Why go
- Town in Argyll and Bute, Scotland.
- Known for Oban Scotch distillery, Oban distillery.
- Served by Tiree Airport (TRE).
History
Oban is a resort town and seaport in the west of Scotland, within the Argyll and Bute council area. Although small, it is the largest town between Helensburgh and Fort William. Oban has a population of 8,000 (2022), which rises to over 24,000 during the tourist season. Oban is on the Firth of Lorn. The bay forms a near-perfect horseshoe, protected by the island of Kerrera and, beyond Kerrera, the Isle of Mull. To the north are the long, low island of Lismore and the mountains of Morvern and Ardgour.
Where to stay
Glencruitten Rd, Oban PA34 4QB, United Kingdom · glencruittenhouse.com
Gallanach Rd, Oban PA34 4PD, United Kingdom · dungallancountryhouse.co.uk
Albert Rd, Oban PA34 5EJ, United Kingdom · heatherfieldhouse.co.uk
The Manor House, Gallanach Rd, Oban PA34 4LS, United Kingdom · obanmanorhouse.com
Corran Esplanade, Oban PA34 5AQ, United Kingdom · alltavona.co.uk
Corran Esplanade, Oban PA34 5AQ, United Kingdom · witchwoodhouseoban.com
Corran Esplanade, Oban PA34 5AQ, United Kingdom · kilchrenanhouse.co.uk
Mill Farm, Barcaldine, Oban PA37 1SE, United Kingdom · ardtorna.co.uk
3 Tweedale St, Oban PA34 5DD, United Kingdom · thewhiskyvaultshotel.co.uk
Oban PA34 5PJ, United Kingdom · danavilla.co.uk
138 George St, Oban PA34 5NX, United Kingdom · thescotoban.com
1 Victoria Cres, Corran Esplanade, Oban PA34 5PN, United Kingdom · corranhouseoban.co.uk
Station Square, Station Rd, Oban PA34 5RT, United Kingdom · perlehotels.com
Shore St, Oban PA34 4NT, United Kingdom · premierinn.com
Dunollie Rd, Oban PA34 5EF, United Kingdom · kingsknolloban.com
Breadalbane St, Oban PA34 5NZ, United Kingdom · obanhotels.net
Shore St, Oban PA34 4LQ, United Kingdom · kelvinhoteloban.co.uk
Corran Esplanade, Oban PA34 5AE, United Kingdom · crerarhotels.com
Argyll Square, Oban PA34 4BE, United Kingdom · strathmorehotels-theroyaloban.com
Corran Esplanade, Oban PA34 5AA, United Kingdom · muthuhotelsmgm.com
20 George St, Oban PA34 5SB, United Kingdom · palacehoteloban.com
Ardmor, Ardconnel Terrace, Oban PA34 5DJ, United Kingdom · ardmor-seaview.com.es
Corran Esplanade, Oban PA34 5PZ, United Kingdom · muthuhotelsmgm.com
Corran Esplanade, Oban PA34 5PP, United Kingdom · bespokehotels.com
North Pier, Oban PA34 5QD, United Kingdom · sgehotelgroup.com
Dunuaran Rd, Oban PA34 4NE, United Kingdom
Dalriach Rd, Oban PA34 5JE, United Kingdom · hawthornbank.co.uk
5, Strathaven Terrace, Breadalbane St, Oban PA34 5PE, United Kingdom · rosevillaoban.co.uk
Albany St, Oban PA34 4NG, United Kingdom · killornguesthouse.com
Benvoullin Road, Oban PA34 5EF, United Kingdom · greencourt-oban.co.uk
41 Stevenson St, Oban PA34 5NA, United Kingdom · theranaldhotel.com
Indoor
Restaurants & places to go
Coffee Shop, Cafe · Opening hours: Th-Mo 11:00-16:00 Features: outdoor seating · Kerrera, Oban, PA34 4SX · kerrerabunkhouse.co.uk
Fish, Seafood, Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-Sa 12:00-14:00,17:30-21:00; Su 17:30-21:00 · 104 George Street, Oban, PA34 5NT · coastoban.co.uk
Cake, Pancake, Coffee Shop, Ice Cream, Cafe · Opening hours: Mo-Su 10:00-17:00 Features: vegan options, step-free access · 34 Corran Esplanade, PA34 5PS · obanchocolate.co.uk
Sandwich, Fast Food · Features: takeaway · 4 Aird's Place, Oban, PA34 5SJ · restaurants.subway.com
Indian, Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-Su 12:00-14:00, 17:30-23:30 · 146 George Street, PA34 5NX
Fast Food, Coffee, Tea, Breakfast, Sandwich, Cafe · Opening hours: Mo-Su 08:00-17:00 Features: step-free access · Lochavullin Drive, PA34 4BW
Chinese, Asian, Thai, Curry, Indian, Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-Sa 09:00-17:30; Su 10:00-17:00 · 28 George Street, Oban, PA34 5SB
Cafe · Opening hours: Mo-Su 09:00-16:00 · 62 George Street, Oban, PA34 5SD · hinba.co.uk
Burger, Fast Food · Features: takeaway
Fish And Chips, Restaurant · Features: takeaway, vegetarian options · 88 George Street, Oban, PA34 5NN
Italian, Restaurant · Features: step-free access
Kebab, Fast Food · Kebab fast food · 99 George Street, Oban, PA34 5NR
Ice Cream, Fast Food · Ice Cream fast food
Restaurant · restaurant · 43 Stevenson Street, Oban, PA34 5NA · etiverestaurant.co.uk
Fast Food · Features: step-free access · Railway Pier, Oban, PA34 4LW
Coffee Shop, Cafe · Opening hours: Mo-Sa 06:30-18:00; Su 08:00-18:00 Features: takeaway · Station Road, PA34 4NU
Fish, Restaurant · Fish restaurant · 82 George Street, Oban, PA34 5NN
Sandwich, Cafe · Sandwich cafe
Indian, Restaurant · Indian restaurant
