Why visit St Andrews
You get a rare mix here. Medieval lanes and a working university. Famous links courses beside wide beaches. Cafés that look onto the North Sea. You can explore ruined cloisters in the morning, walk West Sands in the afternoon, then eat well in town. Golf draws people from everywhere, but you do not need clubs to love it. The seaside setting, the scale of the place, and the welcome are reason enough.
Best time to visit
The town works all year round, though the feel shifts with the seasons. Summer brings long daylight and a lively buzz. Spring and autumn are calm and great for walking the coast. Winter is quieter, good value, and crisp on sunny days.
Summer
June to August are the warmest months in Scotland. Expect average highs near 17°C., long evenings, and many attractions running full hours. Beaches and paths are busy, and accommodation books early. Pack light layers and sun protection.
Spring and autumn
April, May, September and October suit walkers and photographers. Days are lighter than winter and crowds thinner than peak summer. Many travellers rate May, June, September and October for long days and open attractions without peak pressure.
Winter
From November to March you get short days and brisk air. In return you find space in restaurants, easier tee times on non-Old Course links, and good rates. Check opening times for attractions and seasonal restaurants, which can reduce hours out of season.
How to get to St Andrews
There is no train station in town. The nearest is Leuchars, about six miles away, with frequent onward buses and taxis.
Rail and bus from UK cities
From Edinburgh, take a ScotRail service to Leuchars. At Leuchars, the Stagecoach 99 bus runs to St Andrews bus station throughout the day. Services are frequent and the ride is short.
Direct coach links also exist. Stagecoach Express X60 connects Edinburgh Bus Station and St Andrews. Journey time is around two hours, traffic depending.
If you are coming from Dundee, the 99 runs both ways between Dundee city centre and St Andrews all day.
Edinburgh Airport to St Andrews
Stagecoach runs the 787 coach linking Edinburgh Airport with St Andrews via Kinross and Cupar. It is a straightforward option if you are landing with luggage and prefer to avoid a train change.
Taxis and transfer times
Taxis wait at Leuchars station for trains. The ride into St Andrews takes roughly ten to fifteen minutes in normal traffic.
Driving and parking
From Edinburgh, drive over the Queensferry Crossing, follow the M90 and A91, and allow 90 minutes in light traffic. St Andrews has long-stay car parks close to the centre. Argyle Street North is the main long-stay option, pay and display, and is useful for full days in town.
If you plan a beach day at Tentsmuir Forest, note that parking is inside a barrier system with a set day rate.
Where to stay in St Andrews
You will find hotels, inns, guesthouses and many self-catering options in town and along the East Neuk. Self-catering suits families, golfers with kit, and longer stays.
In summer, the University opens selected residences to the public on a bed and breakfast or self-catered basis. It is a good value choice within walking distance of the centre.
Short Stay St Andrews manages a wide range of holiday lets across the town and the nearby fishing villages. Homes come with proper kitchens, a living space, fast Wi-Fi and hotel-grade linens, plus local guest support. It keeps your group under one roof and close to the places you want to see.
Things to do and top attractions
Historic St Andrews
The skyline owes much to the Cathedral and Castle. St Andrews Cathedral is a vast medieval ruin with a graveyard and views from St Rule’s Tower when open. Grounds access is free, with seasonal tower access and guided tours run by Historic Environment Scotland.
A short walk away, St Andrews Castle sits on the cliffs above Castle Sands. It was a bishop’s palace and later a prison, with famous siege mines that you can still enter.
Beaches and nature
West Sands runs for about two miles beside the links. It is known from the opening scene of Chariots of Fire and is perfect for a morning run or an evening stroll.
East Sands lies by the harbour and sailing club. It is smaller, sheltered, and good for families and water sports.
For dune trails and forest, head north to Tentsmuir National Nature Reserve and Tentsmuir Forest. You get miles of sand, seal-spotting in season, and waymarked paths.
