11 Amazing Day Trips From Edinburgh Without a Car

Best Day Trips From Edinburgh Without A Car

As someone who doesn’t drive, I always rely on either public transport or tour companies when on my travels throughout Europe. Sometimes that can be problematic, but thankfully that’s not the case when it comes to Edinburgh. 

The Scottish capital is such a lively, beautiful city (arguably the best city to visit in the UK), and there are also a lot of options when it comes to day trips from Edinburgh- all doable with the many public transportation options out of the city. 

So, in no particular order, let’s take a look at the best day trips you can make from Edinburgh without relying on a car:

1. Loch Ness

🚂 Distance from Edinburgh: 4 hours by train or bus
⭐ Book This Top Guided Day Trip to Loch Ness From Edinburgh

Arguably the number one tourist attraction in all of Scotland is Loch Ness. Famous for being home to Scotland’s mythical sea monster Nessie, this beautiful Loch has been attracting visitors the world over long before the alleged first sighting of Nessie in 1978. 

Sea monsters aside, Loch Ness is a place of absolutely outstanding beauty and is also steeped in history, with several fascinating castles, cairns, and museums located close by. 

🦕 Getting There on Your Own

While you can travel to Loch Ness from Edinburgh via public transport, this will take several hours, so isn’t really advisable for a day trip. If you’ve decided to stay a few days, going by train or bus is an option. You can take a direct train to Inverness, which takes around 3 hours and 30 minutes.

From there, you can catch a local bus to Loch Ness, but be sure to check the schedule in advance since service is quite sporadic. A more budget-friendly option is the Megabus, which takes 3.5 to 4.5 hours to Inverness. From there, a local bus will take you to Loch Ness.

🦕 Take a Tour

For a day trip, I would highly recommend a full day tour to the Loch as well as several other unmissable locations, especially if you’re short on time. 

2. Scottish Highlands

🚂 Distance from Edinburgh: 3 hrs by train or 3 hrs 29 mins by bus. 
⭐ Top Guided Tour to Scottish Highlands From Edinburgh

The Scottish Highlands is renowned to be one of the most beautiful places in the world, and I certainly wouldn’t disagree with that. Full of wildlife, Lochs, and immense beauty, this place is a must when visiting Scotland. 

I have been fortunate enough to visit the Highlands on a few occasions, and I’m always left dumbstruck by the absolute beauty of the scenery on show. Only the Lake District in England comes close in comparison, in my opinion. 

There are plenty of options when it comes to visiting the Scottish Highlands from Edinburgh, but I would absolutely recommend Cairngorms National Park, which is full of amazing natural landscapes. Some of them, I couldn’t even believe I was seeing- they were so beautiful.

Getting There on Your Own

Admittedly a drive through the Cairngorms is the best option, but you can also visit this national park either via public transport or on a tour. 

You can catch a cheap coach from Edinburgh to Aviemore in around three hours, or a slightly more expensive train to Kingussie, both of which are literally the most adorable, charming towns based in the Cairngorms. 

Take a Tour

Most tours from Edinburgh to the Scottish Highlands include a visit to Loch Ness as well, which is a great excuse to visit two fantastic places in one day. This is the #1 Tour I recommend from Edinburgh to the Highlands, and it includes Loch Ness!

3. Glasgow

🚂 Distance from Edinburgh: around 1 hour by train or bus. 
⭐ Book Train Tickets For an Edinburgh ➡️Glasgow Day Trip

Glasgow is Scotland’s other major city and is definitely worth a day trip from Edinburgh- even if it’s just to compare and contrast between the two places. 

And there definitely is quite a distinct contrast between both cities. While Edinburgh is full of history and rather touristy, Glasgow is the larger city and has a much livelier atmosphere. The city is famous for its awesome street art, food scene, and fantastic nightlife. 

Getting There on Your Own

Less than 50 miles separates both cities, and it’s very easy (and relatively cheap) to reach Glasgow from Edinburgh by either bus or train. 

⭐ If you visit Glasgow, have lunch at my ABSOLUTE fav place, the Willow Tea Rooms! It’s right on George Street (a large shopping street). It has the most adorable ambiance and delicious tea, soups, and sandwiches!

4. Inverness, Scotland Without a Car (2 Options)

🚂 Distance from Edinburgh: around 3-4 hours by bus or train. 
⭐ #1 Edinburgh to Inverness Guided 2-Day Trip

Inverness is the largest city in the Scottish highlands and is known as the capital of the Highlands as well…after visiting in June of 2023, it’s also one of my favorite cities in Scotland- hands down. 

Inverness is based on the River Ness, just 14 miles away from Loch Ness so it’s easy to combine a day trip to both places. 

