Christmas Tour Packages in Scotland

Christmas in Scotland is magical! And one of the best places to soak up the festive atmosphere is Edinburgh.

At this time of year, Scotland’s capital sparkles in the glow of countless Christmas lights. And the city is dotted with charming Christmas markets. The perfect way to explore them? With a cup of mulled wine or hot chocolate in hand, of course.

It’s not just Edinburgh that will enchant you at Christmas. Head into the countryside and you’ll glimpse pretty villages, deep lochs and impressive valleys. And if you’re lucky, you might even see Scotland’s dramatic mountains and famous castles dusted in snow.

Like the rest of the United Kingdom, Scots tend to have their main day of celebrations on 25 December. That said, it’s also common to gather with friends and family and spread the festivities over Christmas Eve and Boxing Day as well.

In the run-up to the big day, locals will buy presents and send cards to their friends and family. And plenty will join the many others across the world in the tradition of decorating a Christmas tree in their homes.

Come Christmas Day, Scots tend to mark the occasion by exchanging gifts and gathering with their family and friends for a meal. While many will meet in the home of a loved one to share in this festive feast, dining out is also a popular choice.

Alongside enjoying a Christmas meal, some Scots will attend a midnight church service on Christmas Eve to sing carols and give thanks.

Scotland’s modern-day Christmas traditions have their roots in Christianity and the Viking celebration of “Yule” at the winter solstice. So during your visit, you’ll experience festive customs similar to other Northern European nations.

While most families have their own slight variations on the local Christmas traditions, some popular ones include:

• • Sharing a meal with loved ones on Christmas Day
• • Giving and receiving gifts from friends and family
• • Putting up and decorating a Christmas tree
• • Children sending their Christmas present wish list to Father Christmas
• • Leaving out a mince pie for Santa Claus and carrots for his reindeer on Christmas Eve
   

Before or after the main feast, some Scots will enjoy a walk in the crisp winter weather. Meanwhile, others will relax in front of the TV to watch a Christmas film or listen to the Queen’s speech.

Read more about local Scottish Christmas traditions in this blog. 

Scottish Christmas food is similar to the cuisine eaten in the rest of the UK and in Canada or the USA at this time of year. So while there aren’t many festive dishes unique to Scotland, the following are some of the most common things you’ll find on the menu.

Typical starters might include soup, smoked salmon and haggis. For the main course, roast turkey is a popular choice, but glazed ham, roast beef or goose might also be served. And if you don’t eat meat, you can expect dishes like spiced nut roast or mushroom wellington.

Generally, your main course will be accompanied by the usual festive trimmings. These tend to include cranberry sauce, roasted or mashed potatoes, “pigs in blankets” (small sausages wrapped in bacon) and roasted vegetables.

Come dessert, you could sample traditional Christmas pudding with brandy sauce or other sweet treats like pavlova or cheesecake.

Head to Scotland’s big cities for the best festive atmosphere. Indeed, Scotland’s largest city – Glasgow – is brimming with charm at this time of year. But for the ultimate festive experience, complete with the nation’s top Christmas markets, it’s Edinburgh you’ll want to visit.

Alongside soaking up the seasonal cheer, don’t miss these popular attractions in Edinburgh:

• Edinburgh Castle
• The Royal Mile
• Calton Hill
• Grassmarket
• Princes Street
   

The Scottish countryside is also well worth a visit during your getaway. It’s here that you can enjoy strolling through beautiful frosted landscapes. To ensure you get the most out of your time in Scotland, Nordic Visitor’s Christmas breaks include a guided excursion to the Highlands.

If you decide you’d like to spend more time in the countryside, then we recommend opting for a winter self-drive trip or privately guided tour of Scotland. This way you’ll be able to venture further into the Highlands and explore places at your leisure.

For instance, visit Fort William in the West Highlands and you could glimpse Ben Nevis, the country’s highest mountain. Or head up the east coast to explore St Andrews and the quaint fishing villages of Fife. If you choose a guided itinerary, you’ll benefit from the knowledge of an expert driver-guide along the way.

You’ll find there’s plenty to see and do in Scotland around Christmastime. Plus, choose a Nordic Visitor city break in Edinburgh and a local expert will arrange a package complete with handpicked activities for you.

On your festive escape to the Scottish capital, you could:

• • Explore Edinburgh’s offering of Christmas markets
• • Uncover the stories behind the famous Royal Mile
• • Visit the castle and stroll cobbled streets in the UNESCO-listed Old Town
• • Admire dramatic scenery on a day trip to the Scottish Highlands
• • Do some last-minute Christmas shopping on Princes Street
• • Venture up Arthur's Seat for striking views over the city
• • Dine out and make the most of the city’s top-notch food scene
   

When you’re planning your days, it’s worth checking opening times on public holidays. And bear in mind that there are around 7 hours of daylight in Scotland at this time of year.

