The Ultimate 4 Days in Scotland Itinerary: Exploring Edinburgh and the Highlands
Scotland is easily one of the most beautiful places in the United Kingdom! It has cities with stunning architecture, lakes with gorgeous views, and fun hikes throughout the highlands. If it is not already on your bucket list, you need to add it!
When we visited Scotland, we spent a week exploring everything it offered. We spent a day walking through the stunning city of Edinburgh and the rest of our time exploring some of the best places in the highlands. It was so fun, and now I can provide you with the ultimate itinerary!
If you want to explore Edinburgh and the Scotland highlands, you are in the right place! Although you can spend weeks exploring everything Scotland offers, you can explore a few areas within four days. This 4-day Scotland itinerary explores Edinburgh and Glencoe, one of the most beautiful places in the highlands. This guide has everything you need to know to plan the best 4 days in Scotland!
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Tips for Visiting Scotland
Although Scotland is huge, it is pretty easy to create an incredible itinerary even if you only have a few days to visit! You can explore the city and the highlands, allowing you to get a little bit of everything Scotland offers.
Important Things to know
Pack warm layers and a rain jacket. Scotland is known for being rainy and moody, and the Scotland highlands have about 265 days of rain, so pack a rain jacket when you visit. Although it rains a lot year-round, the wettest seasons tend to be autumn and winter. April, May, and June tend to be the driest months, and when we visited in May, it only rained one day in Scotland, which was amazing!
Pack the appropriate hiking gear. If you want to hike in the highlands, you should have supportive shoes with good traction, like hiking boots, layers for the time of year you are hiking, and a backpack with water, snacks, and layers. And last but not least, make sure to pack the Ten Essentials.
Arrive at the popular trailheads early. The trailheads in Glencoe have small parking lots and fill up quickly, and I recommend arriving at the popular trailheads early in the morning to secure a spot. We arrived at a trailhead in Glencoe around 10 AM and had a hard time finding parking. We had to drive down the road to find parking at a different area and walk to the trailhead. I highly recommend arriving early in the morning to avoid this!
Rent a car. Although Scotland has a great transportation system, I recommend renting a car when you visit. You do not need a car for your first days in Edinburgh since the city has a public transportation system, but I recommend picking up a car before heading to the highlands. It will allow you to have a flexible schedule to explore anything your heart desires in the highlands! We rented a car once we left the city, and it was the best decision.
Prepare to drive on the left side of the road. The United Kingdom drives on the left side, and the driver is on the right side of the car, which is the opposite of what we are used to. You get used to this quickly, but it is good to know if you plan to rent a car.
Pack food and water while you are exploring. Once outside the city, most attractions are in remote areas with few restaurants and stores nearby. I recommend packing food and water you will need while exploring and hiking for the day in the highlands.
Always remember to leave no trace. It’s crucial to pack out what you pack in and leave no trash. Some spots have trash bins, so you can easily throw your trash away. If they don’t have trash bins, you can throw your trash away at a nearby gas station or convenience store.
Where to Fly INto Scotland
Since the first part of your itinerary is in Edinburgh, I recommend flying into the Edinburgh Airport. Edinburgh has many flights available, so you should be able to find something that works for you!
The city has a bus running all night, making it easy to use it once you arrive at the airport. We arrived super late (around midnight) and easily got to the city using the Airlink 100 bus.
You could also fly into Glasgow and take a train to Edinburgh. Glasgow sometimes has more flight options, depending on where you are coming from, but it is easier to fly into Edinburgh.
As I mentioned, I recommend renting a car for your trip to Scotland once you leave Edinburgh. A few tour companies offer bus services in each area this itinerary explores, but renting a car is easier and gives you flexibility.
The Best 4 Days in Scotland Itinerary
I created this 4-day Scotland itinerary based on our trip to Scotland and what I would have done if we only had four days. We spent a week exploring Edinburgh and the Scotland highlands, allowing me to give you the best things to fit into a 4-day itinerary.
This itinerary explores the beautiful city of Edinburgh and the highlands near Glencoe. Trust me, you will fall in love with the old architecture and the stunning highland views. Since Glencoe is about a three-hour drive from Edinburgh, it makes it the perfect place to visit after exploring the city.
If you want to visit the Isle of Skye, I recommend adding a few days to your trip. The Isle of Skye is about a five-hour drive from Edinburgh, so I would not recommend visiting if you only have four days in Scotland unless you are only visiting that area.
Day 1: Edinburgh
The first day of your 4-day Scotland itinerary explores one of the most beautiful cities in Scotland. Edinburgh is full of history, stunning architecture, and delicious food. Your days in Edinburgh are filled with walking through the old and colorful city streets, so get your cameras ready!
Things to know:
Use public transportation to get to the city. Edinburgh has great public transportation, including buses and trams. These are fantastic for getting to and from the city.