Seafood, Restaurant · Seafood restaurant · 1 Railway Pier, Oban, PA34 4LW · waterfrontoban.co.uk
Chinese, Fast Food · Chinese fast food · 130 George Street, Oban, PA34 5NT
Cafe · Opening hours: Mo-Sa 10:00-16:00 Features: outdoor seating · Gibraltar Street, Oban, PA34 4AY
Fish And Chips, Fast Food · Features: step-free access
Kebab, Fast Food · Kebab fast food · 91 George Street, PA34 5NN
Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-Su 12:00-21:00 Features: takeaway · 116 George Street, Oban, PA34 5NT
Coffee Shop, Cafe · Opening hours: Mo-Sa 08:00-16:00; Su 12:00-16:00 Features: outdoor seating
Seafood, Fast Food · Features: outdoor seating, takeaway, step-free access · 1 Railway Pier · obanseafoodhut.co.uk
Chinese, Restaurant · Chinese restaurant · 39 Stafford Street, PA34 5NH
Cafe · Opening hours: Mo-Su 08:00-16:00 Features: outdoor seating · 7 Stafford Street, Oban, PA34 5NJ
Fish And Chips, Seafood, Restaurant · Fish And Chips/Seafood restaurant · 13-15 George Street, Oban, PA34 5RT
Restaurant · Features: outdoor seating
Coffee Shop, Sandwich, Restaurant · Opening hours: 08:30-16:00
Cafe · Opening hours: Tu-Sa 09:00-16:30 · 7 Argyll Square, PA34 4AZ
Restaurant · Features: outdoor seating · 60 George Street, Oban, PA34 5SD
Cafe · cafe · 9 Argyll Street, Oban, PA34 5SD
Restaurant · restaurant
Cafe · Features: outdoor seating
Restaurant · restaurant
Cafe · Features: outdoor seating
Restaurant · restaurant
Cafe · cafe
Cafe · cafe · 9 Stafford Street, PA34 5NJ
Cafe · cafe
Cafe · cafe
2 more places in the Ultimate edition. See the Ultimate edition →
Airports
Tiree Airport (TRE) 54 mi to the centre
Balemartine, Argyll and Bute, SCT, GB — Indoor waiting areas, but some gates board by bus or on foot across the apron — plan for the weather on the day. ✈ 1 airline (Flybe) · direct flights to 1 destination incl. Glasgow (OpenFlights route data).
✈ Airlines & flight paths — 1 airline, 1 direct destination
- Flybe BE (Saab 340, DHT) · 1 route: Glasgow*
Routes and aircraft from OpenFlights (open data; a point-in-time snapshot). * = codeshare. Linked destinations open their own guidebook. Flight numbers are not in the open data — they come from the airline or a paid schedule feed.
Oban Airport (OBN) 4.5 mi to the centre
North Connel, SCT, GB — Indoor waiting area, but you walk out to the aircraft to board — bring an umbrella or a coat if the forecast is poor.
Coll Airport (COL) 46 mi to the centre
Coll Island, SCT, GB — Indoor waiting area, but you walk out to the aircraft to board — bring an umbrella or a coat if the forecast is poor.
Glensanda Airstrip 11 mi to the centre
SCT, GB
Glenforsa Airfield 18 mi to the centre
Glenforsa, Argyll and Bute, SCT, GB
Getting there by ferry
Oban Ferry Terminal
Ferry terminal · 0.2 mi from the centre · Caledonian MacBrayne
Port Kerrera
Ferry terminal · 1.8 mi from the centre
Lismore Ferry Terminal
Ferry terminal · 6.9 mi from the centre · Caledonian MacBrayne
Craignure Ferry
Ferry terminal · 9.8 mi from the centre
Craignure Ferry Terminal
Ferry terminal · 9.8 mi from the centre · Caledonian MacBrayne
Isle of Kerrera Ferry
Ferry route · Caledonian MacBrayne
Oban - Lismore
Ferry route · Caledonian MacBrayne
Oban - Craignure
Ferry route · Caledonian MacBrayne
Oban - Colonsay
Ferry route · Caledonian MacBrayne
Oban - Coll - Tiree
Ferry route · Caledonian MacBrayne
Oban - Castlebay
Ferry route · Caledonian MacBrayne
Oban - Lochboisdale
Ferry route · Caledonian MacBrayne
Where things are
Local search powered by Geoverts and geo-intelligence by Better Mapping
base map © OSM
Photographs
credit: Wikipedia / Wikimedia Commons · See source page
When to go
Tourist season
May – September
The warmer, longer-day half of the year is the safest bet for a first visit.
Shoulder season
April, October
Cooler and quieter, with fewer visitors and better value.
Worth avoiding
Deep winter
Short days and the coldest weather — check local conditions before travelling.
Getting there & around
Getting there. The nearest airport on record is Tiree Airport (TRE); 5 other airports serve the wider area. Check rail and road links from the tourism sources below. By air: TRE has direct flights to 1 destination on 1 airline (incl. Glasgow). By water: 5 ferry terminals within 12 mi (nearest: Oban Ferry Terminal, 0.2 mi); routes include Isle of Kerrera Ferry, Oban - Lismore, Oban - Craignure.
Getting around. Use the map above to orient yourself; nearby hotels, attractions and places to eat are listed from the live Ultimate data for Oban, Scotland. Local transit details will be added as the guide is expanded.
Trains & rail
National rail
Coaches & shuttles
Intercity coach
Intercity coach
Tours & experiences
Sightseeing