What to See in Scotland

UNESCO World Heritage Sites

Scotland has 5 sites inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List:

Edinburgh ★★★★ (1995)
Scotland’s capital is by far the most beautiful and most visited city in the country. Both its historic centre and its New Town are UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

New Lanark ★ (2001)
This village southeast of Glasgow is a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its 19th-century industrial and working-class heritage. With its restored buildings, the site has become a tourist attraction.

Orkney ★★★ (1999)
Close to the northern tip of Scotland, Orkney boasts not only beautiful landscapes but also a rich prehistoric heritage (cairns, burial mounds, and various remains) that has earned it UNESCO status.

Forth Bridge ★ (2015)
About fifteen kilometres from Edinburgh, this railway bridge is one of the longest in the world in its category, earning it UNESCO World Heritage status.

St Kilda ★ (1986)
A small uninhabited archipelago at the edge of the Hebrides. Its landscapes, birdlife diversity, historical remains, and isolation have earned it UNESCO World Heritage status.

Cities and Cultural Heritage

Melrose Abbey ★★
This is the most famous medieval abbey among those located between Edinburgh and the English "border". Nearby, other abbeys can be found in Kelso, Dryburgh, and Jedburgh.

Sweetheart Abbey ★
On the west coast, in New Abbey, the charming remains of a 13th-century Cistercian abbey.

Aberdeen ★
The European capital of offshore oil is Scotland's third-largest city. You can see some lovely buildings here and several castles in the surrounding area.

Aberdour ★
Across from Edinburgh, on the other side of the Firth of Forth, a pretty village with its castle and beaches.

Eilean Donan Castle ★★
On the shores of Loch Duich, this charming small 14th-century structure is one of the most photographed in Scotland for its setting.

Blair Castle ★★
A well-visited "family" castle whose main appeal lies in its collections and the historical mementos of its owners.

Culzean Castle ★★
This is one of Scotland’s most visited castles. It is located on the coast southwest of Glasgow.

Dunnottar Castle ★★
A ruined medieval castle in a stunning setting, perched on a rocky outcrop overlooking the sea.

Dunrobin Castle ★★
A grand Highland castle blending medieval and 19th-century architecture, surrounded by beautiful gardens.

Glamis Castle ★★
This is a very pretty and imposing 14th-century building in the village of the same name, north of Dundee.

Tantallon Castle ★
The remains of a 14th-century cliff-top fortress in North Berwick, on the east coast.

Culross ★
A charming village between Edinburgh and Stirling, with its abbey and 17th-century old houses.

Dundee ★
A university city between Edinburgh and Aberdeen with a lively atmosphere.

Edinburgh ★★★★
Scotland’s capital is by far the most beautiful and most visited city in the country. Both its historic centre and its New Town are UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Glasgow ★★
Scotland’s largest city. Far less touristy than Edinburgh, this traditionally industrial city still boasts striking architecture and a beautiful cathedral.

Inverness ★
It’s the capital of the Highlands and primarily a base for exploring the region.

Linlithgow ★
Just a few kilometres from Edinburgh, the town offers visitors a former royal fortress and several other historic buildings.

New Lanark ★
This village southeast of Glasgow is a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its 19th-century industrial and working-class heritage. With its restored buildings, the site has become a tourist attraction.

Perth ★
The town north of Edinburgh has a small old centre. It is the one that gave its name to its Australian counterpart.

Forth Bridge ★
About fifteen kilometres from Edinburgh, this railway bridge is one of the longest in the world in its category, earning it UNESCO World Heritage status.

St Andrews ★★
On the east coast, the town is known for its cathedral and castle, as well as its university and golf courses.

Stirling ★
It's a historic city (and former capital) known for its fortress and old town centre.

The Islands

Isle of Arran ★★
The largest island in the Firth of Clyde on the west coast (not to be confused with the Aran Islands in Ireland). It offers beautiful landscapes and is especially popular with residents of Glasgow, which is nearby. Hiking is a great way to explore it.

Hebrides ★★★★
This is a vast archipelago with over 500 islands, a few of which are inhabited (Lewis, Skye, Mull, Islay, etc.). Divided into the Inner and Outer Hebrides, they boast stunning landscapes perfect for hiking, rich wildlife (birds, seals, etc.), and local traditions that are often still very much alive. Several islands are also renowned for their whisky.

Orkney ★★★
Close to the northern tip of Scotland, Orkney boasts not only beautiful landscapes but also a rich prehistoric heritage (cairns, burial mounds, and various remains) that has earned it UNESCO status.

Shetland ★★★★
Located 200 km northeast of Scotland, this distinct archipelago offers stunning wild landscapes, rich wildlife (ponies, birds, seals, whales), and various historical remnants of its past.

St Kilda ★
A small uninhabited archipelago at the edge of the Hebrides. Its landscapes, birdlife diversity, historical remains, and isolation have earned it UNESCO World Heritage status.

Natural Heritage

Ben Nevis ★★
At 1,344 m, it is the highest peak in the United Kingdom and a major tourist attraction in Scotland. You can hike and climb here.

Glen Coe ★★
This stunning valley in northern Scotland offers opportunities for hiking, climbing, or skiing in season.

Highlands ★★★★
This is the northern part of Scotland that matches the image most people have of the country. Sparsely populated and mountainous, it offers stunning landscapes of moors, valleys, lochs, and rugged coastlines.

Loch Ness ★
While far from the prettiest, Loch Ness is the most famous (and "overrated") of Scotland’s lochs. Located south of Inverness, you can tour it, stopping along the way at various exhibits or museums dedicated to the "monster" and the photogenic ruins of Urquhart Castle.

Galloway Forest Park ★★
This forest park in the southwest attracts around a million visitors each year for hiking, cycling, climbing (including ice climbing in winter), or simply enjoying the scenery.

Cairngorms National Park ★★★
Scotland's largest national park, located at its heart. It offers stunning landscapes blending mountains, moorlands, lochs, rivers, and forests. A premier destination for nature-based tourism and outdoor activities (hiking, cycling, horseback riding, canoeing, climbing, canyoning, skiing, fishing).

Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park ★★★
Located not far from Glasgow, this mountainous park is very popular. It centres around Loch Lomond and offers a wide range of outdoor activities, starting with hiking and fishing.

Torridon Hills ★★
A remote hill range in the far north with stunning landscapes, ideal for hiking and climbing.