How to Save Money on Travel in Scotland

With fuel prices constantly on the rise it can be a real pain in the wallet trying to fit in all the best attractions on a long sightseeing tour.

Scotland has plenty of sights and activities to attract wealthy tourists, but what about those of us who have to make our money stretch a wee bit further?

In this guide, you’ll discover the cheapest ways to travel in Scotland – from hire cars to trains and buses – plus 10 must-know money-saving tips that could save you a small fortune.

How to save money on a trip to Scotland

So you want to go sightseeing in Scotland and travel around all the amazing tourist attractions the country has to offer? Well, why not?

Year-on-year the number of global tourists visiting our shores has been steadily growing, with an average 15% increase in overseas visitors annually.

This may be partly due to the weakening pound meaning that overseas visitors get more ‘bang for their bucks’, but it’s also no doubt helped by the surge of people wanting to get new experiences they simply can’t get anywhere else in Europe.

Vast, snow-capped mountain ranges? Check. Unspoilt wilderness and crystal clear lochs (some with monsters in them)? Check. Some of the most beautiful and fun-filled cities on the planet? Yup, check again.

Clearly, Scotland has plenty of attractions to draw wealthy platinum-card-wielding visitors, but what about those of us who have to make our money stretch a bit further than most?

While Scotland has lots of cheap, and even free, places to visit, travelling around them all can be a huge pain in the wallet.

This isn’t necessarily because the cost of public transport is particularly expensive, but when you have a country the size of Sweden and a population smaller than the city of London, you know it’s going to push transport prices up.

So what can you do to save a few pounds while you’re here? Well, a little bit of common sense goes a long way, but taking the advice of the following tips will definitely help your Scotland sightseeing budget stretch a bit further.

And who knows? You might even be able to save enough money to take another Scottish holiday next year…

Save money on car travel in Scotland

By far the most popular form of transport in Scotland is the car, with around 65% of all journeys using this form of transport.

Of all forms of transport, the car is usually the most convenient and cheapest way to travel to Scotland for visitors coming from elsewhere in Britain.

Generally, the Scottish road network is good, with well-maintained surfaces that stretch to the remotest corners of the country, but sadly the cost to use it becoming more expensive with each passing year.

Fuel prices in Scotland have soared recently and are currently (as of 2022 from the RAC website) around £1.80 per litre of petrol and around £1.90 per litre of diesel.

That means filling up an average family hatchback like a VW Golf will cost you around £70 which would give you around 500 miles of driving.

So a two-week self-drive holiday in Scotland covering about 1,500 miles would cost in the region of £210 in fuel costs alone, and that’s before the additional costs of a hire car and insurance – which I cover in the sections below.

If you’re thinking of hiring a car in Scotland I recommend getting a quote from Travel Supermarket.

Tip 1: Beware of Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) contracts.

Most car rental companies will feature their website prices in big bold numbers in an attempt to appear to be the cheapest to the unwary traveller, but 9 times out of 10 they’ll then hit renters with extortionate fees when it comes to insurance.

One of the biggest complaints is the cost of the CDW, a contractual term where the rental company waives its right to claim compensation from the customer for damage to the rented vehicle.

Unfortunately, basic CDW cover usually excludes damage to tyres, wheels, wing mirrors, windows, hub caps, the undercarriage and even the roof of the car.

It also frequently excludes towing costs in the case of breakdown and clutch failure, and these policies often only cover damage to another vehicle so if you’re subject to single-vehicle damage (such as driving into a wall), then the CDW won’t cover you and you’ll still have to pay the excess (anywhere up to £2,000).

The rule here is that before you pay for CDW insurance make sure you take the time to thoroughly read through the policy paperwork and don’t be afraid to walk away if you don’t like what you see.

Tip 2: Don’t use a rental car broker.

Car hire is big business and a new niche has opened up with car rental brokers advertising low prices on comparison websites where they offer to act as the middleman between the car hire company and the renter.

However, the broker is only a sales agent and the customer’s contract is always with the car hire company, so many customers find that when things go wrong their brokers just wash their hands of the problem and tell their customers that they must deal with the hire company direct.

