St Andrews

33 hand-picked places in 10 lists. Tick the categories you want to see on the map.

5 places on the map

Viewpoints

1
Norman tower in the cathedral grounds with sweeping views.
3 tips
- Narrow staircase
- Included in cathedral ticket
- Views of the town and coast
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2
University museum with views from a rooftop terrace over the bay.
3 tips
- Free entry
- Rooftop terrace views
- Café on site
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3
Clifftop ruined castle with a medieval mine and bottle dungeon.
- Tip: Allow a few hours
2 tips
- Audio guide included
- Check Historic Environment Scotland hours
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4
Harbour pier with views back to the cathedral and the town.
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5
Ancient stone bridge on the 18th fairway of the Old Course.
3 tips
- Pose on the bridge when course is closed
- Can be queued by golfers
- Look for the 1st and 18th fairways
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Train to Leuchars then bus: St Andrews has no station; ScotRail trains stop at Leuchars and frequent Stagecoach buses run the short hop into town.
Ride the direct Edinburgh bus: Stagecoach express coaches link Edinburgh with St Andrews bus station; tap a contactless card on board to pay the fare.
Walk the three streets: The town centre is built around North Street, Market Street and South Street, so the cathedral, castle and golf links are all close on foot.

Check tides on West Sands: The flat beach floods quickly as the tide comes in and rip currents occur; check tide times and stay near lifeguarded areas.
Keep back from cliff edges: The castle, Kinkell Braes and the Fife Coastal Path have crumbling cliffs; stay on the path, especially when it is wet or windy.
Watch for golf balls: Paths cross active fairways around the Old Course; look both ways, listen for shouts of fore and give golfers space to play.

Walk the Old Course on Sunday: The course usually closes to golf on Sundays, becoming a public park where anyone can stroll over the Swilcan Bridge for free.
Enjoy free history: Wander the cathedral grounds, the harbour pier and the university quadrangles at no cost; pay only to climb St Rule's Tower or enter the castle.
Avoid peak event weeks: Hotel prices soar during university graduations and big golf tournaments, so check the calendar before you book your stay.

Pack a waterproof: The east coast of Fife is windy and showery in any season; a hooded rain jacket is more useful than an umbrella on the seafront.
Layer for the haar: Sea fog called haar can roll in and chill a sunny day, so carry a fleece even in summer, when the long evenings stay light very late.
Wear sturdy shoes: Cobbles, wet sand and coastal paths call for comfortable waterproof footwear, especially on the walk out to Kinkell Braes.

Join the pier walk: After Sunday chapel in term time, students in red gowns walk the harbour pier, a tradition you can watch from the path.
Sidestep the PH cobbles: Outside St Salvator's chapel, the PH marks where Patrick Hamilton was burned in 1528; students avoid stepping on it to protect their degrees.
Treat yourself to local favourites: Queue for gelato at Jannettas on South Street and fish and chips by the coast, both much-loved local institutions.

Enter the Old Course ballot: Many tee times are allocated by a daily ballot drawn in advance; enter online and keep your plans flexible to try your luck.
Explore the castle mine: At St Andrews Castle you can crawl through a siege mine and countermine dug in the 1540s, plus peer into the grim bottle dungeon.
Walk to Crail on the coastal path: Follow the Fife Coastal Path south to the fishing villages of Crail and Anstruther and catch a bus back to town.

Only have a day? Each one keeps you in one area, from morning to late afternoon, with lunch nearby.

Day 1 of 2

🕘 9:30–16:30📍 5 stops

Day 2 of 2

🕘 9:30–16:45📍 6 stops