
Best time to visit
85 things to do in Scotland

Winter
Cold, wet and gloomy season is not good for outdoor activities

Winter Mountaineering and Ice Climbing
Scotland provides excellent conditions for winter mountaineering and ice climbing for both beginners and experienced climbers

Salmon and Sea Trout
Fishing for Scottish salmon and trout is not as easy as it might seem, you can learn the art during informative fishing lessons

Boxing Day
The occasion has nothing to do with fists and punching, but rather boxes full of gifts

Diving
The west coast boasts the most spectacular diving sites but the east coast won't disappoint either

Osprey Watching
Once ospreys seemed to have left Scotland forever, but a pair of the fish-eating birds returned to the Highlands and restored its population

Hogmanay (New Year's Eve)
Hogmanay is a unique way to celebrate the New Year with torchlights, bonfires, fireworks, and loads of music

Cruising on a Vintage Steam Boat
Even if you do not fancy visiting museums, you will definitely enjoy a sail on the Vic 32 proclaimed a "smokey living museum"

Edinburgh International Festival
A showcase of the world's best music, dance, theatre, and opera in Edinburgh every August

Cruise to Staffa
The trip to Staffa amazes with wildlife encounters, puffin colonies, and the geometric shapes of Fingal's Cave

Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival
It is a great Scotch fun to intoxicate oneself to traditional Celtic singing, dancing, and storytelling

Ben Nevis
True hikers will not respect themselves having visited Scotland without ascending its highest summit

Edinburgh Festival Fringe
A unique blend of thousands of known and less-known artists performing a wide variety of shows in smaller venues around the city

Beltane Fire Festival
Celebrate the arrival of summer in Scotland with music, bonfires, and uninhibited behaviour

Swans
During winter Scotland hosts these elegant guests from Iceland and Siberia

Autumnal Castles
Scottish castles nested atop extinct volcanoes or on the loch islands and cliff edges are beautifully surrounded by fall colours

Celtic Connections
Musicians from Celtic countries and further lands annually reunite in Glasgow in the celebration of folk music

Cranberries
These berries delight visitors of Scotland in late autumn and early winter

Ceres Highland Games
Ceres Highland Games are the oldest and most cheerful events celebrated in Scotland

Seal Pups
The world's largest grey seal population and their cute pups inhabit the shores of the Scottish Orkney Islands

Scotland's Most Remote Pub
The waterway to the Old Forge Pub overlooks Europe's Last Wilderness, and the very pub pleases with strong ale, langoustines, and live music

Barnacle Geese
These tri-coloured birds are numerous in Scotland—they bark as if they were dogs and are believed to have originated from mollusks in Scottish folklore

Haddock
Cold-smoked, hot-smoked, dried, canned, frozen, served with chips, drowned in milk, or in a Scottish soup—so many ways to eat Haddock

Berry Season
Scotland abounds in strawberries, blackberries, currants, and other juicy sweets

Burntisland Highland Games
Burntisland Highland Games are the second oldest games in Scotland and are a perfect opportunity to have some quality time.

Birdwatching
Thousands of skuas, auks, dotterels, ptarmigans, and eagles highlight Scottish birdwatching season

Heather
Purple heather blooms on ornate open Scottish fields, heathlands, wetlands, and forests

Stirling Highland Games
Multiple fun events combined with stalls full of local products are the main attractions at Stirling Highland Games

The Burry Man
Follow the Burry Man throughout the streets of Queensferry as he drinks whisky and spreads good luck

Autumn Foliage in Scotland
Though Scots Pine is definitely the king of the Highlands, in autumn it lets other trees outshine it with beautiful colors

Surfing
It is not true that the treacherous Scottish waves leave no opportunities for inexperienced surfers—there are options for everyone

Burns Night Celebrations
Scotsmen respect their national poet and commemorate his legacy by cooking his favorite meal on his birthday

Common Ridings on the Scottish Borders
Though today there is no need to protect the Scottish borders, the Scots still celebrate their centuries-old traditions and history

Burning of the Clavie
This Pagan feast may be erased from Gregorian calendar, but not from people's minds

Edinburgh Military Tattoo
A memorable representation of dance, military pageantry and music as part of the Edinburgh Festival

Stand Up Paddleboarding
"Row, row, row the board, gently down the stream"–yes, the board, no misspelling here. This sport combines surfing with kayaking