For more ideas and inspiration on what to do and where to go in Scotland in winter, check out this blog.

It only snows in Scottish cities on a handful of days a year. So while there’s a possibility of experiencing a white Christmas in Scotland, it’s good to know that this isn’t the norm.

That said, it does snow more often in the Highlands, particularly between December and March. This means you could be treated to the sight of snow-capped mountains when you take a day trip to the countryside.

December 25 and 26 – Christmas Day and Boxing Day – are public holidays in Scotland, meaning that most attractions will be closed on these dates. It’s also worth noting that some of these may shut earlier than normal on Christmas Eve.

Most shops will also take Christmas Day off. But many will reopen the following day for the Boxing Day sales, making this a good time to shop for souvenirs.

Even if you’re travelling over these public holidays, you’ll still find plenty to do. For instance, you could take a wintry walk in the countryside or along the pretty city streets. Then, why not savour a mouthwatering afternoon tea or indulge in a delicious Christmas dinner cooked for you?

Restaurants tend to be open throughout the festive period. And because dining out is a popular choice over Christmas, we advise booking your meals well in advance. You’ll find restaurant recommendations and more in-depth information in your personalised travel documents.

To find out exact opening times at this time of year, it’s best to check the websites for attractions, cafés, restaurants and shops.

Yes, you can personalise your trip by choosing from a selection of expert-curated optional extras.

For instance, add a little indulgence to your tour with afternoon tea at Edinburgh Castle or take a guided food tour around the city’s Old and New Towns. To learn more about Scotland’s most iconic drink, you could visit the Scotch Whisky Experience or tour 2 countryside distilleries on a day trip.

You could also follow in the footsteps of the stars of Outlander on a guided excursion to the TV show’s famous filming locations. Alternatively, stay in Edinburgh and tour the city’s underground vaults with a local guide or visit the Royal Yacht Britannia.

If a few of these day trips and guided city tours sound tempting, then you might like to extend your stay in Edinburgh.

What’s more, your travel expert will use their local knowledge to answer any questions you might have. So if you have something specific in mind that would make your trip to Scotland extra special, don’t hesitate to mention it to them.

It’s also possible to streamline your arrival and departure in Edinburgh by adding transfers from either Edinburgh or Glasgow airports. Just ask your dedicated travel consultant for more details.

Of course, each of these Christmas tours is available to start from late November until a few days before 25 December. You can simply choose the date that suits you best.

Alternatively, if you’ve decided on a Hogmanay trip to Scotland, please note that there’s just one exclusive departure date for this itinerary. So we recommend making a booking as soon as possible to secure your tour.

On the other hand, if you opt for a winter self-drive tour, then you can choose a start date between November and March.

Although, it’s good to know that departure dates are limited over the festive period – from 23 December to 1 January. So, if you’d like to go on a Scottish road trip at this time of year, we advise getting in touch to ask about availability.

We recommend checking what flights are available before booking your trip. But it’s best to hold off on confirming them until you’ve heard from your travel consultant.

Once your tour arrangements have been made, they’ll let you know when you can buy your flights to and from Scotland.

The weather in Scotland is known for being changeable. So no matter whether you’re exploring the countryside or spending time in Edinburgh, you’ll want to be prepared for varied conditions.

That said, thanks to Scotland’s temperate climate, it’s uncommon for the temperature to drop below freezing, even in mid-winter. This means that while you'll likely experience both wet and dry weather during your visit, it shouldn’t be too cold.

Here are some suggestions on what to bring for seeing the sights in Edinburgh:

• • Layers for cool weather
• • Weatherproof jacket
• • Casual shoes or boots
• • Smart clothing and shoes for dining out
• • Daybag for carrying your valuables
• • Camera
• • Umbrella
• • UK plug adapter
   

It’s also worth packing some extra clothing for your guided tour of the Scottish Highlands. Although you’ll be travelling in a minibus, there will be chances to hop off and take photographs or enjoy a short walk. So make sure to add these items to your suitcase:

• • Waterproof jacket and trousers
• • Warm, insulated jacket
• • Comfortable walking shoes
• • Cosy hat, scarf and gloves
• • Small rucksack for your daily essentials
• • Reusable water bottle
   

Plus, don’t forget a weatherproof bag, charging cable and spare batteries for your camera. To capture great photographs at night, you might also like to throw in a lightweight travel tripod. For more information check out this Scotland packing guide.