Holiday rentals and lettings in St Andrews

Table of contents

• At a glance: what should you know about renting a holiday let in St Andrews?
• Holiday lets in St Andrews: find your perfect retreat
• Exploring St Andrews: our top recommendations
• Activities: what are the top things to do and see in St Andrews?

• Choice of stays: From harbourside townhouses to links-side apartments and garden cottages, St Andrews offers self-catering lets for couples, families and golfing groups alike.
• Where to base yourself: Stay near the Old Course for golf, the cathedral quarter for history, or the town centre for restaurants and pubs.
• Top-rated homes: Our highest-scoring lets earn near-perfect guest ratings for their location, comfort and warm Scottish welcome.
• Getting around: Edinburgh is an easy hour away by car, and St Andrews is wonderfully walkable once you arrive.
• When to visit: Summer brings festivals and beach days, whilst spring and autumn are quieter and ideal for golfers.

Traditional stone holiday cottages sit alongside smart apartments in St Andrews, charming bed and breakfasts and roomy townhouses built for groups. Most St Andrews lets come well equipped for a relaxed self-catering holiday, with popular touches including:

• Fast Wi-Fi throughout
• Private gardens and patios
• Off-street parking
• Pet-friendly facilities
• Cosy log fires

Many older homes have been refurbished to a high standard, blending traditional character with modern comforts throughout.

What are the best areas to stay in St Andrews?

The best area depends on your plans: The Scores and the seafront suit first-time visitors who want the Old Course and the beach on their doorstep. The table below details areas for specific interests:

What do our guests say?

Our guests consistently rate their St Andrews stays highly, praising the friendly hosts, spotless homes and unbeatable locations close to the links, the beaches and the historic centre.

Here are our top-rated holiday lets from the past year:

1. Stunning 3 bedroomed townhouse overlooking St Andrews harbour - 10.0: A charming townhouse with lovely harbour views in St Andrews, Fife, sleeping six in comfort just a stroll from the historic centre.
2. 20 Golf Place, St Andrews - 10.0: A spacious apartment for six only steps from the Old Course, ideal for golfers who want the famous links right on the doorstep.
3. Steprock Cottage - 10.0: A welcoming six-guest cottage with its own garden, well placed for exploring both the town and the wider Fife coast.

St Andrews sits on the east coast of Scotland, in the Kingdom of Fife, about an hour north-east of Edinburgh, where the rolling Fife countryside meets the North Sea.

✈️What is the best way to get to St Andrews?

Getting to St Andrews is straightforward, with easy connections by air, rail and road. Here are the most common ways to get to the town:

• By air: The nearest major hub is Edinburgh Airport, a scenic hour's drive away; Dundee Airport is closer, around 30 minutes by car, though it serves only a handful of routes. From Edinburgh you can hire a car or pick up a connecting train or coach towards Fife.
• By rail and road: Trains from Edinburgh reach Leuchars, just outside St Andrews, in a little over an hour, with a short bus or taxi to finish the journey. Drivers can follow the M90 motorway and the A91 from the central belt.

🥗Where to eat in St Andrews?

According to Google Maps data and reviews, The Seafood Ristorante is the best-rated restaurant in St Andrews. Below is a table showing the top 5 highly-rated restaurants hand-picked by our travel experts.

⭐Our guests' recommendation: Our guest travellers Rebecca and Alan recommend Northpoint Café in St Andrews: a cheerful spot for coffee and cake, a long-standing student favourite that is perfect after a morning exploring the cathedral ruins.

☀️When is the best time to visit?

St Andrews is a year-round destination, but late spring to early autumn (May to September) offers the mildest weather for golf and the beaches. July and August are the liveliest months, with festivals and long daylight hours, whilst May, September and October bring fewer crowds and softer light along the coast.

Summer

• Best for: Golf, beach days and festival-goers
• Weather: Mild and bright, with highs around 18°C and long evenings
• Atmosphere: Lively and busy, especially around graduation and golf events

Autumn

• Best for: Golfers and walkers seeking quieter fairways
• Weather: Crisp and changeable, with beautiful coastal light
• Atmosphere: Relaxed, as the student term and tourist crowds ease

Winter

• Best for: Cosy escapes and bracing seafront walks
• Weather: Cold and often windy, with the occasional dusting of snow
• Atmosphere: Peaceful and atmospheric, ideal for a quiet retreat

⭐Our hosts' recommendation: Our St Andrews local expert, Fiona of 1 Howard Place, recommends an early-morning stroll along the West Sands before the crowds arrive, followed by watching the golfers tee off on the Old Course. You can read more about local tips on Fiona's page.

1. Walk the West Sands and the Old Course
2. Explore St Andrews Cathedral and climb St Rule's Tower
3. Discover the British Golf Museum
4. Spend a day at Craigtoun Country Park
5. Dive into Deep Sea World at North Queensferry

1. Walk the West Sands and the Old Course

   Begin with a bracing walk along the West Sands, the two-mile beach made famous by the opening scene of Chariots of Fire, then follow the dunes round to the Old Course. Even non-golfers enjoy strolling across the Swilcan Bridge on a quiet Sunday, when the hallowed links are closed to play and open to walkers.

2. Explore St Andrews Cathedral and climb St Rule's Tower

   The dramatic ruins of St Andrews Cathedral, once the largest church in Scotland, dominate the eastern end of town. Wander the atmospheric graveyard, then climb the tight spiral staircase of St Rule's Tower for sweeping views over the rooftops, the harbour and the sea beyond. Next door, the ruined St Andrews Castle reveals its medieval mine and counter-mine, a rare survival from centuries of siege warfare.

3. Discover the British Golf Museum

   No visit is complete without the British Golf Museum, set right beside the Old Course. Its engaging exhibits trace more than 500 years of the game, from feathery balls and hickory clubs to modern champions, with plenty of hands-on activities for children.

4. Spend a day at Craigtoun Country Park

   Just outside town, Craigtoun Country Park is a much-loved family day out. Hop aboard the miniature railway around the boating pond, hire a rowing boat, explore the curious Dutch Village on its little island, and let the children loose in the play areas and crazy golf.

5. Dive into Deep Sea World at North Queensferry

   A short drive towards the Forth bridges brings you to Deep Sea World at North Queensferry, home to the UK's longest underwater tunnel and some of Europe's most impressive sharks. It makes a great day trip on the way to or from St Andrews, and pairs nicely with a wider tour — many visitors extend their stay in cottages across Scotland or escape further north to log cabins on the Isle of Skye.