Oban is a beautiful and charming coastal town, and sadly many do not give it the time it deserves. Often people simply use it primarily as a launching pad for visiting some of the nearby famous Hebrides islands, such as Mull, Iona, Jura and Islay, but the town itself is definitely deserving of at least a full day (if not more). Its most known attraction might be the historic Oban Distillery (established in 1794), a favourite amongst whisky aficionados, but it also has a beautiful boardwalk promenade along Oban Bay with views of the Isle of Kerrera. Oban is also home to Roman-inspired McGraig’s Tower and some of the best seafood restaurants in the country. There is much to see and do when in this area highland of Scotland, so we put together a guide on the Top Things to See and Do in Oban that we hope will help you plan an awesome Scottish Highland trip.
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You might also be interested in these pages:
1-Day Glen Coe Loop Road Trip Itinerary from Oban
Best Things to See in the Scottish Highlands
Best Scenic Drives and Routes Through the Scottish Highlands
Best Hikes to do in the Scottish Highlands
Orientation — Where is Oban and how to get there?
Though not entirely off the beaten track of a Scottish Highland road trip, Oban isn’t as popular a destination as Glen Coe and Fort William and, those who do venture this far west often skip Oban in favour of the nearby Isle of Mull. That’s a shame, as we believe that this lovely seaside town has plenty to offer, and can serve as an excellent multi-day base from which to explore nearby attractions.
Oban is about a 2h15 drive from Glasgow and a 3h drive from Edinburgh. If coming from the North, it’s about a 1h drive from Fort William. Importantly, visiting Oban will only add one hour as a detour from the classic central highland Glasgow – Fort William route.
The best and easiest way to get to and navigate around Glen Coe is with your own vehicle. For advice and tips on how to drive in Scotland, check out our Scotland Roadtrip Driving Guide.
If you haven’t booked your rental vehicle yet, we highly recommend using Discover Cars to get the best rates on your rental in Scotland.
Oban can also be reached by bus or train from either Glasgow or Edinburgh.
Alternatively, if you don’t have your vehicle, joining an organized tour might be the best way to see Oban as part of a larger Scottish Highland itinerary.
Top Things to See and Do in Oban
Walk along the Waterfront Promenade (Corran Esplanade & Oban Harbour)
One of the best ways to enjoy Oban is to walk along Oban’s beautiful waterfront via the Oban Harbour Promenade and the Corran Esplanade, which together combine for a beautiful 1.5km walking trail. On one side you have Oban’s beautiful historic buildings, various and restaurants, and on the other the scenic Oban Bay, the Sound of Kerrera and distant views of several Hebrides islands such as Kerrera and Mull.
Most people tend to stay along the southern end of the waterfront close to the Harbour, so venturing further north along the Corran Esplanade will allow you to leave most of the other tourists behind but also provide you with the option of visiting the Oban Peace & War Museum, the Oban Chocolate Company, St Columba Cathedral and the Oban War Memorial.
If you keep going to the end of the Corran Esplanade, you’ll come across a path on the other side of the road that will take you to Dunnolie Castle and Museum. The Castle lies mostly in ruins and was the ancestral home of Clan MacDougall. There is also a small café and shop on the castle grounds in addition to some beautiful woodland walking trails that are open to the public between April and October. Adult castle admission tickets cost 9£ (2023) and allow you to visit the castle as many times as you want during the same calendar year.
Climb up to McCaig’s Tower (Battery Hill)
If you start your Oban visit along the waterfront promenade walk, you will no doubt have noticed that colosseum-like structure (it’s really hard to miss) perched above Battery Hill, immediately east of the town center. This is McCaig’s Tower, which was commissioned by John Stuart McCaig in 1897 to simultaneously provide a lasting monument to his family and work for the local stonemasons during the winter months. McCaig was an admirer of Roman and Greek architecture and had planned for a museum and art gallery with a central tower to be incorporated, but his untimely passing in 1902 brought construction to a halt with only the outer walls finished. It is built of Bonawe granite taken from nearby quarries and has a circumference of about 200 metres (660 ft) with two tiers of 94 lancet arches (44 on the bottom and 50 on top).
