Edinburgh is one of the best bases in Britain for day trips. In a couple of hours you can be deep in the Highlands, on a Roman wall, at the home of golf or watching a steam train cross a viaduct. To keep things simple we have picked the seven day tours worth taking from the city, each with its own page covering the route, what you see and how to book.
Want to explore more? Book the Loch Ness, Glencoe & Highlands day tour through GetYourGuide — free cancellation on most options.
All of the tours below run with licensed operators and include live commentary. Durations range from a relaxed half-day at Rosslyn Chapel to a full 14-hour run to Glenfinnan, so there is something whether you want the greatest hits of the Highlands or a shorter castles-and-coast day close to town. Prices and exact stops vary by operator — always check the current listing before you book.
The 7 Best Day Tours from Edinburgh
Loch Lomond, Stirling & the Kelpies
Family Friendly
A shorter, gentler day taking in Stirling Castle, the bonnie banks of Loch Lomond and the giant Kelpies at Falkirk. Ideal if you want castles and lochs without a 12-hour drive.
Outlander Locations
For Fans
Walk into Jamie and Claire’s world — Doune Castle (Castle Leoch), Falkland, Culross and the other real castles that double as the show’s most famous sets.
Jacobite Steam Train
Harry Potter
See the Hogwarts Express steam over the Glenfinnan Viaduct. A long but spectacular day to the West Highlands, with the option to ride the train itself.
St Andrews & the Fife Coast
Golf & Coast
The home of golf, Scotland’s oldest university and a dramatic clifftop cathedral, usually paired with the pretty fishing villages of the East Neuk.
Hadrian’s Wall & Roman Britain
History
Head south to walk the Roman frontier along the crags, with a fort or the Vindolanda dig and the abbey country of the Scottish Borders on the way.
Rosslyn Chapel & the Borders
Half-Day
The intricately carved 15th-century chapel of Da Vinci Code fame, just south of the city, often combined with the ruined abbeys of the Borders.