During the 11th century, Dunfermline was the ancient capital of Scotland and is one of the oldest settlements in the country. But that was a long time ago, and Dunfermline was only granted modern city status in 2022. It’s a city back on the rise and there are plenty of things to do in Dunfermline for Scottish history buffs, outdoor lovers, and the whole family.
Dunfermline is a historic town in the Kingdom of Fife known for its connections to King Robert the Bruce I and Saint Margaret of Scotland. As the birthplace of industrialist and philanthropist Andrew Carnegie, many of the city’s beautiful parks and cultural centers are due to his generosity in the late 19th century.
Whether you’re visiting on a family day out, a West Fife road trip, or sticking around for a couple of days, there are tons of cool visitor attractions and activities in Dunfermline. This guide lists all the fun things to do in Dunfermline that are absolutely worth visiting.
TOP THINGS TO DO IN DUNFERMLINE
DUNFERMLINE ABBEY AND PALACE
One of the can’t-miss things to do in Dunfermline is the famous Dunfermline Abbey. It’s often the only reason that many people visit this city! It dates back to the 12th century and is the final resting place of Robert the Bruce.
King Robert the Bruce I is one of the most beloved Scottish kings as he managed to claim independence for Scotland (for a brief time) in the early 14th century. The abbey is a small but beautiful building and you’ll find the ruins of Dunfermline Palace next door.
Book a guided tour of the Dunfermline Abbey, plus Rosslyn Chapel and Stirling Castle HERE.
This Royal Palace dates back to the 14th century, but it hasn’t stood the test of time as well as the abbey. This was King James IV’s royal residence but it fell into ruin when the monarchs moved to London. Still, the whole site is super interesting and clearly a really important part of Scottish history.
Check out Dunfermline Abbey in the Outlaw King, plus other Scotland filming locations.
PITTENCRIEFF PARK
You wouldn’t expect a city as small as Dunfermline to have such large public parks as Pittencrieff, but it makes sense when you learn that Andrew Carnegie footed the bill. Covering 76 acres, Pittencrieff Park is a hugely popular park. It has lots of outdoor activities like children’s playgrounds and beautiful attractions like the wildflower garden.
Pittencrieff Park also has outstanding quality amenities like public toilets, a free car park, and a city cycling rental. Keep an eye out for the Forth Bridge stretching across the Firth of Forth which you can see in the distance as you stroll around the park.
DUNFERMLINE CITY CENTER
The town centre is at the heart of Dunfermline with tons of lively pubs and bars lining the High Street. The Kingsgate Shopping Centre is popular amongst the locals at the weekend and there are lots of entertainment options like the Alhambra Theatre.
The Queen Margaret Station is close by so you can easily travel to Dunfermline city center by car, train, or bus.
ANDREW CARNEGIE BIRTHPLACE MUSEUM
On the edge of Pittencrieff Park, there’s a small stone cottage where Andrew Carnegie was born in 1835. The Andrew Carnegie Birthplace Museum walks you through the millionaire’s humble beginnings as the son of a weaver and on to how he made his fortune along with the charities and universities he founded.
This museum houses over 5,000 items relating to Andrew Carnegie including a fine art collection and letters from Theodore Roosevelt. It’s the best collection of Andrew Carnegie artifacts in the world and definitely one of the best things to do in Dunfermline.
DUNFERMLINE CARNEGIE LIBRARY
Opened in 1883 and funded by Carnegie, the Dunfermline Carnegie Library is still going strong today. In the last 100 years, it has had a huge modern extension to include an art gallery as well as gallery space for temporary exhibitions. There’s free entry and you can always expect friendly service from the staff as it’s super popular with out-of-town visitors.
CARNEGIE HALL
Move over New York City, because you’re not the only place in the world that can boast a Carnegie Hall. Founded a few decades after the prestigious NYC hall in 1937, Carnegie Hall in Dunfermline is still the best place in the city to watch live music, comedy shows, musicals, and plays. This is one of the few institutes in Dunfermline that Carnegie didn’t fund as he died in 1919.
ABBOT HOUSE
Although it is Dunfermline’s oldest town house, no one is sure about the exact age of Abbot House. It dates back to at least the 16th century which means it has miraculously survived a huge fire that savaged the city and multiple wars. Today, Abbot House stands out in Dunfermline city center as a vibrant red sandstone building and one of the city’s best coffee shops.
TOWNHILL COUNTRY PARK
Although Pittencrieff will satiate most visitors’ thirst for outdoor adventure, Townhill Country Park is perfect for those who want to get out of the city and into the woods. It’s just a five-minute drive or a short bus ride from the city center.
Townhill Country Park has a picturesque little lake called Town Loch (it needs updating to City Loch!) and walking trails into the vast Wellwood Woods. Just next to the park is a multi-use recreation center with a large kids’ playground.