Avoid the problem by doing your own research on several well-respected hire car companies and making your own comparisons. You’ll often find that the saving you make from not having to pay broker commission fees beats the ‘offer’ they were advertising anyway.

Stick to the big guns in the rental business like SIXT, Hertz or Avis and others who are members of the BVRLA and be safe in the knowledge that should any problems arise you can contact a trade body who will attempt to resolve the issue on your behalf.

Tip 3: Watch out for sneaky upgrade offers.

Rental pick-up desks will often try to sell you an upgrade to a bigger car by hard-selling you the advantages of a larger vehicle over the one that you’ve already pre-booked online.

Many of these agents are working on a commission basis so it’s in their interests to make you spend as much money as possible, but frequently these ‘upgrades’ are completely unnecessary.

Quite often customers from the U.S. are picked out for these upgrade offers due to the fact the cars they’re used to are generally larger than the compacts we tend to drive in the UK.

But there’s a reason we Brits love our compact cars. They’re easy to park in cities, they’re economical, and they’re perfect for our narrow roads.

So before you fall for the hard sell, think about your situation. If you’re only going to be driving in Scotland for a week and there are just 2 of you plus suitcases, do you really need a 9-seater Mercedes minivan?

Whole families of Brits quite happily spend years zooming about in Minis and Ford Fiestas so there’s no reason why you can’t cope with a compact car for a fortnight’s vacation.

Tip 4: Are you sure you even need a car?

Sure, cars have their place and they make it easy to head off in any direction at a moment’s notice, but have you considered how much of your holiday will actually require a private car?

If you’re visiting Scotland from overseas then it’s likely you’ll want to spend at least a few days in our major cities and Glasgow and Edinburgh have more museums, art galleries, theatres, historic attractions and fun activities than you can shake a stick at.

As a bonus, both cities offer absolutely first-class public transport systems.

Edinburgh, in particular, has invested millions of pounds into its public transport infrastructure to the point where many residents don’t even own a car.

Not only is there the excellent Lothian Bus network but there’s an equally impressive tram system, and the national railway lines run straight into the heart of the city at Waverley station.

Glasgow, on the other hand, is only an hour away from Edinburgh by train and has the nationwide First Bus network of buses running throughout the city as well its own subway system and numerous black cabs.

Another thing to think about is, have you decided if you’re going to take any organised tours during your holiday?

Tour companies like Rabbie’s small group tours of the UK and Ireland will be only too happy to drive you to the remote tourist attractions of Scotland, and many of their tours start and end in the major city centres so you won’t have to travel far to find your tour bus.

If you’re planning to spend a couple of weeks in Scotland remember that you’ll likely not even need a car for a good chunk of it. If that sound like you, you might like to read my article about Travelling Around Scotland Without a Car.

Bonus safety tips for driving in Scotland

1. If you’re driving in the Highlands fill up with fuel whenever you can because there are surprisingly few petrol stations once you get away from the towns.
2. If you get stranded you can usually get a phone signal to call for help, but make sure you’ve got enough charge in it. It’s worth keeping a spare battery pack in the car at all times.
3. Following on from the above tip – it’s illegal to hold a phone while driving in the UK so invest in a windscreen or dash-mounted phone holder.
4. The remote areas of Scotland (the Highlands and Islands especially) can be confusing for new visitors so take a good up-to-date sat-nav with you along with a good old-fashioned paper map as a backup. Buy OS Landranger maps direct from Ordnance Survey.
5. If you’re driving in winter take an emergency bag with you containing at the minimum: food and water, a warning triangle, a tyre foot pump, jump-start leads, and a blanket. Buy car emergency kits from Amazon.
6. In case you do break down make sure you keep the fuel tank topped up so you can keep the engine running to stay warm.

Sightseeing on a budget doesn’t have to involve the use of a car and the following tips offer alternatives that might be a lot cheaper…

Save money on bus travel in Scotland

By now you might be thinking that using a car isn’t the best way to visit Scotland, although it certainly offers lots of opportunities to see attractions that would otherwise be out of reach.

