THE BEST DAY TRIPS FROM EDINBURGH & GLASGOW BY BUS

To me, an adventure can be big or small; over multiple days, or just one. Adventure is an escape from your routine and a change of scenery; it could be a culture fix, a foodie trip or time in nature. Simply sneak away for the day from your base in the city, no car or driving required.

If you are visiting Scotland and planning to travel by public transport, I always recommend choosing 2 or 3 ‘base locations’ and branching out from there on day trips. Make one of those destinations Edinburgh or Glasgow.

Both cities have an excellent network of bus routes with frequent departures. In fact, the service between Edinburgh and Glasgow runs 24 hours a day; I’ve definitely made use of this after a concert or club night in Glasgow!

These day trips by bus are for both locals and visitors; everyone can play ‘tourist’ for the day. I’ve chosen 6 destinations, and for each one, I’ve listed my top 5 things to do. While 1 day typically won’t be enough to do all 5, you can choose from the options which appeal most to you. Let’s get going!

BENEFITS OF DAY TRIPS BY BUS

• You can experience a complete change of scenery without venturing too far from the city and spending money on overnight accommodation.
• Buses are the cheapest mode of public transport; reduced price advanced fares are available until 48 hours prior to travel. Check out the Explorer Pass for multiple days of travel.
• The buses are modern and comfortable with toilets onboard and charging points; the Edinburgh/Glasgow buses have tables too.
• Leaving the car at home gives you the chance to sit back and relax on the bus; listen to music or a podcast and gaze out the window.
• Exploring by public transport is a more sustainable way to travel, helping to reduce emissions and traffic congestion.

EDINBURGH & GLASGOW: DAY TRIPS BY BUS

1) GLASGOW

Journey time from Edinburgh: 1 hour 30 minutes

Whether you’re a local or a visitor, Glasgow is the perfect day trip from Edinburgh, offering a completely contrasting experience to the touristy capital city. More local, edgy and industrial, Glasgow is the place to go for art, music, museums and a vibrant food scene.

The city’s official slogan is ‘People Make Glasgow’, and they’re not wrong; there are plenty of local characters in this city, known for their friendly demeanour and sense of humour.

Glasgow: Top 5 Things to Do

1. Ride the hop-on, hop-off bus for an introduction to the city and to get your bearings. Get off for a walk at Glasgow Cathedral and Glasgow Necropolis, then from Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, walk to the nearby University of Glasgow and Ashton Lane.
2. Follow the Mural Trail to discover incredible street art installations which have transformed buildings and hidden lanes in the city centre.
3. Visit some of the city’s many museums: Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, Riverside Museum and People’s Palace in Glasgow Green.
4. Go for an international bite to eat: Napolitana pizza at Paesano Pizza, South Indian cuisine at Dakhin and ‘BABS for delicious, colourful Mediterranean food.
5. Check out the local pubs: The Pot Still for whisky, Waxy O’Connors for live music, and The Ben Nevis for traditional tunes.

2) EDINBURGH

Journey time from Glasgow: 1 hour 30 minutes

If you’re based in Glasgow, you can’t go wrong with a day trip to the capital. Even with all the cobbled streets, steps and hills, Edinburgh is still a very walkable city and the bus station is just short stroll from the Old Town. Embrace the bustle and buzz; curiously wander, step back in time, and keep yourself well fed and watered along the way.

Expect beautiful historic architecture, iconic hills, green spaces, and lots of visitors, loving life.

Edinburgh: Top 5 Things to Do

1. Explore the enchanting Old Town; walk the Royal Mile from Edinburgh Castle at the top to Holyrood Palace at the bottom, wandering down the narrow ‘closes’ as you go.
2. Eat your way around the Old Town: Pirlous for brunch (try the shakshuka) Clarinda’s Tearoom for lunch and delightful home-baking, El Cartel Roxburgh for tacos & street food, Moo Pie Gelato for home-made ice-cream, Piggs Wine Bar for sharing boards & tapas and Whitehorse Oyster & Seafood Bar.
3. Climb Arthurs Seat and/or Calton Hill, both remnants of an extinct volcano, for beautiful views of the city skyline. Sunset is even more magical!
4. Visit one of the many free museums: National Museum of Scotland, Writers’ Museum, The People’s Story and Museum of Edinburgh. All are in and around the Old Town.
5. Book a ghost tour with Mercat Tours to visit the underground vaults and learn about Edinburgh’s dark and sinister past.