Yes, Scotland is a safe place to visit. The Scottish people are famously welcoming and hospitable to travellers. Of course, you should take standard travel precautions when in the bigger cities such as Edinburgh and Glasgow.

Should you find yourself in an emergency during your stay, you can contact your travel consultant on our 24 hour helpline. If it’s the local emergency services that you need, call 999 from any phone to get in touch with ambulances, fire and rescue, coastguard and the police. For more information about safety in Scotland, check out our travel guide.

Whether or not you need a visa to visit Scotland depends on your nationality and the length of your stay. If you’re an American, Canadian, Australian or European citizen, you do not require a visa. You will only need a valid passport.

If you’re from another country, you may need a visa to visit Scotland, unless you have dual UK citizenship status. These nationalities include:

You can answer a couple of quick questions on the UK government website to check if you need a visa.

The amount of time you will need in Scotland depends on the attractions and areas you want to visit.

If you want a comprehensive tour, travelling across the country and including many of the Scottish islands, we’d recommend you take two weeks. This ensures you’re not rushing through destinations. Longer tours like this also showcase the best of the coasts, lochs, national parks, and places like the famed Orkney archipelago.

If you’re looking for a shorter stay, but still want plenty of sightseeing, we also have shorter, action-packed tours. These take one week or less and show you the most popular Scottish sights, such as the stunning Isle of Skye, Loch Ness, Glenfinnan and more.

Touring Scotland by yourself is a rewarding and enjoyable experience, and solo travel is an option many of our customers choose. If you’re looking for a flexible road trip where you set the pace and pick out all of the attractions that you want to see, then we’d recommend our top-rated self drive packages.

However, if you want a guide to accompany and teach you about each destination then a private tour would mean the convenience of a personal tour guide at a speed that suits you as well as a local knowledge of hidden gems.

Our solo travellers also come back from our guided small group tours with smiles on their faces and plenty of good memories. With a local guide to lead you and a maximum of 15 fellow explorers, you’ll always have company.

This really depends on the type of travel experience you want for your trip. On a guided group tour, you’ll get to experience the sights in the company of like-minded travellers. We have carefully vetted and tested our local suppliers and promise that your tour group will always be small (a maximum of 15) so you receive the best and most personal service.

On the other hand, if you would like to see Scotland privately and at your own speed, then a self drive tour is best. With a rented car you’ll have more opportunities to stop for photos and go to viewpoints that aren’t always noted on the map. You also wouldn’t be bound to time limits and would have the freedom to go further afield for excursions and restaurants.

A privately guided tour is the best combination of the two and would see you or your chosen travelling party accompanied by an expert local travel guide where you set the pace as you see fit. You get to enjoy the personal one-to-one travel experience of a small group, but also keep the autonomy of self-drive tours.

Motorists drive on the left side of the road in Scotland and the rest of the UK. Remember to occasionally check your position in traffic, especially in the countryside where roads are often narrow and winding. For travellers used to driving on the right, we advise booking an automatic transmission car, not a manual, for an easier drive.

The North Coast 500 (also known as NC500 or the Scotland 500) is Scotland’s answer to Route 66, and is the ultimate Scottish road trip. The route is secluded, taking you along the stunning North Coast and through the Northern Highlands, where you’ll experience the wild and natural beauty of Scotland first hand.

Read our North Coast 500 guide for more information.

Deciding when to visit Scotland depends on the sights you want to see and the seasons you prefer.

If you want a festive experience or want to celebrate the new year (or in Scotland, Hogmanay) then visit in the winter or autumn seasons for crisp chilly days and possible snowfall, perfect for getting a hot chocolate and going exploring.

If you’re keen to have longer days and see lush green landscapes in a milder climate, then a spring or summer visit is for you. Keep in mind, Scottish weather could often be described as “four seasons in a day”. You can’t always depend on a forecast and should bring along waterproofs just in case.

Read our blog article for detailed info on the best time to visit Scotland.

Scotland has a wealth of history, architecture and natural beauty so there’s always a great day out to be had and a new area to visit – despite this, we have collected the most visited and highly rated destinations by our travel agents and customers.

The must-visit places in Scotland include:

We may be biased but we think there is beautiful scenery across Scotland. Even the drive to your next destination will mean you pass by mountains, lochs and rolling hills. However, the most visited sights are found in the Highlands and islands, and along the coasts. Why not check our recommended Scottish attractions to see what Scotland has to offer?

The best scenery in Scotland includes:

Our local experts have a wealth of knowledge to pass on to you, ensuring every sight or attraction you visit is one that you won’t forget. When creating packages, we plan routes extensively with this in mind so that our guests see the best of Scotland.

Should there be anything in particular you’re keen to see or areas you want to visit, though, get in touch with us. We can also add extra nights to your itinerary, so you can see more of Scotland. Alternatively, you can request a custom tour and your travel consultant will work with you to create your ideal trip across Scotland.

We’d advise that you look over flights for timings and dates, but hold off purchasing until you’ve booked your preferred tour. Once you’ve had a confirmation email from your personal travel consultant, you should then choose and pay for your flights.

Why? Once you’ve been introduced to your travel consultant, you’ll have all the information you need to make informed choices on timings. If you have any questions, you can always contact your consultant for advice.

In Scotland, it’s not unusual to experience all four seasons in one day. So, no matter the season, you should have a range of essential items in your luggage:

An umbrella could be handy, and bird watchers may wish to bring binoculars. You may also need a UK travel adapter, which you can buy at the airport or in Edinburgh shops after you arrive. For more information, read our useful electricity information and packing guide.