Travel to Scotland

Scotland is a beautiful country with a rich history. If you want to travel to Scotland, you’ll need to make all of your travel arrangements ahead of time and plan your itinerary. Bring your passport and other necessities, and check if you need a visa to enter the country. See a variety of the sights in Scotland – the castles, the museums, the Highland countryside – and try to interact with the local culture to make the most of your trip.

Steps

Planning and Packing

1. Check the weather. Scotland is known for its unpredictable weather. In the summer, it might be sunny and beautiful one day and rainy the next. The winter is typically quite cold due to the northern climate. Check the weather forecast for the period of time you’ll be traveling in Scotland so you’ll have an idea of what to bring. In any season, it’s usually a good idea to bring an umbrella or rain jacket.
   • In the winter months, you’ll want to dress warmly. Bring clothes that you can layer in case the weather varies. And be sure to pack a warm winter coat.
   • In the summer, you can usually dress for warmer weather with short sleeves. But you may need a light jacket for the evenings or on rainy days.
2. Plan your itinerary. Once you’ve decided when you’ll be traveling to Scotland, make a list of all the places you would like to go and try to decide how long you’d like to spend in each place. Perhaps you’ll spend three days in Edinburgh, one day in Inverness, two days in the Highlands, and two days in Glasgow. Whatever you want to do, it’s up to you. But you have to decide first so that you can start searching for accommodations.
   • Consider visiting a variety of locations in Scotland – the cities and the countryside. There are beautiful castles, breathtaking views, and a lot of history to absorb throughout the entire country.
3. Pack other essential items. Consider bringing your camera, extra batteries and charging cables, phone charger, a power adaptor, and a small daytime bag to carry with you while you are out exploring. You may want to bring some of your favorite snacks, a book to read on the plane, and any bathroom accessories you can’t live without.
   • Remember that Scotland uses the same electrical outlet style as the rest of Great Britain, so you’ll need an adaptor to plug in your electronic devices.
   • Some devices (like hairdryers, hair straighteners, etc.) may also require a voltage converter.
4. Prepare your phone and finances. You should call all of your banks to let them know you’ll be traveling abroad so they don’t restrict your credit card while you are in Scotland. You may also want to check about adding an international plan to your cell phone. Using your phone abroad can get quite expensive if you don’t add the international plan.
   • Also remember that they use the Great Britain Pound (GBP) in Scotland, so you’ll need to use that currency when you are spending cash there. You can withdraw pounds from an ATM in Scotland with your debit card, or you can request some ahead of time from your local bank before you leave. Most banks can order foreign currency for a nominal fee.
5. Bring your passport. When traveling abroad, you’ll definitely need to bring your passport to gain entry in the new country. Your passport should be in good condition and, in most cases, should not expire for at least six months after you plan on leaving Scotland.
   • If you are a citizen of the European Union, you won’t need a visa to visit Scotland. If you are a citizen of another country, you may need a visa – though these are often simply stamps you receive in your passport as you enter the country. Be sure to check visa requirements online before you plan your trip.
   • Keep in mind that these rules could change once the “Brexit” negotiations (which will presumably take Scotland out of the EU) are completed.

