The best day trips from Edinburgh

Edinburgh is a top tier city if you ask us, but it can feel a little much in its most tourist-filled months. Thankfully, the Scottish Capital is surrounded by great little spots to escape the city’s frantic bustle, and plenty of them are reachable by a short car or train journey. 

From coastal towns and lovely beach walks to mountainous landscapes and rigorous hiking routes, there’s plenty outside the city that awaits you. Our top tip? Head out early, stop for lunch, and be back in Edinburgh in time for a slap-up dinner and pub trip in the evening – sounds pretty idyllic, right? So, without further ado, here are the best day trips from Edinburgh.

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This guide was updated by Edinburgh-based Arusa Querishi. At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines.