Major city · United Kingdom
MontroseMonadh Rois
Give Montrose one full day plus a night: basin wildlife centre, beach and museum in a day, then move on to Dundee or Aberdeen.
Montrose is a small Angus port of about 11,200 people midway between Dundee and Aberdeen, with a tidal basin reserve, a long sandy beach and a rare World War I airfield museum. Sights are spread out and the town is quiet after dark, so most travellers use it as a single overnight stop on the Dundee–Aberdeen rail line rather than a multi-night base.
More ways in
Local time, weather, currency, airports
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- GBP
- Best months
- May–Sep
- avoid Nov–Feb (short days, many sights closed or weekend-only)
- Airports
- ABZ · EDI · DND
- Nights
- 1–2
Rules in force · 8Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window…
- Europe ↗Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window, counted across all 29 Schengen states together — not per country; the Entry/Exit System now logs each crossing, so an overstay is detected automatically.
- Europe ↗On the first Schengen entry since EES began, non-EU travellers give four fingerprints and a face photo at the border instead of a passport stamp; there is nothing to apply for or pay in advance.
- Britain and Ireland ↗Neither the UK nor Ireland is part of Schengen: days spent here do not count towards the 90/180-day Schengen limit, and a Schengen visa does not admit you to either country.
- Britain and Ireland ↗The island of Ireland runs on two currencies: euro in the Republic, pound sterling in Northern Ireland and Great Britain. Carry a card that pays in both without fees.
- Britain and Ireland ↗Both islands drive on the left. Speed limits are in miles per hour in the UK (including Northern Ireland) and in kilometres per hour in the Republic of Ireland.
- United Kingdom ↗Most visitors who do not need a UK visa now need an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) before travelling; this includes EU nationals. Irish citizens are exempt. Check the UK government site for your passport.
- United Kingdom ↗The UK is outside the EU and the Schengen area; a Schengen visa is not valid for the UK.
- United Kingdom ↗Driving is on the left; London has congestion and emissions charges for most vehicles, so do not drive in the city.
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾
In this guide
Not in this guide yet
- Walking areas with bag rules
- Day plans checked against opening hours
- Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
- Field-checked times and prices
Official sites
Emergency numbers for Montrose999 ▾
Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.
EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about Montrose, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?Currency is the pound sterling (GBP, £).United Kingdom-wide
- SIM or eSIMEE, Vodafone (merged with Three in 2025) and O2 run the networks; prepaid SIMs sell in supermarkets, phone shops and airport vending machines…United Kingdom-wide
- Tap waterTap water is safe everywhere.United Kingdom-wide
- TippingcheckRestaurant with table service: 10–12.5% if no service charge is on the bill; check before adding more.United Kingdom-wide
- Plugs & powerSockets G. US/Canada (A/B): adapter · UK/Ireland (G): fits · Australia/NZ (I): adapter. 230 V: US 120 V-only devices (hair dryers) need a converter; most chargers are dual-voltage.United Kingdom-wide
- SafetyA quiet, low-crime town; the real risks are coastal weather, unlit paths to the basin and beach after dark, and thin late-evening transport.
Show all 12 answers
- RestroomsPublic toilets are scarce and some charge 50p–£1 (≈ US$2) or are card-only.United Kingdom-wide
- Emergency numbers999 police, fire, ambulance · 101 police non-urgent · 111 NHS non-urgent
- Sundays & holidaysShops in England and Wales open six hours on Sundays (usually 10:00 or 11:00–16:00 or 17:00).Shops in England and Wales open six hours on Sundays (usually 10:00 AM or 11:00 AM–4:00 PM or 5:00 PM).United Kingdom-wide
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportABZ Aberdeen (About 1 h by road south; good UK and European choice.).
- Getting aroundThe centre is walkable in 15 min end to end.