SAINT MARGARET’S CAVE
One of the quirkiest things to do in Dunfermline is to visit Saint Margaret’s Cave. She was an exiled princess who married King Malcolm Canmore of Scotland in 1070 and died in 1093. She was a deeply religious and charitable person which is one of the reasons why Pope Innocent the Fourth made her a saint.
According to local legend, she used to pray in this cave. It’s free entrance and you can reach it by climbing 87 steps deep underground. Don’t worry, it’s well-lit and there there is even a small gift shop.
DUNFERMLINE GOLF CLUB
Every city and town in Scotland has a golf course and Dunfermline is no different. It’s a short 10-minute drive or bus ride out of the city but Dunfermline Golf Club is very welcoming to visitors. There’s an onsite dining room, driving range, and putting green that anyone is free to use.
CERAMIC CAFE CRAFT SHOP
The Ceramic Cafe first opened in 2005 and today it’s one of the most well-loved small businesses in Dunfermline. It’s a huge space perfect for families with a large sofa area and there’s even a soft play facility for kids.
But the reason why it’s called the ‘ceramic’ cafe is because customers can paint and take home their very own piece of ceramic. The cafe provides a range of ready-made pottery pieces and you can choose whichever you’d like to paint and keep. Not only is this a super fun activity, but the cafe also serves good food, hot drinks, and homemade cakes too.
THINGS TO DO NEAR DUNFERMLINE
The region of Fife offers cute fishing villages, other historic cities, and tons of other attractions that the whole family can enjoy. Here are some of the best things to do near Dunfermline that are a 25-minute drive or less from the city.
KNOCKHILL RACING CIRCUIT
Motorheads and racing fans visiting Dunfermline for the first time should be aware of Knockhill Racing Circuit, Scotland’s national motorsport centre. It’s only a 15-minute drive away and they regularly host tons of karting, racing, and rally car events and experiences for both adults and kids.
If they’re closed for a race, get tickets to watch from Knockhill’s website. Many of these races are televised so they are a big deal!
FIFE LEISURE PARK
Traveling with young kids and wondering what to do on a rainy day in Dunfermline? Head to Fife Leisure Park. It has family-friendly restaurants, a swimming pool, mini golf, a bingo hall, play areas, and so much more to keep the whole family entertained. Plus, it’s only a 10-minute drive from Dunfermline city center.
SCOTTISH VINTAGE BUS MUSEUM
Just a 12-minute drive from Dunfermline, the Scottish Vintage Bus Museum is a huge warehouse full of exactly what you’d expect: vintage buses! There are around 160 buses, mostly from the 1920s and 1930s, in this visitor centre plus 30 bonus vehicles and a gift shop.
KIRKCALDY GALLERIES AND LIBRARY
Kirkcaldy is a coastal town in Fife that has a large stretch of beach, castle ruins, and the Kirkcaldy Galleries and Library. It’s a large, multi-use space that not only has galleries and a library but also a local history museum, cafe, and children’s play spaces. It’s a 25-minute drive west of Dunfermline and a hidden gem in the Fife region.
DEEP SEA WORLD
North Queensferry is right on the edge of the Firth of Forth which is an ideal location for Scotland’s national aquarium. It’s only 15 minutes south of Dunfermline, too. Deep Sea World is famous for its seal and shark enclosures (separate tanks, of course!) and 112 m/367 ft acrylic see-through tunnel with fish swimming all around.
FIFE COASTAL PATH
Scotland has 29 Great Trails which are the country’s designated long-distance, multi-day hiking trails. The Fife Coastal Path is close to Dunfermline, running 187 km/116 miles along the edge of the North Sea from North Queensferry up to Newburgh near the city of Perth.
It takes around eight to 10 days to complete this hike and it’s one of the best ways to see more of this beautiful coastline. Plus, there aren’t many peaks in this part of Scotland so you don’t have to worry about climbing a lot of hills.
Check out this Kingdom of Fife Tour to see more of the region. Or if you are taking a day trip from Edinburgh, hop onto this tour that covers St Andrews, Dunfermline and the Fife Coast.
DAY TRIPS FROM DUNFERMLINE
As it’s only a 25-minute drive from Edinburgh Airport, Dunfermline is a convenient, more affordable base for a short break in Scotland than bigger cities like Edinburgh and Glasgow. While the Scottish Highlands are a little far away, some fun and easy day trips from Dunfermline to add to your itinerary too.
ST. ANDREWS
The home of golf, St. Andrews is known for its prestigious university and for inventing this much-beloved sport. It’s only a one-hour drive along the beautiful Fife Coast from Dunfermline so it’s the perfect place for a day trip. You can practice your swing on the Old Course, walk along the West Sands Beach, and explore St. Andrews Castle and Cathedral.
