Beautiful Places to Visit in Scotland For First-Time Visitors
This article has links to products and services we love, which we may make commission from.
From castles to coastlines, bridges to beaches, you’ll want to add the following places to visit in Scotland to your bucket list if you are visiting for the first time. This guide reveals the most popular tourist attractions in and near historic villages, charming towns, and lively cities, which entice the biggest footfalls and crowds, so consider this if arriving during the summer.
You may also find our guide to the best time to visit Scotland useful.
Please join us in the free Hiya Scotland Facebook group.
Most Beautiful Places in Scotland
Royal Mile, Edinburgh
Starting in Scotland’s capital, Edinburgh, the Royal Mile is a hilly Old Town road lined with entertainment and historical attractions.
The area measures just over a modern mile, getting its name from the old Scots mile, and it has so much to offer above and below…
At the top of the Royal Mile is Edinburgh Castle, perched on Castle Rock, which visitors can tour to see the oldest Crown jewels in the British Isles and listen out of the One o’clock Gun.
Close to the castle is a gothic hotel and restaurant, the Witchery (luxurious but has set lunch prices), The Scotch Whisky Experience, and the Camera Obscura, which offers epic views of the Old and New Town, well worth the entry price.
You’ll discover the Scottish Parliament, Holyrood Palace, and an ancient volcano called Arthur’s Seat, worth hiking up for an hour for its views over the city and the Kingdom of Fife.
The Royal Mile is also home to St Giles’ Cathedral, The People’s Story Museum, Canongate Tolbooth, and various restaurants, pubs, bars, and live music venues.
It isn’t just about what’s above this historic street, though; underneath lies a secret world you can learn about during a vaults tour.
I love learning about the local legends that roamed these dark areas.
Finally, the Royal Mile is an excellent spot for getting to other parts of the city, as its bridges, streets, and closes (alleys) connect visitors with Princes Street Gardens, the Grassmarket, and the Southside.
You could easily spend a whole day on the Royal Mile.
Editor note: Part of the Royal Mile is built with cobbles and varying levels of sidewalks; you need to watch your step and consider appropriate footwear.
Here’s my advice on what to wear in Scotland.
Here’s my article on things to do in Edinburgh for more ideas and tips.
The Forth Bridges, South Queensferry
West of Edinburgh is the cute town of South Queensferry and its Forth Bridges.
Here, you can see centuries of architecture connecting the people of Fife to the city.
In 1890, the first bridge, the Forth, was completed, and today, it still serves as a railway bridge.
The 1964 Forth Road Bridge is a suspension bridge previously used for cars, now reserved for buses and taxis only.
The Queensferry Crossing is the newest bridge, completed in 2017, and is used by drivers.
South Queensferry has the best spots for bridge photography, boat tours to Inchcolm Island, and 17th-century buildings.
There are plenty of pubs, restaurants, and cafes, with some offering front-seat views of the bridges.
Need help planning your trip to Scotland?
Let’s hop on a video consultation call and work out your itinerary together.
Why not join me in my free Facebook group, too?
Culross, Fife
While most of Scotland’s attractions are located in bigger towns or by lochs, Culross is a small village in the Fife region.
It is known for having many Outlander filming locations, such as Claire’s Garden and Geillis Duncan’s House.
Culross Palace is painted in a bright ochre tone, which is pretty unique for historic buildings in the country.
Culross is close to the ancient capital, Dunfermline, where Robert the Bruce is (partly) laid.
St Andrews
St Andrews in the Kingdon of Fife is the home of golf, and visitors can stroll through a cathedral and graveyard.
Royal fans will also know this is where Prince Harry and Kate met.
You can even have lunch in the coffee shop where they dined.
Like many of the coastal towns in the area, St Andrews has a vast stretch of sandy shores for sunny days or brisk walks!
How much does a week in Scotland cost? Read my road trip cost guide.
Queen’s View, Pitlochry
The town of Pitlochry is often a quick stop for whisky ice cream at Scotch Corner, but close to the Victorian high (main) street is a beautiful viewpoint named Queens View.
If you’re planning a visit during autumn (fall), add this location to your itinerary to see the dreamy foliage.
It’s one of my favourite areas of Scotland to visit around the end of October or early November.
The Kelpies, Falkirk
If you come across a silver-maned horse during your travels to Scotland, do not touch it!
It could be one of our mythical beasts and Hiya Scotland logo, the Kelpies.
Towering over The Helix Park, two 100-foot horse-like stainless steel structures dominate the skyline, which can also be seen from the M9 road.
Baron and Duke each weigh 300 tonnes and are named after real Clydesdale horses.
The sculptor Andy Scott also has work displayed in Dunbar (The Dunbear) and Aberdeen (Leopard).
A visit to Helix Park is free, and most Edinburgh bus tours stop at The Kelpies – definitely one of the most popular tourist attractions in Scotland.
Glasgow’s West End
Heading west to Scotland’s biggest city now, its West End area is home to the Unversity of Glasgow, where the stunning cloisters are tucked away.
A popular photography and filming location, The Cloisters, also known as The Undercroft, are made up of arches at “fluted columns.”
Outlander, The Buccaneers, Outlaw King, and Cloud Atlas have featured the pretty location.
