Scotland is a country rich in culture, history, wildlife, and landscapes. From the Scottish Borders in the south to the Highlands in the far north, this is a land that’s begging to be explored.
Visitors have a huge range of attractions to choose from when they’re touring Scotland, whether they’re looking for serene lochs or dramatic mountain ridges, so it makes sense to do a little research before leaving home.
This page will help you, with a collection of categories that will take you to comprehensive visitor guides about the top tourist attractions in all the regions of Scotland.
Click each region in the map below, or keep scrolling to see each region in greater detail.
Interactive map ↓
The Regions of Scotland
You can also search for tourist attractions with an interactive map of Scotland
The Scottish Borders
The Scottish Borders is a region that’s best known for its beautiful abbeys, tranquil forests, and gorgeous coastline. It can be reached within an hour from Edinburgh so it’s ideal for visitors that want to escape the city to enjoy the world-class 7Stanes mountain biking trails or walk along rolling hills on the John Muir Way.
Recommended attractions: Glentress Forest, Melrose Abbey, Cove Bay
Recommended reading
Central Scotland, Tayside, & Fife
The regions of Central Scotland, Tayside, and Fife are absolutely chock-a-block full of beautiful landscapes. From the pretty coastal villages of the East Neuk of Fife to the serene waters of Loch Leven Nature Reserve, visitors have endless choice when it comes to finding things to do.
Recommended attractions: Tentsmuir Nature Reserve, Culross Village, Schiehallion Mountain.
Recommended reading
- Virtual Tours of Central Scotland
- Summer in Scotland – The Best Places to Visit
- Free Attractions in Central Scotland
Dumfries & Galloway
Dumfries & Galloway is a very popular tourist destination, partly because of its undulating coastline and partly because of its vast stretches of unspoilt forest. The region plays hosts to a number of festivals each year including the superb Big Burns Supper, and it’s one of Scotland’s top destinations for nature lovers thanks to the stunning Solway Firth.
Recommended attractions: Gretna Green Blacksmith’s Shop, The Solway Firth, Caerlaverock Castle.
Recommended reading
- Where Can You See the Northern Lights in Scotland?
- The Best Non-Touristy Places to Go in Scotland
- Free Attractions in Dumfries & Galloway
Edinburgh
Edinburgh needs no introduction. As Scotland’s capital city it’s home to many of the county’s top tourist attractions, including Edinburgh Castle and Holyrood Palace, not to mention beautiful green spaces like Holyrood Park and stunning viewpoints such as Calton Hill.
Recommended attractions: Edinburgh Castle, Holyrood Palace, Holyrood Park.
Recommended reading
- Tips & Advice For Visiting Edinburgh
- The Essential Tourist Guide to Edinburgh
- Things to Do in Edinburgh – Complete Visitor Guide
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and is home to a dizzying number of tourist attractions – most of which are completely free. The GOMA will keep art fans entertained for hours while children will be fascinated by the activities in the Glasgow Science Centre. There’s also the Riverside Museum and the Tall Ship, Glasgow Botanic Gardens, and The People’s Palace, to name just a few.
Recommended attractions: The Riverside Museum, Glasgow Cathedral, Glasgow Science Centre.
Recommended reading
- Things to Do in Glasgow – Complete Visitor Guide
- Interesting Facts About Glasgow
- Things to Do in Glasgow in a Weekend
Grampian
Grampian is a diverse region that includes the city of Aberdeen, part of the Cairngorm National Park, and the superb coastline between Fraserburgh and Nairn. As well as being an outdoor-lover’s paradise it is highly-rated by whisky enthusiasts thanks to the Speyside area which is one of Scotland’s biggest producers of single malt.
Recommended attractions: Braemar Village, Dunnottar Castle, Elgin Cathedral.
Recommended reading
The Highlands
The Highlands is one of the largest areas of Scotland, yet it’s also the least inhabited. Visitors to the Scottish Highlands can lose themselves in one of the world’s most beautiful landscapes, where dramatic mountain ranges and vast glassy lochs are waiting to be discovered around every corner.
Recommended attractions: Bealach na Ba, Loch Morar, Glen Etive.
Recommended reading
- Things to Do in the Scottish Highlands – Complete Visitor Guide
- Virtual Tours of the Scottish Highlands
- The Best Munros in Scotland – Ultimate Visitor Guide
The Lothians
The Lothian region is perhaps best known as the home of Edinburgh, but that shouldn’t stop tourists from exploring beyond the city as there are a multitude of attractions waiting to be discovered. Whether it’s water sports on the Firth of Forth or castle tours in East Lothian, this is one area of Scotland that’s an absolute must-visit.
