The best day trips from Edinburgh & Glasgow by bus
Looking for day trips by bus from Edinburgh or Glasgow? Here are my top 6 day trip destinations with Citylink, from city sightseeing to scenic adventures.
This was written during a paid partnership with Citylink
To me, an adventure can be big or small; over multiple days, or just one. Adventure is an escape from your routine and a change of scenery; it could be a culture fix, a foodie trip or time in nature. Simply sneak away for the day from your base in the city, no car or driving required.
If you are visiting Scotland and planning to travel by public transport, I always recommend choosing 2 or 3 ‘base locations’ and branching out from there on day trips. Make one of those destinations Edinburgh or Glasgow.
Both cities have an excellent network of bus routes with frequent departures. In fact, the service between Edinburgh and Glasgow runs 24 hours a day; I’ve definitely made use of this after a concert or club night in Glasgow!
These day trips by bus are for both locals and visitors; everyone can play ‘tourist’ for the day. I’ve chosen 6 destinations, and for each one, I’ve listed my top 5 things to do. While 1 day typically won’t be enough to do all 5, you can choose from the options which appeal most to you. Let’s get going!
BENEFITS OF DAY TRIPS BY BUS
- You can experience a complete change of scenery without venturing too far from the city and spending money on overnight accommodation.
- Buses are the cheapest mode of public transport; reduced price advanced fares are available until 48 hours prior to travel. Check out the Explorer Pass for multiple days of travel.
- The buses are modern and comfortable with toilets onboard and charging points; the Edinburgh/Glasgow buses have tables too.
- Leaving the car at home gives you the chance to sit back and relax on the bus; listen to music or a podcast and gaze out the window.
- Exploring by public transport is a more sustainable way to travel, helping to reduce emissions and traffic congestion.
Edinburgh & Glasgow: Day Trips by Bus
1) Glasgow
Journey time from Edinburgh: 1 hour 30 minutes
Whether you’re a local or a visitor, Glasgow is the perfect day trip from Edinburgh, offering a completely contrasting experience to the touristy capital city. More local, edgy and industrial, Glasgow is the place to go for art, music, museums and a vibrant food scene.
The city’s official slogan is ‘People Make Glasgow’, and they’re not wrong; there are plenty of local characters in this city, known for their friendly demeanour and sense of humour.
Glasgow: Top 5 Things to Do
- Ride the hop-on, hop-off bus for an introduction to the city and to get your bearings. Get off for a walk at Glasgow Cathedral and Glasgow Necropolis, then from Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, walk to the nearby University of Glasgow and Ashton Lane.
- Follow the Mural Trail to discover incredible street art installations which have transformed buildings and hidden lanes in the city centre.
- Visit some of the city’s many museums: Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, Riverside Museum and People’s Palace in Glasgow Green.
- Go for an international bite to eat: Napolitana pizza at Paesano Pizza, South Indian cuisine at Dakhin and ‘BABS for delicious, colourful Mediterranean food.
- Check out the local pubs: The Pot Still for whisky, Waxy O’Connors for live music, and The Ben Nevis for traditional tunes.
2) Edinburgh
Journey time from Glasgow: 1 hour 30 minutes
If you’re based in Glasgow, you can’t go wrong with a day trip to the capital. Even with all the cobbled streets, steps and hills, Edinburgh is still a very walkable city and the bus station is just short stroll from the Old Town. Embrace the bustle and buzz; curiously wander, step back in time, and keep yourself well fed and watered along the way.
Expect beautiful historic architecture, iconic hills, green spaces, and lots of visitors, loving life.
Edinburgh: Top 5 Things to Do
- Explore the enchanting Old Town; walk the Royal Mile from Edinburgh Castle at the top to Holyrood Palace at the bottom, wandering down the narrow ‘closes’ as you go.
- Eat your way around the Old Town: Pirlous for brunch (try the shakshuka) Clarinda’s Tearoom for lunch and delightful home-baking, El Cartel Teviot for tacos & street food, Moo Pie Gelato for home-made ice-cream, Piggs Wine Bar for sharing boards & tapas and Whitehorse Oyster & Seafood Bar.
- Climb Arthurs Seat and/or Calton Hill, both remnants of an extinct volcano, for beautiful views of the city skyline. Sunset is even more magical!
- Visit one of the many free museums: National Museum of Scotland, Writers’ Museum, The People’s Story and Museum of Edinburgh. All are in and around the Old Town.
- Book a ghost tour with Mercat Tours to visit the underground vaults and learn about Edinburgh’s dark and sinister past.
3) Stirling
Journey time from Edinburgh: 1 hour 30 minutes
Journey time from Glasgow: 45 minutes
Stirling is a day trip for history lovers. This city has many a tale to tell and Stirling Castle is the centrepiece of it all; a Royal residence and military fortress, which has played a key role in some of Scotland’s most turbulent events, from the Wars of Independence to the Jacobite rebellions. From the bus station, march uphill to the historic ‘Top of the Town’, gateway to the past.
