Saint Andrews Travel Guide

City City in Scotland, United Kingdom

Famed for golf and its university, Saint Andrews lures visitors to the Old Course, St Andrews Cathedral ruins and coastal walks; seafood taverns, press-covered tee rooms and collegiate streets complete the day-trip circuit.

Costs

Typical budget: $150-220 per day

Expensive-tourist prices for golf, dining, and boutique hotels.

Safety

Very safe

Low crime; friendly student town etiquette.

Best Time

May-September (mild and busy)

Best weather for golf, beaches, and campus walks.

In This Guide

Why Visit Saint Andrews?
Top Things to Do
Plan Your Visit
Where to Stay
Where to Eat

Time

—

Weather

—

Population

16,800

Infrastructure & Convenience

Easy on foot, local buses, tourist information and English everywhere.

Popularity

Draws golfers, academic visitors, and UK tourists.

Known For

University of St Andrews, Old Course golf, medieval ruins, coastal walks, historic buildings, academic tradition, golf museums, annual cultural events

The University of St Andrews was founded in 1413 and is Scotland's oldest university; Prince William met Kate Middleton here.

Why Visit Saint Andrews? #

Known worldwide for golf and scholarship, Saint Andrews brings together the Old Course, the University of St Andrews and centuries of ecclesiastical ruins along a compact coastal setting. West Sands Beach and the castle and cathedral ruins add seaside drama to a town defined by academic tradition and sporting pilgrimage. Visitors are drawn by the chance to walk historic streets, play or watch the game on a famed links course, and soak up coastal Scottish culture.

Top Things to Do in Saint Andrews

All Attractions ›

Tantallon Castle

Clifftop medieval fortress overlooking the Firth of Forth

Ruins

Glamis Castle

Historic Scottish castle, childhood home of Queen Mother

Castle

Bass Rock

Small volcanic island hosting one of world's gannet colonies

Island

Falkland Palace

Renaissance royal palace in Fife with historic gardens

Castle

St Andrews Cathedral

Medieval cathedral ruins and historic episcopal seat

Church

Bell Rock Lighthouse

Historic offshore lighthouse off Scotland protecting seafaring routes

Tower

Isle of May

Small Scottish island with important seabird colonies

Island

Fidra

Small Scottish island near North Berwick, seabird colony

Island

Don't Miss

St Andrews Cathedral ruins - St Andrews Cathedral ruins - explore the ruins and climb St Rule's Tower for town views.
Old Course at St Andrews - Old Course at St Andrews - iconic public links where golf history and museum combine.
St Andrews Castle - St Andrews Castle - coastal fortress ruins and subterranean passageways near the harbor.

Hidden Gems

West Sands Beach - West Sands Beach - long sandy beach featured in film, great for walks and sunsets.
University of St Andrews Botanic Garden - University of St Andrews Botanic Garden - quiet plant collections, glasshouses, and seasonal displays.
St Andrews aquarium and museum shop - St Andrews aquarium and museum shop - compact natural history displays and locally curated souvenirs.

Day Trips

Dundee - Dundee - V&A Dundee design museum, waterfront development, and lively café scene across the Tay.
Anstruther and Fife coast - Anstruther - small fishing village on Fife coast with a renowned fish-and-chip shop and harbor.

Best Time to Visit Saint Andrews #

Summer offers the fairest weather in Saint Andrews, with long daylight and peak golf season. Spring and autumn are quieter with changeable weather; winters are cool, windy, and wet.

Winter

December - February · 1 to 8°C (34 to 46°F)

Winter is cool, windy, and wet; golf courses quiet down but the town remains atmospheric, with fewer tourists and lower prices.

Spring

March - May · 4 to 13°C (39 to 55°F)

Spring gradually brightens with longer days and blooming hedgerows; expect changeable weather but lovely walks along the Fife coastal path.

Summer

June - August · 12 to 20°C (54 to 68°F)

Summer is cool and breezy with long daylight; perfect for golf, beach walks, and seafood dinners, though fog can roll in unexpectedly.

Best Time to Visit Saint Andrews #

Climate

Saint Andrews's climate is classified as Oceanic - Oceanic climate with cool summers (peaking in July) and cold winters (coldest in January). Temperatures range from 0°C to 19°C. Moderate rainfall (645 mm/year), distributed fairly evenly throughout the year.

