Essential Travel Tips for Visiting Scotland

Jam-packed with hidden glens, haunted castles, and cryptic lochs, overrun with mind-boggling festivals and melodious bagpipe players, and soaked in peated whisky, gin, and rain, Scotland can be as baffling as it is brilliant.

This country specializes in astonishing travelers while confounding them, delivering a double punch of euphoria and disbelief. Not that you’d know it from the chipper locals who take everything in their stride.

For all the undreamed-of scenarios you may encounter while here – summer hiking in shorts with an umbrella, for instance, or being terrorized by an invisible nuisance, the blood-sucking midge – the truth is that Scotland is an easy country to navigate if you know the answers to some crucial questions and practicalities.

What’s the smartest way to travel around when venturing outside of Edinburgh? How long do you need to explore Scotland’s islands? Is it really OK to indulge in a deep-fried Mars Bar in Glasgow? (Spoiler: yes, but no one ever really does.)

Pack for All Seasons, Even in Summer…

A joke often told is that Scotland had a great summer last year – it was on a Wednesday. It’s a tongue-in-cheek punchline, of course, but there’s a kernel of truth at its core: the country’s weather is a carousel of ever-variegated four-season shifts, with summer days often wet, wild, and glorious all in the same place at nearly the same time.

For the most dependably bright and dry weather, visit in May, early June, or September. If gray is your favorite color, any time of year will suit you fine.

…and Check the Weather for the Edinburgh Fringe Festival

Look away now if you don’t want the grim news. Despite the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, the world’s largest arts gathering, occurring in peak summer in August, the event is often a washout. Waterproof shoes and an umbrella that you don’t mind getting blown inside out are as essential as a healthy appetite for comedy, theater, circus, and raucous beer gardens.

Scottish Pound Sterling Banknotes Are Valid Everywhere in the UK

It sounds absurd, but the variety of banknotes in the UK can be bewildering. All pound sterling bills, whether printed in Scotland, England, or Northern Ireland, are legal tender and valid across the country. You can spend English bills in Scotland, but many retailers won’t accept Scottish bills south of the border. Some foreign exchange services even provide worse rates for Scottish-printed bills.

Be Wary When Talking Politics

Scotland is a divided country, politically speaking. The independence movement is growing, yet some Scots resolutely want to remain part of the United Kingdom. For a simple crash course, know that Scotland is a de facto separate country already with its own parliament – it exists in a political and monetary union with England, Wales, and Northern Ireland – which will help you navigate conversations with locals in the pub.

The next decade could see unprecedented change in Scotland. A second independence referendum is often discussed after the 2014 referendum before Brexit aimed at getting more clarity, but Westminster has resisted the call. Understanding the country’s sociopolitical history will enhance your trip and remind you that you’re not just visiting a place, but a moment in time.

Driving Outside the Cities Can Be an Art Form

At first impression, Scotland may appear manageable in terms of size. However, its jigsaw-puzzle shape, characterized by crooked sea lochs, knobby islands, and corkscrewing glens, means getting from A to B outside the main cities always takes longer than the GPS suggests.

Roads are often single-lane, requiring you to pull to the side to let oncoming vehicles pass—a friendly wave is part of the roadside theater. Patience is key, and a car or camper will get you to your destination faster and more efficiently than using Scotland’s skeletal train and bus network.

Plan for More Time, Not Less

What do many first-time visitors to Scotland regret the most? Trying to cram too much into a single trip. If you’re spending time in Edinburgh and Glasgow, and then heading to the Highlands, you’ll need at least a week. Adding the Isle of Skye or the Outer Hebrides to your itinerary? You’ll need two weeks—and you’ll still be struggling to catch your breath.

To do Scotland and its unique islands justice, aim for three to four weeks. Travel more sustainably and focus on one specific region, like the Borders or Aberdeenshire. This way, you’ll be encouraged to stop more regularly and invest your time in the rural towns and villages you might otherwise whizz through.

Wear a Kilt If You Want

The idea that you need Scottish ancestry to wear a kilt is misleading. Everyone can look better in a pleated, knee-length skirt and furry sporran, regardless of gender, nationality, or patriotism to Scotland. If you desire a unique addition to your wardrobe, there’s nowhere better than Scotland to get measured for tartan.

Don’t Be Afraid to Join In

Going to the pub is a national pastime in Scotland, often regarded as a human right. Scots are among the world’s friendliest, most approachable people. You’ll likely find an invitation to join in a drinking session or celebration—especially around Hogmanay (New Year).

Is It Safe to Drink the Tap Water?

Yes. Scotland boasts abundant freshwater. Reduce single-use plastic consumption by bringing a refillable bottle and utilize the plentiful rivers and lochs to hydrate while exploring the great outdoors.

Can Travelers Get Free Health Care in Scotland?

NHS Scotland, the country’s devolved National Health Service, serves as the cornerstone of life here. Visitors from most European countries are entitled to certain emergency treatments if they experience an accident while on vacation. The European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) provides access to this, while travelers from other origins should research reciprocal healthcare agreements between their home country and the UK.

This article was first published on September 4, 2022, and updated on May 22, 2023.