Visiting Oban, Scotland
Visiting Oban, known as the “Gateway to the Isles,” offers a perfect blend of coastal charm and Scottish adventure. This picturesque seaside town is famous for its scenic harbor, fresh seafood, and breathtaking sunsets over the islands. It is a perfect stop on your Scotland itinerary or perfect for a one day visit. Explore this guide for how to visit for a day!
Getting to Oban Scotland for your One day visit
How to get there
You can arrive to Oban via bus, train or by car. By train you can get a direct train from Glasgow or Edinburgh. By bus, you can utilize the Scottish Citylink bus that connects major cities. Oban is easy to reach by car as well. Oban does have an airport but it is easier to fly into Glasgow and Edinburgh especially if coming internationally. It is 3 hour 15 minute drive on A85 from Edinburgh. For our day trip we drove from Glencoe which is about 34 miles or 55 minutes.
Where to Park
If you are driving, you will have to find parking. There is plenty of street parking in Oban. On Sundays, there is free street parking in the morning which is what we did and it was perfect! There are also a bunch of lots with pay and display system.
Eating and Drinking in Oban
Eating
Oban is the “Seafood Capital of Scotland” so you will find some of the freshest and best fish here. There are so many options from affordable fish and chips up to Michelin Star restaurants. Some of the top restaurants include The Lorne Bar, The Waterfront Fishouse, EE-usk, Cuan Mor, Coast Restaurant and more!
Drinking
One of the top tourist things to do in Oban is to visit the Oban Distillery. Oban Distillery was established in 1794 and known for being one of Scotland’s oldest source of single malt scotch whisky. Visitors can do tours and shop here!
If cafes are what you crave there are several cute coffee shops. We went to Hinba, which was super cute and had great coffee and baked goods.
When to visit Oban, Scotland
Time of Year
Peak tourist season is during July and August. If you want a little less crowded with still good conditions consider going in shoulder season in May, June or September. Autumn will provide cheaper accommodation but it may be a bit windier and chillier. Another peak time to visit is in late November for the Oban Winter Festival
Day Visit Recommendations
If visiting for the day, I recommend arriving earlier to ensure parking and get the most of the day while there. If you visit on Sundays the mornings have free street parking- so you only have to renew for the afternoon if you stay the full day.
Must see things in Oban
McCaig’s Tower
McCaig’s Tower is an impressive landmark that gives stunning views of the town, bay and surrounding areas. To hike head up Argyll Street to Jacob’s Ladder and up Laurel Road. It is well worth it! Check out the complete guide on visiting this landmark HERE!
Corran Esplanade
Stroll along the scenic waterfront to take in the sites and see cute shops and cafes. I recommend walking around the waterfront and to the other side of the harbor. You can also stroll down the streets that parallel the water for more shops.
Ferry trips to the Islands
There are many different ferry and boat options to explore some of the beautiful islands such as Mull, Iona and Staffa. Also on the water you can experience some wildlife spotting including seals, whales, sharks and more.
Dunollie Museum and Castle
The Dunollie Museum, Castle and Grounds are open Sunday-Friday between mid March and end of October. It is located about 1 mile north of Oban. The site enjoys views over towards the island of Kerrera and a view of the town, harbor, and isles.
On the Drive to and from Glencoe
The Drive
The drive from Glencoe to Oban is about 55 minutes. We want to arrive in Oban as early as possible so we drove without stopping but on the way down we saw some great pull offs and got a glimpse of Castle Stalker and knew we would definitely have to visit on the way back. Castle Stalker is a four story fortress on a small tidal islet in Loch Laich near Appin. We found two different pull offs to get a view one being Castle Stalker View which had a cafe that was closed but still a beautiful view from above. We also pulled off on some stops on the Loches we passed. It is a really beautiful drive.
Take in the views
Oban is so scenic and definitely the best view is from McCaig Tower but just from the shoreline it is stunning.
Plan your trip to Oban
If you haven’t made it to Scotland yet, consider this your inspiration to go. It is beyond beautiful and you will not be disappointed. Oban was just a part of our epic itinerary but definitely a place to visit. It was great for a day visit and you can definitely enjoy the shore and some of the top tourist things in a day but it would also be a wonderful place to spend more time in.
