When you think of Scotland, do you picture kilts, castles, and bagpipes? Aye, right you are, me lads and lassies. Scotland is brimming with rich culture, time-honored traditions, dramatic landscapes, and cobblestoned paths. If you’ve been searching for some ideas for your Scotland bucket list, you’ve come to the right place! Here’s our roundup of 11 unique experiences in Scotland for an unforgettable trip!
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1. Stay In A Boatel
So what exactly is a boatel? Imagine floating on the water in a unique and cozy boutique hotel – on a boat. The Four Sisters Boatels have a small collection of luxury floating houseboats that are located right in the heart of Edinburgh. In fact, it’s just a quick 6-minute walk from here to Edinburgh Castle, which is where we will head next.
2. See Edinburgh Castle
Did you know that there are over 2,000 castles in Scotland? Kinda crazy, right? But if you only have enough time to see ONE, make it Edinburgh Castle. This magnificent beauty sits on top of an extinct volcano that last erupted over 340 million years ago! From Edinburgh Castle, take in the beautiful panoramic views of the city and its mixture of medieval and Georgian architecture. Oh, and don’t forget to watch the firing of the cannon go off. Known as the One O’Clock Gun, this cannon started going off from here at 1:00 pm in 1861 to help sailors keep track of time. This tradition continues to this day, and visitors are welcome to watch at the designated viewing areas. This just FEELS sooo Scottish, doesn’t it?
3. Go To The Edinburgh Festival Fringe
Part of what makes Scotland unique is their many festivals! Each August, the Edinburgh Festival Fringe transforms the city over three weeks and earns its title as the world’s largest performing arts festival! With over 3,000 shows annually, there are multiple venues throughout the city featuring everything you can imagine, such as musical theater, comedy, singing, magic – you name it! If you don’t like crowds, August might not be the time for you to go to Edinburgh. But if you are someone who loves to go to a variety of performances, this festival is one that you should not miss!
4. Take A Walk Down Diagon Alley
If you’re of the wizarding world, you just might recognize Victoria Street. This location inspired J.K. Rowling’s creation of Diagon Alley, which appears throughout the Harry Potter series. Heck, even if you’re just a Muggle, you’ll find Victoria Street to be one of the prettiest streets in Edinburgh, with its brightly colored buildings and cobblestone everywhere.
5. Visit Greyfriars Kirkyard
When you’re finished shopping for your wands and owls, check out Greyfriars Kirkyard, which is said to be the most haunted cemetery in the world. Burial dates here go back to the 16th century. As you wander around this cemetery, you may run across some headstones that J.K. Rowling used for inspiration, like Mad Eye Moody, Sirius Black, Amos Diggory, and even Tom Riddle! So now that you have your wands, get ready just in case you need to cast an unforgivable curse!
Pro Tip: If you are looking for fun things to do in Scotland for families, we loved and highly recommend the “Edinburgh: Harry Potter Magical Guided Walking Tour!” This 2-hour tour combines Victoria Street and Greyfriars Kirkyard. You get to select a “house” out of the “sorting hat” and take part in some trivia with a very knowledgable guide!
6. Take A Ride On The Hogwarts Express
Since we are on this Harry Potter train of thought (pun intended), let’s go with it, shall we? How about taking a scenic ride through the Scottish Highlands on a real-life version of the Hogwarts Express? The Jacobite Steam Train was used as a filming location for the iconic train scenes in the Harry Potter movies. While this train doesn’t actually take you to the Wizarding School of Magic, you ARE at least safe from dementors!
This 84-mile journey involves a magic of a different sort that starts in Fort William and passes over the iconic 21-arched Glenfinnan Viaduct (instantly recognizable from the Potter movies). From Glenfinnan, sit back and enjoy the beautiful scenery as you pass Dumbledore’s final resting place and come to the end point in Mallaig.
Mallaig
Mallaig is the cutest, quaintest little fishing town. You will have enough time here to enjoy lunch and go into Haggard Alley to shop for your Harry Potter souvenirs before finishing your round-trip train ride back to Fort William.