Cowal Highland Gathering
At Highland dances, Scottish boys and girls perform in national costumes dancing to the traditional sounds of the hornpipe

Coasteering
The brave and curious will enjoy exploring the nearly inaccessible craggy coastlines of western and eastern Scotland

Seafood
Lobster, mussels, clams, and other Scottish seafood is made into delicious seasonal salads, stews, and specialties

Hunting Season
The season starts with grouse, snipe, and ptarmigan then proceeds with other wildfowl and finishes with deer

Golf
Golf courses of Scotland will impress you with breathtaking scenery—especially the course on the River Clyde encased by the Ayrshire hills

Dog Sledding
The beautiful Scottish winter is experienced to its fullest sledding across the Cairgorm mountains with lovely huskies

Fairy Pools of the Isle of Skye
Emerald-coloured pools possess magic powers that make you dive into the water, no matter how chilly it is

North Berwick International Highland Games
Dancers, world-pipe bands and other stunning events make North Berwick Highland Games the perfect place for a day full of fun

Oysters
Once the very Roman emperor deemed Scottish oysters as the best shellfish in the world

Horse Flat Racing Season
Musselburgh Racecourse provides year round great racing action with 27 racedays

Lamb Meat
Scottish lamb is the sweetest and the leanest in the world owing to the excellent Highland pastures

The Ba' Game
When charged up Uppies and Doonies fight for the leather trophy ball, the townspeople protect their dwellings with wooden barricades

Up Helly Aa
To mark the end of the Yule season, thousands of Vikings traditionally burn the galley with thousands of torches

Starling Murmuration
A stunning sunset show performed by migrating starlings

Haggis
Sheep's insides are sewn into its stomach, boiled, and served with "tatties and neeps" and a glass of Scotch Whisley for Burns Supper

Braemar Gathering
The Gathering is famous for its hospitality, friendship, multitude of events and the presence of the Royal Family, and it's only a 2-hour drive from Edinburgh

Red Deer Rutting
The loud clash of red deer signals that rutting season is on–time to watch the stags' fight

Apple Season
Traditional apple scones, pies and scrumbles are the highlights of this delicious season

Canoeing, Kayaking and Sea Kayaking
Scottish white water rivers and lochs offer some of the best canoeing and kayaking trails in the world

Snowdrops
Delicate snowdrops rising up from the snow are able to console and inspire even the saddest souls

Skiing and Snowboarding
A great choice for winter holidays—Scottish ski resorts are a more affordable alternative to the Alps

Hillwalking or Munro Bagging
To become a "completer" you have to bag not less than 284 Munros

Lunan Bay Bathing Season
Every princess would have enjoyed a swim on an appealing pink beach overlooked by a castle

The Jacobite Steam Train
Did you know that the route of the Hogwarts Express passes through the Scottish Highlands?

Dolphin and Whale Watching in Scotland
Minkes, humpbacks, fins, orcas, and playful bottlenose dolphins will amuse you during the seasonal cruises

Garden of Cosmic Speculation
A unique space inspired by science and mathematics

Kitesurfing & Windsurfing
One of the best destination in Europe for surfing of all kinds

Edinburgh Christmas Market
A winter wonderland in the heart of a fairytale city

Christmas Lights
Edinburgh celebrates the most wonderful time of the year

Halloween
Celebrate the transition from summer to winter in a traditional Celtic way

Christmas Markets in Scotland
Scotland loves Christmas! It hosts some of the best Christmas Markets in the UK

New Year's Eve in Scotland
New Year's Eve in Scotland is celebrated loudly and passionately, making it a perfect destination for this holiday season

St. Patrick's Day
An excellent excuse to go pub crawling in one of the largest Scottish cities

Strathaven Balloon Festival
Enjoy a free weekend of fun at Scotland's only festival of ballooning

Chinese New Year in Edinburgh
The largest Lunar New Year celebration in Scotland

Glasgow Christmas Markets
Experience the best-in-class Christmas shopping in the city of Glasgow

Guisachan Gathering (Golden Retriever Festival)
The cutest dog show in the ancestral home of golden retrievers

Edinburgh Jazz and Blues Festival
10 days of excellent music with over 170 performances

Callander Jazz and Blues Festival
The largest rural jazz and blues festival in Perthshire

The Castle of Light
Scotland's largest projection show creates unforgettable memories throughout the holiday season