The Best Hotels in Scotland for Every Traveller
Does your dream getaway feature champagne and a skyline view from a romantic suite? Or perhaps it’s to take off on adventures to mountains and coasts with your trusty pet? Or are you more of a spa junkie who loves a hot tub and a relaxing massage? Whether you’re hiking in the Highlands, exploring historic Edinburgh or strolling through Glasgow’s fashionable West End, we’ve got the perfect hotels in Scotland for every type of traveller.
1. Malmaison Glasgow
Hotel
A former 19th-century church in the fashionable West End, the Malmaison offers you suites with a distinctive character. The most romantic is the Manhattan loft-style Duplex Suite, where the giant bed sits on a mezzanine and skylights offer a view of the city’s twinkling lights. There’s 24-hour room service if you want to hide away and order up. You can also book a package such as Love Suite Love for champagne in your room and a prix fixe meal.
2. Dakota Glasgow
Boutique Hotel, Chain Hotel, Hotel, Luxury
Dakota’s stylish white-and-grey rooms with squishy beds set the tone for romance. Venture downstairs for great date-night spots, such as the Dakota Bar, where you can sip on martinis and daiquiris, or the heated outdoor cigar terrace. If you can’t drag yourself away from your room, book the package A Night In, Dakota Style, which includes a chateaubriand with sides and sauces and a bottle of Tempranillo red wine, all delivered to your room.
3. Hotel du Vin & Bistro, Glasgow
Boutique Hotel, Hotel
5. Portavadie, Argyll
Spa Hotel, Hotel
This spa resort with an impressive heated outdoor infinity pool and hot tub isn’t just a haven for humans. Set in a Highland scenery on the coast of Loch Fyne, dogs will be in their element running on the beach and trotting around the marina – you could even take them sailing. Back at base, they’re allowed to stay in the studio apartments, cottages or the eco-lodge Tighnamara, all of which come with kitchens to rustle up your dog’s dinner.
6. 15Glasgow
Boutique Hotel, Bed and Breakfast
With the five rooms gifted whimsically Scottish names like Tartan, Thistle and Heather, you know you’re in for some local charm at this boutique B&B. The owner, Lorraine, has plenty of tips on where to visit – and she knows how to make guests feel at home, from her traditional breakfasts and a shared lounge area with comfy sofas to a log fire and complimentary nightcap drinks.
7. 94DR, Edinburgh
Boutique Hotel, Bed and Breakfast
The owners behind the elegant 94DR, a guesthouse with concierge, will gladly help arrange anything – from restaurant reservations to in-room massages. Their friends affectionately call them “HOGs” (high octane gays), thanks to their passion for fun, as seen in their touches such as an honesty bar and bikes being available to borrow for free. Slightly set away from the main tourist beat, the front-facing rooms have views over Salisbury Crags and Arthur’s Seat.
8. Apex City Quay Hotel & Spa, Dundee
Boutique Hotel, Spa Hotel
Looking for a spa break? Tucked away in this sleek quayside hotel is the Yu Spa, where Asian flourishes (such a hummingbird wallpaper and Buddha statues) grace the treatment area. You can rotate between the ozone (chlorine-free) pool, sauna, and hydrotherapy hot tub. After a massage, it’s surely time for wining and dining, so bag a window table at the hotel’s Quayside Bar & Grill. Wellness is all about balance, after all.
9. The Balmoral Hotel, Edinburgh
Hotel, Luxury
If you fancy a more luxurious stay in stunning Scotland, check out our guide to the most luxurious hotels to book in Scotland, or find out where to stay in Scotland, bookable with Culture Trip.
Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.
Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.
Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.
Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.
We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.