Get discount cards to help save money. If you are planning to visit attractions that have entrance fees, you may be able to save money using discount cards, discount codes, or purchasing tickets in advance. There are also many free things to do in Edinburgh!
Where to stay:
I recommend spending your first night in Edinburgh. A few of my favorite areas to stay in are Old Town, New Town, Dean Village, Stockbridge, Haymarket, and West End. We stayed in Dean Village and loved the quiet residential neighborhood.
If you want to be in the middle of the city, Old Town and New Town are great places to stay. If you want accommodation in a quiet area, Dean Village, Stockbridge, Haymarket, and West End are for you. Keep in mind that the closer you stay to the city, the more expensive the accommodations will be. But no matter where you stay, you can easily use Edinburgh’s public transportation!
Things to do:
The Royal Mile is an iconic walk in Edinburgh connecting Edinburgh Castle to the Palace of Holyroodhouse through its old town, and you will spend the rest of your day in the city exploring it. The 1-mile road has some of the most beautiful views in Edinburgh, and I will dive into some of the best things to do along the Royal Mile next. Below is a quick overview of some of the places you should stop at along the Royal Mile:
Edinburgh Castle
Camera Obscura
Scotch Whiskey
St Giles’ Cathedral
The Real Mary King’s Close
The Scottish Parliament
The Palace of Holyroodhouse
Edinburgh Castle is at the start of the Royal Mile and is one of the most iconic attractions in the city. The castle sits atop a hill formed by a volcano, and you will see it as you enter Edinburgh since it is hard to miss! The architecture and castle grounds are beautiful, making it a great place to visit in the morning before the crowds arrive. Although you can see the castle from various viewpoints throughout the city, I recommend visiting its grounds!
If you want to go into the castle, there is a fee, but you can enjoy the castle views from the castle esplanade outside the gate for free.
Although Vennel Street is not directly on the Royal Mile, I highly recommend adding it since it is just around the other side of the castle and has my favorite view of Edinburgh Castle. After you finish exploring the castle grounds, I recommend walking over to the top of the steps on Vennel Street and enjoying the stunning view of the castle.
If you want a little pick-me-up before continuing along the Royal Mile, I recommend going to Mary’s Milk Bar at the bottom of Vennel Street! It is a popular spot because of its homemade gelato and coffee.
Victoria Street is a small side street off the Royal Mile and is one of the most photographed places in Edinburgh! The street has many small shops and restaurants, but the true beauty is in the colorful buildings. Many believe Victoria Street may have inspired the creation of Diagon Alley, which is pretty cool!
St Giles’ Cathedral was one of my favorite buildings in Edinburgh along the Royal Mile because of its stunning Gothic architecture. Although pretty much every building in Edinburgh is beautiful, the St Giles’ Cathedral stood out. Whether you want to enjoy it from the street or go inside, you will fall in love with this building.
Cockburn Street is another beautiful side street off the Royal Mile similar to Victoria Street. The street is picturesque and worth the side trip to walk along the road or visit its small cafes and shops.
The Palace of Holyroodhouse is the final stop along the royal mile and is the royal residence of the monarchy in Scotland. You can enjoy its beautiful architecture from the grounds outside or walk through its interior. Although it is actively a royal residence, it is open to the public year-round.
Days 2: Edinburgh to Glencoe
On the second day of your 4-day Scotland itinerary, you will explore Edinburgh in the morning before starting the drive to the highlands. Although you can spend the entire day exploring Edinburgh, I recommend driving to the highlands at the end of the day, so you have two full days to explore Glencoe. Trust me, you will want the time to hike and drive through the stunning area!
Things to know:
- Pick which route to take to Glencoe. Before you drive to Glencoe, you need to confirm which way you want to drive there. Both of these ways are scenic, but the longer option is the most beautiful route, in my opinion. If you want to take the most direct route, you will take A84 to A82 into Glencoe. If you want to take the most scenic route, I recommend taking M8 out of the city towards Inveraray Castle before continuing into Glencoe. This route drives near Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park and along A83 which has stunning viewpoints to stop at. It adds about an hour to the drive, but it is worth it if you have the time!
Where to stay:
Glencoe has a small downtown with a few accommodations. Since it is close to the best things to do in Glencoe and many hiking trails, it is the best place to stay during this portion of your itinerary.
Fort William is one of the largest towns near Glencoe, making it a great place to stay if you do not mind staying further away. It has many accommodations, restaurants, and shops in its cute downtown. Fort William is about a half-hour drive from Glencoe, so you need to allocate time for traffic and the drive if you stay here.
We stayed a bit further away in Oban because we found a cute house rental, but if we were to visit again, we would stay in Glencoe. This coastal town was so cute and had many restaurants and accommodations.