STIRLING
Stirling is only a 40-minute drive from Dunfermline and it’s also a great place to visit in Scotland to learn more about Scotland’s rich history. Take a guided tour of the historic buildings in Stirling Castle, visit the National Wallace Monument, and see the locations of the epic Battles of Stirling Bridge and Bannockburn.
ANNUAL EVENTS IN DUNFERMLINE
As one of the United Kingdom’s newest cities, there’s tons going on in Dunfermline at any time of the year. Here are some of the best annual events, festivals, and unique experiences you should check out if you’re visiting Dunfermline during these dates.
- Burns’ Night (January 25th)
- Fresh Air Festival (May)
- Outwith Music and Arts Festival (September)
- Bruce Festival (September)
- Wee Fife Folk Festival (October)
- Celtic Samhain Festival (October 31st)
- Bonfire Night (November 5th)
- St Andrews Day (November 30th)
- Scottish Hogmanay (December 31st)
Dunfermline Trip Planning Guide
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Flying to Dunfermline?
Looking for the best flights to Dunfermline? You will have to fly into Edinburgh and drive to Dunfermline. There is no airport in town.
We love to track flights via Expedia.com. Not only do we find great rates, but we earn points to use on future travel too.
You can also keep an eye on GOING deals, which is how we got to Ireland roundtrip from LAX for under $500 each. The free version is good, but the paid subscription will save you way more than the cost of the actual subscription.
Hotels in Dunfermline
- The City Hotel
- Best Western Plus Dunfermline Crossford Keavil House Hotel
- The Adamson Hotel
- Pitcorthie House: 1 bedroom/ 1 bath
- Dunfermline: 4 bedroom/ 3 bath
Find more Dunfermline hotels HERE
Need a Rental Car?
We use DiscoverCars.com to get the best rates and availability on rental cars. Find your car HERE, along with all of the extras you may need (insurance, car seats, ski racks, etc.)
Travel Insurance
Do NOT forget to buy travel insurance for your trip, even if you booked through a travel agent.
Things do and will happen and it’s cheaper to buy travel insurance ahead of time instead of paying out of pocket later.
Check out Travelex for rates on a single trip or an annual plan that could be right for you if you take more than one or two trips a year.
Buy a SIM card?
We all love our smartphones, but we don’t love those international roaming charges. Even if you have a travel pass, you could max out your service, which is why we always grab an eSIM card to pop into our phones. It’s especially great for the kids, as it limits what they can do and how much data they can use, but still allows them to text friends back home.
Check out Airalo, our preferred eSIM card store for the best prices on eSIM cards and international data plans.
Don’t Forget about Your Vacation Photos!
Don’t forget to book your Flytographer session to capture awesome memories from your trip. We do it as often as we can, even though I’m a photographer. Sometimes, this mom just wants to be in a few photos with her kiddos.
How to get to Dunfermline
Flying to Dunfermline
The closest airport to Dunfermline is Edinburgh, Scotland. You can easily fly into the airport, spend a few nights in Edinburgh and then take the train, rent a car or take a bus to Dunfermline.
How to get to Dunfermline by Train
If you’re traveling from Edinburgh, you can catch a train from Edinburgh Waverley Station. The journey takes around 30 minutes.
How to drive to Dunfermline
From Edinburgh, you can drive northwest on the M90 motorway. The drive usually takes about 30-40 minutes, depending on traffic.
Take the bus to Dunfermline
Several bus services operate between Edinburgh and Dunfermline. You can check with local bus companies for the most up-to-date schedules.
A Brief History of Dunfermline
Early History
Dunfermline’s history dates back over a thousand years. It was originally a small settlement and became a significant religious center in the early medieval period.
King Malcolm III
Dunfermline Abbey, founded by King Malcolm III and Queen Margaret in the 11th century, played a central role in the town’s history. Margaret, later Saint Margaret, was renowned for her charitable works, and the abbey became a place of pilgrimage.
Royal Residence
Dunfermline became a royal residence and a favored location of several Scottish monarchs, including King Robert the Bruce, who is buried at Dunfermline Abbey. The town served as a royal burgh and was a hub of medieval Scottish culture.
Industrial Revolution
During the 18th and 19th centuries, Dunfermline experienced significant industrial growth, with the linen and coal mining industries being particularly prominent. The town’s industrial heritage is still visible in some of its architecture and historical sites.
Carnegie’s Legacy
Andrew Carnegie, a prominent industrialist and philanthropist, was born in Dunfermline in 1835. His legacy is seen in the construction of various libraries and educational institutions in both Dunfermline and the United States.
Modern Times
Dunfermline has continued to develop and grow into a modern town. It is known for its cultural heritage, including the Carnegie Hall and the Andrew Carnegie Birthplace Museum, which celebrate the town’s famous native son.
Heritage Sites
Dunfermline boasts several historical sites, including Dunfermline Abbey and Palace, which are now in ruins but remain significant landmarks. The town’s history is also evident in its streets, buildings, and museums.
