As one of the first royal cities created in Scotland by King David I back in the 12th century, Stirling is home to many of the country’s most important historical sites. All of the city’s main attractions are medieval castles, national monuments, and other historic buildings. There are tons of things to do in Stirling for history buffs, that’s for sure!
But there are other fun things to do in and around Stirling that the whole family will enjoy. Located in the heart of Scotland, Stirling is close to other top destinations in Central Scotland like Edinburgh, Glasgow, and Loch Lomond.
It’s also a great place to enjoy other family-friendly attractions, like zoos and outdoor activities.
This guide includes all the absolute best things to do in Stirling, Scotland. You’ll be able to learn more about the city’s rich history and connections to key figures in Scottish history too.
TOP THINGS TO DO IN STIRLING
STIRLING CASTLE
There are so many things to do in Stirling Castle that you could literally spend all day there. It’s a sprawling complex of halls, museums, chapels, and gardens that make it one of the best castles to visit in Scotland.
Stirling Castle is also located on top of an extinct volcano (like Edinburgh Castle) with beautiful views of the twisting River Forth and the city center.
While this ancient castle dates back to the 12th century, most of the buildings date back to the Renaissance when the Stewart kings were on the throne in the 15th century. Here are just a few of the buildings you explore when you visit Stirling Castle:
- Great Hall – Largest of its kind in Scotland for feasts and banquets
- Royal Palace – Living quarters of monarchs and their guests
- Chapel Royal – Where Mary Queen of Scots was crowned in 1543
- King’s House – One of the oldest buildings in the historic city of Stirling
- Argyll Sutherland Highlanders Museum – Exhibition on this military regiment
- Castle Grounds – Queen Anne’s Garden, courtyards, and cemeteries
You can also see the castle’s kitchens and check out the gift shop. It’s a miracle the castle is still in such good condition after Bonnie Prince Charlie laid siege to Stirling Castle during the Jacobite Rising of 1746.
CHURCH OF THE HOLY RUDE
The King’s House at Stirling Castle might be the oldest building in Stirling, the second oldest building is the Church of Holy Rude. This is a modest Gothic church dating back to the 15th century that is still in use today.
It’s most notable for crowning the infant King James VI in 1567. He’s revered for succeeding Elizabeth I of England uniting the two kingdoms of Scotland and England. The Church of the Holy Rude boasts beautiful stained glass windows and delicate, ancient royal and British flags hanging from the walls.
NATIONAL WALLACE MONUMENT
One of the most notable figures in Scottish history is, of course, Sir William Wallace. He was a knight and one of the leaders of Scottish Independence whose story was made famous in the 1995 movie Braveheart.
The National Wallace Monument is an imposing 220 ft/67 m Victorian stone tower high up on the Abbey Craig hill just outside of Stirling. Inside, there are lots of informative displays about William Wallace’s life but the pièce de résistance is the knight’s genuine sword.
You can enjoy free parking at the bottom of the hill and a beautiful, short walk on a gentle slope through the woodland to get to the tower. It has the best views of Stirling city centre, the River Forth, and the Ochil Hills in the distance.
STIRLING OLD BRIDGE
Stirling Old Bridge may not be the authentic bridge that was around during the Battle of Stirling Bridge in 1297. But it’s still very old (15th or 16th century) and occupies the same spot where the wooden bridges crossed the River Forth during this historic event.
The Battle of Stirling Bridge was the very first War of Scottish Independence. William Wallace defeated several forces of the English Army with a much inferior army, so it’s one of the few examples of a Scottish military victory.
It’s also free to visit and only a five-minute walk from King Street which is the main street in Stirling.
BATTLE OF BANNOCKBURN EXPERIENCE
The Battle of Bannockburn Experience is an award-winning, immersive visitor attraction that’s a fun, unique experience for people of all ages.
Bannockburn is a small town just a short drive from Stirling which was the site of the Battle of Bannockburn. In 1314, King Robert the Bruce I of Scotland fought King Edward II of England and won. It’s the most celebrated battle in Scottish history, so it’s one of the best places to visit for Scottish history buffs.
