Explore Fife / Things to do in Fife
Things to do in Fife
Royal palaces, fishing harbours, castles, beaches and the home of golf, all within an hour of each other. Here are the days out we recommend most to our guests, area by area.
Fife is compact: you can drive from Dunfermline in the west to St Andrews in the east in about an hour, so wherever you stay, everything below is a day trip. Many of the best places are free, from the beaches and the Fife Coastal Path to Fife’s council-run galleries.
Dunfermline and West Fife
- Dunfermline Abbey, Dunfermline: Scotland’s ancient royal abbey and the burial place of Robert the Bruce. The neighbouring palace ruins are closed at the moment, but the abbey is open. Website
- Andrew Carnegie Birthplace Museum, Dunfermline: The weaver’s cottage where the steel magnate was born, and the story of how he gave his fortune away. Free; closed in winter. Website
- Carnegie Library and Galleries, Dunfermline: The world’s first Carnegie library, now with a museum, galleries and a café overlooking the abbey. Free. Website
- Culross: A remarkably complete 17th-century village of cobbled streets and white-harled houses, with the ochre-walled Culross Palace (National Trust for Scotland). Website
- Aberdour Castle and Silver Sands, Aberdour: One of Scotland’s oldest standing castles, with a walled garden, and a sheltered sandy beach a short walk away. Website
- Deep Sea World, North Queensferry: Walk-through underwater tunnel and a large collection of sharks, right under the Forth bridges. Website
- Lochore Meadows Country Park, near Kelty: A loch, beach, play park, café and outdoor centre on a former colliery site. Ideal for families. Website
Our Dunfermline and West Fife guide
Kirkcaldy, Dysart and Kinghorn
- Kirkcaldy Galleries, Kirkcaldy: A well-known collection of Scottish art, including works by William McTaggart and the Scottish Colourists, plus local history. Free. Website
- Ravenscraig Park and Castle, Kirkcaldy: Clifftop castle ruins (seen from outside) in a park that leads down to the coast path and Dysart harbour.
- Dysart harbour and Pan Ha’, Dysart: A tiny harbour village of restored 17th-century houses, used as an Outlander filming location.
- Burntisland and Pettycur Bay: Long sandy beaches either side of Kinghorn, with views across the Forth to Edinburgh.
Our Kirkcaldy and Dysart guide
Leven, Largo and the Wemyss coast
- Leven beach and Largo Bay: Miles of sand from Leven to Lower Largo, birthplace of Alexander Selkirk, the castaway behind Robinson Crusoe.
- Wemyss Caves, East Wemyss: Sea caves with carvings dating back thousands of years. The main caves are gated, but guided visits can be arranged with the local caves society.
- Golf: Leven Links and Lundin Golf Club are both former Open qualifying courses. See golf in Fife.
The East Neuk
- Isle of May, boats from Anstruther: A nature reserve island with puffins (best from April to July), seals and thousands of seabirds. Boats sail from 1 April to 30 September. Website
- Scottish Fisheries Museum, Anstruther: The story of Scotland’s fishing communities, with boats you can go aboard. Website
- Kellie Castle and Garden, near Pittenweem: A castle with 14th-century towers, Arts and Crafts interiors and a lovely walled garden (National Trust for Scotland). Website
- Scotland’s Secret Bunker, near Anstruther: A Cold War command centre hidden under an ordinary-looking farmhouse. Website
- Cambo Estate, Kingsbarns: Woodland walks down to the sea and a walled garden, famous for its snowdrops in late winter.
St Andrews
- The Old Course and West Sands: Walk the famous 18th fairway on a Sunday, when the course is closed to golf, then head along the West Sands beach.
- St Andrews Castle and Cathedral: Clifftop castle ruins and the remains of what was once Scotland’s largest church, with St Rule’s Tower. Website
- R&A World Golf Museum: Hundreds of years of golf history, opposite the R&A clubhouse. It was called the British Golf Museum until 2021. Website
- Craigtoun Country Park, near St Andrews: Woodland, a boating lake and adventure play. Seasonal attractions run from spring to autumn. Website
Cupar and North Fife
- Falkland Palace and Garden, Falkland: The Stuart monarchs’ country retreat, with one of the oldest real tennis courts in the world (National Trust for Scotland). Website
- Hill of Tarvit Mansion, near Cupar: An Edwardian house by Robert Lorimer, with a 9-hole course where you play with hickory clubs. Website
- Scottish Deer Centre and Wildlife Park, near Cupar: Deer, wolves, wildcats, otters and birds of prey. Website
- Tentsmuir Forest and beach, near Tayport: Pine forest, dunes and a huge beach where seals haul out on the sands. Website
- Lomond Hills, above Falkland: East and West Lomond give big views over the whole of Fife.
Our Cupar and North Fife guide
Opening times and prices change through the year, so check the official website before you set off.
Visitor information researched from Historic Environment Scotland, the National Trust for Scotland, OnFife, NatureScot and Welcome to Fife.