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- Coffee£3–4.50 (≈ US$4–6)
- Sit-down mealPub main course£12–18 (≈ US$16–25)
- BeerPint of beer£4.50–6 (≈ US$6–8)
- Taxi, about 5 km (3 mi)Taxi, about 3 mi (5 km)Taxi across towncheck£6–10 (≈ US$8–14)
- Museum or sight ticketMuseum entry (air station / basin centre)£6.50–8.80 (≈ US$9–12)
- Budget bedFamily room (up to 4), a night, per room£120 (≈ US$160)
- Mid-range bedHotel double room, a night, per room£115 (≈ US$160)
- High-end bedHotel double room, a night, per room£180 (≈ US$250)
A day, not counting the bed: Budget £45 (≈ US$60) · Mid £80 (≈ US$110) · High £150 (≈ US$200)
Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →
DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works
Decide
What it is known for, and when the weather works
At a glance
What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.
- Airports
- ABZ Aberdeen (About 1 h by road south; good UK and European choice.) · EDI Edinburgh (More flights; about 2 h by road north, or rail via Dundee.) · DND Dundee (Closest airport but few flights; about 40 min by road.)
Best months at a glance
From the guide's best and avoid lists
Jan
Avoid
6°C (43°F)43°F (6°C)
Feb
Avoid
7°C (45°F)45°F (7°C)
Mar
not flagged
9°C (48°F)48°F (9°C)
Apr
not flagged
11°C (52°F)52°F (11°C)
May
Best
14°C (57°F)57°F (14°C)
Jun
Best
17°C (63°F)63°F (17°C)
Jul
Best
19°C (66°F)66°F (19°C)
Aug
Best
19°C (66°F)66°F (19°C)
Sep
Best
16°C (61°F)61°F (16°C)
Oct
not flagged
13°C (55°F)55°F (13°C)
Nov
Avoid
9°C (48°F)48°F (9°C)
Dec
Avoid
7°C (45°F)45°F (7°C)
Best: May–Sep. Avoid: Nov–Feb. Month by month →
Warmest Jul (19°C (66°F)66°F (19°C)), coolest Jan (1°C (34°F)34°F (1°C) low), wettest Jan (13 rain days), driest Apr (9). Averages, not a forecast.
Weather and climate
Montrose: next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Air quality
Loading…
Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.
Jan
6°C (43°F)43°F (6°C)
1°C (34°F)34°F (1°C)
13 rd
Feb
7°C (45°F)45°F (7°C)
1°C (34°F)34°F (1°C)
10 rd
Mar
9°C (48°F)48°F (9°C)
2°C (36°F)36°F (2°C)
11 rd
Apr
11°C (52°F)52°F (11°C)
4°C (39°F)39°F (4°C)
9 rd
May
14°C (57°F)57°F (14°C)
6°C (43°F)43°F (6°C)
9 rd
Jun
17°C (63°F)63°F (17°C)
9°C (48°F)48°F (9°C)
9 rd
Jul
19°C (66°F)66°F (19°C)
11°C (52°F)52°F (11°C)
10 rd
Aug
19°C (66°F)66°F (19°C)
11°C (52°F)52°F (11°C)
10 rd
Sep
16°C (61°F)61°F (16°C)
9°C (48°F)48°F (9°C)
10 rd
Oct
13°C (55°F)55°F (13°C)
7°C (45°F)45°F (7°C)
12 rd
Nov
9°C (48°F)48°F (9°C)
4°C (39°F)39°F (4°C)
12 rd
Dec
7°C (45°F)45°F (7°C)
2°C (36°F)36°F (2°C)
12 rd
High / low, both scales · rd = rain days
Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting around
The centre is walkable in 15 min end to end. Stagecoach bus 52 loops the town hourly; bus 30 runs to Brechin and bus X7 to Arbroath, Dundee and Aberdeen. Taxis are few: book ahead for early trains.
Nearest full guides
Straight-line distance, not travel time
See & doDay-trips, door to door
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Arbroath
goDoor to door: About 40 min
Stagecoach X7 or train, about 20–25 min
Abbey and harbour; easy half-day.
