12 Easy Car Free Day Trips & Tours From Edinburgh: A local’s guide 2023

It’s a fact…living in Edinburgh never gets old. A fairy tale castle perched above the city on a rocky crag. Winding cobbled streets. Cozy pubs. An arts and culture scene that never fails to impress with sheer eclectic weirdness and wonder. And have you met the people!? It’s easy to understand why folks from all over the planet visit Edinburgh, fall in love with it, and keep coming back year after year. The thing is though… as amazing as Edinburgh is, the rest of Scotland is just as wonderful. Looking for an easy day trip from Edinburgh? I’ve got twelve of my favorites here for you, from car free day trips to the best day tours from Edinburgh.

Why take a day trip from Edinburgh?

Trust me, I get it, Edinburgh is a tough city to tear yourself away from. But the thing about visiting one of the most sought after tourist destinations on the planet is that sometimes it can be overwhelming. Especially during peak tourist times such as the Fringe festival in August, you may find yourself wanting a day trip from Edinburgh just to have a break from the massive crowds of people. Fortunately, Scotland’s got you covered with some of the world’s most stunning nature and yes…even more castles.

So much of what Scotland has to offer is within easy reach of Edinburgh. This means it’s simple to add a day trip from Edinburgh to your itinerary on your next visit to Scotland. Yes, even if you’re solo travelling or don’t want the expense of renting a vehicle. There are so many car free day trips from Edinburgh you can go on that will show you more of this beautiful country in a day or less.

Are you ready to make your day trip from Edinburgh happen?

Let me show you how…

How to use this guide to plan your perfect car free day trip from Edinburgh

I’ve curated some day trips from Edinburgh for you that fit into two categories:

1. Car free day trips you can do self-guided on public transportation
2. Day tours from Edinburgh where you’ll be whisked from Edinburgh to another thrilling destination by a professional

It is so important for me to give clear directions on how to do car free day trips from Edinburgh because as a seasoned solo traveller, I understand that renting a car on your own can be prohibitively expensive. When I first visited Scotland solo, I had so much difficulty figuring out how to get places without a car. Now I’m putting together the guide to easy car free day trips and tours I wish I had as a car free traveller.

It also can be tricky to figure out which day trips from Edinburgh are worth splashing out for a guided tour. That’s why it’s equally as important for me to give you clear information on when I think it’s a good idea to join a group tour. There are simply some destinations in Scotland that are better explored with a guided tour, especially if you’re tight on time. That’s why I’m also including my top day tours from Edinburgh.

Ready to get planning?

Let’s go!

Interactive Map

I made this interactive map to help you plan your day trip or day tour from Edinburgh! Click on the pins to reveal more info about each location such as directions, opening hours, contact info, and reviews. Enjoy!

1. Glasgow Street Art Day Trip From Edinburgh

Exploring Glasgow’s Street art makes an amazing day trip from Edinburgh!

Type of Trip: Self guided, car free

Getting There:

By Train: From Edinburgh Waverly Train Station (Princes St, EH1 3EG), take Scottrail to Glasgow Queen Street (50 min- 1 hr. 20 min)

By Bus: From Edinburgh Bus Station (Elder Street, EH1 3DX), you can take City Link or Megabus Coach Busses. The journey is about 1 hr. 30 minutes and the tickets can be as little as 5GBP!

Things to do with One Day in Glasgow

As much as I love Edinburgh, Glasgow really is Scotland’s up and coming cultural titan. Enjoy a delicious vegan meal at Stereo Glasgow, head over to the iconic Barrowlands Ballroom for some live music, explore the weird wonders of the Kelvingrove Museum or pound the pavement checking out Glasgow’s vibrant street art scene by following the City Center mural tour.

Glasgow is truly unique and well worth a visit, making it my number one car free day trip from Edinburgh.

2. St. Andrews and the Fishing Villages of Fife Day Tour From Edinburgh

A view of St. Andrews Harbor

Type of trip: Small group day tour

Tour highlights

St. Andrews is one of the oldest and prettiest university towns in Scotland. It also just happens to be the birthplace of golf! Travelling by mini bus, you’ll wind your way across the stunning Forth Road bridge and through Fife’s quaint fishing villages on your way to St. Andrews. Check out the ruins of Saint Andrews Castle, stroll along the high street and stop in for lunch at a cozy brew pub and enjoy personalized attention from your small group tour guide.

Why I recommend this day tour

Technically you can get to St. Andrews on public transit…but it’s a slog from Edinburgh. Plus, there’s not a good way to pop into Fife’s fishing villages on the way. To avoid spending more time on transit than you do at the sites, this private tour from Edinburgh is just the ticket.

3. North Berwick Cafe & Beach Day Trip From Edinburgh

Iconic beach cabins at North Berwick

Type of Trip: Self guided, car free

Getting There: From Edinburgh Waverly Train Station (princes St, EH1 3EG), take Scottrail to North Berwick station. The journey takes about 30 minutes by train, then North Berwick’s high street and beaches are less than a 10 minute walk from the train station.

