Scotland vs Ireland: Which Should You Choose in 2025?

Trying to choose between Scotland and Ireland?

Having visited both Scotland and Ireland recently (2025), I’m going to give you:

• The pros and cons of both (up to date for post-pandemic travel)
• Which country is better in terms of natural beauty, safety, cities, food, ease of getting around, and many other things
• Highlights of both Scotland and Ireland attractions and things to see
• My honest opinion

Scotland is the more popular choice among most people who have visited both, because it tends to have the more dramatic beauty of the two.

However, as someone who saw Ireland before I ever saw Scotland, I can tell you – you’re going to be blown away regardless of which you choose.

We liked different things about each: We preferred Dublin over Edinburgh (Edinburgh is more beautiful city, but it was a lot more crowded.)

If we were going to return to one of them right now, we’d probably pick Scotland (as I’ve already been to Ireland twice) but we’d choose lesser-known places for second-time visitors rather than the key highlight spots.

So, let’s jump in – your ultimate decision-making tool between Ireland and Scotland. (Uncensored truths.)

Scotland vs Ireland: The Main Things to Consider

I’m including my own photos that I took throughout this whole article so you can see what both really have the potential to look like in person.

Which country is more beautiful?

I had always said that Ireland was the most beautiful country I’d ever seen, until I went to Scotland…. and then it kind of took the cake.

They are both very scenic and beautiful, but Scotland probably has a bit more dramatic natural beauty than Ireland.

If you’re very outdoorsy, and plan on doing outdoor adventure things like hiking, then you’ll probably be more impressed with the natural beauty in Scotland, especially Western Scotland.)

But rest assured- they’re both very beautiful. The most beautiful place in Ireland is the Ring of Kerry (pictured above.) Generally, western Ireland is the more scenic area of the country.

In Scotland, the most beautiful area would be the western side, especially places like Fort William, Glencoe and Isle of Skye.

The verdict: If you want very dramatic landscapes, then go to Scotland. You’ll love West Scotland – Glencoe, and Isle of Skye, and the Highlands and in general.

Differences in Attractions/Things to Do in Scotland vs Ireland

What are you looking for in Scotland and Ireland? You’re looking for things like scenic beauty, castles, mountains, lakes, seaside downs, remote villages with a charm – let’s compare what both Scotland and Ireland offer for those things

• Scotland’s castles are a bit better, partially because there are more castles that you can visit as a tourist.
  • Ireland has some great castles too; including abandoned castles to check out, and castle hotels you can stay in.
  • Scotland has both of those things too but just more ‘tourist’ castles that you can visit and explore the history and the life there. They both have amazing castles, but there are more options in Scotland

Pro Tip: You can get an Explorer Pass to be able to visit several castles for one price in Scotland (which is what we did, and its a good deal)

• Scotland has more amazing lakes. Scottish lakes are famous – Loch Lomond, Loch Ness. Ireland has some beautiful lakes too, but the lakes in Scotland tend to look more dramatic with the surrounding mountains. They both have beaches on the ocean, and along their lakes.

• Hiking. Scotland and Ireland are both very popular for outdoor-based and eco travel. They both have amazing trails and famous hikes. They also both have national parks and nature reserves. As I said, the scenery tends to be a bit more dramatic in Scotland, which you can see from my photos. But it’s not like Ireland isn’t gorgeous also (especially if you go to certain parts)

• Seeing wildlife. In Scotland, we saw wild deer, dolphins and seals! It’s also possible to see puffins at certain times of year.
• In Ireland however, in 5 weeks total I’ve spent there, I haven’t seen the kind of wildlife that I saw in Scotland in just 2 weeks. However, it’s possible to see puffins in Ireland if you go to Skellig Mountain off the Ring of Kerry.

• Historical attractions. Ireland had more cathedrals and evidence of its Viking past. They both have ring forts left over from the Celtics.
• They both had monarchies, but some of the Scottish monarchy members are more famous today – such as Mary Queen of Scots.
• In Scotland, you can see the room Mary Queen of Scots gave birth, and the castle where she was crowned Queen of Scotland.

Which has better cities?

Some of the main Irish cities to visit are Dublin, Galway, Limerick and Cork.

