Month guide · Edinburgh · United Kingdom
Edinburgh in April
What April is really like in Edinburgh: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Ham, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
April is a shoulder-season month. Expect average highs of 12°C (54°F), lows of 4°C (39°F), about 9 rainy days and roughly 14.1 hours of daylight. Spring blossom in the Meadows and the Botanic Garden; Easter brings the first busy weekends.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 12°C (54°F) / 4°C (39°F)
- Rainy days
- About 9
- Daylight
- About 14.1 hours
- Sea temperature
- 8°C (46°F)
- Crowds
- Moderate
- Hotel prices
- Average
Weather in April
April is the 7th-warmest month in Edinburgh: days average 12°C (54°F) against a yearly average high of 13°C (55°F), and nights fall to about 4°C (39°F). Rain falls on roughly 9 of its 30 days. Compared with March (10°C (50°F)), April is warmer; by May highs climb to around 15°C (59°F).
- Sunrise (15 April)
- About 06:07
- Sunset (15 April)
- About 20:18
- Daylight
- About 14.1 hours
- Sea
- 8°C (46°F)
Spring (March–May). Daffodils and cherry blossom, lengthening evenings and the Beltane Fire Festival; showers and cold snaps remain common.
Crowds and prices
On a 1–5 scale, April rates 3 for crowds (the peak is August at 5) and 3 for hotel prices (highest in August). Prices sit in the middle of the year's range.
Events in April
- Edinburgh Science Festival (usually April)
- Beltane Fire Festival on Calton Hill (30 April)
Dates move from year to year. Check the organiser’s site before booking travel around an event.
What to do in April
Mild, settled days suit walking, viewpoints and time outdoors.
Gallery · New Town
Scottish National Gallery
On the Mound between the Old and New Towns, this free gallery holds Scottish and European art from Raphael, Titian and Velázquez to Raeburn's skating minister and works by Ramsay and Wilkie.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Art
- Rainy day
Historic site · Old Town
Greyfriars Kirkyard
Look for the carved memento mori on the tombs along the walls, and stop at Bobby's statue on Candlemaker Row on the way out.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Off the beaten path
Street · Old Town
Victoria Street and the Grassmarket
Victoria Street curves down from George IV Bridge to the Grassmarket in a row of brightly painted shopfronts with a raised terrace walk above.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Shopping
- Photo spot
- After dark
Museum · Holyrood
Dynamic Earth
Pair it with a walk in Holyrood Park next door to see real volcanic rock on Salisbury Crags.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Rainy day
What to pack
For highs near 12°C, lows near 4°C and 9 wet days: layers, a warm sweater and a jacket for cool evenings; a packable rain jacket for showers; comfortable walking shoes.
Is April a good time to visit Edinburgh?
A shoulder-season month, with 2 notable events on the calendar. If your dates are flexible, May–June and September are better overall. Compare every month.
Edinburgh in other months
Questions travellers ask
+Is April a good time to visit Edinburgh?
It is a shoulder-season month. Spring blossom in the Meadows and the Botanic Garden; Easter brings the first busy weekends.
+How warm is Edinburgh in April?
Average highs are around 12°C (54°F) and lows around 4°C (39°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Edinburgh in April?
Expect rain on about 9 days of the month.