Oban often lands on Scotland itineraries due to its important role as a ferry port for many of the boats to the Isles to the north and west of Scotland. That’s how we ended up there, en route from touring distilleries in Speyside to our ferry which embarked south of Oban to Islay.
Oban, as seen from McCaig’s Tower
In our short 24 hours in Oban, we fell in love with the fishing village and would highly recommend it as an addition to any Scottish road trip.
WHAT TO DO
The city is perhaps best known as the home of the Oban Distillery. The distillery opened in 1794 and is now owned by Diageo. It’s one of the few distilleries in the center of a town, which means its operation is built vertically instead of spread across a plot of land, and most warehousing is done elsewhere where Diageo has more space (and storing whisky presents less of a fire risk).
Oban Distillery, Scotland
The tour is great because of the distillery’s unique structure and relatively small scale for such a well-regarded international brand. The bartender at The Perle (see below under “where to stay”) has 2-for-1 tour admission passes, but even without these, the tour is affordable at only £7 per person.
The tour at Oban Distillery
The distillery also has a gorgeous tasting bar with comfy couches and bottles of all the Oban releases, plus the Flor and Fauna series (hard to find in the US) and the Game of Thrones editions from all the Diageo distilleries. Grab a spot on the sofa near the fireplace and settle in for a dram flight and a little down time after the tour!
The tasting bar at Oban Distillery
If you’re looking for a great workout, walk the winding road up the hill from town to McCaig’s Tower. Built in 1897 as a means of keeping local stonemasons employed, McCaig’s looks more like an ancient Roman ruin. It has amazing city and harbor views from the top! If you don’t want to hike, you can drive the winding, one-lane roads and find a free parking lot at the top – just follow the signs.
Looking out over Oban Harbor from McCaig’s Tower
If you have more time on your trip, you might also consider a day trip to the nearby Isle of Iona, Mull, or Staffa, or a harbor wildlife boat tour to spot whales, seals, and dolphins.
Other attractions include Dunollie Castle (2 miles), Dunstaffnage Castle (3 miles outside town), and the Oban War Memorial
View of Oban Harbor, from McCaig’s Tower
WHERE TO EAT
Oban is a fishing village, so you can’t go wrong with seafood! It’s all brought in fresh that morning on the boats (more than once, we ordered something and were told to choose something else because they didn’t catch any of that fish that morning!). Local favorites include Eeusk and Coast. If you’re looking for something a bit nicer, consider Etive, a Michelin-rated restaurant and recipient of the Highland and Island Tourism Rising Star Award in 2018.
For lunch, The Oban Fish and Chip Shop is a must. The fish is incredibly fresh and so crisp!
The Oban Seafood Hut is right on the ferry docks and a favorite of locals and ferry passengers. Unfortunately it was closed for the winter while we were there so we didn’t get to check it out.
WHERE TO STAY
The crown jewel of Oban, The Perle, is actually incredibly affordable for the caliber of accommodations it offers – and was cheaper than even mediocre hotels in Inverness or Edinburgh.
Save on The Perle Oban by booking through Booking.com
The hotel is plush and recently updated with gorgeous historic features like the dramatic staircase in the entry and marble in the bathroom. It’s located right on the harbor and a close walk to Oban’s best restaurants and all of the sights.
The bed was incredibly comfy (seriously could have stayed there all day) and the bathroom was well-stocked with La Occitane products (how lush!).
The Perle also has a great bar, Brew & Co, and restaurant, BAAB, the latter which had amazing reviews but unfortunately, was closed during our stay. The bar has a great dram list – but where in Scotland doesn’t?
If you choose not to stay at The Perle, I would definitely recommend something on the harbor. Street parking has gotten difficult as the ferry traffic has increased, and it’s so nice to be in walking distance of everything! Other great options are The Ranald Hotel and Columba Hotel.
GETTING THERE
Oban is two hours drive from Glasgow and three hours from Edinburgh or Inverness. If you don’t have a rental car, you can travel via train on ScotRail to Oban Station, with direct connections through Glasgow.
Planning a trip to Scotland? Check out our Speyside distillery recommendations and what to pack.
Our full Scotland travel series can be found here.
How cool!! Scotland is on my bucket list. That fish looks absolutely incredible!
It was the BEST trip! Oban really surprised us – such a gem!