Photo by: Noah Jurik
28 fun things to do in St Andrews
St Andrews is a beautiful seaside town area with a rich history and culture. The home of golf, with seven world-class golf courses, including the iconic Old Course. the Old Course has hosted the Open Championship an incredible 29 times since 1873. St Andrews is also home to the oldest university in Scotland, founded in 1412.
Situated on the Fife coast, St Andrew’s long sandy beach was the film location for the opening sequence of ‘Chariots of Fire’. Today land yachting is a very popular activity.
Visit local cafes like the world-renowned ice cream shop Jannettas and the rock and roll diner Ziggy’s. Also well worth exploring Scotland’s secret bunker. for 50 years it was a Nuclear command centre hidden below a farmhouse.
St Andrews is popularly known as the “Home of Golf”
- The Old Course is the most famous golf course in St Andrews and one of the oldest golf courses in the world. It has hosted the Open Championship many times.
- The New Course was designed by Old Tom Morris and opened in 1895. It’s a challenging course with tight fairways and fast greens.
- The Jubilee Course was built in 1897 and is considered to be one of the toughest courses in St Andrews. It has a links-style layout and offers stunning views of the coast.
- The Eden Course is a shorter course than the other courses in St Andrews, but it’s still challenging. It’s known for its undulating fairways and tricky greens.
- The Strathtyrum Course is a great course for beginners and intermediate players. It has wide fairways and forgiving greens.
- The Balgove Course is a nine-hole course that’s perfect for a quick round of golf. It’s a fun and challenging course with narrow fairways and small greens.
- The Castle Course, opened in June 2008, becoming the seventh public course at St Andrews. Designed by architect David McLay Kidd a mile to the east of St Andrews it has extensive views over the town.
There are plenty are fun things to do in St Andrews
- Visit St Andrews Cathedral: The ruins of this medieval cathedral are an impressive sight and provide a fascinating insight into the town’s history
- Walk on West Sands Beach: This wide and sandy beach was made famous by the movie “Chariots of Fire.” It’s a great place for a leisurely stroll or a picnic.
- Visit the St Andrews Botanic Garden: This 18-acre garden has a wide variety of plants from all over the world, and it’s a peaceful place to explore.
- Take a tour of St Andrews University: This prestigious university is one of the oldest in the world and has many historic buildings and beautiful grounds.
- Visit the St Andrews Aquarium: This attraction has a wide variety of sea creatures, including sharks, seals, and penguins.
- Explore St Andrews Castle: This medieval castle was once a royal residence and is now a popular tourist attraction.
- Go shopping: St Andrews has many unique and interesting shops, selling everything from Scottish souvenirs to designer clothing.
- Visit the St Andrews Museum: This museum has exhibits on the town’s history, including its connection to golf and the university.
- Go on a coastal walk: There are several beautiful coastal walks in and around St Andrews, offering stunning views of the sea and the town.
