Seek out the larger celebrations
First-timers should head to Cowal, Aberdeen or our choice, Braemar, which is attended by the Royal Family.
Eat like a Scotsman
Food stands at the games offer hearty fare including potatoes, fried fish and haggis (stuffed sheep stomach, which you can occasionally find deep-fried), plus copious amounts of wine and beer to wash it all down.
Don’t just spectate, participate
Enter the 5k fun run, or bring the whole family for Ceilidh, a dance that happens in the evening after the games.
Lodging
There are lots and lots of places to stay in Royal Deeside all year round. As you might expect though, they get booked up during the Highland Games, so hit up the Aberdeen Tourist Board or Airbnb to find somewhere as early as possible.
Getting There
Although several Highland Games can be found around the world, we recommend experiencing them in their natural habitat in Scotland. For the Braemar Gathering, fly into Aberdeen International Airport (ABZ), which is only about 58 miles (93 km) away.