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Greyfriars Sisters of Mercy Convent in Elgin
Attractions in Elgin

Elgin to see, Greyfriars Sisters of Mercy Convent first

This is a list led by castles or historic places, 7 of its 9. The locality itself has 5 places on our list; 4 others are within 5 km of its edge. 2 of them are cared for by Historic Environment Scotland. A short walk covers 5, all within 1 km. Further afield lies Pluscarden Abbey, at 9.2 km.

Photo: Greyfriars Sisters of Mercy Convent in Elgin, Kenneth Allen (CC BY-SA 2.0)
In Elgin
5
inside the locality
Within 5 km
4
of the town’s edge
Museums & galleries
2
in or near town
Castles & historic places
7
in or near town
Cared for
2
National Trust for Scotland, Historic Environment Scotland and others
Best known

Must-know places in Elgin

Once you have seen Greyfriars Sisters of Mercy Convent in Elgin, try 2 castles, 2 museums and a cathedral.

Abbey or prioryGreyfriars Sisters of Mercy Convent in Elginin townCastleElgin Castlein townMuseumElgin Museumin townCathedralCathedral · Historic Environment ScotlandElgin Cathedralin townMuseumMuseumElgin Motor Museumin townCastle · Historic Environment ScotlandSpynie Palace1.6 km outside town, to the north

Each has a page of its own: what it is, who runs it, the weather month by month and what else is near it.

The map

Finding your way

To the north is where most of the 4 nearby are.

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The dashed line is Elgin’s locality; orange marks its middle (where most people live). Numbers match the list below. © OpenStreetMap contributors · NRS locality 2022

By kind

Which kinds

Castles or historic places lead the count with 7; 2 are museums or galleries.

Museums & galleries 2 museums2 in town
Castles & historic places 3 castles · 2 cathedrals · 1 abbey or priory · 1 fort3 in town · 4 nearby

Green: inside Elgin. Grey: within 5 km of its edge.

2 places are cared for by Historic Environment Scotland (Elgin Cathedral and Spynie Palace).

Every place

Full list of places

The town has 5; within 5 km of its edge, the list finds 4 more.

The 5 inside Elgin come first, best known first; then the places within 5 km, close and well known first. Churches and listed buildings are on the History page, not here.

243 listed buildings and 4 scheduled monuments are on Elgin’s History page → · Parks, footpaths and green space in Elgin →

Big names nearby

Worth the drive

Day trips number 12; the best known is Pluscarden Abbey, 9.2 km off.

Abbey or prioryAbbey or prioryPluscarden Abbey9.2 km southwestCastle · National Trust for ScotlandBrodie Castle24 km westCastleCastleBallindalloch Castle26 km southCastle · Historic Environment ScotlandHuntly Castle38 km southeastCastleCastleBalvenie Castle24 km southeastAbbey or prioryKinloss Abbey15 km westCastleCastleGordon Castle14 km eastCastleCastleCawdor Castle39 km westCastleCastleFindlater Castle33 km eastAttractionAttractionScotland's Malt Whisky Trail21 km southCastleDarnaway Castle24 km westCastleCastleAuchindoun Castle28 km southeast

Places well known beyond Elgin (Wikipedia articles in several languages, published visitor counts, or a National Trust for Scotland or Historic Environment Scotland property), close and famous first. Distances are straight lines from the middle of the town.

Visiting Elgin: the answers

What are the main attractions in Elgin?

The best known inside Elgin’s locality are Greyfriars Sisters of Mercy Convent in Elgin, Elgin Castle, Elgin Museum and Elgin Cathedral. In all, 5 places to visit are mapped inside the town, and 4 more within 5 km.

Does Elgin have a museum?

2 museums and galleries are in or within 5 km of Elgin: Elgin Museum and Elgin Motor Museum.

Is there a National Trust for Scotland or Historic Environment Scotland property near Elgin?

Yes. In or within 5 km of Elgin, 2 places are cared for by Historic Environment Scotland (Elgin Cathedral and Spynie Palace).

What are the best-known days out near Elgin?

Within 40 km: Pluscarden Abbey (9.2 km), Brodie Castle (24 km), Ballindalloch Castle (26 km), Huntly Castle (38 km).

Where are Elgin’s historic buildings listed?

Elgin has 243 listed buildings, 13 of them Category A. They are on its History page, from Historic Environment Scotland’s list, not repeated here.

How is this list made?

From OpenStreetMap (museums, galleries, zoos, theme parks and attractions, castles, forts and abbeys, and historic houses and gardens that are open to visitors) and Wikidata (what each place is, who runs it, its website and visitor counts). A place counts for Elgin when it is inside the NRS 2022 locality boundary, and as nearby within 5 km of its edge. Opening times and prices are not shown: check the official site.

Places: OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors, Open Database Licence) and Wikidata (CC0), placed in the NRS 2022 locality (Open Government Licence v3.0). Visitor counts are the latest Wikidata gives, with their year.

Photos: each place’s Wikidata image, from Wikimedia Commons under the licence below (our copy, resized).

Photo credits (10)

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Contains HM Land Registry data © Crown copyright and database right 2026. Contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right 2026 (ONS boundaries). Northern Ireland: Source: NISRA; contains Land & Property Services data and Ordnance Survey of Northern Ireland information, © Crown copyright, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Scotland: contains National Records of Scotland data, Registers of Scotland data and SEPA data, © Crown copyright / © SEPA 2025, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.