Best Time to Visit

JuneJulyAugust

Temperature & Rainfall

Temperature Range

22°

Warmest Month

-3°

Coldest Month

Monthly Conditions

January

January is the coolest month with highs of 6°C and lows of 0°C. The wettest month with 66 mm of rain, mostly overcast skies, and breezy conditions.

42 Poor

Comfort

3°

Feels Like Cold

3°C

Temperature

1° – 6°

90%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

66 mm

Rainfall

6.4 m/s

Wind

Breezy

0.0

UV Index

Low

7.4h daylight

February

February is cold with highs of 7°C and lows of 1°C. Moderate rainfall (44 mm), mostly overcast skies, and breezy conditions.

46 Poor

Comfort

4°

Feels Like Cold

4°C

Temperature

1° – 7°

89%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

44 mm

Rainfall

6.0 m/s

Wind

Breezy

0.1

UV Index

Low

9.3h daylight

March

March is cold with highs of 9°C and lows of 2°C. Moderate rainfall (48 mm), mostly overcast skies, and breezy conditions.

54 Acceptable

Comfort

5°

Feels Like Cold

5°C

Temperature

2° – 9°

87%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

48 mm

Rainfall

6.1 m/s

Wind

Breezy

0.3

UV Index

Low

11.7h daylight

April

April is cold with highs of 11°C and lows of 3°C. Moderate rainfall (42 mm) and mostly overcast skies.

58 Acceptable

Comfort

7°

Feels Like Cold

7°C

Temperature

3° – 11°

86%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

42 mm

Rainfall

5.1 m/s

Wind

Light Breeze

0.6

UV Index

Moderate

14.0h daylight

May

May is cold with highs of 14°C and lows of 6°C. Moderate rainfall (50 mm) and mostly overcast skies.

58 Acceptable

Comfort

10°

Feels Like Cold

10°C

Temperature

6° – 14°

84%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

50 mm

Rainfall

4.6 m/s

Wind

Light Breeze

1.0

UV Index

Moderate

16.2h daylight

June

June is cool with highs of 17°C and lows of 8°C. Moderate rainfall (51 mm) and mostly overcast skies.

64 Good

Comfort

13°

Feels Like Cool

13°C

Temperature

8° – 17°

85%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

51 mm

Rainfall

4.5 m/s

Wind

Light Breeze

1.1

UV Index

High

17.3h daylight

July

July is cool with highs of 19°C and lows of 10°C. Moderate rainfall (49 mm) and mostly overcast skies.

64 Good

Comfort

15°

Feels Like Cool

15°C

Temperature

10° – 19°

86%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

49 mm

Rainfall

4.3 m/s

Wind

Light Breeze

1.1

UV Index

High

16.8h daylight

August

August is cool with highs of 19°C and lows of 10°C. Moderate rainfall (51 mm) and mostly overcast skies.

64 Good

Comfort

14°

Feels Like Cool

14°C

Temperature

10° – 19°

86%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

51 mm

Rainfall

4.3 m/s

Wind

Light Breeze

0.8

UV Index

Moderate

14.9h daylight

September

September is cool with highs of 16°C and lows of 8°C. Moderate rainfall (60 mm) and mostly overcast skies.

62 Good

Comfort

12°

Feels Like Cool

12°C

Temperature

8° – 16°

87%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

60 mm

Rainfall

5.2 m/s

Wind

Light Breeze

0.5

UV Index

Low

12.6h daylight

October

October is cold with highs of 13°C and lows of 6°C. Moderate rainfall (65 mm) and mostly overcast skies.

52 Acceptable

Comfort

9°

Feels Like Cold

9°C

Temperature

6° – 13°

88%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

65 mm

Rainfall

5.4 m/s

Wind

Light Breeze

0.2

UV Index

Low

10.2h daylight

November

November is cold with highs of 9°C and lows of 3°C. Moderate rainfall (57 mm) and mostly overcast skies.

56 Acceptable

Comfort

6°

Feels Like Cold

6°C

Temperature

3° – 9°

89%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

57 mm

Rainfall

5.7 m/s

Wind

Light Breeze

0.0

UV Index

Low

8.0h daylight

December

December is cold with highs of 7°C and lows of 1°C. Moderate rainfall (62 mm), mostly overcast skies, and breezy conditions.

