What to bring to Scotland | Scottish Travel Guide (2024)

FAQs

What do I need when traveling to Scotland? ›

In Scotland, it's not unusual to experience all four seasons in one day. So no matter the season, you need a warm sweater or fleece jacket, a waterproof jacket and good walking shoes/boots for all sorts of terrain. An umbrella is always handy, and bird watchers may wish to bring binoculars.

Jeans: Although it may sound strange to say you need jeans for your hike or stroll through Scotland's terrain, jeans are often thick and will help keep out the cold as well as protecting your legs from nettles and thorns if you're out and about.

As I mentioned before, attire in Scotland is very casual. When I go out for dinner in Edinburgh I'll often wear jeans and a nice top with a jacket, or a nice dress with leggings.

General Requirements & Guidelines

In general, you must have a passport to travel abroad, which should be valid for at least six months after your return date. Passports expiring before then should be renewed as soon as possible.

Plan to tip around 10-15% in Scotish restaurants. However, the exact tip amount when eating out in Scotland depends on the place, occasion, and order size. It's customary to give your waiter or waitress a slightly higher tip than you would a bartender, as they are likely sharing their tip with the kitchen staff.

Tartan is for everyone, whether you're Scottish by blood or just in your heart! For most people, a key factor when choosing their tartan is having a connection with the tartan they wear.

Kilt suits are typically worn as formal Scottish dress, reserved for special occasions such as graduations and weddings. Casual kilt outfits are also available for more informal events and usually incorporate iconic Scottish Ghillie shirts and kilt hose socks.

How many clothes are required for a 10-day trip? Follow the 5-4-3-2-1 packing trick, where you pack five tops, four bottoms, three dresses, three pairs of shoes, two swimsuits, two bags, and one of each of a few miscellaneous accessories.

How much money should I bring to Scotland? ›

On average, a budget trip to Scotland is estimated to cost around £55, €62, or $66 per day.

We recommend you allow 9 - 10 days in Scotland for a satisfying tour of the country's diverse scenery and history. A 10 day itinerary, such as the Best of Scotland tour plan, would let you spend: 2 days in Edinburgh walking the historical streets and enjoying the cosmopolitan buzz.

The kilt isn't just an everyday item of clothing in Scotland. It is often worn on special occasions such as weddings, national holidays or Highland games. At these events, the full outfit, including sporran (bag), ghillies (shoes) and sometimes a traditional dagger called a sgian-dubh, is worn with pride.

A loo call

Under Scots Law, if a stranger asks to use your toilet you are legally obliged to let them. It comes from an extension of the old Scottish common law requiring hospitality to be shown to all guests – and while it has never been formally authorised by parliament, it is enforceable.

Especially if you plan to hike or spend time outdoors, it pays to have a daypack to bring all you'll need, from your water bottle to snacks, your raincoat and / or umbrella, a warm layer, sunglasses, etc.

DO I NEED A PASSPORT TO TRAVEL TO SCOTLAND? No. If you are travelling within the UK you will not need a passport. If you are flying from London to Scotland, then you will need to carry photographic identification; this may not need to be a passport, but you should check with your airline.

There are no COVID-19 travel rules in place for people arriving in Scotland from abroad. You do not need to: complete a Passenger Locator Form. take any tests before you leave for Scotland, or after you arrive.

Licence requirements

Whether you're visiting Scotland from the US, India or even Australia, you can rest assured that as long as your licence is valid and in date, you can drive in Scotland and the rest of the UK.

We recommend you allow 9 - 10 days in Scotland for a satisfying tour of the country's diverse scenery and history. A 10 day itinerary, such as the Best of Scotland tour plan, would let you spend: 2 days in Edinburgh walking the historical streets and enjoying the cosmopolitan buzz.