VISIT SCOTLAND

Land of castles, lochs, whisky and golf, the land of Scotts will conquer your heart with its scenic landscapes and incredibly nice people.

Currency

£ - Pound sterling (1£ ≃ 1,1€ ≃ 1,21$)

POPULATION

5,5 millions

MAIN LANGUAGES

English, Scots, Scottish Gaelic

AREA

77,933 km²

TIME ZONE

UTC+1 / UTC+2

FLAG

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

Scotland is known for its beautiful and historic castles coming in all shapes, sizes, styles and ages. Although many are only known from historical sources, Scotland has had well over 2,000 castles. Scottish capital Edinburgh is a picturesque city home to a medieval Old Town and an impressive castle built on the plug of a volcano, towering over the city. Another major draw in Scotland is its majestic landscapes, which are the most dramatic in the Scottish Highlands and the Isle of Skye.

There are a couple of things to know before travelling to Scotland:

Water: Tap water is considered safe to drink in Scotland.

Driving: Traffic drives on the left-hand side of the road. The main speed limits are as follows: 30 mph / 48 kph on main roads within built-up areas, 60 mph / 96 kph on single carriageways, and 70 mph / 112 kph on motorways and dual carriageways.

Plugs: The plug type used in Scotland is: G, which has three rectangular pins in a triangular pattern. Scotland operates on a 230V supply voltage and 50Hz frequency.

Tipping: As a general rule - although welcome - tipping is not compulsory in restaurants and cafés in Scotland, but it is common to leave around a 10% tip if you are happy with the service provided. Some places add on a service charge by default.

Payment: Bank cards - either debit or credit cards - are widely accepted across Scotland, the most common ones being Visa and Mastercard. American Express cards can be used in fewer places. The use of cash money is still very common, especially for low-value purchases.

Holidays and closing days: Sunday is a closing day for many stores, or with limited opening hours compared to the rest of the week. There are 9 official public holidays in Scotland: New Year's Day (January 01+02), Good Friday, Early May (May 01), Spring bank, Summer bank, St Andrew's Day (November 30), Christmas Day (December 25), Boxing Day (December 26). If a bank holiday is on a weekend, a 'substitute' weekday becomes a bank holiday. This would normally be the Monday after the original date. On these days, most businesses and offices will be closed, and many attractions may be shut or have limited opening hours.

IMPORTANT NOTE: The information below is provided merely as an indication and applies for short-term tourism visa purposes only. Before your trip to Scotland, or if you are planning to come to Scotland for another purpose (work, studies, ...), check the official information on the UK Government website: https://www.gov.uk/

✅ No visa needed (6 months stay maximum) if you are a citizen of one of the following countries:
Andorra; Antigua and Barbuda; Argentina; Australia; Austria; Bahamas; Barbados; Belgium; Belize; Botswana; Brazil; Brunei; Bulgaria; Canada; Chile; Colombia; Costa Rica; Croatia; Cyprus; Czechia; Denmark; Dominica; Estonia; Finland; France; Germany; Greece; Grenada; Guatemala; Guyana; Honduras; Hong Kong; Hungary; Iceland; Ireland; Israel; Italy; Japan; Kiribati; Latvia; Liechtenstein; Lithuania; Luxembourg; Macao; Malaysia; Malta; Marshall Islands; Mauritius; Mexico; Micronesia; Monaco; Namibia; Nauru; Netherlands; New-Zealand; Nicaragua; Norway; Palau; Panama; Papua New Guinea; Paraguay; Peru; Poland; Portugal; Romania; Saint Kitts and Nevis; Saint Lucia; Samoa; San Marino; Seychelles; Singapore; Slovakia; Slovenia; Solomon Islands; South Korea; Spain; St Vincent and the Grenadines; Sweden; Switzerland; Taiwan; Timor-Leste; Tonga; Trinidad and Tobago; Tuvalu; United States of America; Uruguay; Vanuatu; Vatican City

