Currently US citizens can travel to Scotland. So where exactly should you travel in Scotland. I have outlined a total of five cities and what to do while visiting.

If your next adventure needs an entry, I believe Scotland should rank highly on your list. Scotland has many great places to visit in the UK. Scotland should provide a memorable vacation. The Scots have many historical attractions, countless cultural experiences, and other fun things to do. 

Travel to Scotland invokes imagery of medieval castles, Scotland Yard, and the many loches.

Scotland is a relatively compact country with a population of around 5 million. The size is a large part of the appeal. The distance from fantastic sightseeing opportunities is always within reach. No matter which direction you travel in Scotland, there will be exciting places to go.

Cultural Events

If you are interested in world-class cultural events, you should head to Edinburgh. The country’s capital has many significant festivals. One of the most admired festivals is the Edinburgh Fringe. Here you can partake in one of the world’s leading art festivals. The festivities take place nearby the majestic Edinburgh Castle. 

A few other locations to consider are Glasgow, Aberdeen, and Inverness. Explore some of the country’s top museums and art galleries in Glasgow.  Aberdeen and Inverness are smaller cities located in the north. These cities are not without their charm and make excellent bases for exploration. 

The must-stop locations in the north include the magnificent Scottish Highlands and other natural attractions such as Loch Ness and Loch Lomond. 

Note: Due to current global health and safety, some businesses may be temporarily closed.

1. Edinburgh, Scotland Travel

If time is short and you want to absorb what one city offers on your Scottish travel, make it Edinburgh. The well-preserved architecture in the country’s capital is home to several different periods of history. Edinburgh Castle and the unbelievable shop-lined Royal Mile are great representations of medieval times.

The more recent New Town area was built in the 18th century. This newer part of the ancient city has elegant Georgian town homes. Walk around the Grassmarket, an attractive pedestrian-friendly public square, as you see what the cafes, shops, and galleries have to offer.

Edinburgh is an important cultural destination. The city hosts numerous popular events and festivals throughout the year. One of the largest arts festivals globally is the famous Edinburgh Fringe Festival.  This festival draws huge crowds, as do the Edinburgh International Book Festival and the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo,

Other fun things include visiting the Royal Yacht Britannia. Once the Queen’s yacht and now a fascinating museum that allows visitors to tour the State Apartments and Royal Bedrooms. Book a Royal Deck Tea Room table for an excellent high tea experience for a proper British treat

2. Glasgow, Scotland – Travel

The city of Glasgow is located on the River Clyde on Scotland’s west coast.  

In the last few decades, Glasgow reinvented itself as a major European cultural center. They have created many excellent museums, art galleries, and festivals. The many parks make foot travel enjoyable. The pedestrian-friendly streets also help tremendously.

Make sure to stop in at Glasgow Cathedral and the famous Glasgow School of Art while walking.

When you finish exploring the city center, head down to the waterfront. Here, you will find the Riverside Museum. The Riverside Museum is a modern facility focusing on the history of transportation in the city. 

The Riverside Museum will keep you in awe through its extensive collections of vintage steam engines, trams, buses, carriages, cars, and maritime vessels, along with an authentic reproduction of the 1930s shops and homes.

Glasgow cultural activities have also expanded into the theater arts. Enjoy a play at the King’s Theatre. Partake in a bit of opera at the home of the Scottish Opera in the Theatre Royal. If a classical concert is more your pace, stop at the Royal Scottish Orchestra Concert Hall. 

The Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum is famous for its local art displays. The gallery has an excellent Charles Rennie Mackintosh collection and the Glasgow Style Gallery. Its diverse group includes works by Van Gogh and Salvador Dali.

3. Scottish Highlands 

In my travel guide I must suggest the magnificent Scottish Highlands are a visual treat. Few travel destinations have otherworldly landscapes. The Scottish highlands stretch from the attractive garden city of Inverness on the country’s rugged east coast to John O’Groats in the north. 

The natural beauty is where you’ll find some of the most romantic scenery anywhere. Many movies and TV shows have used the Scottish highlands as their backdrop. Including the Outlander series. 

Begin in Inverness, where you can explore the Scottish Highlands. Then head straight to nearby Loch Ness. Famous for its monster, this lake is part of Glen More. The dramatic ruins of Urquhart Castle are located on a natural fault line. 

Marvel into one of the country’s most impressive feats of engineering. If you are in for an adventure, spend a few hours sightseeing by boat.

The quaint coastal town of Dornoch is a popular place to visit. This is a great place to stop for its old castle ruins and cathedral. Here you can find Aviemore, which is famous as a ski destination in the winter. 

The region is renowned for the hiking and biking adventures available in the Cairngorms National Park in warmer weather. Here you can have great outdoor activities, including sea kayaking, whitewater rafting, gorge walking, and fishing. 

There are many Scottish Highland tours available. The excellent idea is to skip the tours and start driving on your adventure along the North Coast 500. This is a great tourist route in the best of the Highlands and other great places in Scotland.

4. St. Andrews

One of the world’s top golf destinations can be found at St. Andrews. Golfers from around the globe make the pilgrimage to St. Andrews. They stop here for the prestige of playing the world’s oldest golf course. This golf course boasts seven classic links courses, including the par-72 Old Course. 

Here golfers bask in the chance to play where so many golf greats have teed off before them. 

It’s also one of the most scenic golf courses. The impressive scenery includes a stretch of rocky coastline. The charismatic old Clubhouse of the Royal and Ancient Golf Club is one you must see. Founded in 1754, this is the world’s oldest golf club.  

Its popularity as a “golf mecca” makes this destination challenging to enter. Try to reserve your tee time six months in advance to avoid disappointment.

Be sure also to visit the nearby British Golf Museum when traveling through Scotland. This modern facility is a shrine to the greats who’ve played the St. Andrews’ courses. Here historians detail the history of the sport.

Fortunately for us non-golfers, there are plenty of other fun things to do in St. Andrews. St. Andrews is also well known as a university town. 

Spend time exploring the old buildings associated with the University of St. Andrews. Admire the well-preserved medieval architecture as you wander the university grounds. It is one of the top free things to do, and let’s face it better than walking around on a golf course.

The ruins of St. Andrews Castle are a must visit before packing up and heading home. The castle sits on a rocky hill overlooking a small beach called Castle Sands and the adjoining North Sea. The most exemplary surviving carved fragments from the castle are displayed in the center.

5 Ayrshire: The Burns Heritage Trail

Travel to Scotland would be incomplete without visiting Ayrshire. Ayrshire is located on the shores of the Firth of Clyde. Here you can get lost in the castles and history of this south-western part of Scotland.

A super way to experience a little insight into Scotland’s favorite poet, Robert Burns, is by visiting the Burns Heritage Trail. Start in Alloway on the outskirts of Ayr. Here at the Robert Burns Museum, you’ll witness a fascinatingly well preserved thatched cottage. The cottage is where the poet was born and remained for most of his childhood.

The tour leads you to the town of Dumfries in the south. This is where you can find Robert Burns House. He remained here for the final four years of his life until he died at the young age of 36 in 1796. You can find his final resting place at St. Michael’s Churchyard, which is a short walk away.

Please leave a comment below if you have visited these locations or plan to in the near future. I would love to hear your input and look forward to hearing your stories.

If Scotland isn’t what you are looking forward to in a destination; take a look at my suggestions for the best summer travel destinations in 2021.