42 Poor

Comfort

4°

Feels Like Cold

4°C

Temperature

1° – 7°

90%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

62 mm

Rainfall

6.0 m/s

Wind

Breezy

0.0

UV Index

Low

6.7h daylight

How to Get to Saint Andrews

Saint Andrews has no direct mainline station; Leuchars is the nearest railhead with a short onward bus or taxi to the town. For most visitors, Edinburgh is the practical airport and rail gateway.

By Air

Edinburgh Airport (EDI): Edinburgh is the main international airport for Saint Andrews. From Edinburgh airport you can take a tram or bus to Edinburgh city centre and then a train to Leuchars (≈1-1.5 hours by rail from Edinburgh Waverley) followed by a short bus or taxi to St Andrews; total travel time is usually 1.5-2.25 hours. Taxi or private transfer direct from Edinburgh takes about 1.25-1.5 hours.

Dundee Airport (DND): Dundee Airport is closer but offers limited scheduled services; from Dundee you can take a taxi or bus to St Andrews in about 30-40 minutes.

By Train & Bus

Train: The nearest railway station is Leuchars (Leuchars Station), about 8 km from St Andrews. Regular trains run Leuchars↔Edinburgh/Dundee/Glasgow; from Leuchars a frequent Stagecoach bus or short taxi will take you to St Andrews (≈15-20 minutes).

Bus: Direct express buses (e.g. Stagecoach X59/X58 or Citylink/coach services) run between Edinburgh, Dundee and St Andrews; a direct coach from Edinburgh typically takes 1.5-2 hours depending on traffic.

How to Get Around Saint Andrews #

Saint Andrews is very walkable - the town centre, beaches and university sites are close together and easy to reach on foot. For regional travel use the Leuchars railway station (about 6 km from town) or Stagecoach bus services to Dundee and beyond; taxis and local buses also operate. Cycling is practical for short hops around town.

Where to Stay in Saint Andrews #

Budget

Town centre / The Scores - $50-110/night

St Andrews has hostels and budget guesthouses within walking distance of the Old Course and town centre. Book early in peak season.

Mid-Range

Near Old Course / town centre - $120-220/night

Comfortable mid-range hotels and boutique options near the Links and historic streets; convenient for golf and university visits.

Luxury

Old Course area / coastal - $250+/night

St Andrews offers a few high-end hotels and resort-style properties, especially around the Old Course; expect premium rates in season.

Where to Eat in Saint Andrews #

Scottish & Seafood

Seafood and local produce dominate; cafés and hotel restaurants serve fresh, locally sourced Scottish dishes in a historic town setting.

Forgan's - Historic St Andrews restaurant and bar.
Balgove Larder - Farm shop café using local produce.
The Adamson - Modern Scottish ingredients, hotel dining.

Afternoon Tea & Casual

Cosy cafés, afternoon tea and farm-shop lunches are perfect for breaks between golf and sightseeing.

Road Hole Restaurant (Old Course Hotel) - Hotel dining with golf views.
St Andrews Bakery - Local bakery for pastries and coffee.
Balgove Larder Farm Shop - Light lunches from local suppliers.

Breakdown of cuisine types found across Saint Andrews's restaurants and food venues, based on OpenStreetMap data.

Pizza

Burger

Chinese

Sandwich

Fish & Chips

Indian

Italian

Seafood

Cake

Thai

Grill

Kebab

Snack

Sushi

Bakery

Pastry

Chicken

Baguette

Regional

Breakfast

Nightlife in Saint Andrews #

Nightlife is punchy for a small town, helped by the university population: traditional pubs, student bars and live-music nights are common. The scene is compact but social, with a few venues staying open late during term times.

Jigger Inn - Well-known pub beside the Old Course, popular with locals and visitors.

Shopping in Saint Andrews #

Shopping in St Andrews is a mix of golf shops, independent boutiques, bookshops and tourist-oriented stores along Market Street and the town centre. Golf equipment and souvenirs are a particular specialty given the town’s golfing heritage. For broader retail choices, nearby Dundee offers larger shopping centres.