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 The Grill Room - Hotel Colessio (33 Spittal Street) are great picks.

When to visit Stirling

Stirling in January
Estimated hotel price
$64
1 night at 3-star hotel
Stirling in January
Estimated hotel price
$64
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 the United States departs from Boston and takes around 6h 20m.

Train

Lumo is the most popular train carrier serving Stirling, followed by AccesRail. The train journey from Stirling to Newcastle upon Tyne takes 1h 48m and costs around $10 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Manchester, expect to pay about $31 for a 3h 27m trip. Located 0.5 miles from the city center, Stirling is the busiest station in Stirling. Another popular train station is Stirling Bridge of Allan, located 3 miles from the center.

Car

Another option to get to Stirling is to pick up a car rental from Edinburgh, which is about 31 miles from Stirling. You’ll find branches of GREEN MOTION and Europcar, among others, in Edinburgh.

Bus

Several bus lines operate bus routes to Stirling, including FlixBus, Megabus and National Express. From Glasgow, the bus ride to Stirling takes 59 miles and will cost you around $15. From Newcastle upon Tyne, the ticket costs about $12 for a journey of 155 miles. The most popular bus station is Stirling Bannockburn, Heritage Centre, located 1.4 miles from downtown Stirling. Stirling Forth Valley College is also a commonly used station, and is 1.7 miles from the city center.

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 the United States departs from Boston and takes around 6h 20m.

Train

Lumo is the most popular train carrier serving Stirling, followed by AccesRail. The train journey from Stirling to Newcastle upon Tyne takes 1h 48m and costs around $10 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Manchester, expect to pay about $31 for a 3h 27m trip. Located 0.5 miles from the city center, Stirling is the busiest station in Stirling. Another popular train station is Stirling Bridge of Allan, located 3 miles from the center.

Car

Another option to get to Stirling is to pick up a car rental from Edinburgh, which is about 31 miles from Stirling. You’ll find branches of GREEN MOTION and Europcar, among others, in Edinburgh.

Bus

Several bus lines operate bus routes to Stirling, including FlixBus, Megabus and National Express. From Glasgow, the bus ride to Stirling takes 59 miles and will cost you around $15. From Newcastle upon Tyne, the ticket costs about $12 for a journey of 155 miles. The most popular bus station is Stirling Bannockburn, Heritage Centre, located 1.4 miles from downtown Stirling. Stirling Forth Valley College is also a commonly used station, and is 1.7 miles from the city center.

Airports near Stirling

Airlines serving Stirling

Lufthansa
Good (4,697 reviews)
KLM
Good (846 reviews)
SWISS
Good (954 reviews)
British Airways
Good (4,586 reviews)
Delta
Good (4,598 reviews)
Turkish Airlines
Good (2,269 reviews)
Austrian Airlines
Good (491 reviews)
Air France
Good (981 reviews)
Iberia
Good (1,599 reviews)
Emirates
Excellent (2,116 reviews)
United Airlines
Good (4,957 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (2,437 reviews)
Air Canada
Good (5,935 reviews)
Brussels Airlines
Good (224 reviews)
Finnair
Good (863 reviews)
LOT
Good (681 reviews)
Singapore Airlines
Excellent (923 reviews)
TAP AIR PORTUGAL
Good (1,170 reviews)
Scandinavian Airlines
Good (820 reviews)
Etihad Airways
Good (833 reviews)
Show more

Where to stay in Stirling

From 5-star hotels such as the Victoria Square & The Orangery to great affordable options like the Holiday Inn Express Stirling, Stirling offers a range of accommodations for every taste. Average rates range from around $147 per night for a double room in a 3-star hotel to $184 and up for a 5-star experience.

Where to stay in popular areas of Stirling

Most booked hotels in Stirling

Cromlix
5 stars
Excellent (9.3, 376 reviews)
$561+
Crown Hotel
3 stars
Excellent (8.4, 771 reviews)
$88+
Holiday Inn Express Stirling
3 stars
Excellent (8.3, 2926 reviews)
$129+
The Waverley Hotel
3 stars
Excellent (8.2, 1067 reviews)
$127+
King Robert Hotel
3 stars
Excellent (8.1, 2766 reviews)
$85+
Stirling Court Hotel
3 stars
Good (7.9, 4021 reviews)
$93+

Renting a car in Stirling

Renting a car in Stirling costs $47 per day, on average, or $94 if you want to rent if for 2 days.

It’s generally cheaper to rent your vehicle outside the airport: locations in the city are around 27% cheaper than airport locations in Stirling.

Expect to pay $7.15 per gallon in Stirling (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your rental car, filling up the tank will cost between $85.85 and $114.47. Economy (Kia Rio or similar) is the most popular car type to rent in Stirling, while also 74% cheaper than other types, on average.

Renting a car in Stirling costs $47 per day, on average, or $94 if you want to rent if for 2 days.

It’s generally cheaper to rent your vehicle outside the airport: locations in the city are around 27% cheaper than airport locations in Stirling.

Expect to pay $7.15 per gallon in Stirling (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your rental car, filling up the tank will cost between $85.85 and $114.47. Economy (Kia Rio or similar) is the most popular car type to rent in Stirling, while also 74% cheaper than other types, on average.