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 4 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 February
Estimated hotel price
$147
1 night at 3-star hotel
Stirling in February
Estimated hotel price
$147
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 30h 55m.

Train

AccesRail is the most popular train carrier serving Stirling, followed by Lumo. The train journey from Stirling to Aberdeen takes 2h 31m and costs around $54 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Leeds, expect to pay about $90 for a 3h 22m 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 DRIVALIA and Alamo, among others, in Edinburgh.

Bus

Several bus lines operate bus routes to Stirling, including FlixBus, National Express and Scottish Citylink. From Glasgow, the bus ride to Stirling takes 113 km and will cost you around $28. From Newcastle upon Tyne, the ticket costs about $62 for a journey of 266 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 30h 55m.

Train

AccesRail is the most popular train carrier serving Stirling, followed by Lumo. The train journey from Stirling to Aberdeen takes 2h 31m and costs around $54 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Leeds, expect to pay about $90 for a 3h 22m 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 DRIVALIA and Alamo, among others, in Edinburgh.

Bus

Several bus lines operate bus routes to Stirling, including FlixBus, National Express and Scottish Citylink. From Glasgow, the bus ride to Stirling takes 113 km and will cost you around $28. From Newcastle upon Tyne, the ticket costs about $62 for a journey of 266 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 (1,434 reviews)
Lufthansa
Good (7,649 reviews)
Delta
Good (8,014 reviews)
British Airways
Good (7,605 reviews)
Turkish Airlines
Good (4,112 reviews)
SWISS
Good (1,817 reviews)
Iberia
Good (3,056 reviews)
United Airlines
Good (9,105 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (3,686 reviews)
Emirates
Excellent (3,442 reviews)
Air France
Good (1,513 reviews)
Air Canada
Good (10,551 reviews)
Austrian Airlines
Good (880 reviews)
Cathay Pacific
Good (1,103 reviews)
Scandinavian Airlines
Good (1,620 reviews)
Finnair
Good (1,339 reviews)
Singapore Airlines
Excellent (1,415 reviews)
LOT
Good (1,153 reviews)
JetBlue
Good (2,898 reviews)
TAP AIR PORTUGAL
Good (2,095 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 $171 per night for a double room in a 3-star hotel to $315 and up for a 5-star experience. There are also lots of holiday rental options in Stirling, with prices from $85 to $593 per night. Downtown is the neighbourhood with the highest amount of rentals to choose from. On average, holiday rentals in Stirling are about 55% more expensive than a hotel room in the city.

Where to stay in popular areas of Stirling

Most booked hotels in Stirling

See all
Lubnaig Guest House
4 stars
Excellent (9.3, Excellent reviews)
$308+
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The Abbotsford
4 stars
Excellent (8.7, Excellent reviews)
$152+
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Holiday Inn Express Stirling By IHG
3 stars
Excellent (8.3, Excellent reviews)
$100+
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Crown Hotel
3 stars
Excellent (8.3, Excellent reviews)
$126+
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The Waverley Hotel
3 stars
Excellent (8, Excellent reviews)
$138+
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Stirling Highland Hotel- Part of the Cairn Collection
4 stars
Good (7.7, Good reviews)
$114+
View

Hiring a car in Stirling

Expect to pay $3.19 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 $38.18 and $50.90. 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 Compact car hire (Volkswagen Polo or similar) is, on average, 65% cheaper than other car hire types in the city.

Expect to pay $3.19 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 $38.18 and $50.90. 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 Compact car hire (Volkswagen Polo or similar) is, on average, 65% cheaper than other car hire types in the city.