Hotels Near Glencoe:
Campgrounds Near Glencoe:
Dean Village is one of the most picturesque neighborhoods in Edinburgh! If you are staying in or near Dean Village, I recommend exploring it to enjoy the stunning views and architecture. If it is not easily accessible to where you are staying, feel free to skip it! If you can visit, you can explore Bell’s Brae Bridge, Water of Leith Walkway, and Dean Village View Point.
Note: Dean Village is a residential neighborhood, so please be respectful when visiting.
If you want a delicious breakfast to start your day off right, I recommend eating at the Painted Rooster. We had a fantastic breakfast here and could not recommend the restaurant enough.
If you want to enjoy a beautiful view overlooking Edinburgh, you have two choices since the city has two beautiful trails you can enjoy. Arthur’s Hill is a more strenuous hike but has the better views of Edinburgh, in my opinion. Carlton Hill is a smaller hill with an easier trail and great views overlooking the city. You can hike one or both depending on what you are feeling!
Arthur’s Seat is the iconic hike in Edinburgh on an ancient volcano over 800 feet tall. At the top, you can enjoy expansive views of the city and beyond and visit a 2,000-year-old fort.
Carlton Hill and National Monument is a volcanic hill over 300 feet tall with a historic monument. The National Monument may look familiar because it was designed to be a replica of the Parthenon in Greece, but it was never completed, and only half of the structure was built. The 1-mile loop on Carlton Hill is less strenuous than Arthur’s Seat, making it a great alternative if you are not up for the longer hike.
After your hike, you can walk along Princes Street towards downtown before driving to Glencoe. Princes Street has many beautiful buildings, but the Scott Monument is one of my favorite structures because of its Gothic architecture. You can also walk up to the third floor of the monument to enjoy views of the city.
Princes Street Gardens is next to the Scott Monument and adds a splash of vibrant green to Edinburgh. The 37-acre gardens separate the old town and new town in Edinburgh, making it a great spot to enjoy a quick stroll, eat a snack, or relax.
If you take the longer and more scenic route to Glencoe, below are some places you can stop along the drive. Although this drive is a bit longer, it offers stunning viewpoints.
Rest and Be Thankful Commemorative Stone - one of the most viewpoints along the drive overlooking the highlands
Loch Restil - another beautiful viewpoint along the lake; this is easy to miss, so make sure to keep an eye out for the small pull-off area along the road
Inveraray Castle - arguably one of the most beautiful castles in Scotland; for a small fee, you can walk around the gardens and explore the inside of the castle
Kilchurn Castle - beautiful castle ruins; you can enjoy the views from Kilchurn Castle Viewpoint along A819 or hike the 1.1-mile round-trip hike off A85 towards the castle grounds
Day 3: Glencoe
Now that you are in Glencoe, you will spend the rest of your days exploring the stunning highlands! You can switch around the last two days of your itinerary, depending on what you choose to do.
Glencoe has stunning hiking trails, giving you endless opportunities to experience some of the best views of the highlands. Even if you do not hike, you can enjoy the views from scenic drives and viewpoints. Glencoe was one of our favorite areas in Scotland, so I know you will fall in love with the area.
Things to know:
Pack warm layers and a rain jacket. The Scotland highlands have about 265 days of rain and unpredictable weather, making it crucial to pack a rain jacket and warm layers.
Start your day early. Since you only have two days in Glencoe, I recommend starting your days early to give yourself plenty of time to explore everything the area offers. If you plan to hike, starting your day early is crucial.
Arrive at the popular trailheads early. The trailheads near Glencoe have small parking lots and fill up quickly. I recommend arriving at the popular trailheads early in the morning to secure a spot.
Things to do:
Glencoe Scenic Drive is one of the most breathtaking scenic drives near Glencoe, following A82. Once you reach the A85 intersection, you can turn around to follow the same road to Glencoe or take a right to continue the loop back. All the below-mentioned attractions are along A82, plus many more viewpoints. Although the drive along A85 is not as scenic, it still offers beautiful views and a few attractions. We enjoyed our drive along the entire loop and exploring the lesser-visited areas.
Three Sisters Viewpoint is one of the most beautiful viewpoints near Glencoe, with views of the mountains and surrounding highlands. The best part is you can enjoy the views from the parking lot. It was one of our favorite viewpoints in Glencoe!
If you want to hike, Glencoe has many options, so I recommend picking at least one trail to hike ahead of time. We hiked the Coire Gabhail (The Lost Valley) because it offers up-close and personal views of the Three Sisters and the Hidden Valley. The 4-mile round trip hike begins at the Three Sisters Viewpoint parking lot and travels to the top of the Hidden Valley Viewpoint, offering breathtaking views overlooking the valley and surrounding mountains. We continued to the bottom of the valley to enjoy some beautiful views from the base of the mountains.