🛂 Standard Visitor Visa required (6 months stay maximum) if you are a citizen of one of the following countries: Afghanistan; Albania; Algeria; Angola; Armenia; Azerbaijan; Bahrain; Bangladesh; Belarus; Benin; Bhutan; Bolivia; Bosnia and Herzegovina; Burkina Faso; Burundi; Cambodia; Cameroon; Cape Verde; Central African Republic; Chad; China; Comoros; Congo; Congo (Dem. Rep); Cote d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast); Cuba; Djibouti; Dominican Republic; Ecuador; Egypt; El Salvador; Equatorial Guinea; Eritrea; Eswatini; Ethiopia; Fiji; Gabon; Gambia; Georgia; Ghana; Guinea; Guinea-Bissau; Haiti; India; Indonesia; Iran; Iraq; Jamaica; Jordan; Kazakhstan; Kenya; Kosovo; Kuwait; Kyrgyzstan; Laos; Lebanon; Lesotho; Liberia; Libya; Madagascar; Malawi; Mali; Mauritania; Moldova; Mongolia; Montenegro; Morocco; Mozambique; Myanmar; Nepal; Niger; Nigeria; North Korea; North Macedonia; Oman; Pakistan; Palestinian territories; Philippines; Qatar; Russia; Rwanda; Sao Tome and Principe; Saudi Arabia; Senegal; Serbia; Sierra Leone; Somalia; South Africa; South Sudan; Sri Lanka; Sudan; Suriname; Syria; Tajikistan; Tanzania; Thailand; Togo; Tunisia; Turkey; Turkmenistan; Uganda; Ukraine; Uzbekistan; Venezuela; Vietnam; Yemen; Zambia; Zimbabwe

💡 Visitors from the following countries can get an electronic visa waiver instead of a visa: Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates

❄️ December – February: Winter is a low-touristic season in Scotland, but many attractions and sights are available all year long. This is not to imply that the Scottish winter weather has no impact on travellers. While it is possible to take a road trip through Scotland in the winter, there are fewer events, lodging options, and daylight hours available at that time of year. Roads may occasionally be closed because of the weather, especially if you want to reach rural locations. The winter is a fantastic time to visit Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland: the Castle is open all year, and if you'd prefer to be indoors, the majority of Edinburgh's museums are free to visit, making them a perfect alternative. During winter, the temperatures in Edinburgh usually range from 1°C (34F) to 7°C (44F).

🌱 March – May: Scotland enjoys a wonderful spring season. Its landscapes are gradually reviving and acquiring more colour every day. According to statistics, springtime is the driest and has the sunniest days. Coming in spring also means you will visit Scotland before the peak tourist season begins at the end of May. Travelling in the springtime offers more lodging options than during winter, but with fewer tourists and quieter roads than during summer.

☀️ June – August: Scotland is a wonderful summer vacation spot for outdoor lovers. There is stunning countryside, which is bursting with summer flowers and verdant foliage. In the height of summer, it seems as though there are 16 to 18 hours of daylight each day. Apart from natural sights and pleasant weather, there are also many cultural events to attend, such as festivals, food fairs, and Highland Games. That being said, please note In Scotland, July and August are typically regarded as the worst months for midges, so prepare accordingly by packing covering clothes and repellent. During summer, the temperatures in Edinburgh usually range from 9°C (48F) to 19°C (67F).

🍂 September – November: Scotland's quieter side can be enjoyed in autumn, as this season marks the end of the peak tourist season. It's a fantastic time to take a road trip when there are fewer people around as the leaves begin to change colour and the temps begin to fall.

Prepare your trip

Pick a (Scottish) destination

Make your choice from the list below or the map to access all the articles related to specific cities or regions of Scotland.

SCOTLAND HIGHLIGHT ATTRACTIONS

ROAD TRIP IN ISLE OF SKYE

The Inner Hebrides archipelago's main island, Skye, is renowned for its untamed scenery. Some of Scotland's most famous sights are there, including the Old Man of Storr and the Neist Point lighthouse.

MEET LOCALS IN GLASGOW

The Scottish Opera, Scottish Ballet, and National Theatre of Scotland are just a few of the cultural organizations that call Glasgow home today. This city is also home to outstanding museums and a bustling music scene.

CASTLE BINGE

The fact that a castle is always nearby, no matter where you are in Scotland, is one of its finest qualities. The castles of Scotland are among the most recognizable in the entire world, and they are as much a part of the country's scenery as its beautiful lochs and majestic mountains.

HIKE IN GLEN COE

Glen Coe is a lovely valley that has been recognized as a national scenic region as well as a national wildlife reserve.

WALK EDINBURGH'S ROYAL MILE

The centre of Scotland's historic capital is the Royal Mile. It runs between Holyrood Palace and Edinburgh Castle, two key sites in Scotland's royal past.

ETHICAL WILDLIFE TOURISM IN SCOTLAND

GO PUFFIN-WATCHING

Puffins often land in Scotland in late March or early April. Some Scots refer to them as the "clowns of the sea." They spend the spring and summer in Scotland before leaving in the middle of August.

Did you know?

Scotland’s national emblematic animal is the Unicorn.

ALL SCOTLAND BLOG ARTICLES

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VISIT SCOTLAND

EDINBURGH

GLASGOW

ISLE OF SKYE