Introduction
Where to eat
When to visit
How to get there
Where to stay
Hiring a car

Stirling travel guide

Stirling Tourism | Stirling Guide

You're Going to Love Stirling

With a population of 33,012, Stirling is a must-see destination in Scotland, United Kingdom. It is one of the most popular cities to visit in the country. Stirling deserves at least 2 full days for you to see its main sights.

Where to Eat in Stirling

If you’re looking for affordable options, The Allan Park (20 Allan Park) and La Cucina (64 Henderson Street) are great picks.

When to visit Stirling

Stirling in January
Estimated hotel price
€90
1 night at 3-star hotel
Stirling in January
Estimated hotel price
€90
1 night at 3-star hotel

How to Get to Stirling

Plane

Although Stirling doesn’t have its own airport, you can fly to Edinburgh Turnhouse Airport (EDI), which is located 24 miles from Stirling. The shortest flight to Stirling from Ireland departs from Dublin and takes around 1h 05m.

Train

AccesRail is the only carrier operating train routes to Stirling. The train journey from Stirling to Manchester takes 3h 11m and costs around €126 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from London, expect to pay about €151 for a 4h 08m trip. Located 0.7 km from the city centre, Stirling is the busiest station in Stirling. Another popular train station is Stirling Bridge of Allan, located 5 km from the centre.

Car

Another option to get to Stirling is to pick up a car hire from Edinburgh, which is about 49 km from Stirling. You’ll find branches of GREEN MOTION and Avis, among others, in Edinburgh.

Bus

You can travel by bus to Stirling using FlixBus or National Express. From Glasgow, the bus ride to Stirling takes 65 miles and will cost you around €26. From Leeds, the ticket costs about €32 for a journey of 280 miles. The most popular bus station is Stirling Bannockburn, Heritage Centre, located 2.3 km from the city centre of Stirling. Stirling Forth Valley College is also a commonly used station, and is 2.7 km from the city centre.

Plane

Although Stirling doesn’t have its own airport, you can fly to Edinburgh Turnhouse Airport (EDI), which is located 24 miles from Stirling. The shortest flight to Stirling from Ireland departs from Dublin and takes around 1h 05m.

Train

AccesRail is the only carrier operating train routes to Stirling. The train journey from Stirling to Manchester takes 3h 11m and costs around €126 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from London, expect to pay about €151 for a 4h 08m trip. Located 0.7 km from the city centre, Stirling is the busiest station in Stirling. Another popular train station is Stirling Bridge of Allan, located 5 km from the centre.

Car

Another option to get to Stirling is to pick up a car hire from Edinburgh, which is about 49 km from Stirling. You’ll find branches of GREEN MOTION and Avis, among others, in Edinburgh.

Bus

You can travel by bus to Stirling using FlixBus or National Express. From Glasgow, the bus ride to Stirling takes 65 miles and will cost you around €26. From Leeds, the ticket costs about €32 for a journey of 280 miles. The most popular bus station is Stirling Bannockburn, Heritage Centre, located 2.3 km from the city centre of Stirling. Stirling Forth Valley College is also a commonly used station, and is 2.7 km from the city centre.

Airports near Stirling

PIKGlasgow Prestwick
EDIEdinburgh Turnhouse
GLAGlasgow Intl

Airlines serving Stirling

KLM
Good (1,499 reviews)
Lufthansa
Good (7,926 reviews)
British Airways
Good (7,888 reviews)
Delta
Good (8,407 reviews)
Turkish Airlines
Good (4,306 reviews)
SWISS
Good (1,922 reviews)
Iberia
Good (3,180 reviews)
Air France
Good (1,571 reviews)
United Airlines
Good (9,592 reviews)
Austrian Airlines
Good (903 reviews)
Scandinavian Airlines
Good (1,750 reviews)
Emirates
Excellent (3,559 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (3,728 reviews)
Air Canada
Good (10,930 reviews)
LOT
Good (1,188 reviews)
Finnair
Good (1,387 reviews)
Brussels Airlines
Good (401 reviews)
TAP AIR PORTUGAL
Good (2,205 reviews)
Cathay Pacific
Good (1,275 reviews)
JetBlue
Good (2,936 reviews)
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Where to stay in Stirling

From 5-star hotels such as the Victoria Square & The Orangery to great affordable options like the Ravenswood Guest House, Stirling offers a range of accommodations for every taste. Average rates range from around €97 per night for a double room in a 3-star hotel to €163 and up for a 5-star experience. There are also lots of holiday rental options in Stirling, with prices from €46 to €789 per night. Downtown is the neighbourhood with the highest amount of rentals to choose from. On average, holiday rentals in Stirling are about 32% more expensive than a hotel room in the city.

Where to stay in popular areas of Stirling

Most booked hotels in Stirling

See all
Thackray House
4 stars
Excellent (8.8, Excellent reviews)
€148+
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The Abbotsford
4 stars
Excellent (8.7, Excellent reviews)
€63+
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Holiday Inn Express Stirling By IHG
3 stars
Excellent (8.4, Excellent reviews)
€75+
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Crown Hotel
3 stars
Excellent (8.4, Excellent reviews)
€92+
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Dalgair House Hotel
2 stars
Excellent (8, Excellent reviews)
€64+
View
The Waverley Hotel
3 stars
Excellent (8, Excellent reviews)
€95+
View

Hiring a car in Stirling

Hiring a car in Stirling costs €72 per day, on average, or €143 if you want to hire it for 2 days.

You’re likely to save money by hiring your car at the airport: locations in the city are, on average, 24% more expensive than at Edinburgh Turnhouse.

Expect to pay €1.68 per litre in Stirling (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your car hire, filling up the tank will cost between €20.15 and €26.87. The most frequently booked car type in Stirling is Standard (Class Commercial Truck or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Economy car hire (Class Economy Car or similar) is, on average, 65% cheaper than other car hire types in the city.

Hiring a car in Stirling costs €72 per day, on average, or €143 if you want to hire it for 2 days.

You’re likely to save money by hiring your car at the airport: locations in the city are, on average, 24% more expensive than at Edinburgh Turnhouse.

Expect to pay €1.68 per litre in Stirling (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your car hire, filling up the tank will cost between €20.15 and €26.87. The most frequently booked car type in Stirling is Standard (Class Commercial Truck or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Economy car hire (Class Economy Car or similar) is, on average, 65% cheaper than other car hire types in the city.

Find car hire in Stirling