blend of historic and modern buildings throughout.

Abundant with art galleries and various types of museums, the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum alone would take you a day to explore! There’s many green spaces, the Botanic Gardens, cosy pubs and the beautiful Glasgow Cathedral to visit.

Glasgow also boasts of an amazing music scene with many events happening each week, it’s easy to spend the night dancing away and you’d still be able to get the last train home to Edinburgh to sleep!

• Train: either from Waverley or Haymarket takes 45 minutes (be sure to get this one as there are trains which take a longer route) there are trains every 15 minutes running until 11:45pm at night
• Bus: from St Andrew Square Bus Station, the MegaBus takes approx 1 hour 30 minutes
• Car: approximately 1 hour

Dunbar

The sunniest place in all of Scotland, this gorgeous little coastal town is an absolute must-see if you get the chance when in Edinburgh.

Famed for its nearby nature reserve and fishing port, Dunbar is a stunning destination for those who want to experience the calm of Scottish living. While visiting you can see the birthplace of naturalist John Muir, pop into cute charity shops and boutiques or grab a fish & chips and sit by the sea!

Like a lot of Scottish towns, Dunbar also has a golf course where players can enjoy a scenic coastal view while putting the ball.

Dunbar is really quick to get to from Edinburgh! This quaint gem of a town makes for the perfect day trip to the coast, but there’s lot’s to explore so make sure you give yourself the whole day to visit.

• Train: from either Waverley or Haymarket the train takes 26 minutes
• Bus: East Coast bus X7 from St Andrews Square, 1 hour 8 minutes
• Car: driving takes 45 minutes

John Muir Country Park

Named after the famous naturalist and geologist who was born in Dunbar, John Muir Country Park is truly a treasure of nature that you won’t want to miss when visiting Scotland.

Vast stretches of golden sands, with grassy sand dunes and surrounded by emerald green forests, this gorgeous country park is home to a wide variety of flora and fauna. A great destination for nature lovers and those who like long walks, visitors can also enjoy wild camping in the park!

Along Bellhaven Bay there’s the ‘Bridge to Nowhere‘ where at high tide the bridge stands with both sides lost in the water (this beautiful sight is the most photographed in East Lothian).

As mentioned just before, you can easily get to the park via Dunbar (details of how to get there are the same).

Gullane Beach

Imagine soft golden sand stretching out as far as the eye can see and sparkling clear waters with silhouettes of blue mountains in the distance… your first thoughts are probably not Scotland right?

Gullane Beach is truly beautiful! It’s also so big that it never feels too busy, even in the peak of Summer months. Whether it’s soaking up the sunshine and taking a refreshing dip in the North sea, or walking along and admiring the dramatic Scottish skies in Winter, it makes for the perfect destination all year round.

This gem of a beach is located on the east coast of Scotland, not too far away from Edinburgh and it makes for the perfect place to spend half or even a whole day if the weather is good. The best ways to get there are:

• Bus: East Coast bus number 124 from city centre will take 1 hour 15 minutes
• Car: There’s a big car park at the beach, driving there from Edinburgh takes approx. 40 minutes

Pitlochry

The best place to live your countryside dreams, Pitlochry is one of the most beautiful destinations to visit in all of Scotland!

Home to stunning landscapes with breathtaking views, with fresh clean air and some of the cosiest places to drink and dine in. Whether you want to do a big hike up Ben Vrackie, go fishing, explore the local church and museum or visit one of the two distilleries, there’s a lot to love about this charming little town.

• Bus: usually there is 1 change, but the journey time is 2 hours and you can get a MegaBus
• Train: approximately 2 hours from Waverley Station
• Car: drive is 1 hour 30 minutes

North Berwick

A beautiful seaside town abundant with things to see and do, North Berwick boasts of gorgeous coastal scenery and the Scottish Seabird Centre!

The best thing to do when visiting North Berwick is to walk along the Berwickshire Coastal Path, where you can see Bass Rock (a volcanic plug that’s home to a large colony of gannets) and walk along to Tantallon Castle ruins and discover the rich history of this mid-14th century fortress.

The town itself has many cosy places to grab a bite to eat or an afternoon drink, and it also has the National Museum of Flight for any enthusiasts of air transport!

