Month guide · Edinburgh · United Kingdom
Edinburgh in December
What December is really like in Edinburgh: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Saffron Blaze, CC BY 3.0
Quick answer
December is a shoulder-season month. Expect average highs of 7°C (45°F), lows of 2°C (36°F), about 12 rainy days and roughly 7 hours of daylight. Festive markets and lights in Princes Street Gardens, then Hogmanay fills the city; book well ahead for New Year.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 7°C (45°F) / 2°C (36°F)
- Rainy days
- About 12
- Daylight
- About 7 hours
- Sea temperature
- 9°C (48°F)
- Crowds
- Busy
- Hotel prices
- Highest
Weather in December
December is the coolest month in Edinburgh: days average 7°C (45°F) against a yearly average high of 13°C (55°F), and nights fall to about 2°C (36°F). Rain falls on roughly 12 of its 31 days. Compared with November (10°C (50°F)), December is cooler; by January highs stay near 7°C (45°F).
- Sunrise (15 December)
- About 08:38
- Sunset (15 December)
- About 15:38
- Daylight
- About 7 hours
- Sea
- 9°C (48°F)
Winter (December–February). Short, cold days, Christmas markets and Hogmanay, then Burns Night and the lowest prices of the year.
Crowds and prices
On a 1–5 scale, December rates 4 for crowds (the peak is August at 5) and 5 for hotel prices (highest in August). Book accommodation early: December is one of the pricier months.
Events in 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)
Dates move from year to year. Check the organiser’s site before booking travel around an event.
What to do in December
With cold days, plan around indoor sights and keep outdoor time flexible.
Garden · Inverleith
Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh
Founded in 1670 as a physic garden, the Royal Botanic Garden covers about 70 acres north of Stockbridge, with a celebrated rock garden, a Chinese hillside, an avenue of giant redwoods and a lawn with a view over the skyline to the castle.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Kids
- Nature
- Outdoors
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
Island · Cramond
Cramond Island
Check the tide times posted at the causeway and leave the island well before the crossing closes; people are regularly cut off by the rising tide.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Outdoors
- Off the beaten path
- Nature
- Active
What to pack
For highs near 7°C, lows near 2°C and 12 wet days: 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.
Is December 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 December a good time to visit Edinburgh?
It is a shoulder-season month. Festive markets and lights in Princes Street Gardens, then Hogmanay fills the city; book well ahead for New Year.
+How warm is Edinburgh in December?
Average highs are around 7°C (45°F) and lows around 2°C (36°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Edinburgh in December?
Expect rain on about 12 days of the month, so pack for wet weather.