Beaches · Edinburgh · United Kingdom
The best beaches in and near Edinburgh
Where to swim and spend a beach day, and when the water is warm.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Enric, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
The best-known beach is Portobello Beach (About 5 km, 25 minutes by bus).
Key facts
- Beaches in this guide
- 4
- Warmest sea
- 14°C (57°F)
The beaches
About 5 km, 25 minutes by bus · Families and promenade walks
1.Portobello Beach
A long sandy beach backed by a Victorian promenade of cafés, pubs and ice-cream shops, popular with families and year-round sea swimmers.
About 8 km, 30 minutes by bus · Walks and the tidal island
2.Cramond Beach
A sandy shore at the mouth of the River Almond, with the tidal causeway to Cramond Island and a riverside path inland.
About 30 km, 45 minutes by car · A day out by the sea
3.Gullane Bents
A wide sandy bay backed by dunes in East Lothian, with views across the Firth of Forth to Fife.
About 40 km, 35 minutes by train · Families and day trips
4.North Berwick beaches
Two sandy beaches either side of the harbour, looking out to the Bass Rock and its gannet colony, with a direct train from the city.
Sea temperature by month
| Month | Sea | Air high |
|---|---|---|
| January | 8°C (46°F) | 7°C (45°F) |
| February | 7°C (45°F) | 8°C (46°F) |
| March | 7°C (45°F) | 10°C (50°F) |
| April | 8°C (46°F) | 12°C (54°F) |
| May | 10°C (50°F) | 15°C (59°F) |
| June | 12°C (54°F) | 18°C (64°F) |
| July | 14°C (57°F) | 19°C (66°F) |
| August | 14°C (57°F) | 19°C (66°F) |
| September | 14°C (57°F) | 17°C (63°F) |
| October | 12°C (54°F) | 13°C (55°F) |
| November | 10°C (50°F) | 10°C (50°F) |
| December | 9°C (48°F) | 7°C (45°F) |
Staying near the beach
$$ · Best for beach, families and quiet stays
Portobello
About 5 km east of the centre, Portobello has a long sandy beach, a promenade of cafés and pubs and the Victorian Portobello Swim Centre with its Turkish baths. Buses reach Princes Street in about 25 minutes, making it a calm base for families and beach walkers.
- Good
- Beach and promenade on the doorstep; Relaxed and residential; Good-value rentals
- Watch out
- Bus ride from the sights; Few hotels
- Nearby
- Portobello Beach, Portobello Promenade, Joppa
Getting to the beaches
- Bus — Lothian Buses run frequent services across the city and out to Leith, Portobello and the zoo, with night buses on the main routes.
- Tram — Edinburgh Trams run from the airport through Haymarket, Princes Street and St Andrew Square and down Leith Walk to Ocean Terminal and Newhaven, every few minutes during the day.
- Train — Waverley station, between the Old and New Towns, has trains to Glasgow, Stirling, North Berwick and the Highlands; Haymarket is the second city-centre station.
Beach-weather months
Air temperatures rarely reach classic beach weather here: the warmest month, July, averages 19°C (66°F).
Beach safety
Edinburgh is generally safe for visitors. Pickpockets work the festival crowds and the Royal Mile in summer, and the steep closes, stairs and cobbles are slippery in rain. On Arthur's Seat, stay on the paths and avoid the crags in wind or poor visibility. Swim at lifeguarded beaches where possible and follow local flag warnings.
Questions travellers ask
+Does Edinburgh have beaches?
Yes: Portobello Beach, Cramond Beach, Gullane Bents and North Berwick beaches.
+What is the best beach near Edinburgh?
Portobello Beach: A long sandy beach backed by a Victorian promenade of cafés, pubs and ice-cream shops, popular with families and year-round sea swimmers.