Today the tower interior is home to a beautiful park and garden, with short walking paths and park benches.
The simplest way to get to the tower is to climb Jacob’s ladder and follow the signs along Arconnel Terrace and Ardconnel Road towards the tower. The tower is free to enter and in addition to the public park and garden, there’s a great viewing platform overlooking the city and the nearby Hebrides islands of Kerrera and Mull.
Visit Oban Distillery
Located in the center of town, Oban Distillery was one of our favorite distilleries to visit and tour in Scotland (along with Skye’s Talisker Distillery). The distillery was actually built before the town in 1794, which eventually developed around it in the years that followed. Because of how the town developed around the distillery, the location of the distillery doesn’t allow it to expand, ensuring that it keeps its independent distillery charm despite now being owned by one of the largest drinks companies in the world.
Only seven people are responsible for creating the whisky at Oban Distillery, and the rich, complex flavours of Oban whiskies are highly influenced by the environment in which they are produced: warm honeyed spices of the Highlands, the subtle smoke from the peat and the saltiness from the harbor air.
A complete tour of the distillery, including 3 drams of Oban Whiskey, offers great insight into the local whisky-making process (from £22 (2023)). A tutored tasting experience is also available from £35 (2023).
Sample some seafood from the Harbour Stalls
Oban isn’t known as the ‘Seafood Capital of Scotland’ for nothing, it is THE place to sample seafood from the coastline of Argyll & the Isles. The secret is the cold, pristine waters that offer up a huge variety of top-quality fish and shellfish, including oysters, mussels, langoustines, prawns, scallops, crab, mackerel, haddock, herring and squat lobster. There are several places along the harbour where you can buy fresh seafood, but the most popular and well-known place is without a doubt the Oban Seafood Hut (aka the Green Shack).
Boat Tours and Sea Kayaking
If you like spending time on water and searching for marine wildlife, then Oban has lots of options for you. In particular, Argyll Sea Tours offers some great tours including a seal colony visit tour, a historical and wildlife tour, and a fishing tour.
For a more physical type of activity, check out Sea Kayak Oban, the largest independent, specialist sea kayak shop in Scotland. They offer a variety of half-day, full-day and multi-day kayak excursions, in addition to offering kayaking courses.
Cycle on the Caledonia Way
The Caledonia Way is a stunning 234-mile long-distance bike route through Scotland’s breathtaking countryside, and most of the path between Oban and Ballachulish (near Glen Coe) is built along the former railway line that hugs the coast for much of the way and it is largely flat. You can find out more about the path with the help of this interactive map. Mountain and touring bikes are available to hire from Oban Cycles from £30 per day; e-bikes from £50 (2023).
Best photography viewpoints of Oban
Ardconnel Terrace
If you are looking for a nice aerial viewpoint of Oban and the harbor, head up Jacob’s Ladder to Ardconnel Terrace. The terrace is just a short 5-minute walk from the promenade.
For an interesting 2-minute detour, head north towards the shop of a local artist, Alice Strange. You don’t even have to go inside to enjoy some of her work.
McCraig’s Tower
With more energy and time on your hands, you can continue past the Ardconnel Terrace up the McCraig’s Tower.
Oban Harbour
One great thing about Oban is you don’t actually need to climb any hills to enjoy a great viewpoint. Some of our favorite views of the town were from the waterfront area, particularly near the ferry terminal at the south end of the promenade.
Pulpit Hill
For a similar perspective of the city as that offered by the harbour but from higher up, head to Pulpit Hill, a 20-minute walk from the center of the promenade. Sadly it was drizzling at the time so the pictures didn’t come out great.
Best Day Trips from Oban
Apart from being a beautiful coastal destination in itself, Oban is ideally located to serve as a base from which you can take off on multiple different and exciting day trips.
Hiking on the Isle of Kerrera
Although its Hebrides Isle neighbours of Mull, Iona, Jura and Islay are more famous and well-known, Kerrera should definitely not be overlooked when visiting Oban. It’s a land of lush and green rolling hills with a beautiful walking trail from which to admire it, and there’s also a stunning hilltop castle ruin to visit and a delightful tea garden from which you can relax and enjoy the beautiful island scenery. Located less than a mile from the shores of Oban, a walk on the Isle of Kerrera is truly a wonderful way to spend a day in the Oban area.
