When I was teaching English in Spain, we got a week-long Easter break for Semana Santa, or Holy Week. So in April 2025, I decided to use mine to finally explore Scotland.
I’d already fallen in love with Ireland, and Scotland seemed like a natural next stop. The architecture, landscapes, history, and overall atmosphere reminded me of things I’d enjoyed about Ireland. Throw in the Harry Potter connection and I was sold! 🙂
I spent three days in Glasgow and five days in Edinburgh, traveling completely solo. I expected cold temperatures, rain, and probably a little bit of suffering from walking around in the Scottish weather. What I got instead was surprisingly warm and sunny weather for most of the trip.
I had packed a winter coat, scarf, gloves, a hat, and rain boots. I ended up carrying that coat around constantly and barely used some of the other things. And those rain boots? I returned them for a refund when I got home. LOL
Apparently, Scotland decided to give me a break.
First Stop: Glasgow
I started my Scotland solo travel adventure in Glasgow, where I stayed at the Maldron Hotel.
After getting settled, I went out to explore the city. One of the first things I encountered was something I had seen online before but never expected to see in person: the famous Duke of Wellington statue with a traffic cone sitting on top of his head. Apparently, putting traffic cones on the statue has become a Scottish tradition. Honestly, I kind of love it. LOL
Right in front of the statue was the Gallery of Modern Art, so naturally, I had to go inside. One thing I immediately appreciated about Glasgow was that many of its museums and galleries offer free admission. As someone who loves museums and galleries, that was music to my ears.
I spent about two hours walking around and looking at the different exhibits before heading back outside to explore more of the city.
Hunting Down Glasgow’s Street Art
If you’ve read my other travel stories, you already know I have a thing for street art. When I’m specifically looking for murals, one of my favorite tricks is searching Instagram for the name of the artwork and then checking the Tags section. That’s often where you’ll find photos from people who have actually visited the murals, which can make it much easier to locate.
Glasgow did not disappoint.
I found some incredible street art throughout the city, and it became one of my favorite ways to explore. Instead of simply walking from one major attraction to another, I had another reason to wander down different streets and see what I could find.
Sometimes the best parts of a city aren’t the things listed on the biggest tourist maps.
Glasgow Cathedral and the Necropolis
Of everything I saw in Glasgow, my favorite was probably Glasgow Cathedral and the nearby Necropolis.
I’ve always been fascinated by old European architecture, so the cathedral immediately caught my attention. Even with construction taking place toward the back during my visit, the building still had an incredible Gothic appearance.
And the inside? Absolutely beautiful. The high ceilings and stained-glass windows made the cathedral feel even more impressive once I stepped inside.
But the part that really caught my attention was the cemetery behind it.
The Glasgow Necropolis is exactly the kind of place that makes sense for me because, as I’ve mentioned before, I’m a self-proclaimed weirdo and I’m completely okay with it. LOL
Halloween is my favorite holiday. Horror is my favorite movie genre. So spending two hours wandering around a Victorian cemetery admiring old tombstones felt perfectly normal to me. Some of the headstones had turned almost black over time, which made them look even more dramatic.
I also noticed an area associated with Glasgow’s Jewish community. Seeing that history represented made me stop and think about the different communities that have been part of Glasgow’s story over the years.
Another detail that stood out to me was the memorial connected to William Wallace. I knew the name because of Braveheart, but I honestly didn’t know much about the real William Wallace or even realize how much of the story had been based on an actual historical figure. Seeing that connection in person made me want to learn more.
Sometimes traveling gives you a little history lesson when you aren’t expecting one.
Second Stop: Edinburgh
After three days in Glasgow, I made my way to Edinburgh for the rest of my trip.
I stayed at St Christopher’s, which you may recognize from some of my other travel stories. I’ve stayed at their hostels in several cities, and they’re one of my favorite places to stay when I’m traveling.
One of the first things I noticed from outside my window was the massive Scott Monument. The monument was built in honor of Scottish author Sir Walter Scott, and seeing it up close was quite a sight. Edinburgh has so much historic architecture packed into the city that even something as simple as looking out the window can feel like sightseeing.
And I was just getting started.
