Things To Do With One Day in St Andrews, Scotland

We were in St Andrews, Scotland, on our first trip there for one thing, really. One of Brian’s major passions outside of pizza and my happiness is golf, so naturally, he had to try to play at the birthplace of modern golf.

I’ll let him tell you all about that, as it really was a dramatic tale for the ages, but if you’re like me and not here to hit the links, there is more to this Scottish town than golf.

I mean, that’s a huge part of its identity, but you can make do with a few days here. We had three, by the way, which felt like plenty.

Is St Andrews worth visiting if you don’t golf?

St Andrews is worth visiting if you’re traveling with someone who is there for golf, but for a first-time trip to Scotland, there are more exciting destinations to see on your trip.

Despite the two urban ticks I picked up somehow, it’s not a town that I necessarily disliked. It’s just that it came at the end of a trip that included Edinburgh and the Highlands, both more impressive destinations.

If you find yourself here with a golfer as I did, though, you can easily fill up a day’s worth of non-golf-related activities.

One day is enough for the highlights in St Andrews.

I had three days to explore what to do in St Andrews, and that felt like too much. I spent one afternoon lounging back at our accommodations because nothing was pulling me away from the allure of lounging.

In one day, you can keep busy and see the best of St Andrews. 

How to Spend One Day in St Andrews

You can spend your day in St Andrews like this:

• Eat a breakfast roll at Munch.
• See Blackfriars Chapel.
• Snap some photos on St Mary’s Quad.
• Explore the University of St Andrew’s and the Wardlaw Museum.
• See the view from St Andrews Castle.
• Eat a mac ‘n cheese toastie at the Cheesy Toast Shack.
• Tour St Andrews Cathedral.
• Have some dinner on South Street.
• Finish with dessert at Jannettas Gelateria.

Things to Do in St Andrews

While we had a car on this leg of our Scottish trip, it was with Brian most of the time during our visit to St Andrews, as he was playing golf. That means everything I’ll get into here is walkable.

I’ll include a few things that are further afield at the end of the guide if you’re here for longer!

Stop 1: Breakfast Rolls

I don’t always eat breakfast, but I do like tasting the local specialities. In the case of Scotland, it’s breakfast rolls. Munch is arguably the most popular spot for them in St Andrews. You can make your own and top it with whatever sauces you like.

I picked a bacon roll with cheese. It was fine. I don’t generally dream about meat on bread unless it’s a jambon fromage on a baguette, but these are the cheapest meals you’ll get in town. That makes them worth the stop to fuel up for the rest of the day.

Stop 2: Blackfriars Chapel

Snap a quick photo of a remnant of the town’s medieval past across the street from the sandwich shop. The Blackfriars Chapel was built in the 16th century for the Dominican friars, but was largely destroyed during the Reformation.

Fun fact: The Reformation was a religious movement in 16th‑century Europe to reform the practices and beliefs of the Catholic Church, ultimately leading to the creation of Protestant churches. In Scotland, it gained momentum in the mid‑1500s.

There isn’t much to see other than the stone arch and fragments of the nave, but walk all the way around it to see the perspective of the street from the other side.

Stop 3: St Mary’s Quad

This is one of the most picturesque spots in St Andrews, located within the university’s St Mary’s College. St Mary’s Quad dates back to the 16th century, and it remains a place to enjoy the grounds. 

Today, it’s still home to the university’s Divinity School and the King James Library, a collection of theological texts that complements what’s the main university library. If you want to save the bacon roll for the green space here, it’s not a bad move.

Stop 4: University of St Andrew’s and St Salvator’s Chapel

The University of St Andrews, founded in 1413, is Scotland’s oldest university and a cornerstone of the town’s identity. That’s outside of the golf, of course. St Salvator’s Chapel, a 15th‑century Gothic chapel, is at its center. 

The chapel is still a place of worship and tradition, hosting university ceremonies and services.

Its bell tower, St Salvator’s Tower, and intricate stained glass windows make it impossible to miss, but you’ll want to spend time exploring the college buildings that surround it.

