St Andrews, United Kingdom

St Andrews

A medieval university town with a ruined cathedral above the sea.

  • All year
  • 1 night
Explore on the map
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Things to do

2 days in St Andrews

Day 1

  1. MorningWalk the ruins of the cathedral and the castle above the sea.
  2. AfternoonWalk past the Old Course, the 'home of golf', to the long West Sands beach.
  3. EveningHave dinner in the old town's medieval streets.

Day 2

Visit the fishing villages of the East Neuk, like Crail and Anstruther.

What to eat

Fish and chips from the harbour and a local ice cream.

Local tips

Make the most of St Andrews

Beat the crowds

Calm most of the year. Golf events and graduation week are busy.

Best photo spot

The ruined cathedral and the sea from St. Rule's Tower.

Getting there

Trains run to Leuchars, then a 10-minute bus.

Don't miss nearby

The fishing villages of the East Neuk of Fife.

Good to know

The West Sands beach appears in the opening of the film Chariots of Fire. The Old Course is closed to golf on Sundays and becomes a public park.

Secret spots

2 secret spots near St Andrews

Our most hidden places around St Andrews: fewer people, same wow. Unlock them with a route in Google Maps and a PDF guide of St Andrews to take with you.

70 km away
77 km away
Unlock the secret spots · €2.99+ VAT · one payment, valid for a year

Plan your visit

Getting to St Andrews

Getting there

  • Dundee Airport (DND)19 km away
  • Edinburgh Airport (EDI)55 km away
  • Edinburgh50 km away
  • Glasgow105 km away

Reachable by car or public transport; a car gives you more freedom to explore the area. Distances are in a straight line.

At a glance

Best timeAll year
TypeHidden town
Good forOld towns & architecture, Coast
Getting thereCar or public transport
Stay1 night
CountryUnited Kingdom

Questions

St Andrews: good to know

Is St Andrews worth visiting?

Yes, especially if you like historic old towns and the coast. A medieval university town with a ruined cathedral above the sea.

How many days do you need in St Andrews?

Plan 1 night. Our free 2-day plan above shows how to spend your time.

When is the best time to visit St Andrews?

You can visit all year. Calm most of the year. Golf events and graduation week are busy.

How do you get to St Andrews?

The nearest airport is Dundee Airport (DND), about 19 km away. Trains run to Leuchars, then a 10-minute bus.

What is there to see near St Andrews?

Nearby hidden places include Edinburgh (49 km), Glasgow (105 km) and Cairngorms (Aviemore) (114 km).

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