Free Museums and a Little Harry Potter Hunting
One of my first stops was the National Museum of Scotland. Again: free admission.
I spent time exploring the exhibits and came across a replica tomb associated with Mary, Queen of Scots. I also saw the Lewis chess pieces, which are often associated with the inspiration for the wizard chess pieces in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. Naturally, my Harry Potter radar was officially activated.
Once I realized how many places around Edinburgh were associated with Harry Potter lore, I started looking for them.
One of those places was Greyfriars Kirkyard. The cemetery is said to have inspired some character names in the books, including Tom Riddle and Professor McGonagall. Whether you’re a hardcore Potterhead or simply interested in Edinburgh’s history, walking through the cemetery is an interesting experience.
Then there was Victoria Street. The colorful, curved street is often associated with the inspiration for Diagon Alley, and it was one of those places where I could immediately understand why Harry Potter fans would want to visit. I was basically on a mini Harry Potter pilgrimage. LOL
There were still a few places I didn’t get to see on this trip. I’d love to visit the Glenfinnan Viaduct, famous for the Jacobite Steam Train a.k.a. Hogwarts Express, and the University of Glasgow, which primarily served as one of the filming locations for the Sorcerer’s Stone and Deathly Hallows films. The ancient architecture, with its Gothic spires, creates an atmospheric backdrop that feels like you’ve walked right into that magical world.
I also didn’t make it to the Scottish Highlands during this trip because of my budget. I knew those adorable fluffy Highland cows were waiting for me somewhere up there. I’ll make it up to them eventually.
A Scottish Pub Crawl With New Friends
One of my favorite things about staying in hostels is how easy it can be to meet people. During my Edinburgh stay, I joined a pub crawl with other travelers from the hostel. I don’t remember the names of the pubs we visited, but I definitely remember one of them being a karaoke bar. And let’s just say we were not winning any singing competitions. LOL We sang terribly, laughed a lot, and eventually moved on to the next pub.
I met people from different parts of the world and had a genuinely great night. That’s one of the things I enjoy about solo travel: you may arrive somewhere alone, but that doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll spend the entire trip alone.
Sometimes all it takes is saying yes to a hostel activity.
Exploring the Royal Mile
The next day, I headed into Edinburgh’s Old Town and walked along the Royal Mile. The street is filled with shops, restaurants, historic buildings, and plenty of places designed to separate tourists from their money. In other words, tourist traps. But that’s the name of the game sometimes. LOL
I enjoyed wandering around, looking through the shops, taking pictures, and soaking in the atmosphere.
Fried Mars Bars, Fish & Chips and a Spice Bag
One of my first food stops was the Clam Shell, where I ordered fish and chips.
And because regular dessert wasn’t enough, I tried a fried Mars Bar. I’d honestly never even had a regular Mars Bar before this trip, so naturally my first thought was, “Sure, let’s fry it!” As someone from the Southern United States, I feel like I was uniquely prepared for this concept. We like to fry things. LOL
I also tried a Cornish pasty while walking around Edinburgh, and it was delicious. For something sweet, I stopped at Chulo’s Stuffed Cookies and ordered a pistachio cream stuffed chocolate chip cookie. It tasted exactly as good as it sounds.
But my favorite meal of the trip was actually a spice bag from Belushi’s, which was attached to my hostel. I’d never had a spice bag before. It’s essentially a bag of fries mixed with crispy chicken pieces, spices, and a curry sauce that you can dip into or pour over everything. It was simple, messy, flavorful, and absolutely delicious. And since it was attached to my hostel, I didn’t even have to go very far to get it.
Calton Hill
I’d considered visiting Arthur’s Seat, but at the time, I decided that might be a little ambitious, so I went to Calton Hill instead. It was shorter, but I still got incredible views over Edinburgh. The weather was a little cloudy and drizzly that day, but nothing too terrible.
And honestly, after all the stairs I’d encountered around Edinburgh, I was perfectly okay with choosing the slightly easier option. Because if there’s one thing Scotland taught me, it’s that I clearly have a complicated relationship with stairs. I don’t mind walking. I don’t even mind hiking. But combine uphill walking with stairs and suddenly I’m questioning every decision that brought me there. LOL
Thankfully, the destination was always worth the struggle.
