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. We recommend you stay at least 6 days in order to fully appreciate everything Stirling has to offer.

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
$179
1 night at 3-star hotel
Stirling in January
Estimated hotel price
$179
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 New Zealand departs from Auckland and takes around 26h 10m.

Train

AccesRail is the only carrier operating train routes to Stirling. The train journey from Stirling to Manchester takes 3h 11m and costs around $245 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from London, expect to pay about $303 for a 4h 24m 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 Budget and GREEN MOTION , 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 $52. From Newcastle upon Tyne, the ticket costs about $32 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 New Zealand departs from Auckland and takes around 26h 10m.

Train

AccesRail is the only carrier operating train routes to Stirling. The train journey from Stirling to Manchester takes 3h 11m and costs around $245 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from London, expect to pay about $303 for a 4h 24m 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 Budget and GREEN MOTION , 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 $52. From Newcastle upon Tyne, the ticket costs about $32 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

KLM
Good (1,463 reviews)
Lufthansa
Good (7,823 reviews)
British Airways
Good (7,774 reviews)
Delta
Good (8,245 reviews)
Turkish Airlines
Good (4,240 reviews)
SWISS
Good (1,889 reviews)
Iberia
Good (3,131 reviews)
United Airlines
Good (9,383 reviews)
Air France
Good (1,542 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (3,745 reviews)
Austrian Airlines
Good (900 reviews)
Emirates
Excellent (3,540 reviews)
Scandinavian Airlines
Good (1,703 reviews)
Air Canada
Good (10,775 reviews)
LOT
Good (1,182 reviews)
Finnair
Good (1,370 reviews)
Cathay Pacific
Good (1,187 reviews)
Brussels Airlines
Good (388 reviews)
TAP AIR PORTUGAL
Good (2,155 reviews)
Singapore Airlines
Excellent (1,465 reviews)
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Where to stay in Stirling

From 5-star hotels such as the Victoria Square Guest House to great affordable options like the Holiday Inn Express Stirling By IHG, Stirling offers a range of accommodations for every taste. Average rates range from around $178 per night for a double room in a 3-star hotel to $276 and up for a 5-star experience. There are also lots of holiday rental options in Stirling, with prices from $83 to $1,573 per night. Downtown is the neighbourhood with the highest amount of rentals to choose from. On average, holiday rentals in Stirling are about 30% more expensive than a hotel room in the city.

Where to stay in popular areas of Stirling

Most booked hotels in Stirling

See all
The Knowe Guest House
4 stars
Excellent (9.8, Excellent reviews)
$262+
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Westerton B&B
4 stars
Excellent (9.8, Excellent reviews)
$230+
View
The Abbotsford
4 stars
Excellent (8.7, Excellent reviews)
$152+
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Thackray House
4 stars
Excellent (8.7, Excellent reviews)
$428+
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Holiday Inn Express Stirling By IHG
3 stars
Excellent (8.4, Excellent reviews)
$113+
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Crown Hotel
3 stars
Excellent (8.4, Excellent reviews)
$130+
View

Hiring a car in Stirling

Expect to pay $3.01 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 $36.12 and $48.16. 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, 60% cheaper than other car hire types in the city.

Expect to pay $3.01 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 $36.12 and $48.16. 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, 60% cheaper than other car hire types in the city.