Month guide · Edinburgh · United Kingdom
Edinburgh in May
What May is really like in Edinburgh: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Carlos Delgado, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
May is one of the best months to visit Edinburgh. Expect average highs of 15°C (59°F), lows of 7°C (45°F), about 9 rainy days and roughly 16.3 hours of daylight. Often dry and bright, with long evenings for walking Arthur's Seat and the coast.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 15°C (59°F) / 7°C (45°F)
- Rainy days
- About 9
- Daylight
- About 16.3 hours
- Sea temperature
- 10°C (50°F)
- Crowds
- Moderate
- Hotel prices
- Average
Weather in May
May is the 5th-warmest month in Edinburgh: days average 15°C (59°F) against a yearly average high of 13°C (55°F), and nights fall to about 7°C (45°F). Rain falls on roughly 9 of its 31 days. Compared with April (12°C (54°F)), May is warmer; by June highs climb to around 18°C (64°F).
- Sunrise (15 May)
- About 05:00
- Sunset (15 May)
- About 21:18
- Daylight
- About 16.3 hours
- Sea
- 10°C (50°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, May 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 May
- Edinburgh Marathon Festival (usually late May)
Dates move from year to year. Check the organiser’s site before booking travel around an event.
What to do in May
Mild, settled days suit walking, viewpoints and time outdoors.
Castle · Old Town
Edinburgh Castle
Head straight to the Crown Room for the Honours of Scotland before the queues build, then circle back to the views from the batteries.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Iconic
- History
- Views
- Kids
Nature · Holyrood Park
Arthur's Seat
The 251-metre summit of an extinct volcano rises in Holyrood Park, about 15 minutes' walk from the Royal Mile.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Views
- Outdoors
- Active
- Nature
Viewpoint · New Town
Calton Hill
Go at sunset or sunrise; the steps up from Regent Road take about five minutes.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Views
- Photo spot
- Couples
- Iconic
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Garden · New Town
Princes Street Gardens and the Scott Monument
Laid out in the drained valley of the Nor Loch, Princes Street Gardens separate the Old and New Towns, with the floral clock, the Ross Fountain and views up to the castle.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Outdoors
- Views
- Kids
- Iconic
What to pack
For highs near 15°C, lows near 7°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 May a good time to visit Edinburgh?
One of the best months to visit Edinburgh, with a notable event on the calendar. The other best months are June and September. Compare every month.
Edinburgh in other months
Questions travellers ask
+Is May a good time to visit Edinburgh?
It is one of the best months to visit Edinburgh. Often dry and bright, with long evenings for walking Arthur's Seat and the coast.
+How warm is Edinburgh in May?
Average highs are around 15°C (59°F) and lows around 7°C (45°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Edinburgh in May?
Expect rain on about 9 days of the month.