How many days do you need in or around Whitby?
A quick visit for a day trip usually involves a visit to the historic Abbey ruins and sampling some fish and chips whatever the time of year! A walk along the beach and harbour area and shops are popular if the weather is fine.
For a more leisurely visit a 2 or 3 day stay like a weekend you can explore more of the town and surroundings including the local streets and shops. This could include the Captain Cook Memorial Museum and also some of the area’s beautiful scenery.
Also, an option would be the Whitby sightseeing hop-on/off bus.
For a longer visit, such as a week or so, you can really immerse yourself in the local culture and history. You can take day trips to nearby attractions such as the North York Moors National Park, the seaside towns of Scarborough and Filey, and the historic city of York.
How do you get around Whitby and surrounding areas?
Whitby is a relatively small town, so walking around is quite easy even though the town is relatively hilly with steps connecting different parts of the town. Walking is a great way to explore Whitby’s historic streets, alleys, and landmarks.
Whitby Sightseeing bus, the Whitby Town Tour, offers visitors a guided tour of the town’s most popular landmarks and attractions with audio commentaries available to learn about the town’s history and culture. The tour takes about an hour and operates from April to late September. Tickets available on the day or online and multiple languages are catered for.
This is a hop-on-hop-off service taking around 1 hour and a great way to see the town’s highlights without having to walk long distances. Also takes visitors to the Abbey ruins.
Buses around Whitby include the reasonably priced Arriva bus services and the Coastliner Bus. Day/week tickets are available or single/return tickets depending on choice.
Visitors without a car to explore the beautiful surrounding areas are possible and alternate options are available.
A regular bus service connects Whitby with nearby villages, towns, and cities. The main bus station is located in the town centre, and you can purchase tickets at the station or online.
Whitby has a train station located in the town centre for national rail services, with regular services to nearby towns and cities. Â
- North Yorkshire Moors Railway (NYMR)
The Heritage NYMR runs through the North York Moors national park with a station at Whitby. This is a great excursion from Whitby or an alternate way to arrive in Whitby catching the service at the station at Pickering.
Refer to the NTMR website for up-to-date information for timetables and standard or first-class ticket travel for single or return journeys.