You can make the walk as short or long as you would like. You can do short out-and-back walks in various directions, only visit the tea garden and/or the castle ruins (40-45 min each way), or complete one of several loop trail options around the island (3 hours or more).
For more information on visiting Kerrara, check out our Isle of Kerrera guide.
Day Trips to the Isles of Mull, Iona and Staffa
One of the main reasons people come to Oban is to use it as a launching pad to visit some of the nearby Hebrides Isles. Mull is famous for its marine and coastal wildlife in addition to its colorful seaside town of Tobermory. Staffa is a tiny island with no human population or infrastructure and is famous for its basalt rock formation, Fingal’s Cave and puffin viewing during the summer. Iona is a small island well known as the birthplace of Christianity in Scotland and its stunning Iona Abbey.
Although you can visit Mull with your own vehicle (no vehicles allowed on either Iona or Staffa) via the Calmac ferry that runs from Oban to Craignure (Mull), the car spots on the ferry tend to sell out very quickly making it difficult to organize unless you plan for this day trip far ahead. The alternative is to book a group tour with either Westcoast Tours or Staffa Tours, which offer various wildlife and Isle combination tours.
If you don’t plan on spending the night in Mull, you’ll probably have to choose between going north to Tobermory and going west to the Isle. Mull is deceptively large and the roads are slow-going. The Isle of Staffa, however, can generally be visited from either the western route or the northern route with Westcoast Tours.
A Day Trip to Glen Coe
The stunning Glen Coe Valley is a short one-hour drive from Oban and makes an excellent day trip option. The mountain scenery is simply beautiful and the area as a whole is a paradise for outdoor enthusiasts with the plethora of fantastic hiking and walking trails.
But even if you are not an avid hiker, the drive through Glen Coe is simply stunning. We built a one-day road trip itinerary guide that highlights several attractions, including castles, churches, and scenic viewpoints, that you will cross on your way to Glen Coe’s from Oban.
For more information on visiting Glen Coe, check out our Guide on the Top Things to See and Do in Glen Coe.
A Day Trip to Loch Awe, St Conan’s Kirk and Kilkurn Castle
Two of the best attractions you can see on your way to Glen Coe are very close to Oban, so you can easily visit them without having to go as far as Glen Coe.
Just over thirty kilometres east of Oban lies the stunningly beautiful Loch Awe. Along its shores, you will come across two beautiful attractions: St Conan’s Kirk and Kilkurn Castle. The Kirk is unique in having an example of almost every style of church architecture. Highlights include the Norman doorway, ten Gothic flying buttresses, a Celtic cross, the Arts and Crafts carvings, the Saxon tower and even a Stone circle.
The Kilkurn Castle is a shell of its former self, lying partially in ruin at the northeastern end of Loch Awe. It was first built in the mid-1400s and still contains the oldest surviving barracks on the British mainland. Both attractions can be reached from Oban within a 40-minute drive.
To learn more about this castle and Kirk, you can check out our Guide on an Oban-Glen Coe Roadtrip Itinerary.
A Day Trip to Castle Stalker & Castle Dunstaffnage
If you head north from Oban instead of east as above for Kilchurn Castle and St Conan’s Kirk, a short drive along the shores of Loch Linnhe will bring you to Castles’ Stalker and Dunstaffnage. Although you’ll see the furthest of the two, Castle Stalker, from the road, the best place to enjoy better views of it is from the Castle Stalker View Cafe & Giftshop. You should note that the parking is reserved for customers, so you might want to consider purchasing a coffee or snack if you would like to stop here to view the castle.
There is also a short trail you can take to get even better views of the Castle and Loch Linnhe. Castle Stalker today remains in private ownership and is open to the public at selected times during the summer (May through August – usually open 10-12 days per month and prior booking is required (£25 for adults (2023)) on the castle’s official website).
Dunstaffnage Castle is a partially ruined Castle located just 5 km north of Oban. The castle dates back to the 13th century, making it one of Scotland’s oldest stone castles. It was built by the MacDougall lords of Lorn and since the 15th century has been held by the Clan Campbell. The castle can be visited daily during summer, and five days per week during winter. Tickets can be purchased in advance on the Historic Environment Scotland website.
