Scotland

Planning ahead? See typical weather for your travel dates.

Scotland has a cool, wet maritime climate with mild summers and cold winters, colder and wetter in the Highlands. Weather changes quickly, so layers and rain gear are recommended in any season. Best time to visit: May to September, for the mildest weather and longest days.

Edinburgh and Glasgow have efficient bus and rail networks. Reaching the Highlands is best by rental car or guided coach tour, since train and bus coverage thins out considerably outside the main cities.

Good 4G/5G coverage in Edinburgh and Glasgow, with weaker or patchy signal in remote Highland and island areas. Free Wi-Fi is standard in hotels and cafes.

Scotland uses the British Pound (GBP), part of the United Kingdom, though Scottish banknotes also circulate locally. Cards, including contactless, are accepted almost everywhere.

Scotland is known for tartan and tweed, single malt whisky, and hand-knitted cashmere. Most shops operate daily, with shorter hours on Sundays.

As part of the United Kingdom, Scotland applies the UK's standard VAT rate of 20%. The UK ended its tourist VAT refund scheme in 2021, so visitors can no longer reclaim VAT on purchases when departing.