History Packed St Andrews Day Trip from Edinburgh
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St Andrews is a cute little university town on the coast of Fife in Scotland. Known as the Home of Golf, St Andrews makes a great day trip from Edinburgh because of its rich history, medieval ruins, and some of the most famous golf courses in the world. This St Andrews Day Trip from Edinburgh can be combined with a day trip to Dundee (see my post on that here!) for one epic day of history and coastal Scotland.
Ruins of St Andrews Castle
What you need to know about St Andrews
General:
St Andrews is in Scotland, which is part of the United Kingdom (not the EU). It’s a smaller town, so if you are gluten free like me, definitely plan ahead on snacks and find places to eat ahead of time (or check out what I had below!).
If you are planning on visiting the ruins, check ahead of time to see if they are open or closed for restoration. Unfortunately when we went, pretty much everything was closed! I really enjoyed viewing them from the outside, and I had to up my creativity to get the photos I wanted ;)
Language:
Everyone speaks English here, and they are all so friendly!
Money:
The currency in the United Kingdom is the Pound Stirling (GBP).
Safety:
I felt very safe here, the locals were all very friendly and it was fairly empty of tourists in April. School was in session though, so expect to see lots of university students around!
The shore at St Andrews
How to get to St Andrews from Edinburgh
So there isn’t a train that goes directly to St Andrews from Edinburgh, but it is still super easy to get there without a car! First, you need to buy a ticket from Edinburgh to Leuchars (for St Andrews). Once you arrive in Leuchars about an hour later, you will get off the train and walk out of the train station to a bus stop right outside. Wait for the one that is headed to St Andrews, and once you get on board you can pay for your ticket before sitting down. The bus will take you to the main terminal in St Andrews, where you can hop off and start exploring!
Google maps will be your friend here because it can give you live information about public transport. Make sure you download the offline version or have an International SIM Card!
What to do on your St Andrews Day Trip from Edinburgh
Admire the beautiful traditional architecture in St Andrews
Start your St Andrews Day trip from Edinburgh by exploring the traditional buildings on Market Street. There are many shops you can pop into, and I especially loved the Harry Potter themed one! Keep walking down Market Street toward St Andrews Castle.
St Andrews Castle Ruins
Explore the ruins of St Andrews Castle and beach
Fingers crossed that St Andrews Castle and Cathedral will be open by the time you are taking a day trip to St Andrews from Edinburgh! We were able to view the castle ruins through the gate, but I wanted some nice photos of it from afar. We wandered down to the beach and out onto the rocks. They were VERY slippery so I don’t recommend doing this unless you are sure footed and can take a fall or two. The beach has a natural rock pool, so if you brought your swimsuit, go ahead and chill for a bit while you admire the ruins!
St Andrews Cathedral ruins
Wander through St Andrews Cathedral ruins toward the pier
Explore the ruins of St Andrews Cathedral and wander toward the St Rules Tower for an incredible view from the top. Afterward, head towards the pier for a breathtaking view of the water. And to get back into town, wander down the Pends and admire all the history packed into a tiny part of Scotland!
University of St Andrews
The University of St Andrews is the third oldest university in the English speaking world. Talk about having some serious history! The campus is filled with gorgeous Gothic architecture and you will marvel at every building. Wander through and stop at the Wardlaw Museum to see the university’s historic artifacts (like some really cool maces), learn about the history of the university, and a beautiful view of the sea!
Hamish McHamish statue
Blackfriars Chapel
This is another ruins you should definitely check out while you are on your St Andrews Day trip from Edinburgh. On your way, stop by the statue of Hamish McHamish, a beloved stray cat who lived in the town and is the unofficial mascot of St. Andrews. Once you pass Blackfriars Chapel, you can walk to the West Port Gate, which is one of the best preserved city gates in Scotland.
Where to eat in St Andrews (gluten free options!)
We had breakfast at Mitchell on Market Street, and they had good gluten free options. I love the Find Me Gluten Free app to see my nearby food options! It makes it easy to take day trips like this one to St Andrews from Edinburgh with less stress.
Other places to eat are:
Zizzi’s
Forgan’s
Dolls House Restaurant
The Pends
Other things to do in St Andrews
Because we combined our day trip to St Andrews with a day trip to Dundee, we only spent about half a day exploring St Andrews. If you want to explore more, here are some other great options to add to your St Andrews Day Trip from Edinburgh:
Golf - St Andrews has many famous golf courses! You can play a round if that’s your thing or take a guided tour of the old course.
St Andrews Aquarium
Craigtoun County Park
Final Thoughts on History Packed St Andrews Day Trip from Edinburgh
I hope you found this St. Andrews day trip from Edinburgh post helpful! If you’re interested in more Scotland posts, check out my full One Week in Scotland Without a Car post.
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