The Meeting of Three Waters is a small viewpoint with beautiful and easy-to-get-to waterfalls. The waterfall consists of three water sources merging to create the waterfall at the base of the mountains which is very scenic. The parking area is pretty small, but if you can find a spot, you will love the viewpoint!
The Devil's Staircase is one of the most beautiful sections along the 96-mile West Highland Way backpacking route. Although you can only hike to the ridge near the Devil’s Staircase, I recommend going to the summit of Stob Mhic Mhartuin. The 3.2-mile round-trip hike has breathtaking views along the entire trail.
Wee White House is one of the most photographed areas near Glencoe because of its picturesque surrounding landscape. The viewpoint of the hut is off A82, so you can easily see it from the road. We enjoyed walking around and capturing the iconic hut with its stunning mountain backdrop.
If you want to enjoy another scenic drive or are a James Bond fan, I recommend adding Glen Etive to your itinerary. The 12-mile single-track road offers stunning views of the surrounding mountains, and you can enjoy driving it or stopping at its many scenic viewpoints. If you are a James Bond fan, you can visit the iconic scene from Skyfall when James Bond and M stand with the Aston Martin DB5.
Glencoe Mountain Resort is open year-round, offering fun activities in every season! In the winter, you can ski and snowboard on the mountain, and in the summer, Glencoe Mountain Resort offers mountain biking, tubing, and scenic chairlift rides. The views from the slopes are stunning, and you can enjoy them on any of the activities. If you do not like hiking, you can enjoy the scenic chairlift ride instead!
Day 4: Harry Potter Train and Ben Nevis
You have a few options for your final day in Glencoe! If you want to hike the iconic Ben Nevis (the tallest mountain in Scotland), I recommend allocating the entire day to it. The hike is strenuous, and you should start early to give yourself plenty of time to hike the trail. You can even hike Ben Nevis on the third day of your Scotland itinerary and explore the rest of Glencoe on your final day.
If you are not going to hike Ben Nevis, you have a few things you can do! You can visit the iconic Harry Potter train, explore waterfalls, or hike more trails near Glencoe. No matter what you decide to do on your final day in Scotland, you will have so much fun!
Things to do:
If you are hiking Ben Nevis:
As I mentioned above, if you decide to hike Ben Nevis, you should allocate the entire day to hike it. Ben Nevis is the tallest mountain in Scotland, standing over 4,400 feet, and it can be seen from Glencoe and along Glen Nevis Road. Hiking to the top is one of the best things to do in Glencoe, but it will make you work for the views. The 10-mile round-trip hike gains over 4,400 feet of elevation and typically takes hikers all day to complete. It is a strenuous trail but incredibly rewarding if you hike it on a clear day! We unfortunately did not get a chance to hike it because of the weather, but I have friends who hiked it and absolutely loved it!
If you are not hiking Ben Nevis:
Glenfinnan Viaduct is the iconic Harry Potter train, and you have probably seen photos of the area. If you want to get the iconic steam train shot, I recommend checking out the schedule for The Jacobrite. Usually, the train passes by this area around 10:45 AM and 1:15 PM going westbound, and 2:50 PM and 5:40 PM going eastbound, but these times could change. When we visited, the train was out of commission, so we did not get to see the iconic steam train, but it was still beautiful.
If you want to go to the iconic view of the Glenfinnan Viaduct, you can hike 1.3 miles round trip to the main viewpoints. The westbound viewpoint is to the left, while the eastbound viewpoint is to the right, and the trail has signage to help you find each.
You can also hike a 2.4-mile round-trip loop to a few other viewpoints.
On your way back to Glencoe, you can enjoy a scenic drive on Glen Nevis. The 6.5-mile road starts near Fort Williams and offers stunning views of Ben Nevis and the surrounding mountains.
One of the easiest hikes on Glen Nevis is the 2-mile round trip trail from Lower Falls to Patty’s Bridge. It is a great place to stretch your legs along the drive and enjoy views of the waterfall, river, and mountains. The trail tends to be muddy, so wear waterproof shoes!
Steall Waterfall is the last attraction on Glen Nevis and is the second tallest waterfall in Scotland, standing at 393 feet. The 2.3-mile round-trip trail has a few viewpoints of the waterfall, with the best being at the end of the trail across the river.
If you want to visit Scotland for 4 days, this guide is the perfect place to start creating your itinerary! It has everything you need to know to plan an incredible 4-day Scotland itinerary to Edinburgh and the highlands.
Hey, I’m Nichole!
I am the creator behind Nichole the Nomad, the home of my explorations around the world, mountain hikes, and beautiful pictures taken along the way. I have a deep passion for capturing the world in a beautiful light and sharing my experiences.
I created this blog to share my travels, show how beautiful the world is, provide tips and tricks for traveling, and encourage you to explore. Whether you want to travel across the world or explore what’s in your backyard, I hope this blog inspires you to get outside and find your adventure!
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