At the visitor centre, you’ll find monuments to Robert the Bruce and the Battle as well as interactive exhibits and examples of medieval combat outfits.
BLAIR DRUMMOND SAFARI PARK
Around 20 minutes northwest of Stirling by bus or car, the Blair Drummond Safari Park is one of the top family-friendly things to do in Central Scotland. It houses an abundance of exotic animals including lions, giraffes, and elephants.
The safari park is also known for its birds of prey displays and penguin feeding performances. It’s a great place to spend a day out during the summer months from March to October when the adventure playground is open and the weather is (hopefully) warmer.
STIRLING SMITH ART GALLERY AND MUSEUM
This grand, Victorian museum and art gallery features exhibits on European art, British pewter, and local history. You’ll find cool artifacts like the world’s oldest football (or soccer ball), grandfather clocks, and items relating to the Battle of Bannockburn. Even better, the art gallery has free admission.
KING STREET
King Street is Stirling’s main high street which the entire city revolves around. If you’re on this street, you’re not far from Stirling Train Station. This is also the meeting point if you want to take a popular guided tour of Stirling’s most notable landmarks.
All the most popular high street stores are either on or near King Street. There are also tons of traditional pubs and bars like Tolbooth where you can enjoy a drink and listen to live music.
BEHEADING STONE
Mote Hill is a less popular hill and scenic viewpoint in Stirling, but it’s where you’ll find one of Stirling’s most morbid tourist attractions. Housed inside a cave is a so-called Beheading Stone where, according to local legend, people were executed in the 15th century.
There’s some weight to this claim, as this hill is where King James I would behead his enemies. But regardless of the origins of this stone, it’s free and you won’t regret seeing Stirling from another vantage point.
KING’S KNOT
Whilst Stirling Castle was occupied by Scottish monarchs, the open green space where the King’s Knot is used to be an ornamental garden in an octagonal shape. Although most of the fauna that used to cover this patch of land has now gone, there’s still a distinctively shaped mound where the ornamental hedges used to grow.
Next to the King’s Knot is the Queen’s Knot, which is a little smaller and less defined. Anyone can walk across and explore this park as it’s no longer part of the castle complex.
STIRLING OLD TOWN JAIL
One of the best things to do in Stirling with kids is to visit the Stirling Old Town Jail. This is an interactive, storytelling experience with tours of this former Victorian prison. You can visit the old cells and hospital wing and meet costumed characters who embody the types of people you would find in jails around 200 years ago.
KING’S PARK
King’s Park is a sprawling green space with lots of walking trails and outdoor activities. It’s home to Stirling Golf Club, Stirling Skate Park, a cafe, children’s playgrounds, an outdoor gym, and tennis courts. It’s a beautiful place to enjoy a picnic or stroll on a rare warm and dry day in Scotland!
BEN GUNN’S CAVE
Bridge of Allan is a small town a 10-minute drive from Stirling. It’s where you’ll find the University of Stirling campus as well as Ben Gunn’s Cave. This is the exact cave that seemingly inspired the one of the same name featured in Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic novel Treasure Island.
Try not to get your hopes up as it’s too small to go inside. However, the path (named Darn Walk) that leads to the cave runs along the River Forth so it’s a a very beautiful area.
CAMBUSKENNETH ABBEY
Across the River Forth, Cambuskenneth Abbey is a historic building that was founded by King David I in 1140. It was also where King Robert the Bruce I held a parliament after his victory at the Battle of Bannockburn.
Unfortunately, most of the abbey was burned down in the 14th century but the bell tower has survived. The tower is open for visitors during the summer season but visitors are free to roam around the rest of the site at any time.