Beach wheelchairs are available on West Sands through the local charity scheme. Booking is advised.
Museums, gardens and guided walks
The R&A World Golf Museum sits next to the Old Course 1st tee and tells the story of the game with modern exhibits. Check the museum site for opening hours throughout the year.
The Botanic Garden covers 18 acres of ponds, meadows and themed plantings, ten minutes’ walk from the bus station. It is open daily, with different hours in summer and winter.
To learn the Old Course layout without a club in hand, join an official guided walk that covers the 1st, 17th and 18th. There are also independent town and Old Course history tours most of the year.
On Sundays the Old Course is closed to play. Locals and visitors use it like a park. You can walk the fairways, take photos at the Swilcan Bridge, and enjoy the rare quiet. Keep off the greens and respect any roped areas.
Planning a golf trip to St Andrews
Old Course ballot in plain English
Most visiting golfers try the daily ballot. You can enter as a two, three or four-ball, give names, home clubs and handicaps, then wait for the draw. The ballot closes at 2 pm, two days before play. Results usually appear later that afternoon. There is no ballot on Fridays because the course rests on Sundays. These are long-standing rules explained by several trusted golf providers and guides, and echoed in local guidance.
If you are a single golfer, there is a separate process to join others when space allows. Availability varies with the season.
If you do not draw the Old Course, you can still have a superb trip. Book the New, Jubilee, Eden or Strathtyrum courses, or the Castle Course on the cliffs to the south. They are all St Andrews Links courses and give a full links test.
Booking tips
Anchor your dates around tee times for the links. Mix golf with town time. Keep one flexible day if you plan to chase the ballot. If you want guaranteed Old Course access far in advance, look at reputable tour operators or hospitality packages, but understand these come at a premium.
Suggested itineraries
One perfect day
Arrive at Leuchars and take the 99 to town. Start at the Cathedral grounds and St Rule’s Tower for a view over the town and sands. Walk down to the harbour and along East Sands. Lunch on South Street or Market Street. Spend the afternoon at the R&A World Golf Museum, then stroll the 1st and 18th. If your visit falls on a Sunday, wander the fairways. Finish with a sunset walk on West Sands.
Two days
Day one as above. Day two for nature and the coast. Head to Tentsmuir Forest for pine trails and beach, or walk a section of the Fife Coastal Path towards Kingsbarns. Allow time at the Botanic Garden on your way back.
Three to four days
Add golf rounds on the New or Jubilee course. Explore the East Neuk villages for harbours, smokehouses and shore walks. Keep one evening open for a coastal sunset at Kinkell Braes or West Sands. Book a guided Old Course walk if you have not played it.
Practical tips that make a difference
Pack for changeable weather in any season. Layers, a waterproof, and comfortable walking shoes help. For buses and coaches, contactless cards work across services, and live timetables are on their site and app. If you plan to park all day, use the long-stay car parks and check Fife Council tariff periods before you leave your car. For beach days with limited mobility, reserve a beach wheelchair in advance.
Booking your stay with Short Stay St Andrews
Choose a home base that fits your trip. If you are here for golf, stay near the links or on the south side for quick access to the Castle Course shuttle and coastal paths. For family breaks, look for parking, a proper kitchen, and easy beach access. With Short Stay St Andrews you get local support, digital guidebooks, and a team that knows the best routes, tee time routines and restaurant booking patterns across the year. If you need cots, highchairs, pet-friendly spaces, or late check-in, ask when you book and it will be set up before you arrive.
Quick recap
Pick your season based on pace and daylight. Use the rail to Leuchars and the 99 bus, or the 787 coach direct from Edinburgh Airport. Put the Cathedral, beaches, museum and Botanic Garden on your list. If you want the Old Course, enter the ballot at the right time and have back-up tee times on the other links. Build in time to walk the sands at low tide and the 1st and 18th at dusk. Then relax. St Andrews does the rest.