If you’ve decided against driving yourself around our beautiful country why not let someone else do the work for you by using Scotland’s excellent bus network instead? With that thought in mind let me show you a few helpful tips you might find useful while using Scotland’s buses.

Tip 5: Use trams and buses whenever possible

Both Scotland’s capital city and its larger cousin to the west have excellent bus networks that will get you to anywhere in either city for a fraction of the cost of taking a taxi.

Edinburgh, in particular, has a world-leading public transport system with cheap, clean, and well-maintained vehicles.

The bus network runs through Edinburgh and out to the surrounding areas, while the trams provide a fast mode of transport for over 9 miles from the airport to the city centre and Leith.

Visit Transport For Edinburgh for more information on Edinburgh’s Trams and buses or download the Transport for Edinburgh App. To help you find your way around the bus network you can get real-time information on the web and on your smartphone.

To find out when your bus is due go to:

• On computer: My Bus Tracker
• On mobile: My Bus Tracker

If you’re going to spend time in Glasgow and want to use public transport then the main bus operator is First Bus, which provides regular bus services throughout the city with over 100 routes to choose from.

Most locals prefer to use the bus network as it’s one of the easiest and cheapest options for getting around the city centre and the outlying districts, and they also have regular links to the airport and train stations.

Tip 6: Use coaches for journeys between cities

If you need to travel between cities on a budget then the coach company Mega Bus has got you covered with a transport network that not only connects the cities of Scotland but also includes England and Wales.

As an example of the savings that are possible, while a train ticket from Edinburgh to Glasgow can cost upwards of £15 depending on the time of day, a cheap-rate Megabus ticket will only cost you around £4, and you can occasionally find one-way journeys on special offer for £1.

Purchase cheap bus tickets with Megabus.

While some people might turn their nose up at travelling ‘cattle-class’ (it’s not, they’re actually really comfy), you can upgrade your bus journey by choosing the Citylink Gold service instead.

This luxury bus service operates from Glasgow to Aviemore and Inverness, Glasgow to Aberdeen, and Edinburgh to Ferrytoll, Kinross, Perth, Dundee and Aberdeen, and offers a variety of upgrades over other coach operators.

Onboard you’ll find coach attendants, leather seats, Wi-Fi, and complimentary snacks and refreshments during your journey, with coaches leaving regularly from the main city centre bus terminals. 

Tip 7: Don’t buy individual bus tickets. Buy a day ticket instead

This is a great tip and one that you’ll find Scottish locals using all the time.

While there’s no doubt that using the bus is a quick and cheap way of getting around the big cities you can save even more money as a tourist by buying a day ticket.

These bus tickets can be purchased for as little as £4.50 and will let you take as many journeys as you like in one day. Note that prices are as of 2021.

Let’s face it, you’re a tourist and you want to see as many attractions as possible, so you’ll no doubt be hopping on and off buses at every available opportunity.

The beauty of a day ticket is that once you’ve bought it all you need to do is keep it in your pocket and present it to the driver each time you want to head somewhere new.

That means there’s no need for the embarrassing fumbling around in your pocket for the correct change with a bunch of tutting locals waiting in line behind you.

Taking this even further why not use a city tour bus as your main form of transport for one of the days you’re in the city?

While these buses are a little pricey (upwards of £15 per person in many cases) you’ll get the benefit of open-top travel with an experienced tour guide telling you all about the amazing attractions the city has.

Where most people fail is that once they’ve done the tour they get off and go somewhere else, never to use it again.

But us savvy travellers know that these tour buses are hop-on/hop-off services so once you’ve done the main tour you can use it again and again, as many times as you like for the rest of the day. Bonus!

Taking a bus or coach has become increasingly popular with backpackers for travelling between cities while they’re enjoying Scotland but there are other more efficient means of travel that could save you even more money if you know a few tricks.

Save money on train travel in Scotland

Britain has always had a love-hate affair with its rail network, with commuters frequently complaining about train services being cancelled due to it being too windy, too much snow on the line (an inch will usually do it), or mechanical failures (I think the UK must make most of their train’s critical components out of Lego).