As another option, we also highly recommend taking a 1-hour wildlife cruise while in Mallaig. This cruise is designed to fit into the Jacobite Steam Train schedule, allowing plenty of time for passengers to catch their return trips back. On this cruise, run by Western Isles Cruises, you could potentially see seals, dolphins, whales, and/or sharks.
7. Bungee Jump at Highland Fling
If you are a thrill-seeker looking for one of the more adventurous places in Scotland, you will want to check out Highland Fling at the Garry Bridge in Killiecrankie. This area is known particularly for its beautiful foliage AND a permanent bungee jump platform over the River Garry! If you are the daring type, you can experience an exhilarating free-fall experience of 132 feet or 40 meters! In addition to bungee jumping, there is also ziplining, bridge swinging, and more!
8. Witness The Highland Games
There may not be another event that is more Scottish than this! The Highland Games are a beloved traditional celebration held throughout multiple towns and villages in Scotland during the summer. These events are a mixture of athletics, culture, and food. The athletics are filled with “manly men” events where the competitors grunt and growl as they flip giant wooden logs end over end and throw weights over high bars.
In addition to the athletics, there are lots of bagpipes, drumming, highland dancing, Scottish treats and crafts, as well as whisky, tug-of-war competitions, and plenty of cheering. Not only is this one of the most unique experiences in Scotland, but it’s also a blast to witness the Scottish pride at these events!
9. Take A Caledonian Cruise
For another very Scottish experience, we recommend taking a cruise on a barge with Caledonian Discovery down the Caledonian Canal. On this barge, you will float past rolling green hills and castles while taking in the Highland scenery and searching for Ole Nessie. And if you think that you will be bored, think again. There are multiple activities to choose from on these cruises, including bike and barge options, canoeing, paddleboarding, and sailing. In fact, this is a great place for beginners to learn how to sail due to the calm waters and the patient instructors. If you would rather just take in the peaceful scenery and skip the water sports, you could always choose to hop off the barge for a whisky tasting, a castle tour, or a walk through a small Highland village.
10. Hike Alongside The Cairngorm Reindeer
Reindeer used to roam the Highlands in Scotland, but they disappeared completely after being hunted to extinction in the 1200s. In 1952, a Swedish reindeer herder and his wife reintegrated a small herd back to the Cairngorm Mountains. Today, there are approximately 150 reindeer in this area, and the Cairngorm Reindeer Centre is the only place in the UK where you can walk amongst them.
Now, you DO need to be physically fit enough to handle a 20-40 minute walk (both ways) through uneven terrain in mud, snow, and ice. But once the reindeer spot you, it’s all worth it. They will come trotting right over for the snacks, which you get to feed them! This truly IS one of the most magical and unique experiences in Scotland if you love animals. If you still want to see the reindeer and are unable to join the Hill Trip, the Centre has new paddocks open as of March 29, 2025, to see some of the reindeer up close.
Pro Tip: It is important to check the Centre’s website for a list of things to know before booking a Hill Trip! There are age restrictions, especially during certain times of the year, as well as clothing requirements!
11. Set The Night On Fire… Viking Style!
Honestly, there are so many great traditions, festivals, and unique experiences in Scotland. But THIS ONE is next level! Known as “Up Helly Aa,” this fiery festival has celebrated the Viking heritage since 1881. Each year, nearly 1,000 people dress up in full Viking garb, carrying flaming torches, and march through the streets of Lerwick, Shetland. The goal? To set a newly built full-size Viking longship on fire! Let’s just say that it’s one MASSIVE bonfire with quite a bit of alcohol consumption involved as well!
Final Thoughts
From old traditions and festivals to steam trains out of a movie, there are so many unique things to do in Scotland. We only scratched the surface today, but we hope that we gave you some new ideas to put on your Scotland bucket list!
If you enjoyed this post, check out 42 Unique Travel Experiences and Festivals in 2025!