It’s all certainly better looking than what I was used to back in my college days at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. It was a good time, but my dorm freshman year was across the street from an abattoir. 

Apart from the chapel, spend some time at St Salvator’s Quadrangle and take notice of the historic markers you’ll find along the way. 

The cobblestones marked “PH” on North Street, for example, are the site where Patrick Hamilton was burned at the stake in 1528. He refused to renounce his Protestant beliefs and paid with his life. He was only 24.

To lighten the mood, find Butts Wynd, the lane with the best name in St Andrews. You’ll find it running between North Street and the chapel. While the name comes from “archery butts,” or so they say, I prefer the cheeky interpretation. 

Fun fact: Butts Wynd is one of the most photographed streets in St Andrews, naturally, but the signage is also frequently stolen. Let’s leave it alone so we can all enjoy it, OK?

Stop 5: Wardlaw Museum

This is the university’s flagship museum, and it recently underwent a big renovation to modernize the space. You don’t need a ton of time inside, but it’s all free, so really spend as much time as you’d like.

You’ll see exhibits on the university’s founding, scientific discoveries in the region, and some medieval manuscripts. A highlight for me was the temporary exhibit about our changing world, including some snarky commentary to read about Brexit.

The views from the terrace are nice, too, so make your way up there before you go on your way!

Stop 6: St Andrews Castle

There are decent views of this one from the outside. If you don’t mind the fee — it was under $15 on my visit — your experience will get an upgrade as you walk the grounds inside.

Much like many Scottish castles, St Andrews Castle has a turbulent history. It’s seen religious conflict, political intrigue, and sieges during Scotland’s Reformation. You can hear all of that on the audio tour, or just wander and explore the ruins on your own.

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The castle’s towers and bottle dungeon, a bottle-shaped pit that narrows at the top to prevent escape, both survived. I wasn’t able to check out the mine and countermine, as they were closed during my visit. (I’ll allow it. It’s for safety concerns.)  

One of the highlights was watching folks swimming and sunbathing on the beaches below the castle grounds. These are the Castle Sands, and the beach portion can get completely covered at high tide, so it’s truly for people in the know.

Stop 7: Cheesy Toast Shack

It’s time to fuel up again with a gourmet grilled cheese stuffed with mac ‘n cheese. I mean, there are other things on the menu, but I don’t know why you’d partake after what I just described to you.

Note: If you’re here in the morning, they serve breakfast rolls…but again, I just told you about a mac ‘n cheese toastie.

For an extra pound, the shack offers seagull insurance to replace your sandwich in case the seagulls swoop down and steal your grub. Brian saw a couple get a piece of their sandwich snatched, so it’s not a bad idea.

We ate in a nearby park without incident after a few anxious bites closer to the water. They’re pretty aggressive here! The sandwich is worth the effort, though.

After eating, we returned to the water to walk along East Sands and check out the boats at St Andrews Harbour. Feel free to linger here if the gulls aren’t as active as they were on our day.

Optional Stop 8: Northpoint Café

This cute place for tea and treats proudly claims to be “where Kate met Wills (for coffee).” I’m all about clever advertising, so I had to pop in for a break.

If you have room after your toastie and the scones aren’t sold out, start there. They were gone by the time I walked over!

If they’re gone, any of their cakes is a nice replacement. I enjoyed an apple cinnamon treat with my tea, during which I realized I really don’t like milk in my tea. 

I’ve tried it. I don’t like it. Don’t come at me. 

If you love all things strawberry, Fisher & Donaldson is another tasty option. I got one of their enormous danishes without any regrets.

Stop 9: St Andrews Cathedral

St Andrews Cathedral, once the largest church in Scotland, now stands in ruins, but I’d argue that only makes a visit here more atmospheric. Built in the 12th century, this was once the center of medieval Catholicism in Scotland. 

It’s free to visit, and if you time things right, you can attach yourself to one of the free guided tours that explore the grounds. There was one at 2pm on the day of my visit, but times change throughout the year.

