St Andrews

Yes, very much so. The medieval cathedral ruins, cliffside castle, three-mile West Sands beach, and 600-year-old university make for a strong day or two even without touching a club. Many non-golfing visitors also use it as a base for the East Neuk fishing villages, which are some of the prettiest in Scotland. Two nights is enough to see the town properly.

Two to three nights is the sweet spot for non-golfers. You can see the town itself in a full day — cathedral, castle, Old Course walk, West Sands — and use the second day for the East Neuk fishing villages or a Fife Coastal Path walk. Golfers should plan four to five nights to fit in two or three Links Trust courses, plus weather contingency. Day-tripping from Edinburgh is possible but feels rushed.

Mid-May through early September offers the longest daylight, mildest temperatures (around 14–19°C / 57–66°F), and the most reliable golf weather. June is arguably the peak month — long evenings, less rain than August, fewer crowds than July. April is the driest month overall but still chilly. Avoid November to February unless you want a very moody, half-shut town with cheap hotels.

It's pricier than the average Scottish town, particularly during golf season. Mid-range hotels run £150–250 per night, dinner at a sit-down restaurant averages £30–50 per person, and the Old Course green fee peaks at £320. Budget travellers can offset costs by staying at West Port B&Bs, eating at Tailend, and choosing the public Himalayas putting course instead of a Links Trust round. Off-season hotel rates drop by more than half.

Three things: golf, the university, and ruins. It's the global home of golf — the Old Course is the oldest in the world and owned by the town itself. It's home to the University of St Andrews, Scotland's oldest, founded in 1413 and famously where Prince William met Catherine. And it has dramatic medieval ruins, including a roofless cathedral that was once Scotland's largest building before the Reformation.

Not really. Contactless cards and Apple/Google Pay work nearly everywhere, including small cafes, pubs, taxis, and Stagecoach buses. The only places you'll need cash are caddie tips at the Links Trust courses (typically £40–60 in cash), some honesty-box farm shops on the Fife coastal path, and the occasional small B&B. £50 in notes is plenty for a multi-day visit.

The fastest option is the direct Stagecoach 747 to Halbeath Park & Ride, transferring to the X24 or X59 to St Andrews (about 2 hours total, ~£15). The most popular route is taking the Airlink bus into Edinburgh's Haymarket station, then a train to Leuchars (about 1 hour), and a 10-minute Stagecoach 99 bus into town. Door-to-door taxis or shuttles cost £80–120 but take only about an hour.

The East Neuk fishing villages — Crail, Anstruther, Pittenweem, and St Monans — are the obvious choice, reachable by Stagecoach 95 bus in under an hour. Anstruther has the famous Anstruther Fish Bar and the Scottish Fisheries Museum. Falkland Palace, the Lomond Hills, and Dundee's V&A museum are also within an hour. Edinburgh itself works as a return day trip, though it's a long one.

For first-timers, Market Street or South Street put you within five minutes of everything — restaurants, pubs, the cathedral, and the Old Course. The Scores is best for sea views and Victorian-hotel atmosphere. Golfers gravitate to hotels at the Old Course end (Old Course Hotel, Rusacks). Budget travellers should look at West Port B&Bs, which are still walkable to the centre but considerably cheaper.

Yes, but it takes planning. There's an annual advance ballot opening each August for the following year, a daily ballot via phone or in person 48 hours before play, the singles list (turn up and get paired with a group), and guaranteed-tee-time golf packages costing £3,000+. You'll need a valid handicap certificate (24 max for men, 36 for women) and remember the course is closed Sundays.

Very safe. It's a small, walkable, well-lit university town with low crime and a strong community feel, ranked among the safer destinations in the UK. Solo female travellers report feeling comfortable at night, particularly in the town centre. Standard urban awareness at pub closing time is enough. The university even runs a free night bus during term to get students home safely between 10pm and 2am.

Both, if you can. Edinburgh is the cultural capital — castles, festivals, nightlife, museums — and warrants three or four days. St Andrews is a quiet, compact medieval seaside town focused on golf, ruins, and beaches; two nights is plenty. Most travellers base in Edinburgh and either day-trip to St Andrews or pair it with the East Neuk fishing villages over a long weekend. If forced to pick one, choose Edinburgh.

Fish and chips from Tailend, which has won national awards using Scottish day-boat catch. Scottish seafood at Haar or The Seafood Ristorante for a proper sit-down dinner. A pie and a pint at The Jigger Inn or The Criterion. Whisky and a bar snack at The Keys. For breakfast, Northpoint Cafe (where Will met Kate) does excellent eggs benedict. Don't leave without trying a tablet from a local sweet shop.

Yes — the Old Course is municipal land owned by the town, and you can walk it freely on Sundays when no golf is played. Locals picnic on the fairways and dogs run on the 18th. Outside Sundays, you can walk the perimeter and cross the iconic Swilcan Bridge any evening after play finishes. The West Sands beach also runs alongside the course. Many visitors find this more atmospheric than playing.

The UK standard Type G plug with three rectangular pins, running on 230V / 50Hz. American devices need a physical plug adapter; most modern electronics (phones, laptops, cameras) handle the voltage automatically, but check hair dryers and curling irons, which often don't. Adapters are cheap at the airport but easier to buy before you fly. Most hotels have USB ports as well.