Recommended attractions: Linlithgow Palace, Blackness Castle, Tantallon Castle.
- Things to Do in East Lothian – Complete Visitor Guide
- Virtual Tours of East Lothian
- Where Are the Best Outlander Tours in Scotland?
Strathclyde
Strathclyde has a lot going for it. In addition to its amazing castles, coastline, forests, mountains, and lochs, this region is the best place in Scotland to use as a base for sightseeing tours. The gorgeous Loch Lomond and Trossachs lie to the south, Glasgow sits near its centre, and the northern section extends deep into the Scottish Highlands.
Recommended attractions: Ben Cruachan, Inveraray Castle, New Lanark World Heritage Centre.
Recommended reading
- The Best Lochs in Scotland – Ultimate Visitor Guide
- How to Tour Scotland by Train
- How to Avoid Midges in Scotland
Western Isles
Scotland’s Western Isles offer visitors some of the best experiences in the United Kingdom. The stunning scenery of the Isle of Skye is perhaps the highlight, but there’s also the golden beaches of Tiree, the whisky of Islay, the coastline and mountains of Mull, and the jaw-dropping vistas of Lewis and Harris to enjoy, to name just a few.
Recommended attractions: The Isle of Skye, The Isle of Rum, The Isle of Arran.
Recommended reading
- Islay Whisky Distillery Tours – The Ultimate Guide
- 20 Interesting Facts About the Isle of Skye
- The Best Beaches on the Isle of Tiree
Things to see when visiting Scotland
Click the links in each region to open visitor guides about each attraction.
Central Scotland
- Aberdour Castle Visitor Guide
- Ben Lawers Visitor Guide
- Birks of Aberfeldy Visitor Guide
- Blair Castle Visitor Guide
- Blair Drummond Safari Park Visitor Guide
- Bracklinn Falls Visitor Guide
- Castle Campbell & Dollar Glen Visitor Guide
- Crieff Hydro Visitor Guide
- Culross Visitor Guide
- Doune Castle Visitor Guide
- Dunfermline Abbey Visitor Guide
- East Neuk of Fife Visitor Guide
- Falkirk Wheel Visitor Guide
- Falls of Dochart Visitor Guide
- Glen Ogle Visitor Guide
- Hermitage Forest Visitor Guide
- Inchmahome Priory Visitor Guide
- Loch Katrine Visitor Guide
- Loch Leven Visitor Guide
- McManus Museum Visitor Guide
- Schiehallion Mountain Visitor Guide
- Scone Palace Visitor Guide
- St Andrews Aquarium Visitor Guide
- St. Andrews Cathedral Visitor Guide
- Stirling Castle Visitor Guide
- Tentsmuir Nature Reserve Visitor Guide
- The Enchanted Forest Visitor Guide
- The Kelpies Visitor Guide
- The National Wallace Monument Visitor Guide
- The Scottish Deer Centre Visitor Guide
- V&A Dundee Visitor Guide
Dumfries & Galloway
- Caerlaverock Castle Visitor Guide
- Gretna Green Blacksmiths Shop Visitor Guide
- New Abbey Corn Mill Visitor Guide
- Solway Firth Visitor Guide
Edinburgh
- Balmoral Hotel Visitor Guide
- Calton Hill Visitor Guide
- Camera Obscura and World of Illusions Visitor Guide
- Craigmillar Castle Visitor Guide
- Cramond Island Visitor Guide
- Dean Village Visitor Guide
- Edinburgh Castle Visitor Guide
- Edinburgh Fringe Festival Visitor Guide
- Edinburgh Grassmarket Visitor Guide
- Edinburgh Hogmanay Torchlight Procession Visitor Guide
- Edinburgh Zoo Visitor Guide
- Edinburgh’s Christmas Visitor Guide
- Flodden Wall Visitor Guide
- Gilmerton Cove Visitor Guide
- Greyfriars Bobby Visitor Guide
- Greyfriars Kirk Visitor Guide
- Holyrood Palace Visitor Guide
- Holyrood Park Visitor Guide
- John Knox House Visitor Guide
- Lauriston Castle Visitor Guide
- Leith Visitor Guide
- Museum on the Mound Visitor Guide
- Princes Street Gardens Visitor Guide
- Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh Visitor Guide
- Royal Highland Show Visitor Guide
- Royal Yacht Britannia Visitor Guide
- Scott Monument Visitor Guide
- Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art Visitor Guide
