Month guide · Edinburgh · United Kingdom
Edinburgh in January
What January is really like in Edinburgh: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: No machine-readable author provided. Maccoinnich~commonswiki assumed (based on copyright c, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
January is a quieter month with trade-offs. Expect average highs of 7°C (45°F), lows of 1°C (34°F), about 12 rainy days and roughly 7.6 hours of daylight. Cold and dark by 4pm, but hotel prices fall after New Year and Burns Night suppers brighten the end of the month.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 7°C (45°F) / 1°C (34°F)
- Rainy days
- About 12
- Daylight
- About 7.6 hours
- Sea temperature
- 8°C (46°F)
- Crowds
- Quiet
- Hotel prices
- Low
Weather in January
January is the 11th-warmest month in Edinburgh: days average 7°C (45°F) against a yearly average high of 13°C (55°F), and nights fall to about 1°C (34°F). Rain falls on roughly 12 of its 31 days. Compared with December (7°C (45°F)), January is about as warm; by February highs stay near 8°C (46°F).
- Sunrise (15 January)
- About 08:33
- Sunset (15 January)
- About 16:10
- Daylight
- About 7.6 hours
- Sea
- 8°C (46°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, January rates 2 for crowds (the peak is August at 5) and 2 for hotel prices (highest in August). That makes January one of the better-value months to book.
Events in January
- Burns Night suppers — haggis, whisky and poetry (25 January)
Dates move from year to year. Check the organiser’s site before booking travel around an event.
What to do in January
With cold days, plan around indoor sights and keep outdoor time flexible.
Religious site · Old Town
St Giles' Cathedral
Entry is free; ask a guide to point out the bagpipe-playing angel in the Thistle Chapel.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Architecture
- Rainy day
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Palace · Holyrood
Palace of Holyroodhouse
The monarch's official residence in Scotland stands at the foot of the Royal Mile, with state apartments still used for official events and the chambers of Mary, Queen of Scots, where her secretary David Rizzio was murdered in 1566.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- History
- Architecture
- Rainy day
- Iconic
Museum · Old Town
National Museum of Scotland
Start children in the hands-on science and technology galleries, then go up to the roof terrace for the castle view.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Kids
- Rainy day
- History
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
What to pack
For highs near 7°C, lows near 1°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 January a good time to visit Edinburgh?
A quieter month with trade-offs, with a notable event 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 January a good time to visit Edinburgh?
It is a quieter month with trade-offs. Cold and dark by 4pm, but hotel prices fall after New Year and Burns Night suppers brighten the end of the month.
+How warm is Edinburgh in January?
Average highs are around 7°C (45°F) and lows around 1°C (34°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Edinburgh in January?
Expect rain on about 12 days of the month, so pack for wet weather.