Best time to visit Edinburgh | Intrepid Travel MT

The best time to visit Edinburgh is during the summer (June to August) when the weather is warmer, there's less rain (although this is Scotland, so don’t bank on it!), and the days are longer. There's also the renowned Fringe Festival held every August, which attracts thousands of people from all over the world. The colder months are still a great time to visit Edinburgh as long as you bring an umbrella and a warm coat – plus, the moody Scottish weather lends itself to the city's ancient castles and cosy pubs.

What's the weather like in Edinburgh?

Below are the average monthly temperatures in Edinburgh:

Month	Average high (°C)	Average low (°C)
January	6	1
February	7	1
March	9	2
April	11	4
May	14	6
June	17	9
July	19	11
August	18	11
September	16	9
October	13	6
November	9	3
December	7	1

Spring (March-May)

Best for: fewer tourists, spring colours, Edinburgh Children’s Festival

Spring brings brighter days after a long winter. The days are crisp and breezy so you'll need a warm coat and a beanie, especially for the mornings. It's a very pretty time to walk around the city’s parks, squares and gardens as the trees start to blossom and flowers bloom. Late spring is a great time to travel with kids as the Edinburgh International Children’s Festival is on. This nine-day festival celebrates the best of children’s dance and theatre and promises a memorable time for the whole family.

Summer (June-August)

Best for: good weather, the Fringe Festival

If you’re from a hot place, you might find that ‘summer’ in Edinburgh is slightly ambiguous! July and August are usually the warmest, sunniest months, but highs rarely exceed the low to mid-20s. The Edinburgh Fringe is the highlight of summer. This three-week festival is held in August and is the largest arts festival in the world, featuring acts from up-and-coming and world-class comedians and performers. As you can imagine, this is the busiest time of year so accommodation prices can skyrocket. It's worth booking your accommodation and activities months in advance to avoid missing out.

Autumn (September-November)

Best for: International Storytelling Festival, smaller crowds, autumn colours

Autumn, at least at the beginning of the season, is generally mild and pleasant. The temperature drops in late September and it can be more rainy, but crowds dwindle so the city won't be as crowded and you'll have better photo ops at all popular sites. By the end of October, the mornings and evenings can be quite crisp so you'll need a winter coat to keep warm.

Winter (December-February)

Best for: Christmas markets, Burns Night, Hogmanay

Winter days are long, cold and dark, although you might get the occasional sunny day which makes you appreciate the crisp winter air. But it’s not all doom and gloom. Winter is an excellent time to eat, drink and be merry inside Edinburgh’s abundant pubs. There’s something about cold weather that makes drinking mulled wine around a log fire even more enjoyable.

If you're around at Christmas, the Edinburgh Christmas Market is a great place to embrace the festive cheer. And if you're around for New Year, even better! No one does New Year’s Eve (Hogmanay) quite like the Scots. Edinburgh puts on quite the show with street parties, firework displays and lively ceilidh dancing in Princes Street Gardens. Never tried ceilidh dancing? No worries. The only requirement is enthusiasm and a sense of humour. If you’re in Edinburgh (or anywhere in Scotland) on 25th January, you might also get to experience a Burns Night supper, which celebrates the life of the famous Scottish poet, Robert Burns. Think haggis, poetry, a whisky (or two) and belting your heart out to Auld Lang Syne. It’s a hoot.

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