Scottish cities most frequented by tourists are Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen and Inverness. I’ve been to the majority of the cities listed above. What I can tell you from that is:

• We liked Dublin better than Edinburgh. Edinburgh is the more beautiful city in terms of architecture, but the Royal Mile (while so beautiful in architecture) also felt like a bit of a tourist trap and was a sea of selfie sticks.
• Dublin felt more like a lived-in, working city full of locals, and it was also very walkable. It was easier, laid back and just more enjoyable to visit for that reason.
• I’m glad I saw Edinburgh, but I don’t have a huge desire to go back because of the crowds

If you choose Scotland, then don’t just stay in Edinburgh. Either do day trips from Edinburgh, or take your time to explore the country. The magic of Scotland is in the wilderness

• Make your way to Inverness if you choose Scotland (a smaller, but less touristy city in the north) with so much history and underrated beauty. You probably want at least 10 days on your Scotland itinerary in order to fit in Inverness, because its hard to fit it in with all the other amazingness in Scotland we well. Inverness is close to Loch Ness (for you to do a beautiful cruise and see the abandoned Urquhart Caslte on the coast), the Culloden Battlefield, and a walkable downtown.

• Don’t just stay in Dublin if you go to Ireland – visit the countryside, especially on the west coast, and check out smaller cities like Galway, and the many cute Irish small towns.

Which has better food?

The food in Scotland and Ireland is pretty similar. They both use a lot of potatoes, root vegetables, meat and dairy in their cuisine.

They also both have scones, that you eat with jam and butter.

• Typical Irish dishes: Irish stew, goat cheese salad
• Typical Scottish dishes: haggis, along with other traditional British sides

Both Scotland and Ireland both have lots of ethnic food options too – we had Asian noodles, Indian and Nepalese food, sushi, Thai, Vietnamese, and more.

I didnt see nearly as many chain restaurants in either Ireland or Scotland as I do at home. I saw a lot more family-owned, hole-in-the-wall restaurants in both which was so nice.

They both do have some chains though, especially in cities. We saw McDonalds, Starbucks, Costa Coffee, Coffee Nero, and a pizza chain called Fireaway (which is really good by the way.)

Personal note: I’m a vegetarian so I might not be the right judge of food for you. My husband who eats meat though found the food experience the same in both, especially becasue he stuck to what he normally eats and didn’t try haggis or lamb. Also, if you’re veggeie too – know that both places are very vegetarian friendly and there are some great vegan options in both too. I didnt have trouble finding oat milk anywhere!

The verdict: There is no ‘winner’ on which has better food between Scotland and Ireland. The food is similar, with a few key differences in dishes. They both have plenty of ethnic food options, and chain restaurants in the big cities. I’m pretty sure that regardless of your food preferences, you’ll mostly be able to stick to how you want to eat in either

Differences in Driving/Getting Around

Here are a few things to keep in mind when it comes to transportation and getting around in both places

• Ireland has some tolls where you have to pay to use the highway, whereas Scotland has no tolls
• Both drive on the ‘right’ side of the road, so no difference there.
• We found car rental prices to be about the same in both countries
• Tours are very common in both countries, so you can easily book tours out of the major cities from Viator, Get Your Guide. And they both have hop-on-hop off bus tours in their cities

Souvenirs in Scotland vs Ireland

Let’s not pretend that we aren’t super excited avout all the special things to bring home.

Both countries have their own versions of the same gifts and souvenirs: shortbread cookies, cheese, celtic jewellry,

Unique things you can buy in Scotland:

Highland cow stuffies and souvenirs, authentic tartan, Harry Potter souvenirs (mostly in Edinburgh) Outlander-based gifts, heather candles, tea and honey, Irn bru drink and merch, Nessie toys books and souvenirs. See more ideas for Scottish souvenirs here.

Unique things you can buy in Ireland

• CDS and other souvenirs from buskers. Busking is very popular in Ireland and is deeply rooted in the country. Part of what we loved about Dublin and Galway were the busking
• Book of Kells and Trinity College souvenirs
• Irish Blessing quotes – a small book of them, a sign for your wall. They’re so positive and uplifting.

See my full guide of Irish souvenirs here

Which is safer?

Both Scottish and Irish cities and their small towns are extremely safe. Both countries have very low crime rates.

Scotland is colder than Ireland – the average low is 0°C (32°F) during the winter months, whereas in Ireland, it rarely gets below zero.

So, if anything, there’s probably a greater risk of catching something like hypothermia during the cold months in Scotland – but I think that’s the extent of your potential danger, in either country.

Which is more touristy?

