Day trips from Edinburgh
Day trips from Edinburgh open up the towns and sights around it. The most comfortable months are May to September, with highs around 64°F (18°C) and about 10 rainy days a month.
Photo: Matti Blume, CC BY-SA 4.0
Top day trips in Edinburgh
Scottish Highlands, Loch Ness and Glencoe Day Trip from EdinburghFrom $75View 
Outlander Film Locations Day Trip from EdinburghFrom $92View 
Edinburgh Full-Day Tour with Edinburgh Castle includedFrom $130View 
Hairy Coos and Highland Views: A Short-Day Escape from EdinburghFrom $61View 
Loch Ness, Glencoe, the Highlands Guided Day Tour from EdinburghFrom $79View 
Edinburgh: Loch Lomond, Stirling Castle and the Kelpies Day TourFrom $66View
Tours from Viator. Good Outing may earn a commission when you book, at no cost to you.
Places to go from Edinburgh
Towns and sights within day-trip range, with the straight-line distance from the centre:
- Falkirk
- The Falkirk Wheel boat lift and the Kelpies sculptures. About 23 miles away.
- Glasgow
- Scotland's biggest city, 50 minutes by train. About 42 miles away.
- Gullane
- Sandy beaches and links golf on the East Lothian coast. About 15 miles away.
- Dunbar
- A harbour town and the birthplace of John Muir. About 26 miles away.
- Dunfermline
- The abbey and Andrew Carnegie's birthplace. About 13 miles away.
- Culross
- A preserved 17th-century village used in Outlander. About 19 miles away.
- Dundee
- The V&A design museum and the RRS Discovery. About 36 miles away.
- Jedburgh
- Abbey ruins in the Scottish Borders. About 42 miles away.
How to pick a good day trip
- Work out the real travel time each way. A two-hour drive each direction leaves about four hours on the ground.
- Trains are often cheaper than a tour if you only want one town; tours earn their price when they combine several stops.
- Leave early. Popular towns are quietest before the tour coaches arrive mid-morning.
- Check what's closed on Mondays. Museums and churches in many towns take that day off.
Edinburgh month by month
Averages for Edinburgh, 1991–2020.
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °F (°C) | 45 (7) | 46 (8) | 49 (10) | 54 (12) | 59 (15) | 63 (17) | 67 (19) | 66 (19) | 62 (17) | 56 (13) | 50 (10) | 45 (7) |
| Low °F (°C) | 35 (2) | 35 (2) | 37 (3) | 40 (5) | 45 (7) | 50 (10) | 53 (12) | 53 (12) | 49 (10) | 44 (7) | 39 (4) | 35 (2) |
| Rainy days | 12 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 12 | 10 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 12 |
| Sunset (15th) | 4:10 pm | 5:16 pm | 6:15 pm | 8:18 pm | 9:18 pm | 10:00 pm | 9:49 pm | 8:51 pm | 7:32 pm | 6:13 pm | 4:06 pm | 3:38 pm |
Questions
When is the best time for day trips in Edinburgh?
May to September. Expect highs around 64°F (18°C) and about 10 rainy days a month. The least comfortable months are January and December.
What's the closest day trip from Edinburgh?
Dunfermline, about 13 miles away: the abbey and Andrew Carnegie's birthplace. Gullane, about 15 miles away: sandy beaches and links golf on the East Lothian coast. Culross, about 19 miles away: a preserved 17th-century village used in Outlander.
Where can I book day trips in Edinburgh?
The tours above book on Viator. Compare group size, duration, what is included and the cancellation terms before you pick one.
