Tourist Attractions & Monuments Scotland

Timetable

Most museums and castles open between 9 and 10 am and close between 5 and 6 pm. Pubs close between 11 p.m. and 1 a.m. and often serve food until 9 p.m. In the summer, the hours of attractions tend to be longer.

To be booked

Reservations are seldom necessary, but if you want to be sure of access to a guided tour, if you want to take part in a special tasting in a distillery or eat in a starred or trendy restaurant, it may be better to make a reservation. Reservations can usually be made on the website of the establishment. If you do not feel comfortable to phone, remember to ask your hosts(B&B, guest house, hotel...) who will always be pleased to help you.

Budget & Tips

Very tight to low budget: you can travel between £50 and £60 per day if you stay in a hostel, eat sandwiches, visit free attractions and have one drink in the evening.

Average budget: £80 to £120 with one night in an entry-level hostel, two meals in small restaurants, one drink in the evening and some extra expenses (transportation, tours, etc.).

Big budget: from £150, you can start to aim for real comfort (night in a charming hotel or B&B, two meals in good restaurants, more expensive activities and visits, etc.).

Main events

Among the big events that are driving up the prices of accommodation and holidays in Scotland, the celebration of the year-to-year changeover, Hogmanay, is in the winning tier. Celebrating New Year's Eve in Edinburgh and more widely in Scotland is guaranteed to be an exceptional New Year's Eve with several days of festivities, street performances and fireworks, but it also represents a significant cost to be amortised by staying for several days. It's a good thing, Scotland also has a lot of charm in winter! The Edinburgh Festival, which takes place in August, is also one of the unmissable events, but as with Hogmanay, you will need to book your stay in advance. Finally, the Highland Games begin in mid-May and end on the third weekend in September, with more intense activity in July and August. They are one of the events to attend when travelling in Scotland during this period.

Guided tours

There are many and varied possibilities for guided tours in Scotland. In castles and museums, they can be offered at no extra cost. In the big cities, they are thematic and can be personalized. Distilleries offer guided tours of their sites, often ending with a tasting. It is possible to go on a guided nature tour, like a safari to observe the local wildlife. Guided tours are also offered by boat, 4×4 or other vehicle depending on the places to visit. Most museums, castles and distilleries, if they do not offer guided tours in French, have either audio guides or translated paper documents. Guided tours in French can also be arranged in certain sites by reservation or in conjunction with an independent French-speaking guide.