People speak English and Scots Gaelic in Scotland. For fun Scots phrases and words, have a look at our language guide.

Scotland is a country famous for warm hospitality, exquisite whisky, and the rolling green hills of the Highlands. Scotland is home to some of the most attractive island-studded coastlines in the UK, as well as castles full of history and culture.

Learn more about what Scotland is known for on our experts' blog.

Scotland is a brilliant destination all year round, so there isn’t a “best time to go”. The most popular season to visit is the summer as the weather is milder and the days are longer. However, winter vacations in Scotland mean you could experience Hogmanay (the Scottish New Year’s celebration) and enjoy the festive spirit. Spring and autumn are great times to go as they are quieter months with fewer visitors.

Want to learn more? Have a look at the best time to go to Scotland on our blog, or check out our guide to visiting during the shoulder seasons.

Scotland is renowned for its many picturesque landscapes and stunning coasts, but there are some spots that really stand out. Here are our favourites:

• Glencoe
• Dunnottar Castle
• Isle of Skye
• Orkney Islands
• Loch Lomond
• Loch Ness
• Cairngorms National Park
• Moray Firth
• Glenfinnan

Discover more stunning areas in our guide to the best places to visit in Scotland.

Scotland once had over 2,000 castles, but many are now ruins. Today there are approximately 120 castles still standing that you can visit.

Discover the most famous castles in Scotland on our blog.

Yes, Scotland is a safe place to visit and the country has a low crime rate. Locals are famously friendly, so don’t hesitate to ask if you need help with directions.

Have a look at our travel guide for detailed health and safety information.

You don’t need a visa if you're travelling from:

• The USA
• Canada
• Australia
• Switzerland
• Singapore
• The EU or EEA

You will need a visa if you’re travelling from:

• China
• South Africa
• Jamaica
• India

For all other countries, find out if you need a visa by answering a few questions on the United Kingdom’s travel page. All visitors to Scotland and the rest of the UK will need to present a valid passport upon arrival.

We recommend that you stay for as long as you can to have more time to enjoy the country and all its beautiful scenery. However, you could see a lot of the country in a week or two, depending on the route you take and how long you want to spend in each area. We recommend you search our tours for a better idea of how long you’ll want to spend in Scotland and which attractions you’ll see along the way.

The best way to see Scotland will depend on how you like to travel. If you want plenty of flexibility and the opportunity to diverge from your route, then a self-drive trip is ideal. However, if you want to travel with an expert guide to show you around, choose a private or small group vacation.

Scotland, like the rest of the UK, drives on the left-hand side of the road. Read our guide to driving in Scotland for more rules of the road.

You can fly from a few airports in Scotland to Ireland, but Glasgow and Edinburgh have the most flight options and times. We advise flying to Dublin airport, as there are convenient routes both back to Scotland as well as a great range of international links.

If exploring both Ireland and Scotland is on your wish list, talk to our team about combination packages and custom tours.

The cost of a Scotland package will depend on the season you go and how long you want to stay. However, when you book a Nordic Visitor vacation, a lot of important aspects are included:

• Comfortable accommodation
• Tasty breakfasts
• A personalised itinerary
• Ferry crossings (where applicable)
• Attraction fees (where applicable)

Discover our great value Scotland packages to find your perfect vacation.

Yes, your self-drive tour with Nordic Visitor includes car rental with our tried-and-tested hire car suppliers in Scotland.

You receive a collision damage waiver (CDW) and an excess waiver to reduce liability to zero. On top of that, you enjoy unlimited mileage, authorisation for two drivers, and a GPS navigation system for peace of mind. We don’t cover your road trip music: that is all up to you!

When you rent a car for your self-drive tour of Scotland with Nordic Visitor, there are some requirements that you should be aware of.

To rent a car in Scotland, you must hold a valid and full driving licence for a minimum period of 4 years. This reduces to 1 year if you are over 23 years of age.

Drivers aged 23 or 24 can take a self-drive tour with Nordic Visitor, subject to a young driver surcharge of £25 per day. You can hire vehicles in our rental car groups A, B, C or F.

The minimum age to rent a car in Scotland is 21. So if you're aged 21 or 22, we would be delighted to arrange your tour and provide you with information on how you can arrange your own car rental with specific suppliers who can cater to those aged 21 and 22.

If you are aged 80 or above, you can rent a car in Scotland so long as you provide medical proof that you are fit to drive. Please note this should be issued no earlier than 4 weeks before your travel date. You can hire vehicles in our rental car groups A, B or C.

Learn more about vehicle groups and car rental in Scotland on our travel guide.

Alternatively, you could leave the driving to a local expert when you pick one of our privately guided trips or guided small group tours of Scotland.

Yes, you can choose your ideal arrival date. All package availability is online, so simply have a look at our website or contact us if you’d prefer to speak with one of our team.

All our packages can be altered. The number of customisations you can add to your Scotland vacation will depend on the package type.

Hotels and attractions on small group guided tours are pre-booked to secure great rates. This means you can’t alter your tour, but you can extend your stay with days and nights at either end of your journey.

Self-drive and privately guided vacations are more flexible, as you decide how long you want to spend in each area. Therefore, you can add extra days and nights at any point of the itinerary.

If you’ve already booked but want to add on days, contact your dedicated travel consultant.

We recommend that you look for flight dates and times, but hold off purchasing until after your trip is confirmed by your travel consultant. Once your tour is booked, you’ll receive all of your tour details, meaning you can make a fully informed decision when it comes to buying flights.

It’s often said that if you don’t like the weather in Scotland, all you need to do is wait thirty minutes! Scottish weather is changeable, so we advise that you bring waterproof clothing and warm layers. Depending on where you travel from, you may also need to bring a power converter and plug adapter.

Here are a few things you’ll want to take on your trip:

• Waterproof jacket and pants
• Warm sweater or fleece
• Walking shoes or boots
• Insulated layers
• Woolly socks
• Hat, gloves and scarf
• Bug repellant (for summer)
• Plug adapter (three-pin)

Have a look at our comprehensive travel guide to get more useful packing tips.