Things to do with just one day in North Berwick

North Berwick is known for beautiful beaches, so bring your swimming attire!

If a dip in the chilly Scottish sea isn’t you bag, there’s still plenty to do. Learn all about puffins and other fine feathered friends at the Scottish Seabrid Center, stroll along North Berwick High street and poke into art galleries like Greens & Blues or Westgate Gallery and Cafe. For me, no visit to North Berwick is complete without a pop to the incredibly cool Steampunk Coffee Roasters!

Things to do if you’ve got a little more time in North Berwick

Why not check out the sweeping views from Tantallon Castle? Perched on a cliff high above the sea, this dramatic castle ruin is well worth a visit. It’s a little over a mile from the center of town, accessible by public bus or if you’re more adventurous, a very long walk along the beach at low tide.

5. Loch Ness & the Highlands Day Tour

A moody lochside view

Type of Tour: Small group guided tour

Tour Highlights

Enjoy the rugged splendor of the highlands as you wind your way through the must see natural wonders of Glencoe and the Caringorms national park. This tour even includes a boat cruise on the mysterious Loch Ness!

Why I recommend this day tour

In my point of view, the other worldly beauty of the highlands is a do not miss, no matter how quick your trip to Scotland may be. However, you may not have the time to travel to remote locations via public bus. On my first trip to Scotland, I took a three day trip to the highlands via Inverness by bus… and ended up on an unplanned eight hour detour. Never again my friends!

This small group tour is ideal if you want to discover the highlands from Edinburgh on a tight schedule. No need to rent a car or book multiple accommodations. Small group tours are also great for solo travellers looking to make new friends!

5. Rosslyn Chapel Day Trip From Edinburgh

Rosslyn Chapel as seen through cherry blossoms

Type of day trip: Self guided, car free

Getting There: From Princes Street, Lothian bus X37 (toward Penicuik) will bring you to Rosslyn Village in just under an hour.

Things to do with just one day in Rosslyn

You’ll fall in love with Rosslyn Chapel, this ornate mini-cathedral nestled in an enchanted glen in a village just beyond Edinburgh’s city limits. Although this day trip from Edinburgh is self guided, admissions to the chapel are times and ticketed so make sure to reserve in advance. Check out my comprehensive guide to making the most of your trip to Rosslyn Chapel.

Things to do if you’ve got a little more time in Rosslyn

Make sure you check out the Rosslyn castle ruins and go for a hike in Rosslyn Glen!

Dying to know more? Check out my complete guide to Your Magical Day Trip to Rosslyn Chapel!

6. Loch Lomond, Stirling Castle & the Kelpies Day Tour

photo credit: Francois Matthysen

Type of tour: Luxury private day tour

Tour Highlights

Get whisked away for the day to marvel at Scotland’s iconic Kelpie statues, drink in the deep history of Stirling Castle and stroll the banks of Scotland’s fabled Loch Lomond. The itinerary is completely flexible to suit the needs of you and your group.

Why I recommend this tour

The Kelpies, Loch Lomond and Stirling Castle are all quintessential must see spots in Scotland. The thing they have in common is that they’re an arse to get to on public transit! So why not pull out all the stops and book yourself a luxury tour so someone else can think of all the details and you get to just kick back and drink in the sights?

7. Berwick Upon Tweed

Type of Trip: Self guided, car free

Getting there: From Edinburgh Waverly Train Station (Princes St, EH1 3EG), take Scottrail to Berwick Upon Tweed. The train ride about 60 min down the Northeast coast of Scotland over the boarder to England.

Things to do with just one day in Berwick Upon Tweed

The train ride south along Scotland’s dramatic rocky coast is worth the trip alone, especially in spring when the bright yellow goarse is in bloom!

Once you arrive in this charming seaside town, nearly everything you’ll want to do is accessible by foot. Stop in for a spot of lunch in one of Berwick’s cute cafes, pop into one of their fabled bookstores or vintage shops, stroll along the Berwick Ramparts for a dramatic 360 degree view of the entire town. Grab my comprehensive guide here.

Things to do if you have a little more time in Berwick Upon Tweed

If you can time it with the tides, why not visit Lindisfarne Castle , a stunning 16th-century castle located off the coast of Berwick on Holy Island? You can get there on public bus 477, which departs right in front of Berwick’s main train station.

Would you prefer a guided tour of Holy Island? I’ve got you boo! Use my link to book your tour below!

Are you ready to check out Berwick Upon Tweed? Grab my guide: 10 Amazing Things to do Solo in Berwick Upon Tweed!

8. Outlander Adventure Day Tour From Edinburgh

Take me to Lallybroch!

Type of tour: small group day tour

Tour Highlights

Sing me a song of a lass that was gone! Outlander superfans, this one is for you. One of the coolest things about this book turned blockbuster TV shows is that its is all shot on location in bonnie Scotland! And many of the shooting locations exist just as they are shown in the series, within easy reach of Edinburgh.