I visited on my own, and that felt like enough. Don’t be disappointed that some of the areas are closed off. The gravestones are old and unstable, so it’s all for preservation purposes. 

Note: On the way here, you’ll likely pass by the St Andrews War Memorial. It commemorates the men of St Andrews who died in World War I and World War II. The Celtic cross reflects both Scottish heritage and the area’s deep medieval Christian history.

Stop 10: Dinner

You have a few options for a meal out in St Andrews. If you like Indian food, Jahangir Tandoor Restaurant serves up the largest pieces of naan I’ve ever seen. 

I thought it was expensive for how casual a spot it was, but this was before we spent much time in town. St. Andrews is expensive overall, especially if you’re used to paying with a strong dollar!

If you’d like to try the local brews, St Andrews Brewing Co. South St has decent pizzas and a nice beer and cider list at better prices. It gets busy later in the evening as the men finish up their tee times.

We didn’t try this last one, but if you’d like something a little fancier, The Grange Inn is a highly-rated option. They describe themselves as modern Scottish, and I’ll admit to being a little curious about that. How does one fancy up haggis??

Stop 11: Dessert

No matter where you end up for dinner, leave room for Jannettas Gelateria. We went twice during our time in St Andrews to taste more of their bespoke flavors. Banana pudding was my favorite!

The portions aren’t huge, but I didn’t mind. It’s the perfect little taste to finish up your day in St Andrews, and if you’ve been following along, it’s been pretty indulgent already. 

With More Time in St Andrews

While I maintain that one day here is enough for the highlights, you may find yourself with more time, as I did, due to the golfing interests of your partner.

Here are a few more things to do in St Andrews if you have more than a day:

• Plan a bucket list round on the Old Course, the Home of Golf.
• For those who don’t golf but love history, book a tour of the Old Course.
• Lounge on the beach at West Sands, a longer, sandier option than East Sands.
• Stroll through the 18-acre St Andrews Botanic Garden.
• Plan your trip during the International Film Festival of St Andrews.
• If you’re here on the first Saturday of the month, shop at the St Andrews Market.
• If you’re here to shop, no matter the day, head to Market Street
• Explore more of the East Neuk, its fishing villages, and the Fife Coastal Path.

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How to Get to St Andrews

You’ll likely start at Edinburgh Airport, about 50 miles south of St Andrews. We drove to St Andrews from the Highlands, and I’d recommend the same for your trip. It’ll be most efficient, and this country was made for scenic road trips.

Just make sure that you’re comfortable driving on the other side of the road than you may be used to, as it was disorienting for me!

The town itself doesn’t have a train station, but Leuchars, about five miles away, connects to Edinburgh and Glasgow via ScotRail. Buses are another option if you’re starting in Edinburgh, Glasgow, or the surrounding Fife towns.

Once you’re there, St Andrews is easy to explore on foot. Public transport is limited to buses, but they’re quite frequent. We both drove in St Andrews, too, and found the traffic manageable.

Where to Stay in St Andrews

We stayed at The SPACE to Stay, which is essentially a student dorm during the school year. It was more affordable than anything closer to the center of town, but still walkable.

Our room, while modest, was in a building that had opened the week before, so everything was nice and new. The promised air conditioning wasn’t a thing, though, so it got stuffy during our unseasonably warm summer days.

I’d still recommend it. There’s laundry, a gym, and a little shop on site, as that’s what you’d expect in a glorified student dorm.

Use the map below to browse some more options:

There’s more than golf in St Andrews.

I mean, we wouldn’t have visited (most likely) if Brian didn’t want to golf here, but if you’re not here for the links, you’ll still have things to do in St Andrews.

I enjoyed the historical bits connected to the university and some of the scattered ruins throughout the town. The dining scene wasn’t anything to write home about, but that’s not necessarily why you’re in Scotland.

One day in St Andrews is the perfect amount of time to learn a little about an important place in Scottish history.

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