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 furry coos, it’s time to begin planning your Scotland journey funds! I’m going to stroll you thru precisely what a Scotland journey prices based mostly on what I spent on my one-week Scottish highway 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 highway journey with pals and we stayed two nights in Edinburgh, two nights in Inverness, two nights on the Isle of Skye, one night time in Glencoe, and one night time in Glasgow — which is an ideal itinerary to see the Scottish highlights. However, when you solely have seven nights, you possibly can reduce out both the night time in Glasgow or Glencoe.
This Scotland funds contains how a lot I spent on airfare, lodging, automotive rental, gasoline, parking, actions, and meals, in addition to the common prices. I do know you’re anxious to know the entire Scotland journey value, so earlier than I am going into particulars, right here is the underside line. A one-week journey to Scotland for 2 individuals, touring in the summertime, prices roughly $6,024, or $430 per particular person, per day. But preserve studying to see the breakdown.
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Scotland Trip Cost
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Before we get into the main points, listed below are some vital issues to remember if you end up planning a visit to Scotland:
- Hotels e book up early in the summertime, particularly in locations just like the Isle of Skye. To discover probably the most lodging choices at one of the best costs, attempt to make your reservations at the least 4 to 6 months prematurely.
- If you wish to go to lots of 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, make sure you reserve effectively prematurely for one of the best availability and charges. Remember to lease the smallest automotive that may suit your baggage. You will admire it when driving on the one-lane gravel roads in Scotland’s inside.
- Pack correctly utilizing my Scotland packing record
- Be certain 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, it’s possible you’ll need to take a look at flying into London as a substitute after which both taking an affordable regional flight or using the prepare as much as Edinburgh. You can usually discover flight gross sales to London or you possibly can use a funds airline like Norse Atlantic. Another choice 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 e book a Delta code-share flight. I then booked a return flight from London (since we had been road-tripping by way of each Scotland and Wales) utilizing 52K JetBlue TrueBlue factors plus charges.
If you need to discover one of the simplest ways to build up factors and miles by way of bank card spending and sign-up bonuses, I’d recommend downloading the Travel Freely app to trace your bank cards and learn 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 regulate flight offers, you need to have the ability to discover flights for $700-1000 to Scotland from the USA.
Total Airfare Cost: $2000 ($1000 x 2 individuals)
Scotland Accommodations Cost
As I discussed above, lodging in cities like Edinburgh and Glasgow could be expensive, however you could find inexpensive lodging in different elements of the nation. Below I’ve outlined the place I stayed and what it’ll value for comparable dates in 2025, together with some alternate options.
Edinburgh
On this journey, the three of us shared a two-bedroom loft house at Blackfriars Lofts in Old Town, for $608 per night time (or $202.67 per particular person per night time.) This flat can sleep 4-6 and would work for a household. However, in case you are a pair, it’s possible you’ll need to think about one thing smaller to save cash.
On my earlier go to, I stayed in New Town on the Eden Locke boutique lodge, which I beloved and can be excellent for a pair or solo traveler. For the identical dates, that prices $324 per night time.
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 pals, we determined to lease 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, it’s possible you’ll need to think about the AC Hotel Inverness at $287 per night time, 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 strive the River Ness Hotel or the Kingsmill Hotel for only a contact extra. If these are all too wealthy to your style, there are a number of visitor homes positioned on the outskirts of city for below $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 e book our lodging on the Isle of Skye for late June and most of the cottages and resorts had been already booked. We determined to strive 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 night time.
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 wished to spend extra time within the Highlands, we booked one night time on the easy however scenic Clachaig Inn for $226.50 per room. There isn’t so much within the space and it is a traditional pub and fashionable with hikers. As lengthy as you don’t want one thing fancy, you’ll be able to’t beat the view from the Clachaig Inn.
Cost for 1 night time in Glencoe: $228
Glasgow (Optional Additional Night)
If you need 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 various choices for $250-300 per night time.
Total Scotland Accommodations Cost: $2,196
Scotland Car Rental Cost
As I discussed earlier than, you’ll lower your expenses when you e book a handbook transmission automotive, however when you aren’t comfy driving a stick, particularly on among the slim and winding roads in Scotland, you have to to pay a bit extra for an automated. I take advantage of Auto Europe to check charges from totally different distributors to search out one of the best deal.
We ended up reserving with Enterprise and it value $826.92, however that was for a two-week highway journey by way of Scotland and Wales. If you’re simply staying for one week and choosing up in your departure from Edinburgh, it ought to solely value $300 – 600 for a compact or midsize.
Even although we complain in regards to the value of gasoline within the U.S., it’s costlier within the U.Okay. During our time in Scotland, we stuffed up the automotive 3 times for a complete value of $307.
You might want to pay for parking at a lot of the automotive parks round Scotland. It relies on how lengthy you keep however plan on spending about $60 in parking.
Total value for a rental automotive, gasoline, and parking: $760
Activities in Scotland
Luckily, Scotland is sort of inexpensive in the case of actions as you don’t must take costly excursions or pay excessive museum charges. For probably the most half, you’ll be having fun with the outside and the attractive surroundings. However, if that is your first journey to Scotland, there are a number of paid actions that I’d suggest. Some of those I did on my first journey and a few on my second: (value 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 carried out in Scotland)
- Culloden Battlefield: $17.25
- Urquhart Castle: $16.00
- Eilean Donan Castle: $14.79
- Dunvegan Castle: $18.48
Total actions value: 184 x 2 individuals = $368
Food Costs in Scotland
You will discover superb eating places in each Edinburgh and Glasgow, however outdoors of the cities, the meals is easier and extra inexpensive (for probably the most half.) Looking by way of my receipts, I spent $360 on meals throughout my week in Scotland. In common, you’ll be able to estimate roughly:
- Breakfast: $5.00-10.00 per day
- Lunch: $15.00 per day
- Dinner: $15.00-30.00 per day
Total value for meals: $350 x 2 individuals = $700
Total Scotland Trip Cost
A one-week journey to Scotland prices roughly $6,024 for 2 individuals 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 whole value of a visit to Scotland for two individuals | $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 improve considerably. You also can save a bit extra on lodging when you aren’t choosy. But it is a stable estimate of a Scotland journey value 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.