Why I recommend this tour

I’m going to tell you a little story about me on my first trip to Scotland, back in 2009. In those days the Outlander TV series was merely a glint in author Diana Gabldon’s eye, but I was already a huge fan of the books. So much so that I put together my own whole-ass self guided Outlander tour of Scotland. It included a trek all the way to Culloden Battlefield via public bus and yes, this was the same trip I ended up on an ill fated eight hour detor across the highlands.

Luckily, Outlander fandom has only mushroomed since then, leaving Fraser Clan devotees with a plethora of professionally guided options to choose from. So why not let a professional guide you through those standing stones on a trip back to the seventeenth century?

9. Inchcolm Island & Inchcolm Abbey Day Trip from Edinburgh

Inchcolm Abbey

Type of Trip: Self guided, car free

Getting there: From Edinburgh Waverly Train Station (Princes St, EH1 3EG), take Scottrail to Dalry station, then walk down the path to Hawes pier, where you’ll take a boat tour the rest of the way. Dalry is about a 30 minute train ride from Edinburgh Waverly and the boat ride to Inchcolm island is about a three hour round trip, including time to explore on the island.

Things to do on Inchcolm Island in one day

This abandoned 12th century abbey on an island in Edinburgh’s Firth of the Forth has inspired everyone from kings to Shakespeare…now it’s time to let Inchcolm Island inspire you!

The three bridges boat tour will whisk you from Hawes Pier to Inchcolm Island, while you learn about Edinburgh’s fascinating maritime history and check out some harbor seals on the way!

Once you arrive on Inchcolm Island you’ll have two hours to explore the best preserved monastic quarters in Scotland and check out the island’s variety of seabirds.

Protip: There is NO public ferry to Inchcolm Island. Instead, you’ll have to book a commercial boat tour. Boat tours can book up quickly during the spring and summer so make sure you use my link to book the time you want in advance!

Things to do if you have a little more time on Inchcolm Island

Why not do a little sea kayaking with Dun Eidann tours?

If water sports aren’t your thing, enjoy a wander around South Queensferry. Much more on that destination later!

Ready to sail away? I’ve got your whole Offbeat Adventure to Inchcolm Island planned!

10. Glenfinnan, Glencoe & Fort William Day Tour From Edinburgh

The Three Sisters of Glencoe

Type of Tour: Full day group tour

Tour Highlights

If the Glenfinnan Viaduct looks familiar, that’s because it is! You’ve seen the Hogwart’s Express cross it in the Harry Potter movies. This tour is a great way to squeeze in the magic of the highlands on a short trip to Scotland.

Why I recommend this tour

Driving to Glencoe national park via a sweeping view of the Glenfinnan Viaduct is hands down one of my favorite scenic drives in Scotland. It’s the one I dream of at night and the one I’ll think of longingly in year to come once I’ve moved on from Scotland. This is a must see and there’s no way to do it via public transit. A day tour like this puts a glimpse of Glencoe’s jaw dropping beauty within reach for a solo traveller on a tight schedule.

11. Cramond Island Day Trip From Edinburgh

Exploring abandoned places on a dreary afternoon…

Type of trip: self guided, car free

Getting there: From Princes Street, take the 41 bus to Cramond

Things to do on Cramond Island in just one day

This tidal island dotted with abandoned WWII era military forts is an urban explorer’s dream come true. Just make sure you check the local tidal times before you head out…unless you want to end up stranded.

Keeping it weird on Cramond Island…

Things to do on Cramond Island with a little more time

It is possible to camp on Cramond Island if you want to. The Island has also played host to punk rock festivals! For more on that, check out the Cramond Island of Punk documentary.

Looking for something a tad more laid back? The Cramond Inn is a cozy pub with a roaring fire…and ideal spot to kick back with a pint after your Cramond adventure.

12. South Queensferry Day Trip From Edinburgh

The view is pretty sweet!

Type of Trip: Self guided, car free

Getting there: From Edinburgh Waverly Train Station (Princes St, EH1 3EG), take Scottrail to South Queensferry Station. The train journey is about 30 min from central Edinburgh.

Things to do in South Queensferry in just one day

The picture postcard town of South Queensferry is an idea quick getaway if you need a break from Edinburgh’s madness! Located on the edge of Edinburgh’s Firth of the Forth Estuary, you’ll be overlooking the magnificent UNESCO World Heritage site, Forth Bridge. Brick red and imposing, you’ll be able to see it from wherever you roam in South Queensferry.

Take a stroll around the cobbled high street, pop into some shops, enjoy a boozy brunch with a view. It’s all within reach in South Queensferry.

South Queensferry High Street

Things to do with a little more time in South Queensferry

Take the Three Bridges Boat Tour and stop off at Inchcolm Island, of course!

Thinking of spending the night? There’s so many cute guest houses in South Queensferry!

Choose Your Own Adventure

More incredible Glasgow street art

Wherever you may roam, there are so many different ways to discover the unique beauty and captivating history of Scotland.

Have you given any of these days trips from Edinburgh a try? If so, let me know how it went in the comments.

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Do you have questions about car-free solo day trips from Edinburgh? Ask me anything on my Instagram, @alyssaowrites

I’m building a network of fearless solo women abroad in their 30s & 40s. Follow me on Instagram!

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