Located where the Firth of Forth meets the North Sea, Fife is a historic county that sprawls north of Edinburgh. It’s home to world-renowned golf courses and the oldest university in Scotland, as well as picturesque coastal towns and villages.

Things to do

Engaging museums, history-making golf courses and hidden wartime bunkers - Fife is a surprising destination on the doorstep of Edinburgh.

Play golf in St. Andrews. Overlooking the North Sea on Scotland’s east coast, St. Andrews has been nicknamed the “Home of Golf”, with the game played here since the 15th century. Learn about the city’s sporting legacy at the British Golf Museum and visit the Old Course, which is considered the oldest golf course in the world.

Explore the museums and theatres of Kirkcaldy. Inhabited since the Bronze Age, Kirkcaldy is a historically rich town and the second-largest settlement in Fife. Admire the Scottish Colourists’ work on display at the Kirkcaldy Galleries, which houses an award-winning exhibition about the town’s industrial heritage. You can also coincide your visit with a performance at the Adam Smith Theatre.

Venture into Scotland's Secret Bunker. Hidden beneath a farmhouse south-east of St. Andrews is a Cold War-era bunker designed as the place where Scotland would be governed if a nuclear war broke out. Explore the Nuclear Command Control Centre and the BBC Studio, then experience what life would have been like for the bunker’s residents in the RAF Operations Room.

Visit coastal Aberdour. On the south coast of Fife is the picturesque village of Aberdour, which is home to a 12th-century castle surrounded by one of the oldest gardens in Scotland. Admire the beautifully maintained Aberdour Railway Station or take a dip at Silver Sands Beach, one of the most attractive stretches of sand in Fife.

Getting around

Edinburgh Airport is the main aviation gateway to Fife and has flights to destinations across Europe. Regular trains connect from Edinburgh to towns and cities across the county while an extensive network of buses travels to smaller villages.