Ultimate 5 Day Itinerary in Scotland
There has to be something so special for me to want to come back and visit a city again and let me tell you Edinburgh is a place I would come back to no questions asked. There is something so magical about the medieval esque city that will likely draw you back to visit again soon.
So cheesy, but one of my favorite shows is called Reign which details Mary Queen of Scotlad’s reign with the lumineers soundtrack soooo naturally I have to go to Glasgow next spring to see them.
My friends and I were not planning on visiting Scotland, but due to missing all our flights we ended up landing in Scotland on a whim, so yes that means nothing was planned. I learned a lot about places I want to see next time and places I was so happy we made it to. We visites the last week of November so it was a bit chilly and the days were very short so it was hard to fit a lot in a day.
The Best time to Visit
May is the best month with warmer weather, less crowds, and longer days. September and October are also beautiful months to see the entirety of the country.
Best Way to Get Around
If your itinerary consists of staying in Edinburgh and Glasgow then I would recommend relying on public transportation. There is a train to get to Glasgow from Edinburgh. The AirLink bus is also so easy to navigate and is right outside the airport which takes you directly into the city for 5 pounds.
If you plan on visiting the highlands or Glenco then I would recommend looking into renting a car. We rented one through National and it was a very easy process. I also highly recommend getting the full insurance because driving on the opposite side is daunting at first.
The last way is to go with a tour group with trip advisor, get your guide, or any other tour company. We did talk to a girl that did it and she said she wished she rented a car. The freedom to go where you want especially when you enter the isle of skye makes it worth it. If you split with friends it makes it even more worth it to just rent a car.
Where to Stay
We stayed in two hostels and they both were a little brutal in terms of getting no sleep. If I were to stay in a hostel again I’d stay at Castle Rock Hostel. It’s right near old town and walkable to pretty much everything.
I would stay near old town no matter what and if you gave a larger budget then a fellow backpacker then I would recommend:
ibis Edinburgh Centre South Bridge - Royal Mile
If you’re looking for an affordable option near the Isle of Skye I found a quaint hostel Skye Basecamp. We had a private 3 bed room and our own bathroom for around 30 pounds a person.
Alright now for the fun part… what to actually do once you arrive in Scotland! This is based on having 5 full days and doesn’t include travel time.
new college
Day 1: Edinburgh
Spend the morning getting coffee at milkman
Walk to Edinburgh Castle and explore the inside. The cannon goes off on the hour so look out for that experience. It took us about 2 hours to see everything
Walk the Royal Mile and Princess Street
Head to new college for some photos
Since we went in December there were Christmas markets near the Scottish Monument.
Walk up to Calton Hill park to watch the sunset
Eat at a local pub, we ate at the Piper’s Rest
End the night with a pub crawl and enjoy live music
jolly judge
the devil’s advocate
the last drop
bow bar
Day 2: Dean Village and Arthur’s seat
Go to the quaint town of Dean Village and grab breakfast at Laura’s kitchen
Walk along the river of Leith
After taking photos and exploring head to arthur’s seat for a short hike and incredible view! The entire park of Holyrood is so pretty and if you have seen the new one day on netflix then pack a picnic and drinks!
Day 3: Lochness
Head to the airport and rent a car from there and start your road trip by stopping in Dunkeld
Hike the Hermitage walk
Visit the Highland animal park
Urquhart Castle is another noteworthy stop
Get dinner in Inverness and drive towards the isle of skye
Stay at Basecamp hostel
Urquhart Castle
Day 4: Isle of Skye
mealt falls
Get breakfast at Cafe Arriba and explore Portree
Hike the Old Man of Storr 3.4 mile loop
Drive 20 minutes to Mealt Falls and Kilt Rock
Drive to Quiraing for another photographer’s location dream. It’s another hike around 4 miles through the most insane dramatic cliffs and one of the best views of the isle of skye
Drive towards Glencoe and spend the night there
old man of storr
Day 5: Glencoe
Go to a viewpoint to see the Harry Potter train
Hike lost valley trail 3.9 mile trail
White cottage and & Buachaille Etive Mòr is the most iconic photography spot with the dramatic mountain and cute cottage in the background
Loch Leven is a great place for a picnic and either more stunning views or a serene nature walk into Gelncoe village
Drive the Loch Etive and Skyfall Road this is where the James Bond movie Skyfall was filmed
5 days is enough to see a lot of Scotland but ideally 7-10 days would cover even more ground. If you are short on time like we were then follow this itinerary based on what we did, local recommendations from people we met along the way, and prior research.
If You Have More Time
Fairy Glen in isle of skye
Fairy Pools
Niest Point Viewpoint
St Andrews
Glasgow
Ben Nevis