The magnificent Scottish Highlands are right on the doorstep of Inverness as well, making it a good base to plan a hiking trip from. Inverness has several lovely places worth visiting in its own right, such as Inverness Cathedral and a delightful indoor Victorian Market, a great place to grab local souvenirs. 

It’s a much smaller city compared to both Edinburgh and Glasgow, and therefore much quieter and easily walkable. It’s also known to be one of the happiest places to live in Scotland, so it must be nice!

Getting There on Your Own

It is quite a long distance away from Edinburgh, but there are good bus and train options available. I caught a Megabus coach between both cities, which is always a good option if you’re relying on public transport at a low cost.

Take a Tour

If you’d like to spend a little more time in Inverness, then this 2 day tour is ideal and includes the Loch Ness!

⭐ Psst: Here’s my epic itinerary for your first trip to Inverness!

5. St Andrews

🚂 Distance from Edinburgh: around 1 hour 30 minutes by train or bus. 
⭐ Book This Trip From Edinburgh to St. Andrews!

If you’re a golf fanatic, then a day trip to St Andrews while visiting Edinburgh should be at the top of your list of things to do! 

St Andrews is a gorgeous seaside town not too far north of Edinburgh, making it a perfect day trip from the capital. The town is most famous for its outstanding golf course, which is one of the most renowned courses in the world. 

As well as being the home of golf, there are plenty of historical sites in St Andrews as well, such as St Andrews Castle and St Andrews Cathedral, which dates back to 1158 and is 30 feet high. 

Getting There on Your Own

You can travel to St Andrews quite easily from Edinburgh via public transport. There is a bus to St Andrews from Leuchars station every 15 minutes.

Take a Tour

You could also choose a day tour to St Andrews. Ghost tours are popular there, as well as walking tours and of course tours to the old golf course where you can learn all about its history. 

6. Falkirk

🚂Distance from Edinburgh: around 30 minutes by train. 
⭐ Book a Day Trip to Falkirk to See the Kelpies Here!

Falkirk is a delightful town not too far away from Edinburgh, with lots of places to visit and activities to do while there on a day trip. 

It is most famous for being the home of ‘The Kelpies‘, a magnificent steel monument of a couple of horse heads, which is absolutely worth seeing in person. The two horse heads are more than 100 feet high and are the largest equine sculptures in the world. 

You can see The Kelpies at ‘The Helix’, which is a 350 hectare eco park that has lots of art and nature on show, including tons of beautiful scenery that is ideal for young families. 

Getting There on Your Own

Falkirk is easily reachable from Edinburgh, with many trains running there every day.

Take a Tour

If you’d prefer to take a tour, check out this tour to see the Kelpies which also includes Loch Lomond as well as Stirling Castle.

7. Rosslyn Chapel

🚂 Distance from Edinburgh: around 1 hour by public bus.
⭐ The Best Tour to Rosslyn Chapel From Edinburgh

If you want to visit one of the most fascinating historical churches in all of Scotland, then you absolutely cannot miss a day trip to Rosslyn Chapel. 

Shrouded in mystery, this 15th century chapel was featured in: ‘The Da Vinci Code’ book and movie, and there are various theories connecting it to the Knights Templar, the Holy Grail, Freemasonry, and more. 

And if that doesn’t pique your interest, then the chapel features stunning architecture which features mysterious symbolism and is based in the charming village of Roslin. 

Getting There on Your Own

The chapel is only 7 miles outside of Edinburgh, so it’s a very easy day trip (or half a day trip, really) to make, and it is also easily reachable by bus. You can take bus 37 from Edinburgh’s South Bridge which is five minutes from Waverley Station.

Take a Tour

If you want to discover the history of this building then I’d recommend a day tour with a professional guide to truly appreciate its many mysteries. 

8. Loch Lomond

🚂Distance from Edinburgh: around 2-3 hours by train and bus.
⭐ My Fav Day Trip to Loch Lomond (+ Stirling and the Kelpies!)

Loch Lomond and the Trossachs is another stunning national park in Scotland that attracts over 4 million visitors each year. If you’re looking for a day out in nature from Edinburgh then this is a great option. 

The Loch itself is the largest in Britain by surface area, and the surrounding highlands are full of natural beauty and diverse wildlife. 

Going on a cruise on the loch is a popular choice, and it’s the perfect place to go hiking, cycling, or kayaking. There is also a sealife aquarium at Loch Lomond which is ideal for families. 

Getting There on Your Own

Reaching the Loch via public transport takes a few hours, and you do have to catch a train and a bus, which is quite an effort. You can take a train from Edinburgh Waverley to Loch Lomond in around a little over 2 hours.