But the humble commuter is fighting back and online services like The Trainline offer instant online ticket booking at prices that are up to 43% discounted compared to buying the same ticket from a station.

With British train tickets among the most expensive in Europe, it’s always handy to get a little extra help when it comes to buying your rail fare, and with a little prior planning, Scotland’s railways could be the ideal way to experience Scotland on a budget.

That being said, if you want to spend a little extra and take part in what has been voted the best railway journey in the world I wholeheartedly recommend you save up a few extra pennies and book a ticket on the Jacobite steam train that runs from Fort William to Mallaig.

It’s an absolutely stunning journey and you can read more about it with my complete guide to The Jacobite Steam Train. You can find the starting point for The Jacobite at Fort William train station with this handy directions map:

Click the map for directions.

Tip 8: Use railcards, split tickets and advance tickets whenever possible

1. Railcards

Railcards can save you up to 33% on train tickets and you can occasionally even get a discount on the railcards (RRP is £30).

You can also use Tesco Clubcard Points (the UK supermarket points card scheme) to purchase railcards to save even more. Remember that you MUST travel with your railcard to get the discount.

2. Split Tickets

On some journeys, it might be possible to split your ticket to save some money. For example, a direct single ticket from city A to city C could cost £50, but a ticket from city A to city B and a ticket from city B to city C might only cost a total of £40.

Remember when planning your journey that the train MUST stop at each station on your ticket itinerary.

3. Advance Tickets

Sometimes it’s cheaper to buy 2 single tickets instead of a return, or book an advance ticket rather than buy one on the day.

On most rail booking sites you can usually search for all routes for a specific journey which sometimes brings up cheaper on-the-day tickets, as well as a variety of cheaper advance tickets.

Most advance tickets go on sale 12 weeks before the date of travel, although some rail booking sites offer tickets 24 weeks ahead of the journey but be aware that there’s usually a small additional fee for booking these advance tickets.

Tip 9. In Glasgow, use the subway system

Glasgow is unusual in Scotland as it’s the only city which has its own subway system.

Although it’s not the cheapest option, the subway is by far the easiest way to get around the city centre and the west end. Trains run every 5 minutes at peak times and take just 24 minutes to complete a circuit of the 15 stations.

You can either buy a single ticket or a Subway Smartcard, which offers the best fare prices and allows you to top up as you go. The Glasgow Subway map is a great way to find your way around the stations.

The south of Scotland is linked to the city by Glasgow Central Station, while Glasgow Queen Street Station has links to Edinburgh & the north of Scotland.

The ScotRail website has information about all the available routes and timetables.

The SPT Roundabout ticket gives one-day unlimited travel by rail and subway to over 110 stations in the Greater Glasgow area. You can purchase these tickets through ScotRail or SPT Travel Centres.

Please note they are only valid after 09:00 Monday to Friday, all day at weekends, and on Scottish public holidays. You can buy them either through ScotRail or SPT Travel Centres.

If you want to find out information about the various travel options in the Glasgow and Strathclyde areas then check out the SPT Travel Centres in the city as they provide all the information you need during your visit.

Meanwhile, Traveline Scotland covers public transport across the rest of Scotland if you’re intending to travel further afield.

Download the Traveline Scotland app for more information.

If you intend to do some inner-city Scotland sightseeing, Glasgow’s underground rail system might be your best and most affordable option.

Facts about Scottish train tickets

Like the rest of the UK, there are three different types of train tickets you can purchase for your rail journey in Scotland. These are:

• Off-peak tickets are restricted for use only between the morning and evening peak times. These times are dependent on the train operator so check with them before purchasing.
• Anytime tickets are valid for use at any time of the day and are usually more expensive than off-peak tickets.
• First-class tickets are more expensive than the other two types but offer a higher standard of service, including free wi-fi and refreshments.

You can also purchase travel passes from Scotland’s various rail operators. These passes offer unlimited travel across the network for the duration the pass is valid.

