Whether you’re dreaming of the plush inexperienced Scottish Highlands, the cobbled streets of Edinburgh, the icy waters of deep lochs, rugged castles, ginger-headed males in kilts, or cuddling bushy coos, it’s time to begin planning your Scotland journey price range! I’m going to stroll you thru precisely what a Scotland journey prices primarily based on what I spent on my one-week Scottish street journey.
I’ve visited Scotland twice now and I simply can’t get sufficient of this stunning nation. On this most up-to-date go to, I took a one-week street journey with mates and we stayed two nights in Edinburgh, two nights in Inverness, two nights on the Isle of Skye, one evening in Glencoe, and one evening in Glasgow — which is an ideal itinerary to see the Scottish highlights. However, for those who solely have seven nights, you could possibly reduce out both the evening in Glasgow or Glencoe.
This Scotland price range contains how a lot I spent on airfare, lodging, automotive rental, fuel, parking, actions, and meals, in addition to the typical prices. I do know you’re anxious to know the full Scotland journey price, so earlier than I am going into particulars, right here is the underside line. A one-week journey to Scotland for 2 folks, touring in the summertime, prices roughly $6,024, or $430 per particular person, per day. But maintain studying to see the breakdown.
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Scotland Trip Cost
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Before we get into the main points, listed here are some essential concerns to bear in mind if you find yourself planning a visit to Scotland:
- Hotels guide up early in the summertime, particularly in locations just like the Isle of Skye. To discover probably the most lodging choices at the perfect costs, attempt to make your reservations not less than 4 to 6 months upfront.
- If you want to go to numerous castles and gardens, you might be able to save on entrance charges and parking with a membership to the National Trust for Scotland.
- Hotels in Edinburgh are expensive so attempt to unfold out your journey by visiting different locations in Scotland.
- When renting a automotive, if you need an automated transmission, you’ll want to reserve effectively upfront for the perfect availability and charges. Remember to hire the smallest automotive that can suit your baggage. You will recognize it when driving on the one-lane gravel roads in Scotland’s inside.
- Pack correctly utilizing my Scotland packing record
- Be positive to learn the remainder of my Scotland journey ideas
Editor’s Note: This publish was up to date in January 2025 to replicate summer season 2025 pricing.
Airfare to Scotland Cost
You will discover probably the most flight choices into Edinburgh, however to save cash, chances are you’ll wish to have a look at flying into London as an alternative after which both taking a reasonable regional flight or driving the practice as much as Edinburgh. You can typically discover flight gross sales to London or you could possibly use a price range airline like Norse Atlantic. Another possibility is taking Aer Lingus and connecting in Dublin.
I used to be fortunate to discover a flight deal and booked my flight to Edinburgh utilizing solely 20K American Express Membership Rewards factors plus charges, which I transferred to Virgin Atlantic to guide a Delta code-share flight. I then booked a return flight from London (since we have been road-tripping via each Scotland and Wales) utilizing 52K JetBlue TrueBlue factors plus charges.
If you wish to discover one of the simplest ways to build up factors and miles via bank card spending and sign-up bonuses, I’d counsel downloading the Travel Freely app to trace your bank cards and discover ways to earn factors.
I do know not everybody has a stash of loyalty factors to make use of, so I extremely suggest signing up for a flight deal subscription service akin to Going.
If you’re versatile along with your dates and control flight offers, you need to be capable to discover flights for $700-1000 to Scotland from the USA.
Total Airfare Cost: $2000 ($1000 x 2 folks)
Scotland Accommodations Cost
As I discussed above, lodging in cities like Edinburgh and Glasgow might be expensive, however you will discover reasonably priced lodging in different elements of the nation. Below I’ve outlined the place I stayed and what it can price for comparable dates in 2025, together with some alternate options.
Edinburgh
On this journey, the three of us shared a two-bedroom loft condo at Blackfriars Lofts in Old Town, for $608 per evening (or $202.67 per particular person per evening.) This flat can sleep 4-6 and would work for a household. However, in case you are a pair, chances are you’ll wish to take into account one thing smaller to save cash.
On my earlier go to, I stayed in New Town on the Eden Locke boutique lodge, which I liked and could be good for a pair or solo traveler. For the identical dates, that prices $324 per evening.
Find extra locations to remain in Edinburgh:
Cost for two nights in Edinburgh: $648 ($324 x 2)
Inverness
Since I used to be touring with three mates, we determined to hire a three-bedroom Airbnb in Inverness for $319.44 an evening (break up three ways in which was fairly a deal.) However, in case you are touring solo or as a pair, chances are you’ll wish to take into account the AC Hotel Inverness at $287 per evening, which is positioned downtown and inside a brief stroll of many eating places, bars, and retailers (like Leakey’s Bookshop!)