Reserving Transportation and Lodging

1. Book your flight. When planning a trip abroad, it’s usually best to make your arrangements at least a month or two ahead of time. This will get you a better price for your fare and give you plenty of time to plan your adventure. Search around for the best rates on websites like kayak.com that compare flights from many different sources.
   • You can also reach Scotland by train, bus, car, or ferry, depending on your departure destination.
   • If you don’t feel like making all of the arrangements yourself, you can always purchase a group package online or pay a travel agent to book all of your travel and lodgings for you.
2. Reserve your accommodations. Search various sites online for places to stay in each location you’ll be visiting. You can check hotels, hostels, bed and breakfasts, or more modern home-away sharing sites like AirBnb. Remember to consider the location of each prospective place; for example, you might want to consider staying in the city center if you won’t have a car or don’t want to deal with the hassle of public transportation.
   • If you’re on a budget, hostels or AirBnb might be the way to go.
   • If you have some extra money to spend, consider hotels in the city center, bed and breakfasts in the country, or even some more exotic accommodations like castles, lighthouses, or brochs.
3. Make travel arrangements between destinations. If you want to really see the country, you should try to visit more than just one location in Scotland. This means that you’ll need to get from place to place. In some cases, it might be easier to take a train (like if you are going from one city to another, Aberdeen to Edinburgh, for example). But much of Scotland consists of small towns separated by long stretches of beautiful countryside that trains don’t necessarily reach. You can research bus routes or consider renting a car for the duration of your stay in Scotland.
4. Check the licensing rules if you'll be driving. As long as you have a valid driver’s license in your own country, you’ll be able to rent a car and drive in Scotland. There are no restrictions on licenses for people who have a valid driver’s license from a country in the European Union. For drivers from all other countries, you can drive in Scotland for up to 12 months with a valid driver’s license from your own country.
   • Remember that in Scotland they drive on the left side of the road. This will take a bit of adjusting initially if you’ve never done this before.

Seeing the Sights

1. Make the most of the cities. All of Scotland’s major cities (Glasgow, Edinburgh, Inverness, and Aberdeen) have much to offer. There are numerous museums, monuments, and iconic historical sights to see in all of the major cities in Scotland.
   • In Edinburgh, you can see the famous Scott Monument, Holyrood Palace, the Scottish National Gallery, the Edinburgh Castle, and the National War Museum.
   • In Glasgow, you can visit the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, the People’s Palace, George Square, Gallery of Modern Art, or the Glasgow Botanic Gardens.
2. Visit some castles. Scotland is dotted with many famous and beautiful castles. Some are mostly just ruins of what once was, while others are still quite intact. Spend some time exploring some of these old historical monuments.
   • Among the most famous are the Edinburgh Castle in Edinburgh, Dunnottar Castle near Aberdeen, Braemar Castle, and Balmoral Castle in the Highlands.
3. Take in the countryside. Venture out into the Scottish countryside to see some of the breathtaking views the country has to offer. There are many lakes, hills, valleys, rivers, and forests to discover.
   • You can explore some of the many lochs (lakes) in the Highland area, including the famous Loch Ness.
   • You can go hiking one of the countless trails through Scottish terrain or climbing up one of the mounds (large hills).
4. Go golfing. Scotland is a very popular destination for golfing vacations and cruises. There are many famous golf courses in Scotland with spectacular views and breathtaking lodgings. Some even have available lodgings in nearby castles (like the famous St. Andrews).
   • If you’re interested in the golf scene in Scotland, check out the Castle Course at St. Andrews, the Royal Aberdeen course, the Kingsbarns, or the PGA Centenary Course at Gleneagles.

Experiencing the Culture

1. Interact with the locals. One of the best ways to experience the culture of a new place is to spend some time interacting with the locals. That way you’ll get to familiarize yourself with the Scottish accent, Scottish slang, and various other mannerisms of the locals. You can compare cultural differences and both learn something new.
   • Scottish people are typically quite friendly and enjoy meeting new people.
   • Try chatting up the person sitting next to you at the bar, or consider asking the person next to you on the bus about the best activities in town.
2. Try the local cuisine. If you travel to Scotland, don’t eat at places that remind you of home. Be a little adventurous and try some traditional Scottish cuisine. Scotland is known for its whisky, seafood, and other meat dishes.
   • The national dish of Scotland is haggis. This is a type of savory pudding made with sheep organs (usually heart, liver, and lungs) mixed with vegetables and spices.
3. Watch some live music. Scotland is famous for its bagpipes and traditional folk music, both of which play a huge part in Scottish culture. Take some time to listen to some live music while you are in Scotland, even if it is just a band playing a gig at a local bar.
   • Try to attend a traditional bagpipe or folk music event while you are in Scotland.

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