The Spirit of Scotland travel pass offers unlimited rail travel throughout Scotland for either four or eight days.

As of 2020, four days of unlimited travel over eight consecutive days costs £149, while eight days of unlimited travel over fifteen consecutive days costs £189. Note that these prices can vary depending on available special offers, so check the website in advance before you buy the pass.

The Highland Rover travel pass gives you four days of unlimited travel over eight consecutive days across the Highlands for £95 (as of 2020).

Although it’s only valid for standard class you can travel at any time and you’ll get 20% off Northlink ferry services to Orkney and Shetland.

The Central Scotland Rover travel pass lets you take unlimited journeys between Glasgow, Edinburgh, and the surrounding area for just £55 (as of 2020).

The pass lasts for three days and is valid for standard class journeys on ScotRail trains but unfortunately, you can’t use it on the new Borders railway line.

If you want to buy a ScotRail travel pass you can order them from the ScotRail website (click the button below), by calling 0344 811 0141, or direct from ticket offices at staffed stations.

If you want to learn more about Scottish rail travel read my Guide to Touring Scotland by Train.

The cheapest way to travel in Scotland

Tip 10: Use your feet for the ultimate budget sightseeing tour

While many visitors to Scotland spend countless hours route planning the ultimate road trip through country back-roads along with the most efficient use of the railways, there are others who are quietly putting on their backpacks and walking boots to experience arguably the best – and cheapest – way to travel around Scotland on a budget.

Their own two feet.

See my guide to the best hiking boots to wear in Scotland.

Hiking in Scotland has always been popular thanks to the incredibly beautiful landscapes that we have here, with walking trails like the West Highland Way, The John Muir Way and The Southern Upland Way crying out to be explored.

Getting out and about in Scotland under your own power is one of the best ways to really experience our country and the tips below will help you do just that.

1. Prepare for the weather. No matter how much of an experienced hiker you are, nothing can prepare you for the changeable Scottish weather.

The phrase ‘4 seasons in one day’ is particularly appropriate to describe the climate we experience in this country and it’s not unusual to set off in freezing-cold snow in the morning and finish the day in blazing sunshine in the evening.

If you’re setting off into the mountains be extra-prepared as the wind can pick up from a gentle breeze to a raging howl in an instant and it’s not uncommon for hikers to get lost and confused when they’re cold.

Your best friend for a mountain walking trip will be a good quality waterproof and windproof jacket. I swear by Berghaus and you’ll find a good selection of Berghaus jackets on Amazon.

2. Don’t get lost. Scotland’s landscapes are open to the public by right of way so you can pretty much roam where you like, although you shouldn’t enter privately owned land unless you get permission first.

As a rule of thumb, never head off the beaten path without a good quality map to hand, and the ones produced by Ordnance Survey are by far the highest quality UK maps you’ll find, covering every square inch of Scotland from Gretna Green to John O’ Groats.

Even better, they now have a mobile phone app so that you can load as many maps onto your device as you need, meaning you’ll (hopefully) never get lost again.

Buy OS Explorer Maps direct from Ordnance Survey.

3. We’ve got bothies – so use them! If you’re asking ‘ok, so what’s a bothie?’ then you might want to do a little more research into Scottish hiking before you venture out.

A bothie is a comfy wee dwelling seemingly abandoned in the middle of nowhere for no apparent reason, but they can literally be a life-saver.

These simple shelters have been erected for anyone to use and take refuge in, and although they’re not exactly up to hotel standard they’re completely free to use and will keep you warm and dry if you find yourself lost in some remote part of the Scottish wilderness.

They are open at all times throughout the year they just require you to leave them in the same condition that you found them. Check out The Mountain Bothies Association for more information.

Travelling in Scotland on a budget isn’t easy, but at least now you’re prepared with enough information that will help you save a few pounds while you’re here.

That, of course, means that not only can you come back and visit us again next year but you’ll have enough spare change in your pocket to stock up on Scottish essentials like Irn-Bru and Tunnocks Tea Cakes!

Happy travels.

Frequently asked questions