Top 3 Cities to Visit in Scotland (Besides Edinburgh)

Urquhart Castle in Inverness, Scotland
Urquhart Castle in Inverness, Scotland. Photo by Robin Canfield on Unsplash

We can’t blame you for choosing Edinburgh as the first city you want to visit in Scotland. After all, it is the country’s most popular tourist destination with lots of fantastic stuff to offer. However, there are a lot of other Scottish cities that deserve your attention as well. Here are some of them.

Glasgow

Although not as popular as Edinburgh among tourists, Glasgow is the most populous city in Scotland. It has a rich history that is easily visible in the form of old churches, castles, and landmarks. It is also a city of culture with an impressive number of museums and art galleries. On top of that, there is always something happening that will get your attention, whether it’s a music festival or a theatrical performance. 

Inverness

If you want to check out the famed Scottish Highlands, one of the best places to do so is Inverness. This city is considered the capital of the Highlands and is the perfect starting point for exploring the area. Just a half an hour’s drive from Inverness will get you to the iconic Loch Ness, the alleged home of the Loch Ness monster, while the ruins of Urquhart Castle are also nearby. Of course, exploring the city itself is also rewarding, as you’ll have a chance to experience stunning architecture, beautiful scenery, and plenty of other tourist attractions.

Aberdeen

Aberdeen is quite an underrated tourist destination in Scotland. This city has plenty to offer to its visitors including unique architecture characterized by granite as a primary material. Due to the sparkling effect of granite, Aberdeen was even nicknamed the Silver City. But the thing that the city is famous for is its green spaces. Most of Aberdeen is decorated with colorful floral displays and there are 45 parks and gardens.