Visitors should also check out The Hunterian Museum and Bute Hall if open.
This is a strange area for me as it reminds me of exam time while studying at the UoG!
Other things to do around Glasgow West End are to dine on Byres Road, go bar hopping along Ashton Lane, walk around the Glasgow Botanic Gardens, and visit the free Kelvingrove Museum.
If you have more time in Glasgow, head to the City Centre to see the Necropolis’s views over the cathedral.
Read our Glasgow guide next.
Stirling Castle
One of Scotland’s largest, Stirling Castle, dates back to the 12th century and has played a significant role in Scottish history.
It was host to nearly every Scottish monarchy until the 1603 Union of the Crowns, and it was hotly contested during the Wars of Independence with England (1296–1356).
Mary Queen of Scots was crowned here in 1543.
Visitors can take a guided tour or do a self-guided audio tour.
Fans can also visit The National Wallace Monument, Old Stirling Bridge, and The Battle of Bannockburn Visitor Centre in Stirling history.
Stirling connects the Lowlands with the Scottish Highlands.
Read next: Things to Do in Stirling.
Banks of Loch Lomond
You’ve probably heard about Loch Lomond without setting foot on Scottish soil, as there is a popular ballad of the same name.
While written evidence of the song first appears in 1841, no information about its author is available, most attributing it to a Jacobite prisoner.
The ballad’s lyrics are thought to describe two prisoners, one meeting his death (the low) road and the other going home via the high road.
The sad story is a bit of a juxtaposition as Loch Lomond is often sped up and played at the end of weddings to see off the happy couple teamed up with some energetic dancing!
Visitors of Loch Lomond can enjoy a boat tour on the loch (lake), hike up Conic Hill, and enjoy dinner with a view at Duck Bay.
The left-hand view in the image below is taken from Conic Hill, while the right is from Duck Bay Marina.
Three Sisters Of Glencoe
It’s time to reveal the best place to visit in Scotland for those hoping for rolling hills and Highland coos.
The first stop is the Three Sisters of Glencoe, three ridges of the Munro (mountain) Bidean nam Bian called Gearr Aonach (Short Ridge), Aonach Dubh (Black Ridge) and Beinn Fhada (Long Hill).
Read our Glencoe guide for more.
The majestic landscape faces into a glen and has a very popular photo viewing area, which you need to be careful around as bus tours and road trippers stop here.
This busy tourist route includes the A82 near Buachaille Etive Mor and Buachaille Etive Beag.
Animal lovers can get up close to the deer at Kingshosue Hotel; while they are curious, they are wild, so it is advised not to feed them.
If you don’t want to drive to the Highlands, hop aboard a bus tour, leaving one of the major cities.
Read our guide to tours and attractions to find out more.
Loch Ness
Did you even visit Scotland if you didn’t go Nessie hunting?
One of Scotland’s must-sees is a boat tour of Loch Ness, sailing from Fort Augustus in search of the country’s most sought-after mystery, the Loch Ness Monster.
Other stops around the loch (lake) include Urquhart Castle, Drumnadrochit and Dores Beach.
The Scottish Highland’s big city, Inverness, is north of this area; most first-time visitors stay overnight to explore the loch and beyond.
Read our guide to Loch Ness for more.
Isle of Skye
I know what you’re thinking; surely the Isle of Skye is a huge destination, and you are right.
However, choosing just one attraction is challenging, which is why most visitors spend three nights on the island.
It is worth noting at this stage before I suck you in with its beauty that Skye is seriously busy during the summer months.
Locals tend to be vocal about the overcrowding on their island, so if you can visit during spring or autumn, do consider it.
Alternatively, you can go to one of the other islands in Scotland, which I discuss below.
Scenic spots in Skye’s Trotternish Peninsula include Old Man of Storr, a hill overlooking the Sound of Raasay, Lealt Falls, a 90-metre waterfall, The Brother’s Point, which is a little quieter than the Storr, Kilt Rock, a cliff (and waterfall) that resembles a kilt, and rocky The Quiraing.
Portree is the most popular town for its accommodations and amenities.
Other attractions around the island include the Skye Museum of Island Life, the Fairy Pools (which are not as blue as social media photos suggest), Neist Point Lighthouse, Dunvegan Castle, and the ferry over to the North Uist in the Outer Hebrides from Uig.
Find out more in our guide to Skye.
Final Words
While this guide discusses the attractions in Scotland that are typically on every first-time visitor’s bucket list, Scotland has many more beautiful areas and attractions with less international tourism.
Consider East Lothian for its coastal towns like North Berwick and Dunbar, and South Scotland for Rabbies Burns history, castles, and stargazing at Galloway Forest Park.
The Cairngorms has beautiful woodlands that lead to lochs such as the Green Loch.
The Kingdom of Fife has seaside towns like Aberdour and Burntisland and historic attractions like Dunfermline Abbey.
Watch the cute puffins on Staffa, island hopping on Mull and Iona, drink whisky in Islay, enjoy cheese on Arran, visit Orkney for its Neolithic sites, and take a photo of Bobby’s Bus Shelter in Shetland!
You may also like my Welcome to Scotland Mini-Course: 6 free lessons. Join here.
