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 39 km 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 16m and costs around €127 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from London, expect to pay about €153 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 Europcar 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 113 km and will cost you around €15. From Newcastle upon Tyne, the ticket costs about €23 for a journey of 249 km. 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 39 km 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 16m and costs around €127 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from London, expect to pay about €153 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 Europcar 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 113 km and will cost you around €15. From Newcastle upon Tyne, the ticket costs about €23 for a journey of 249 km. 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

Lufthansa
Good (7,968 reviews)
KLM
Good (1,509 reviews)
British Airways
Good (7,943 reviews)
Delta
Good (8,460 reviews)
Turkish Airlines
Good (4,343 reviews)
SWISS
Good (1,935 reviews)
Iberia
Good (3,209 reviews)
Air France
Good (1,583 reviews)
Austrian Airlines
Good (911 reviews)
United Airlines
Good (9,682 reviews)
Emirates
Excellent (3,567 reviews)
Scandinavian Airlines
Good (1,768 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (3,723 reviews)
Air Canada
Good (10,993 reviews)
LOT
Good (1,192 reviews)
Finnair
Good (1,392 reviews)
Brussels Airlines
Good (405 reviews)
TAP AIR PORTUGAL
Good (2,230 reviews)
Cathay Pacific
Good (1,312 reviews)
Singapore Airlines
Excellent (1,506 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 €105 per night for a double room in a 3-star hotel to €170 and up for a 5-star experience. There are also lots of holiday rental options in Stirling, with prices from €46 to €793 per night. Downtown is the neighbourhood with the highest amount of rentals to choose from. On average, holiday rentals in Stirling are about 45% 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)
€167+
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The Abbotsford
4 stars
Excellent (8.7, Excellent reviews)
€87+
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Holiday Inn Express Stirling By IHG
3 stars
Excellent (8.4, Excellent reviews)
€71+
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The Crown
3 stars
Excellent (8.4, Excellent reviews)
€97+
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Dalgair House Hotel
2 stars
Excellent (8, Excellent reviews)
€86+
View
The Waverley Hotel
3 stars
Excellent (8, Excellent reviews)
€92+
View

Hiring a car in Stirling

Hiring a car in Stirling costs €72 per day, on average, or €144 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, 18% more expensive than at Edinburgh Turnhouse.

Expect to pay €1.82 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 €21.81 and €29.08. The most frequently booked car type in Stirling is Full-size (Ford Transit 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, 49% cheaper than other car hire types in the city.

Hiring a car in Stirling costs €72 per day, on average, or €144 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, 18% more expensive than at Edinburgh Turnhouse.

Expect to pay €1.82 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 €21.81 and €29.08. The most frequently booked car type in Stirling is Full-size (Ford Transit 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, 49% cheaper than other car hire types in the city.

Find car hire in Stirling