Best time to visit · Edinburgh · United Kingdom
The best time to visit Edinburgh
Weather, crowds, prices and events for every month, so you can pick the trip that suits you.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Carlos Delgado, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
The best months for Edinburgh are May, June and September, when days are long and mild and the city is busy but not overwhelmed. August is festival month — exciting but crowded and at peak prices — while December's Christmas markets and Hogmanay make winter worth considering if you dress for cold, dark days.
Key facts
- Best months
- May–June and September
- Shoulder season
- April, July–August, October and December
- Warmest month
- July (avg high 19°C (66°F))
- Coldest month
- January (avg high 7°C (45°F))
- Rainiest month
- January (~12 rainy days)
- Lowest hotel prices
- January–March and November
Seasons
Edinburgh has a cool, changeable maritime climate: mild summers that rarely pass 20°C, cold but seldom freezing winters, and frequent light rain and wind all year. Summer days are long, with about 17 hours of daylight in June, while winter days are short.
March–May
Spring
Daffodils and cherry blossom, lengthening evenings and the Beltane Fire Festival; showers and cold snaps remain common.
June–August
Summer
Long, mild days with up to 17 hours of light and August's festivals; the busiest and most expensive season.
September–November
Autumn
Quieter after the festivals, with autumn colour in the parks and atmospheric misty days; increasingly wet by November.
December–February
Winter
Short, cold days, Christmas markets and Hogmanay, then Burns Night and the lowest prices of the year.
Month by month
Long-term averages (rounded). Crowds and prices are relative, 1 (lowest) to 5 (highest). Daylight is sunrise to sunset on the 15th.
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Sea | Daylight | Crowds | Prices |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7°C | 1°C | 12 | 8°C | 7.6 h | 2/5 | 2/5 |
| February | 8°C | 1°C | 10 | 7°C | 9.5 h | 2/5 | 2/5 |
| March | 10°C | 2°C | 10 | 7°C | 11.6 h | 2/5 | 2/5 |
| April | 12°C | 4°C | 9 | 8°C | 14.1 h | 3/5 | 3/5 |
| May | 15°C | 7°C | 9 | 10°C | 16.3 h | 3/5 | 3/5 |
| June | 18°C | 9°C | 9 | 12°C | 17.6 h | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| July | 19°C | 11°C | 10 | 14°C | 17 h | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| August | 19°C | 11°C | 10 | 14°C | 15.1 h | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| September | 17°C | 9°C | 10 | 14°C | 12.6 h | 3/5 | 3/5 |
| October | 13°C | 7°C | 12 | 12°C | 10.3 h | 3/5 | 3/5 |
| November | 10°C | 4°C | 12 | 10°C | 8.1 h | 2/5 | 2/5 |
| December | 7°C | 2°C | 12 | 9°C | 7 h | 4/5 | 5/5 |
Yearly events
Recurring dates shift from year to year; confirm with the organiser before you book.
| Month | Events |
|---|---|
| January | Burns Night suppers — haggis, whisky and poetry (25 January) |
| February | Six Nations rugby at Murrayfield (February–March) |
| April | Edinburgh Science Festival (usually April); Beltane Fire Festival on Calton Hill (30 April) |
| May | Edinburgh Marathon Festival (usually late May) |
| June | Royal Highland Show — Scotland's agricultural show at Ingliston (usually June) |
| July | Edinburgh Jazz & Blues Festival (usually July) |
| August | Edinburgh Festival Fringe (usually most of August); Edinburgh International Festival (usually August); Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo on the Castle Esplanade (usually August); Edinburgh International Book Festival (usually August) |
| September | Doors Open Days — free access to normally closed buildings (usually September) |
| October | Scottish International Storytelling Festival (usually October); Samhuinn fire festival and Halloween ghost tours (31 October) |
| November | Edinburgh's Christmas markets open (usually mid-to-late November); St Andrew's Day — Scotland's national day (30 November) |
| December | Edinburgh's Christmas markets and fair (usually until early January); Hogmanay — torchlight procession, street party and fireworks over the castle (around 29–31 December) |
Cheapest and quietest times
Hotel prices are usually lowest in January–March and November, and the sights are quietest in January–March and November.
What to pack
| Season | Pack |
|---|---|
| Spring | Layers, a warm sweater and a jacket for cool evenings; Shoes with good grip for icy pavements; A packable rain jacket for showers; Comfortable walking shoes |
| Summer | Layers, a warm sweater and a jacket for cool evenings; A packable rain jacket for showers; Comfortable walking shoes |
| Autumn | Layers, a warm sweater and a jacket for cool evenings; A compact umbrella and waterproof shoes — rain is frequent; Comfortable walking shoes |
| Winter | A warm coat, hat, gloves and thermal layers; Shoes with good grip for icy pavements; A compact umbrella and waterproof shoes — rain is frequent; Comfortable walking shoes |
Questions travellers ask
+What is the best month to visit Edinburgh?
The best months for Edinburgh are May, June and September, when days are long and mild and the city is busy but not overwhelmed. August is festival month — exciting but crowded and at peak prices — while December's Christmas markets and Hogmanay make winter worth considering if you dress for cold, dark days.
+When are hotel prices lowest in Edinburgh?
Usually in January–March and November. Cold and dark by 4pm, but hotel prices fall after New Year and Burns Night suppers brighten the end of the month.
+What is the rainiest month in Edinburgh?
January, with about 12 days of rain on average.
+How hot does Edinburgh get?
The warmest month, July, averages highs of 19°C (66°F) and lows of 11°C (52°F).