Fife

The Kingdom of Fife (www.visitfife.com) as it calls itself – it was home to Scottish monarchs for 500 years – is a tongue of land protruding between the Firths of Forth and Tay that has managed to maintain an individual Lowland identity quite separate from the rest of the country. Though southern Fife is part of Edinburgh's commuter-belt territory, eastern Fife's rolling green farmland and quaint fishing villages are prime turf for exploration, and the fresh sea air feels like it's doing you a power of good. Fife's biggest attraction, St Andrews, has Scotland's most venerable university and a wealth of historic buildings. It's also, of course, the headquarters of golf and draws professionals and keen slashers alike to take on the Old Course − the classic links experience.

Explore Fife

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Top attractions

These are our favorite local haunts, touristy spots, and hidden gems throughout Fife.

  • Distillery

    Lindores Abbey Distillery

    Of the many new distilleries popping up all over Scotland, this one – opened in 2017 – has a unique historical claim. It's a stunning modern building …

  • Palace

    Falkland Palace

    Falkland Palace, a 16th-century country residence of the Stuart monarchs, is prettier and in many ways more impressive and interesting than the Palace of…

  • Ruins

    St Andrews Cathedral

    All that's left of one of Britain's most magnificent medieval buildings are ruined fragments of wall and arch, and a single towering gable, but you can…

  • Museum

    Scotland's Secret Bunker

    This fascinating – and chilling – monument to Cold War paranoia was built in the 1950s to serve as one of Britain’s regional command centres in the event…

  • Historic Site

    Culross Palace

    More large house than palace, the 17th-century residence of local laird Sir George Bruce features an interior largely unchanged since his time. The…

  • Museum

    Scottish Fisheries Museum

    This excellent museum covers the history of the Scottish fishing industry in fascinating detail, including plenty of hands-on exhibits for kids. Displays…

  • Ruins

    Dunfermline Abbey & Palace

    Dunfermline Abbey was founded by David I in the 12th century as a Benedictine monastery. The abbey and its neighbouring palace were already favoured by…

  • Castle

    St Andrews Castle

    The castle is mainly in ruins, but the site itself is evocative and has dramatic coastline views. It was founded around 1200 as a fortified home for the…

  • Museum

    Kirkcaldy Galleries

    This museum and art gallery showcases Kirkcaldy's history as a trading port and producer of linen, canvas and linoleum (floor covering); the kids will…

  • Castle

    Aberdour Castle

    Long a residence of the Douglases of Morton, this impressive structure exhibits several architectural phases, from tumbled 12th-century masonry with…

  • Nature Reserve

    Isle of May

    The mile-long Isle of May, 6 miles southeast of Anstruther, is a spectacular nature reserve. Between April and July the island's cliffs are packed with…

  • Gardens

    Cambo Walled Garden

    Cambo Estate, 2.5 miles north of Crail, is the country seat of the Erskine family. Its walled garden, with an ornamental stream running through the middle…

  • Aquarium

    Deep Sea World

    If the kids are tiring of historic buildings, a trip here might make them feel more kindly towards Fife. Situated at North Queensferry, beneath the Forth…

  • Museum

    British Golf Museum

    This museum provides a comprehensive overview of the history and development of the game and the role of St Andrews in it. The huge collection ranges from…

  • Museum

    Andrew Carnegie Birthplace Museum

    The cottage where the great American industrialist and philanthropist Andrew Carnegie was born in 1835 is now a museum. Carnegie emigrated to the United…

  • Castle

    Kellie Castle

    An authentic example of Lowland Scottish domestic architecture, Kellie Castle has creaky floors, crooked little doorways, superb decorative plasterwork…

  • Distillery

    Kingsbarns Distillery

    This distillery opened in 2015 and uses Fife-grown barley to create a distinctive Lowland whisky – it takes a minimum of three years' maturation to create…

  • Church

    Dunfermline Abbey Church

    The abbey church is a 19th-century construction, adjoining the medieval nave of the old church to the east. It contains the tomb of Robert the Bruce,…

  • Museum

    Dunfermline Carnegie Library & Galleries

    Opened in 2017, this award-winning building houses a museum that charts the history of Dunfermline, with a massive Meldrum weaving loom as its centrepiece…

  • Cave

    St Fillan’s Cave

    St Fillan’s Cave was used as a chapel by a 7th-century missionary who reputedly possessed miraculous powers – apparently, when he wrote his sermons in the…

Top experiences

Whether it’s a guided tour of a historic landmark, private tasting of local delicacies, or an off-road adventure — explore the best experiences in Fife.

  • Activities