Bus passing Marischal College in Aberdeen
© VisitScotland / Kenny Lam
Coach Operators
Most of the inter-city and longer distance coach services around Scotland are provided by:
Scotland bus tickets can be bought in advance by phone, online, in stations and often on board. For busy routes and when travelling at peak times, such as weekends or national holidays, it's a good idea to book as early as possible to guarantee a seat.
Coach discount fare options
If you plan to do a lot of travelling by coach, save money with multi-journey tickets, such as:
- Explorer Pass - offers unlimited travel on Scottish Citylink network
- Megarider - offered by Stagecoach and provides unlimited travel within certain areas
- National Express offers - explore ways to save money on coach travel with National Express
A First bus for Jedburgh in the centre of Kelso, Scottish Borders
© VisitScotland / Paul Tomkins
Top tips
When travelling by coach, make sure that you check the baggage allowance restrictions. Coaches often have limited space for larger items such as prams, charge for other extra baggage, and have rules on transporting items such as bicycles.
Find more private hire bus and coach companies
Local services
Four main operators, First, Stagecoach, Lothian Buses and National Express, and a number of independent operators, run local bus services in Scotland between the main cities, towns and villages.
Services in cities and towns are usually frequent, while in rural areas there is a reduced service, with more buses running around school times (approximately 8.30am and 3.30pm).
For information on all services in and around Scotland's towns and cities, contact Traveline Scotland on 0871 200 22 33.
City Sightseeing bus in Rothesay
© VisitScotland / Kenny Lam
MINIBUS AND COACH TOURS
Coach tours of Scotland range from small private day trips and weekend minibus tours to longer coach excursions in more remote places. It's a great way to meet fellow travellers and you can find trips to suit every budget and itinerary.
Find your perfect:
Coach tour itineraries can be themed by specific interests. Maybe you'd like a tour to historic attractions or you're keen to visit our whisky distilleries and sample a dram? You can choose a tour company who'll create a tailored trip just for you.
CITY BUS TOURS
Taking a city bus tour in Scotland is an excellent way of finding your feet on the first day of your holiday or squeezing in a last burst of sightseeing. Most of Scotland's cities have guided bus trips which provide a whirlwind tour of the main attractions and in multiple languages. Join themed bus tours such as royal connections or famous ghost stories.
Hop-on/hop-off tours are popular because they get you around the city with interesting information on the way. Some tickets are valid for more than one day, so you can take your time and board the bus as many times as you like.
- Find a city tour
The Forth Bridge seen from North Queensferry
© VisitScotland/ Kenny Lam
NEW SELF-DRIVING BUS ROUTE
Sit back and take in the views across the Firth of Forth on a self-driving bus! Launching in May 2023, you can travel between two transport exchanges across the Forth Road Bridge.
It’s the most ambitious and complex autonomous bus pilot in the world!
