Season guide · Edinburgh · United Kingdom
Edinburgh in spring
March–May: weather, crowds, prices and the best things to do this time of year.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
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Quick answer
Daffodils and cherry blossom, lengthening evenings and the Beltane Fire Festival; showers and cold snaps remain common. Expect highs up to 15°C (59°F) and lows around 2°C (36°F), with about 28 rainy days across March–May. May is among the best months of the year to visit.
Key facts
- Months
- March–May
- Temperatures
- 2°C (36°F) to 15°C (59°F)
- Rainy days in the season
- About 28
- Sea
- 7°C (45°F) to 10°C (50°F)
- Crowds
- Moderate
- Hotel prices
- Average
Weather in spring
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Daylight | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March | 10°C (50°F) | 2°C (36°F) | 10 | 11.6 h | 2/5 |
| April | 12°C (54°F) | 4°C (39°F) | 9 | 14.1 h | 3/5 |
| May | 15°C (59°F) | 7°C (45°F) | 9 | 16.3 h | 3/5 |
Compared with the rest of the year: average highs of 12°C (54°F) against a yearly 13°C (55°F), and 28 of the year's roughly 125 rainy days fall in these 3 months. Crowds rate 3/5 and hotel prices 3/5 on average.
What's on in spring
Recurring events; dates move from year to year, so confirm with the organiser.
- April: Edinburgh Science Festival (usually April)
- April: Beltane Fire Festival on Calton Hill (30 April)
- May: Edinburgh Marathon Festival (usually late May)
Good choices for spring
Religious site · Old Town
St Giles' Cathedral
The High Kirk of Edinburgh, with its crown-shaped spire, was John Knox's church during the Reformation.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Architecture
- Rainy day
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Palace · Holyrood
Palace of Holyroodhouse
Check dates before you go: the palace closes to visitors during royal visits, usually in early summer.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- History
- Architecture
- Rainy day
- Iconic
Museum · Old Town
National Museum of Scotland
Scotland's national museum on Chambers Street mixes Scottish history from prehistoric times with natural history, world cultures, science and technology.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Kids
- Rainy day
- History
Gallery · New Town
Scottish National Gallery
Combine it with a walk through Princes Street Gardens; the gallery's lower level opens straight onto them.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Art
- Rainy day
Museum · Leith
Royal Yacht Britannia
The royal family's floating residence for 44 years is moored at Ocean Terminal in Leith.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- History
- Kids
- Rainy day
- Iconic
Day trips in spring
- Stirling (About 50 minutes by train) — Stirling Castle, where Mary, Queen of Scots was crowned and Renaissance kings held court, stands on a crag above the battlefields of Stirling Bridge and Bannockburn.
- Glasgow (About 50 minutes by train) — Scotland's largest city has free museums such as Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum and the Riverside Museum, grand Victorian architecture, a strong live-music scene and some of the country's best shopping along Buchanan Street.
What to pack
- 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
Other times of year
Questions travellers ask
+Is spring a good time to visit Edinburgh?
Yes: May is among the best months. Daffodils and cherry blossom, lengthening evenings and the Beltane Fire Festival; showers and cold snaps remain common.
+What is the weather like in Edinburgh in spring?
Highs of up to 15°C (59°F) and lows around 2°C (36°F), with about 28 rainy days over the season.