Both Scotland and Ireland are extremely touristy now. Both countries have had their international visitors triple in the last few years!

I visited Scotland in May, and most of the major tourist hotspots (ie: Isle of Skye) were packed, uncomfortably so.

It felt like the infrastructure, such as parking lots, roads, passing areas and even the number of restaurants, hadn’t caught up to accommodate the number of people that were now coming to visit.

So I can imagine summer months would be even worse. Our host in Isle of Skye told us to make restaurant reservations 10 days in advance just so that we’d be able to get in somewhere.

We found Ireland in May calmer in terms of visitors than Scotland was at the same time of year. We came to the conclusion that Scotland has the more dramatic beauty, but you have to put up with more crowds to see it.

The verdict: If big crowds and overwhelming numbers of visitors bother you, then you may enjoy Ireland more. Both countries are likely struggling with overtourism, especially in the summer months, but it seems to have hit Scotland more than Ireland from what we can see.

Which is more Family-Friendly?

We did 2-week road trips through Scotland and Ireland with our two daughters who were 4 and 12 years old, so we learned all about the family-friendliness of both places and the kids’ activities in both.

Read my post on Scotland with kids or Ireland with kids for lots of specific ideas to do as a family in each. Otherwise, continue below for examples:

Museums

Interactive museums to learn about animals, nature and history. Some of the best were Dublinia in Dublin and the National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh.

Playgrounds

They both have great playgrounds. Both kids were engaged, even the 12-year-old. The playgrounds at home in Canada have become very ‘safe’ and don’t encourage as much risk-taking as the playgrounds here. My kids seemed to have more fun at the playgrounds in Scotland and Ireland, and each town and city was packed with them.

Fairy trails

We saw one fairy trail in Scotland (village in Loch Lomond called Luss) but other than that, it didn’t seem to be as big of a thing.

Farms to meet animals.

There seemed to be more of them in Ireland than in Scotland. We didn’t meet any farm animals in Scotland, and didn’t see as many opportunities to do so.

The verdict: If you’re planning a family trip to Scotland or Ireland, you won’t be disappointed. They both make wonderful family trips and have lots to do. We found a bit more things to do with kids in Ireland, but we wouldn’t discredit Scotland as our kids loved it there too.

Summing It Up – The Right Country For YOU

You should visit Scotland if:

• You’re an outdoorsy couple on a romantic getaway. There are so many spectacular nature-based things to see and do in Scotland, it’s hard to beat
• You’re a reader. You can get your Harry Potter and/or Outlander nerd on in Scotland. By the way, both have lots of used bookstores
• You plan on travelling with a dog. We aren’t dog owners, but we noticed that Scotland was a haven for dog people, with dogs being welcome practically everywhere and having more pet-friendly services. (However, this may not be your favourite thing if you’re allergic or scared of dogs- in that case, then I’d probably say lean towards Ireland.)
• You don’t mind navigating big crowds and many other tourists. The stats show that tourist numbers are similar in both countries, but at similar times of year, we found the crowds in Scotland much bigger and busier to navigate.

You should visit Ireland if:

• You have young kids under 10. They will love the fairy trails and the folklore and the many petting farms. We didn’t see as many of these in Scotland
• You want to party or drink. Of course, you can drink in Scotland too, but Ireland has more of a culture around that with its pubs
• You want to take it easy. If you want to avoid too much over-strenuous exercise and want to explore small towns and laid-back things to do. Ireland has more of that.
• You dislike crowds. If you hate crowds, then I’d avoid the popular places in Scotland between April and October, because they can get insane anytime between then. Statistics show that tourist numbers are similar, but perhaps they are more ‘spread out’ in Ireland, because we found the crowds to be much more manageable in Ireland than in Scotland

Want to see both? We did! Check out our Scotland and Ireland itinerary, which you need somewhere between 2-4 weeks for

Final Thoughts on Scotland vs Ireland

I can guarantee that whatever place you choose between Scotland or Ireland – you won’t regret it. You can’t go wrong with either of them. They are both full of so much beauty, and are such great places to visit.

If I had to choose again, I would likely pick Scotland. I feel that I have more to see in Scotland, such as remote towns in the highlands, cities on the east coast such as Stonehaven (has an awesome castle) and visit some of the lesser-known islands.

I would happily go back to either country, but I feel that I haven’t had nearly enough time in Scotland. However, if you’re a first time visitor – choose the one that resonates with you the most from this article.