- Scottish National Gallery Visitor Guide
- Scottish Parliament Building Visitor Guide
- St. Giles Cathedral Visitor Guide
- The Real Mary King’s Close Visitor Guide
- The Royal Mile Visitor Guide
- The Scotch Whisky Experience Visitor Guide
- The Union Canal Visitor Guide
- Water of Leith Visitor Centre Guide
- Water of Leith Visitor Guide
Glasgow
- George Square Visitor Guide
- Glasgow Botanic Gardens Visitor Guide
- Glasgow Cathedral Visitor Guide
- Glasgow City Centre Mural Trail Visitor Guide
- Glasgow Gallery of Modern Art Visitor Guide
- Glasgow Green Visitor Guide
- Glasgow Necropolis Visitor Guide
- Glasgow Science Centre Visitor Guide
- Hunterian Museum Visitor Guide
- Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum Visitor Guide
- Kelvingrove Park Visitor Guide
- Riverside Museum Visitor Guide
- St. Mungo Museum of Religious Life & Art Visitor Guide
- The Scottish Event Campus Centre Visitor Guide
- The Tall Ship Visitor Guide
- TRNSMT Music Festival Visitor Guide
- University of Glasgow Visitor Guide
Grampian
- Banff Heritage Trail Visitor Guide
- Braemar Visitor Guide
- Cullen Visitor Guide
- Dallas Dhu Distillery Visitor Guide
- Duff House Visitor Guide
- Dunnottar Castle Visitor Guide
- Elgin Cathedral Visitor Guide
- Lossiemouth East Beach Visitor Guide
- Portsoy Visitor Guide
- Spynie Palace Visitor Guide
Orkney & Shetland
Strathclyde
- Ben Cruachan Dam Visitor Guide
- Bonawe Iron Furnace Visitor Guide
- Burncrooks Reservoir Visitor Guide
- Dunstaffnage Castle Visitor Guide
- Inveraray Castle Visitor Guide
- John Muir Way, Balloch Visitor Guide
- John Muir Way, Helensburgh Visitor Guide
- McCaig’s Tower Visitor Guide
- New Lanark Visitor Guide
- St. Conan’s Kirk Visitor Guide
The Highlands
- Bealach na Ba Visitor Guide
- Ben Hope Visitor Guide
- Ben Ledi Visitor Guide
- Bidean nam Bian Visitor Guide
- Cairngorm Mountain Funicular Visitor Guide
- Castle Sinclair Girnigoe Visitor Guide
- Castle Varrich Visitor Guide
- Causeymire Wind Farm Visitor Guide
- Culloden Battlefield Visitor Guide
- Duncansby Head Visitor Guide
- Dunrobin Castle Visitor Guide
- Eilean Donan Castle Visitor Guide
- Faraid Head Visitor Guide
- Fort George Visitor Guide
- Glen Etive Visitor Guide
- Glencoe Visitor Centre Guide
- Glenfinnan Monument Visitor Guide
- Highland Wildlife Park Visitor Guide
- John O’ Groats Visitor Guide
- Kilchurn Castle Visitor Guide
- Loch Morar Visitor Guide
- Loch Morlich Visitor Guide
- Loch Ness Centre and Exhibition Visitor Guide
- Loch Ness Visitor Guide
- Muir of Dinnet Visitor Guide
- Nevis Range Mountain Experience Visitor Guide
- North Morar Visitor Guide
- Silver Sands of Morar Visitor Guide
- Smoo Cave Visitor Guide
- Talmine Bay Visitor Guide
- The Jacobite Steam Train Visitor Guide
- Ullapool Hill and The Braes Visitor Guide
- Urquhart Castle Visitor Guide
- Wick Heritage Museum Visitor Guide
The Lothians
- Athelstaneford Visitor Guide
- Bass Rock Visitor Guide
- Blackness Castle Visitor Guide
- Crichton Castle Visitor Guide
- Dalkeith Country Park Visitor Guide
- Dirleton Castle Visitor Guide
- Dunbar Harbour Visitor Guide
- East Links Family Park Visitor Guide
- Flotterstone, Pentland Hills Visitor Guide
- Forth Road Bridge Visitor Guide
- Hailes Castle Visitor Guide
- Hopetoun House Visitor Guide
- Inchcolm Island and Abbey Visitor Guide
- John Muir Country Park Visitor Guide
- Jupiter Artland Visitor Guide
- Lammermuir Hills Visitor Guide
- Linlithgow Palace Visitor Guide
- Midlothian Snowsports Centre Visitor Guide
- National Museum of Flight Visitor Guide
- North Berwick Law Visitor Guide
- Pressmennan Wood Visitor Guide
- Preston Mill & Phantassie Doocot Visitor Guide
- Prestongrange Mining Museum Visitor Guide
- Rosslyn Chapel Visitor Guide