A Day Trip to Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park
Nestled within Trossachs National Park lies Britain’s largest lake, Lock Lomond. If you don’t have time for a full-day trip to the area, it also makes a great stop while travelling between Oban and Glasgow.
Food & Restaurants in Oban
If you are a fan of seafood, you’ll be more than delighted by the wonderful restaurant options in Oban.
Ee-usk: this was our favorite restaurant in Oban (and one of our favorites in Scotland in fact). Here you will enjoy deliciously prepared seafood freshly brought in from the harbour, in a beautiful setting with huge floor-to-ceiling windows (spanning two floors) that provide guests with a clear view over the bay from the North Pier.
Waterfront Fishhouse: On the second floor of the building next to the ferry terminal, you’ll find another great seafood restaurant that has fantastic views over the bay. The decor is classy but unassuming, so all of the focus is on the stunning views and fantastic food.
Cuan Mor: Located along Oban’s main drag, this popular restaurant combines traditional Scottish cuisine with a modern flair. The restaurant has a casual vibe and even has its own craft brewery.
Oban Seafood Hut: This simple-looking green shack located by the ferry terminal might not seem like much at first but serves delicious fresh seafood at a price that is hard to beat. Open from 10:00 am till 6:00 pm every day (but closed during the winter months).
Preparing a trip to the Highlands?
You might be interested in these pages:
Best Things to See in the Scottish Highlands
Best Scenic Drives and Routes Through the Scottish Highlands
Best Hikes to do in the Scottish Highlands
Preparing a trip to Scotland?
You might be interested in these Scotland pages:
10-Day Scotland Roadtrip Itinerary (Edinburgh and Highlands)
Scotland Driving Guide and Tips
7 of the Best Castles to Visit in Scotland
Best Things to See in the Scottish Highlands
Best Hikes to do in the Scottish Highlands
We also highly recommend these guidebooks:
Rick Steves Scotland
Lonely Planet Scotland’s Highlands
Photography Gear
If you like our photography, you might be interested in some of the gear we use to shoot our travel and hiking destinations.
Camera Body – Nikon Z 6ii Fx-series Mirrorless Body
Main Lens – NIKON 24-120mm F/4G ED VR AF-S
Zoom Lens – Sigma 745-306 150-600mm f/5-6.3
Polarizing filters – Urth Circular Polarizing (CPL)
Camera Tripod – K&F Concept 64-inch Camera Tripod
Mini-tripod – Lammcou Flexible Camera Tripod
Camera/hiking backpack – Vanguard Alta Rise 48 Backpack
Universal Travel Adapter – VYLEE Universal International Power Travel Plug
Other Travel Essentials
Travel Insurance
SafetyWing is a travel insurance company that offers comprehensive coverage for travellers. Includes Medical Insurance and Travel Insurance. Primarily geared towards long-term travellers, digital nomads, and expats.
e-Sim cards
Airalo is the world’s first and largest eSIM store with eSIM plans for 200+ countries and regions worldwide. With Airalo eSIMs, travellers can get connected the moment they land at their destination and avoid nasty data roaming charges
eSIMS are a sustainable alternative to single-use SIM cards – they are 100% digital, require less energy to produce and be re-used rather than disposed of.
Car Rentals
Discover Cars is our go-to website for car rentals. We almost always find our preferred rate there.
Transfer from Airport
Welcome Pickups is our favourite private transfer service, which you can pre-book at a fixed price. Currently available in 220 cities all over the world (mostly in Europe, but with several major cities in Asia, the Middle East and the US).
Kiwitaxi is another private transfer service – we haven’t tried it yet, but it’s currently available in a few more countries (102 as of 2024).
Hotels and Accommodations (coming soon)
Photography Prints
If you found this blog useful, you can help support our blog by purchasing low-cost digital prints. Printed physical prints are also available for purchase.
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Well, that wraps it up! We hope you enjoyed our Travel Guide on the Top Things to See and Do in Oban and that it will prove useful for planning your trip to the beautiful Scottish Highlands.
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