Stirling: Top 5 Things to Do
- Explore the impressive medieval fortress that is Stirling Castle, one of the most historically significant sites in Scotland. Join one of the guided tours (every 30 mins) for an insight into the castle’s history.
- Go for lunch at Darnley Coffee House for amazing toasties, soup, homemade cordial and cakes in the building where Mary Queen of Scots’ second husband once lived.
- Visit Stirling Old Town Jail, which replaced the infamously brutal and disease-ridden prison in the nearby Tollbooth. Join a guided tour and climb the spiral staircase up to the Observation Tower.
- Shop for local gifts and souvenirs at Made in Stirling, filled with crafts, clothing, artwork and jewellery etc., by artists and makers from Stirling and beyond.
- For another local history fix, visit The Stirling Smith Art Gallery and Museum; exhibits include the football found behind a wall in Stirling Castle, thought to be one of the oldest in the world, from Mary Queen of Scots’ childhood.
4) Luss, Loch Lomond
Journey time from Glasgow: 1 hour
Escape to the bonnie banks of Loch Lomond, one of the most popular day trip destinations from Glasgow. Loch Lomond, which has the largest surface area of any body of water on the UK mainland, is home to 22 islands and 27 islets.
Luss is a charming conservation village on the western shores of this famous loch with cute cottages, ornate street lanterns, flower baskets and a sandy beach by the pier.
Luss: Top 5 Things to Do
- Grab a coffee and some picnic snacks from Luss Village Store to take with you for the afternoon.
- Book a boat trip with Cruise Loch Lomond and spend some time out on the water learning about the loch and its many islands.
- Hop off the boat at Inchcailloch island, a National Nature Reserve, where the Irish St Kentigerna lived and died in the 8th century. Explore the walking trails and relax on the small beach.
- Check out the watersports on the loch or go for a swim near Luss Pier. Check out these safety tips for open water swimming.
- Go for dinner and drinks at The Village Rest, the tables outside are perfect for sunny days.
5) Inveraray
Journey time from Glasgow: 1 hour 50 minutes (the same bus to Luss)
Inveraray is a delightful day out from the city and one of my favourite wee places in Scotland; from the fascinating history and connection to the Dukes of Argyll, to the picturesque town design and setting on the shores of Loch Fyne. Not only is Inveraray a super scenic location, the bus journeys takes a stunning route along Loch Lomond, past the ‘Arrochar Alps’ and up the A83 to the ‘Rest and Be Thankful’ viewpoint.
Inveraray: Top 5 Things to Do
- Visit the fairytale-like Inveraray Castle, the ancestral home of Clan Campbell. At the very least, go and take pictures from the outside. Explore the interior if you have time.
- Hike to the monument at the summit of Dùn na Cuaiche for incredible views back down to the castle, town and Loch Fyne. The walk is well worth it!
- Have a lovely lunch at Brambles, a charming wee eatery with a Secret Garden (outside seating). Try their own small batch hand roasted Campbell Coffee too.
- Go to Inveraray Jail to learn about the brutal 19th century system of crime and punishment in this former prison and courthouse.
- If you’re staying for dinner and drinks, go to The George Hotel; on a sunny day, check if their Garden Bar beer garden is open.
6) Dundee
Journey time from Edinburgh: 1 hour 35 minutes
Journey time from Glasgow: 1 hour 45 minutes
Dundee is the first and only UNESCO City of Design in the UK, and is famed as the home of ‘jam, jute and journalism’; marmalade, the historic textile industry and DC Thomson, publishers of The Beano and The Dandy comics. Dundee has all these claims to fame, and exciting on-going developments, yet remains a friendly, down-to-earth city with amazing cultural sites and independent businesses.
Be sure to check out Perth Road; a vibrant, student-y side of the city with quirky bars, cafes, record stores and vintage shops.
Dundee: Top 5 Things to Do
- Explore the museum, ship and rooftop dome at Discovery Point to learn about Dundee’s relationship with the sea and the incredible story of Captain Scott’s treacherous voyage to Antarctica aboard the RRS Discovery.
- Indulge in the local food scene: amazing lunch/brunch at Pacamara or The Bach, coffee and cakes/pastries from The Newport Bakery (Westport) and meat or seafood with a punch of Caribbean flavours at Gidi Grill.
- Check out the new waterfront, complete with an urban beach, deckchairs, food vans and the pretty Slessor Gardens; also used as a space for concerts and events.
- Visit the V&A, Scotland’s first museum of design – the Scottish Design Galleries is the free, permanent exhibition, however there is a charge to visit some of the seasonal exhibitions.
- Wander through an old jute mill at Verdant Works, Dundee’s hidden gem of a museum which tells the story of the historic textile industry and the local people who worked there.
* A joint ticket is available for Verdant Works and Discovery Point and is valid for a year.
