Destination
When should you visit Edinburgh?
Edinburgh's calendar is dominated by one month: August, when the Fringe, the International Festival and the Military Tattoo all run at once and the city's population effectively doubles. Outside August, it's a different, much calmer place.
By Daan · Last reviewed October 2026
My recommendation
June
June offers Edinburgh's best overall balance: daylight stretching close to 18 hours around the solstice, comfortable temperatures, and a city that feels lively without August's sheer scale.
Best weather
May, June and July
Edinburgh's mildest, brightest months.
Best for festivals
August
The Fringe, International Festival and Military Tattoo, all at once.
Best for low crowds
February, March and October
Quiet months well outside the festival season.
Best value
February and March
The lowest hotel rates outside the New Year week.
June scores
Plan around
What to know before you book
- The Fringe takes over the city
- Edinburgh Festival Fringe is one of the world's largest arts festivals, alongside the Edinburgh International Festival and the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo. The entire city reorganises around it, and accommodation can book out and cost several times a normal-month rate.
- Hogmanay
- Edinburgh's multi-day New Year celebration and street party is one of the world's best known. Book accommodation as far ahead as possible — it is Edinburgh's most expensive and most booked-out stretch outside the Fringe.
- The sweet spot
- May, June and September all offer Edinburgh's best weather and a lively but manageable city, without the Fringe's scale or winter's cold and dark.
First Friday–last Monday of August
31 December–1 January
May, June and September
Edinburgh travel tip
If you want the Fringe without August's full crowds and prices, come for its final days in late July instead, when previews run with smaller audiences and lower ticket prices.
Month by month
All twelve months, at a glance
Tap any month for full scores, temperatures and planning notes.
- