Month guide · Edinburgh · United Kingdom
Edinburgh in September
What September is really like in Edinburgh: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Enric, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
September is one of the best months to visit Edinburgh. Expect average highs of 17°C (63°F), lows of 9°C (48°F), about 10 rainy days and roughly 12.6 hours of daylight. Calmer after the festivals and often mild and settled; a good month for walking and day trips.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 17°C (63°F) / 9°C (48°F)
- Rainy days
- About 10
- Daylight
- About 12.6 hours
- Sea temperature
- 14°C (57°F)
- Crowds
- Moderate
- Hotel prices
- Average
Weather in September
September is the 4th-warmest month in Edinburgh: days average 17°C (63°F) against a yearly average high of 13°C (55°F), and nights fall to about 9°C (48°F). Rain falls on roughly 10 of its 30 days. Compared with August (19°C (66°F)), September is cooler; by October highs drop to around 13°C (55°F).
- Sunrise (15 September)
- About 06:44
- Sunset (15 September)
- About 19:31
- Daylight
- About 12.6 hours
- Sea
- 14°C (57°F)
Autumn (September–November). Quieter after the festivals, with autumn colour in the parks and atmospheric misty days; increasingly wet by November.
Crowds and prices
On a 1–5 scale, September 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 September
- Doors Open Days — free access to normally closed buildings (usually September)
Dates move from year to year. Check the organiser’s site before booking travel around an event.
What to do in September
With frequent rain, 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 17°C, lows near 9°C and 10 wet days: layers, a warm sweater and a jacket for cool evenings; a packable rain jacket for showers; comfortable walking shoes.
Is September 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 May–June. Compare every month.
Edinburgh in other months
Questions travellers ask
+Is September a good time to visit Edinburgh?
It is one of the best months to visit Edinburgh. Calmer after the festivals and often mild and settled; a good month for walking and day trips.
+How warm is Edinburgh in September?
Average highs are around 17°C (63°F) and lows around 9°C (48°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Edinburgh in September?
Expect rain on about 10 days of the month.