Edinburgh Castle
Another place I didn’t enter was Edinburgh Castle. Not because I didn’t want to, but because it cost more money than I was willing to spend at the time, so I took pictures from outside instead. There was even an ice cream truck nearby, so I got to take pictures of the castle and have ice cream.
That’s a win-win in my book.
This was also one of the realities of traveling during this particular trip. There were things I wanted to see that simply didn’t fit into my budget and that’s okay. Travel doesn’t have to mean doing absolutely everything. Sometimes you have to pick the experiences that matter most to you and let the others wait for another trip.
Princes Street Gardens
The day before I left, I joined some of my hostel roommates for a walk through Princes Street Gardens. The gardens felt like a nice break from the busy streets. There were different areas filled with flowers, and in the center was the Ross Fountain. The view of Edinburgh Castle from the gardens was beautiful thanks to another day of sunny weather.
It was one of those moments where I was reminded that I didn’t necessarily need to spend money to enjoy the city. Sometimes walking around, taking pictures, and enjoying the scenery is enough.
Traveling Scotland on a Budget
My Scotland trip wasn’t luxurious, and I didn’t do everything that a traditional Scotland itinerary might recommend. I didn’t visit the Highlands. I didn’t go inside Edinburgh Castle. I didn’t make it to the Glenfinnan Viaduct. But I still had an incredible trip!
One thing I appreciated was how many things I could enjoy without spending a fortune. Museums were free, walking around the city was free, the cemeteries were free, and some of my favorite memories came from simply exploring streets and taking pictures.
For solo travelers working with a limited budget, I think that’s worth remembering. You don’t need to book an expensive tour every day to have a memorable trip. Sometimes a pair of comfortable shoes, a bus pass, and curiosity will take you pretty far.
The People I Met Along the Way
One of the sweetest parts of the trip actually came from the women I shared a hostel room with. We were all traveling and doing our own things, but we ended up connecting. At one point, they even paid for my dinner. And I let one of them borrow my belt. Women helping women. ❤️
It’s a small thing, but moments like that stick with me. As a solo traveler, you never know who you’re going to meet or what kind of connection you’ll make. Most of the locals I encountered generally kept to themselves, but the people I actually interacted with were friendly and welcoming.
That’s something I always appreciate when I’m traveling alone.
Glasgow or Edinburgh?
Between the two cities, I’d probably choose Edinburgh as my favorite from this particular trip. But that’s not necessarily because I think Glasgow is worse. I simply spent more time in Edinburgh, which gave me more opportunities to explore, visit attractions, meet people, try different foods, and simply wander around. Glasgow had some of my favorite individual experiences, especially Glasgow Cathedral and the Necropolis, while Edinburgh gave me a larger collection of memories.
So I’d absolutely recommend experiencing both if you have the time! 10/10, highly recommend.
Would I Go Back to Scotland?
Definitely. Absolutely. You can count on it! Scotland was pretty much everything I’d hoped it would be, with a few missing pieces that I simply couldn’t afford to experience during this trip.
I originally chose Scotland because I had loved Ireland and wanted to experience another part of the British Isles with a similar combination of beautiful landscapes, historic architecture, and culture. The Harry Potter connection definitely didn’t hurt either.
I would love to return and see the parts of Scotland I missed the first time: the Highlands, the Glenfinnan Viaduct, more of the countryside, and the places I simply couldn’t fit into my budget at the time. And yes, I still need to meet a Highland cow.
That is non-negotiable. LOL
Scotland Solo Travel: What I Learned
My week in Scotland reminded me why I love solo travel.
I arrived alone, explored two cities on my own, met people from around the world, joined a pub crawl, wandered through cemeteries, hunted down Harry Potter locations, ate fried candy bars, discovered new foods, and somehow survived what felt like approximately 900,000 stairs.
And the funny thing is, I didn’t need perfect weather or an unlimited budget to have an amazing time. Some of my favorite memories were completely free. Scotland gave me Gothic architecture, street art, history, Harry Potter nostalgia, hostel friendships, beautiful views, and plenty of reasons to come back.
I just hope the next time I visit, those fluffy Highland cows are ready for me. LOL