- Seacliff Beach Visitor Guide
- Seton Collegiate Church Visitor Guide
- Swanston & the Pentland Hills Visitor Guide
- Tantallon Castle Visitor Guide
- Woodhall Dean Nature Reserve Visitor Guide
- Yellowcraig Beach Visitor Guide
Scottish Borders
- Cove Harbour and Pease Bay Visitor Guide
- Glentress Forest Visitor Guide
- Jedburgh Abbey Visitor Guide
- Melrose Abbey Visitor Guide
Western Isles
- Armadale Castle Gardens & Museum Visitor Guide
- Arnol Blackhouse Visitor Guide
- Arran Coastal Way Visitor Guide
- Ben More Visitor Guide
- Boreraig Clearance Village Visitor Guide
- Brodick Castle Visitor Guide
- Brodick Visitor Guide
- Callanish Standing Stones Visitor Guide
- Carsaig Arches Visitor Guide
- Duart Castle Visitor Guide
- Finlaggan Visitor Guide
- Gearrannan Blackhouse Village Visitor Guide
- Goatfell Visitor Guide
- Holy Isle Visitor Guide
- Hushinish, Harris Visitor Guide
- Iona Abbey Visitor Guide
- Isle of Arran Forests Visitor Guide
- Isle of Arran Visitor Guide
- Isle of Benbecula Visitor Guide
- Isle of Coll Visitor Guide
- Isle of Eigg Visitor Guide
- Isle of Eriskay Visitor Guide
- Isle of Islay Visitor Guide
- Isle of Jura Visitor Guide
- Isle of Lunga Visitor Guide
- Isle of Mull Visitor Guide
- Isle of Raasay Visitor Guide
- Isle of Rum Visitor Guide
- Isle of Scalpay Visitor Guide
- Isle of Skye Visitor Guide
- Isle of Tiree Beaches Visitor Guide
- Isle of Tiree Visitor Guide
- Isle of Vatersay Visitor Guide
- Lews Castle Visitor Guide
- Lochranza Visitor Guide
- Luskentyre Beach Visitor Guide
- Old Man of Storr Visitor Guide
- Quinish Point Visitor Guide
- Reuval, Benbecula, Visitor Guide
- Skye Marble Line Visitor Guide
- The Butt of Lewis Visitor Guide
- The Fairy Glen Visitor Guide
- The Fairy Pools Visitor Guide
- The Quiraing Visitor Guide
- Tiree Music Festival Visitor Guide
Scottish attraction categories
Click the links in the table below to see archives of Scotland’s best tourist attractions.
Even more things to do! Find the best attractions in and around Scotland’s cities with Google Maps of Scotland.
FAQs about the regions of Scotland
How many counties are there in Scotland?
There are 32 counties in Scotland. These are:
Aberdeenshire, Angus, Argyll and Bute, Clackmannanshire, Dumfries and Galloway, Dundee, East Ayrshire, East Dunbartonshire, East Lothian, East Renfrewshire, Edinburgh, Falkirk, Fife, Glasgow, Highland, Inverclyde, Midlothian, Moray, North Ayrshire, North Lanarkshire, Orkney, Perth and Kinross, Renfrewshire, Scottish Borders, Shetland Isles, South Ayrshire, South Lanarkshire, Stirlingshire, West Dunbartonshire, West Lothian, Western Isles.
What are Scotland’s regions?
The regions of Scotland are:
Strathclyde (including Glasgow), Dumfries & Galloway, Scottish Borders, Lothian (including Edinburgh), Central Scotland, Fife, Tayside, Grampian, Highland, Western Isles, Shetland and Orkney.
What is the smallest county in Scotland?
Clackmannanshire is the smallest county in Scotland. It is also the smallest county in Britain. Clackmannanshire (often abbreviated to Clacks) has a total size of 61.4 square miles, or 159 square km. The population is around 51,000.
How many cities are there in Scotland?
There are 7 cities in Scotland. These are:
Inverness: Location – Highland. Size – 26.6 sq km. Population – 47,000.
Aberdeen: Location – North-east. Size (including council area) – 185.7 sq km. Population – 198,000.
Dundee: Location – South-east. Size – 51.8 sq km. Population – 150,000.
Stirling: Location – Central. Size – 16.7 sq km. Population – 38,000.
Glasgow: Location – South-west. Size (including council area) – 175 sq km. Population – 632,000.
Edinburgh: Location – South-east. Size – 119 sq km. Population – 507,000.
Perth: Location – Central. Size – 17.5 sq km. Population – 47,000.