North Berwick is especially vibrant in the sunshine, but it’s a great spot to visit any time of the year and you can definitely make a full day trip out of it. The best ways to get there are:

• Train: from Waverley or Haymarket stations it’s just 30 minutes
• Bus: there are a few options on the East Coast bus service, taking approximately 1 hour 15 minutes
• Car: driving takes 50 minutes

Visit a Distillery!

If you want to taste whisky, there really is no better place than its country of origin, Scotland. And what better way to try it than the very place that it was made?

Whisky is Scotland’s biggest and most important export, there are close to 150 active distilleries in the country, with each of them being unique in their approach to creating the golden malt.

Experience the magic of whisky making and take yourself to a distillery for a guided tour to see behind the scenes a production that is so rooted in tradition and practise it will blow you away! You can also find whisky to purchase which is only exclusively available at the distillery itself.

There are many far and wide, so we have compiled a list of our top suggestions of ones worth visiting just outside of Edinburgh (most of which you should be able to find public transport to):

• Dewar’s Aberfeldy Distillery
• Glenkinchie Distillery
• The Glenturret Distillery
• Holyrood Distillery (this one is actually in central Edinburgh)
• Tullibardine Distillery

St Andrews

St Andrews is a stunning coastal town northeast of Edinburgh, known by many for its prestigious university and golf course. In fact, many people claim that it’s actually the birthplace of golf!

This coastal treasure is full of historic wonder, admiring the architecture throughout, you can also stroll along a scenic path that will take you to the 13th century castle ruins that sit just above the water.

The town also has some stunning beaches surrounding, making it perfect for walking, surfing or simply just sitting with a picnic and breathing in the fresh Scottish air. St Andrews is also abundant with cosy pubs and cafes and plenty of boutique shops to have a nosy in.

If you get a chance to visit, you won’t be disappointed by this charming town, it’s recommended to spend at least a day here as there’s a lot to explore. Best way to travel to St Andrews from Edinburgh is:

• Train: from Waverley or Haymarket takes approximately 1 hour 30 minutes
• Bus: Stagecoach X59 from city centre or the bus station will take 2 hours 15 minutes
• Car: driving takes 1 hour 30 minutes

Loch Lomond

Loch Lomond is particularly special because it is the largest stretch of inland water in all of Britain and its surroundings are truly breathtaking. Truly an unforgettable experience, this is a must-see top spot for your day trips from Edinburgh!

Part of the Trossachs National Park, this destination offers an array of nature trails that range from easy to slightly more difficult hiking abilities. The most popular trek is that of Ben Lomond, this Scottish mountain is 974 meters high and offers stunning panoramic views of the loch and highlands beyond.

Also a popular location for water sports, you can grab a paddle board an enjoy a tranquil float along the fresh mineral rich waters or for the thrill seekers its possible to water ski.

Immerse yourself in the beauty of Scottish nature. The easiest way to get there is:

• Train: it’s not direct, but you’ll need to get a train to Glasgow and then a bus which takes approximately 2 hours 15 minutes
• Car: driving takes 1 hour 50 minutes and theres a huge car park just beside the loch

Fife Coastal Path

Walk along the gorgeous coastal path opposite Edinburgh, offering you views of the capital city from the other side of the River Forth.

The path is nice and easy, its split into sections so you can choose how much of a hike you want to do. Along the way you’ll find informative signs that guide you, while also offering insight into the local wildlife that surrounds you, with scenery ranging from the coast, wooded forests and quaint little towns.

A great way to spend the afternoon (and its free!) you can take a picnic, or treat yourself and grab a bite to eat in one of the local towns of Fife.

The best place to start the coastal path is probably from Silver Sands beach, you can get to it from Edinburgh by:

• Train: it takes 45 minutes and you get off at Aberdour
• Car: driving takes approximately 40 minutes
• Guided tour: You can book this tour to St Andrews & Fife’s Fishing Villages

The Borders

Discover the rolling hills, rugged coastline and mesmerising views of the Scottish borders! This beautiful stretch between England and Scotland is filled with historic treasures, gorgeous Scottish towns and landscapes that are sure to leave you inspired.

Each spot in the borders is unique and full of character, here are just a few of our favourite places in the borders to visit (most are possible by train and bus too):

• Peebles
• Melrose
• Kelso
• Jedburgh
• Hawick

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