Should I spend 1, 2, or 3 days in Saint Andrews?

Should you spend 1, 2, or 3 days in Saint Andrews?

Not sure how much time you'll need in Saint Andrews, UK? Most people spend one to two days in Saint Andrews during their visit. After all, the quaint university town will let you savor the small town atmosphere, enjoy a meal at a restaurant, admire the wonderful scenery, and go shopping.

Most people think of Saint Andrews as the birthplace of the sport of golf, and you'll find many references to this in town. In addition to being the home of St. Andrews Links Golf Courses, St. Andrews also has an impressive university and a longstanding history. There is a beautiful coastline to explore as well as several great walking trails.

Do you have one or two days to visit Saint Andrews? Here's our comprehensive breakdown of how much time you might need for your trip along with some suggestions for things to do.


Is one day enough time in Saint Andrews?

One day is generally not enough time here to savor the small town atmosphere, enjoy a meal at a restaurant, admire the wonderful scenery, and go shopping. A shorter schedule may leave you with a sense of urgency to take in everything. To genuinely appreciate the highlights of the quaint university town, a more lengthy visit is typically recommended. Many tourists opt for one to two days to immerse themselves fully in the charming sights. After all, As a small university town, Saint Andrews offers plenty of activities and attractions for visitors. However, if you're working with limited time, we have some great ideas for making the most of your stay below.

How to spend a day in Saint Andrews

Don't miss the Old Course during your trip to Saint Andrews, as it's one of this destination's most well-known attractions. You should make sure to set aside enough time to see it.

You'll absolutely want to spend some time enjoying the food scene in this university town, so make sure you spend time at one of the local restaurants where you can taste the delicious cuisine for a meal or two. The town holds on to its history and heritage, and that stands out with the restaurant selection. There are a range of of independent cafes and pubs and surprisingly few major chain restaurants and fast food joints.

Public transit in Saint Andrews is easy and efficient. In just a few days, you should be able to get around the university town quite easily. There are buses through St. Andrews.

Is a weekend (two to three days) enough time in Saint Andrews?

A weekend is the perfect amount of time to explore Saint Andrews, as many visitors prefer to spend around one to two days here. You'll be able to check out the university and the small town charm, the cuisine, the beautiful scenery, and the shops and boutiques. We have some suggestions for what to do and where to start your adventure below.

How to spend 2 days in Saint Andrews

Having a weekend (two to three days) in Saint Andrews will provide you with more time to take in the best activities in the university town.

The small-town atmosphere of Saint Andrews is one of the main reasons that visitors come here. Spend at least part of your day exploring the town to see the many sights and attractions. The town is all about its heritage and history.


A few tour suggestions include:

  • St Andrews Must-Sees Daily Walking Tour (11am & 2pm) ($18)
  • St Andrews Walking Tours ($19)

Saint Andrews is known to be such a beautiful destination, so just exploring and taking it all in should be one of the top things to do on your list. From its longstanding history with golf to its stunning landscapes, this is a beautiful and fascinating destination.


A few tour suggestions include:

  • St Andrews Must-Sees Daily Walking Tour (11am & 2pm) ($18)
  • St Andrews Walking Tours ($19)

More Info

If you're looking for more information about Saint Andrews, we have even more advice to help you plan your journey.

Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.

Some of the links on this website are sponsored or affiliate links which help to financially support this site. By clicking the link and making a purchase, we may receive a small commission, but this does not affect the price of your purchase.