For extra of a splurge, keep on the luxurious Ness Walk, or attempt the River Ness Hotel or the Kingsmill Hotel for only a contact extra. If these are all too wealthy on your style, there are a number of visitor homes positioned on the outskirts of city for underneath $200 an evening.
Cost for two nights in Inverness: $574 ($287 x 2 nights)
Isle of Skye
It was April by the point we went to guide our lodging on the Isle of Skye for late June and most of the cottages and inns have been already booked. We determined to attempt one thing totally different and booked cabins at The Bracken Hide, which is a brand new journey lodge with particular person hobbit house-shaped cabins. Since these solely sleep two in a queen mattress, we every booked our personal for £240 an evening. Now they go for about £300 per evening.
Cost for two nights on the Isle of Skye: $746 ($373 x 2 nights)
Glencoe
We debated driving straight from the Isle of Skye to Glasgow, however since we needed to spend extra time within the Highlands, we booked one evening on the easy however scenic Clachaig Inn for $226.50 per room. There isn’t so much within the space and it is a basic pub and fashionable with hikers. As lengthy as you don’t want one thing fancy, you may’t beat the view from the Clachaig Inn.
Cost for 1 evening in Glencoe: $228
Glasgow (Optional Additional Night)
If you wish to add an evening to your journey for an opportunity to see Glasgow, I loved the placement of the Glasgow Grosvenor Hotel, nonetheless, there are numerous choices for $250-300 per evening.
Total Scotland Accommodations Cost: $2,196
Scotland Car Rental Cost
As I discussed earlier than, you’ll lower your expenses for those who guide a handbook transmission automotive, however for those who aren’t comfy driving a stick, particularly on among the slender and winding roads in Scotland, you will want to pay a bit extra for an automated. I take advantage of Auto Europe to check charges from totally different distributors to search out the perfect deal.
We ended up reserving with Enterprise and it price $826.92, however that was for a two-week street journey via Scotland and Wales. If you’re simply staying for one week and choosing up in your departure from Edinburgh, it ought to solely price $300 – 600 for a compact or midsize.
Even although we complain in regards to the worth of fuel within the U.S., it’s dearer within the U.Okay. During our time in Scotland, we stuffed up the automotive thrice for a complete price of $307.
You might want to pay for parking at a lot of the automotive parks round Scotland. It is predicated on how lengthy you keep however plan on spending about $60 in parking.
Total price for a rental automotive, fuel, and parking: $760
Activities in Scotland
Luckily, Scotland is sort of reasonably priced relating to actions as you don’t have to take costly excursions or pay excessive museum charges. For probably the most half, you can be having fun with the outside and the attractive surroundings. However, if that is your first journey to Scotland, there are just a few paid actions that I might suggest. Some of those I did on my first journey and a few on my second: (price proven per particular person)
- Edinburgh Castle: $24.00
- Palace of Holyroodhouse: $13.55
- Afternoon tea: $80 (on the Colonnades at Signet Library, my favourite of 4 I’ve accomplished in Scotland)
- Culloden Battlefield: $17.25
- Urquhart Castle: $16.00
- Eilean Donan Castle: $14.79
- Dunvegan Castle: $18.48
Total actions price: 184 x 2 folks = $368
Food Costs in Scotland
You will discover wonderful eating places in each Edinburgh and Glasgow, however outdoors of the cities, the meals is easier and extra reasonably priced (for probably the most half.) Looking via my receipts, I spent $360 on meals throughout my week in Scotland. In basic, you may estimate roughly:
- Breakfast: $5.00-10.00 per day
- Lunch: $15.00 per day
- Dinner: $15.00-30.00 per day
Total price for meals: $350 x 2 folks = $700
Total Scotland Trip Cost
A one-week journey to Scotland prices roughly $6,024 for 2 folks touring from the U.S. in late June to early July, or $430 per particular person, per day.
| Category | Expense |
| Airfare | $2,000 |
| Accommodations | $2,196 |
| Transportation | $ 760 |
| Activities | $ 368 |
| Food | $ 700 |
| The complete price of a visit to Scotland for two folks | $6,024 |
Of course, if you need a luxurious journey or want to rent a driver since you aren’t comfy driving on small roads, the associated fee can enhance considerably. You can even save a bit extra on lodging for those who aren’t choosy. But it is a strong estimate of a Scotland journey price for the average to upscale traveler.
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Tamara Gruber is the Founder and Publisher of We3Travel. A former advertising and marketing govt and journey advisor, Tamara is an award-winning journey author and acknowledged skilled in household journey. Tamara is a member of SATW, NATJA, IFWTWA, and the Adventure Travel Trade Association, and serves on the Board of the Family Travel Association. She can also be the writer of YourTimetoFly.com and the co-host of the Vacation Mavens journey podcast.