DOUNE CASTLE
Have you watched The Monty Python and the Holy Grail? Or maybe you’re a fan of the Outlander TV series or you saw the Game of Thrones pilot? If so, you’ve seen Doune Castle because it’s appeared as a location in all three!
this medieval castle dates back to the 14th century and has survived dozens of owners, wars, sieges, and risings. It’s a partially ruined castle but there’s still plenty to see, plus actors Sam Heughan and the late Terry Jones narrate the audio guide.
LEIGHTON LIBRARY
While it’s often closed for restorations, the Leighton Library is a great place for bookworms to visit during its opening hours. In 1687, it opened as Scotland’s first-ever public library in the small town of Dunblane on the outskirts of Stirling.
It still holds incredibly historic books but unfortunately, none are available to borrow with a library card!
DAY TRIPS FROM STIRLING
Stirling is usually a great day trip option from one of the larger cities in the central belt of Scotland like Glasgow and Edinburgh. However, if you’re using Stirling as a base to explore other regions in Scotland, here are a couple of top suggestions.
LOCH LOMOND
Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park is one of only two national parks in Scotland and just a 50-minute drive from Stirling. Loch Lomond is one of the largest lochs (Scottish for ‘lake’) in the country and has many charming mountain towns, hills, and outdoor activities.
Visit the thriving town of Callander or the village of Balmaha for somewhere a bit more compact. Climb Ben Lomond for the best views of the loch and top wildlife spotting opportunities.
FALKIRK and The Kelpies
While Falkirk is a nice place, some of the best things to do in Falkirk are actually outside of the city. Only a 25-minute drive from Stirling, this is a great option for a half-day trip.
The Kelpies are a 100 ft/30 m-tall pair of steel horse heads just off the main M9 motorway located in a park. These two sculptures represent shape-changing aquatic spirits found in Scottish folklore, and you can book a guided tour inside each one.
Nearby, you can check out the Falkirk Wheel. It’s an incredible rotating boat lift (yes, you read that correctly!) that picks up boats and transports them between the Union Canal and the Forth and Clyde Canal which are on different levels.
Just two of the cool things to see in Falkirk!
ANNUAL EVENTS IN STIRLING
As one of Scotland’s most easy-to-reach and historic cities, there are always tons of things to do in Stirling. Check out these annual events and festivals when you visit.
- Burns’ Night (January 25th)
- Doune the Rabbit Hole Festival (July)
- Stirling Highland Games (August)
- Stirling Photography Festival (August)
- Scottish Wild Food Festival (September)
- Scottish Geology Festival (September – October)
- Celtic Samhain Festival (October 31st)
- Bonfire Night (November 5th)
- St Andrews Day (November 30th)
- Scottish Hogmanay (December 31st)
Stirling Scotland Trip Planning Guide
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Flying into Stirling?
Looking for the best flights to Stirling? 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 Stirling
- The Stirling Highland Hotel
- Castle Walk B&B
- Hotel Colessio
- Victoria Square (adults only guesthouse)
- Highland Gate, Stirling by Marston’s Inns
Find more Stirling 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 activate on 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 Stirling Scotland
By Train
If you’re traveling from within the UK, you can take a train to Stirling. Stirling has its own train station, and it’s well-connected to major cities like Edinburgh and Glasgow. The train journey offers scenic views of the Scottish countryside.
By Bus
National Express and Megabus provide coach services to Stirling from various cities in the UK. Buses are often a more affordable option, and they can be a good choice if you’re traveling on a budget.
By Car
If you prefer driving, you can rent a car and use the road network to reach Stirling. Major motorways like the M9 connect Stirling to cities like Edinburgh and Glasgow. Just make sure you’re comfortable with driving on the left side of the road if you’re not from the UK.
By Air
The nearest major airports to Stirling are Edinburgh Airport and Glasgow Airport. You can fly into one of these airports and then take a train or bus to Stirling. Both airports offer international flights, so this is a good option if you’re coming from abroad.
By Bicycle or Walking
If you’re feeling adventurous and enjoy outdoor activities, you can also cycle or walk to Stirling. Scotland has some beautiful trails and paths that can take you to Stirling while allowing you to enjoy the stunning landscapes.