Take a Tour

Since it’s such a trek to get there, I recommend visiting on a tour. This Epic Day Trip from Edinburgh combines Loch Lomond, The Trossachs, Stirling Castle (amazing!) and the Kelpies all in one!

9. North Berwick, Scotland

🚂 Distance from Edinburgh: just over 30 minutes by train. 
⭐ Buy Train Tickets from Edinburgh Waverley to North Berwick here!

North Berwick is a lovely seaside town situated on the Firth of Forth and is easily reachable from Edinburgh, making it a really good option for a day trip. It is an idyllic place full of beautiful coastal views, shops, cafes, bars, beaches, and golf courses. 

There are also some historical places to visit such as Tantallon Castle, as well as the mountain peak of North Berwick Law. In addition, Berwick is also home to the National Museum of Flight and the Scottish Seabird Centre. 

On the other hand, if you just want to explore the beaches and eat some fish and chips (a perfect day, really), then this is the place to visit to escape the crowds of Edinburgh for a quieter, peaceful experience for a day or longer.

Getting There on Your Own

Taking the train to North Berwick is quick and easy. This is a perfect day trip to do on your own since transport gets you there within the half hour.

10. Outlander Day Trip

🚂 Distance from Edinburgh: Midhope Castle is the closest location from the city, less than 15 miles away, though there are no public bus routes available. 
⭐ This is the Best Outlander Day Trip from Edinburgh

If you’re a fan of the historical drama series ‘Outlander,’ then you should absolutely take an epic adventure to its many filming locations on a day trip from Edinburgh. 

There are several historical sites outside of Edinburgh where the series filmed, such as Midhope Castle, Blackness Castle, Doune Castle, Linlithgow Palace, and the village of Culross. 

Take a Tour

Visiting all of these fascinating sites on your own in one day without a car would be quite challenging, so I would highly recommend a full day tour that visits each location so that you don’t have to worry about transportation. 

Even if you’re not a fan of Outlander, this is still a fascinating tour to some really interesting places where you can learn a lot of history along the way. In fact, I recently took a large group to Midhope Castle (because I wanted to see it- lol), and even the people who hadn’t even heard of Outlander loved it!

11. Newcastle, England, United Kingdom

🚂 Distance from Edinburgh: 1 hour 30 minutes by train. 
⭐ Click here for Train Tickets from Edinburgh to Newcastle!

Of course, it is possible to take a day trip south of the border to England! One of the most interesting cities in the north of England is Newcastle. Famous for being a strong football community and having a fantastic nightlife, it’s a really cool place to explore for a day or longer. 

The city features some interesting landmarks worth seeing, such as the Tyne Bridge and Newcastle Cathedral. Another fun thing to do is to visit the Victoria Tunnel, a 19th-century wagon way that runs under the city which you can visit.  

Getting There on Your Own

You can easily take a train or the bus for a cheaper option, right from downtown Edinburgh.

Best Day Trips From Edinburgh Without A Car FAQs

Still not sure about taking a day trip from Edinburgh without a car? Let’s answer some of the most commonly asked questions about this topic:

Where is the Nearest Beach From Edinburgh?

Portobello Beach, also known as: ‘Porty Beach,’ is the nearest beach to Edinburgh and is popular with tourists and locals. 

It features a classic Victorian Promenade and is less than 4 miles away from the city, easily reachable by bus or by train, with the nearest station being Brunstane.

When is the best time to visit Edinburgh, Scotland?

Summertime in Edinburgh is when the weather will be the best, apart from August! August is the busiest month when the popular Edinburgh Fringe festival takes place. 

Accommodation prices are higher and more in demand during this time, so it’s best not to visit unless, of course, you want to see some comedy and theatre shows. 

Otherwise, I would recommend a visit during the spring or autumn months, when the weather is mild, but still expect lots of tourists!

What is the best train ride in Scotland?

If you want to take the most scenic train ride while in Scotland, then you have to catch the West Highland Line for the most dramatic and beautiful scenery. 

This line runs from Glasgow to Oban or Mallaig and covers a distance of 180 miles, taking over five hours. 

There are very scenic train ride options from Edinburgh as well, most notably the Belmond Royal Scotsman, which is a luxury train covering stunning scenery. It travels north to the Firth of Forth and over the incredible Forth Railway Bridge. 

Conclusion: Best Day Trips From Edinburgh Without A Car

So that concludes my list of the 11 best day trips from Edinburgh without a car! As an English guy based in central England, I’ve been fortunate enough to take advantage of many excellent day trips from some of the UK’s major cities. 

It is relatively easy to do so in the UK, as it is such a relatively small area. And when it comes to day trips from Edinburgh, you’re really spoilt for choice; staying in the capital is a great starting point to visit some fantastic places in Scotland.