Dundee
goDoor to door: About 50 min
Train from Montrose, about 35–40 min
Discovery, V&A and the Tay waterfront; a full day.
Brechin
cautionDoor to door: About 45 min
Stagecoach bus 30, about 30 min
Round tower and town museum; buses hourly Mon–Sat, sparse on Sunday.
Forfar
cautionDoor to door: 1.5–2 h
Bus or train via Arbroath, then bus
Pictish stones are the draw; awkward without a car.
Aberdeen
goDoor to door: About 1 h 10 min
Train north, about 50–60 min
Granite city museums and galleries; better as an overnight.
Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
Town centre (George St / High St)
Hotels, pubs and the museum within a 10-min walk; best for a rail stop with bags.
Station and Tesco side
Cheapest hotels and the supermarket; 5 min to the platform, quieter at night.
Traill Drive / links
Holiday park and golf-course hotels; needs a car or a 20-min walk to the centre.
PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- Budget
- £45–70 (≈ US$60–95) excl. bed
- Mid
- £70–120 (≈ US$95–160) excl. bed
- High
- £120 (≈ US$160)+ excl. bed
Trip budget
| Hotel double room1 × 1 night × £115 | £115 |
| Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × £80 | £160 |
| Train Dundee → Montrose, one way2 × £12 · check | £24 |
| Stagecoach X7 day return to Arbroath2 × £7 · check | £14 |
| eSIM, about a week of data2 × £10 | £20 |
| Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | £33 |
| Trip total≈ £183 per person per day, bed included | £366≈ US$500 |
2026 estimate in pounds; travel to Montrose excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.
Prices of common things
| Coffee | £3–4.50 (≈ US$4–6) |
| Pub main course | £12–18 (≈ US$16–25) |
| Fish and chips | £10–15 (≈ US$14–20) |
| Pint of beer | £4.50–6 (≈ US$6–8) |
| Museum entry (air station / basin centre) | £6.50–8.80 (≈ US$9–12) |
| Taxi across towncheck | £6–10 (≈ US$8–14) |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- Many sights are seasonal or weekend-only: check opening days before you travel.
- The basin visitor centre and air station museum are outside the centre: no bus, so walk or drive.
- Beach and dunes are eroding; keep off the soft edges.
- Last trains north and south run in the evening: check the timetable before a late dinner.
Emergency numbers
- Police, fire, ambulance
- 999
- Police non-urgent
- 101
- NHS non-urgent
- 111
Pocket card
Fill in, then print or save as PDF
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MontroseMonadh Rois
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
—
—
—
To this address, pleaseTo this address, please
Emergency
- Police, fire, ambulance999
- Police non-urgent101
- NHS non-urgent111
Embassy
No embassies in Montrose; the US consulate-general is in Edinburgh and most others are in London or Edinburgh (check).
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- Train Dundee → Montrose: about £12 (≈ US$16) one way, 35–40 min (check)
- Bus X7 Montrose → Arbroath: about £7 (≈ US$10) day return, 20–25 min (check)
- Taxi town centre → air station museum: £8–12 (≈ US$11–16) (check)
Say or show
- Thank you — Thank you (standard English)
- Excuse me — Excuse me
- How much is it? — How much is it?
- Can I pay by card? — Can I pay by card?
- Where is the toilet? — Where is the toilet?
English is the everyday language; a few Scots and Gaelic place names appear on signs.
Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources
Deep dive
What this guide covers so far, and its sources
Not a trip line yet
This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Montrose. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: May–Sep · avoid Nov–Feb (short days, many sights closed or weekend-only) · month by month →
- 3 airports and 3 areas to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 5 day-trips, door to door
- 4 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- Airport-to-bed contract for ABZ and EDI: last trains, taxi fallback, overnight rung.
- Four walking clusters with rescue anchors: High St and museum, the basin, the beach and links, the air station.
- Place pages with verified opening days (museum, basin centre, air station, House of Dun) and eat pages with last orders.
- Seasonal and hostile arrival fixtures so gates A–D can go green.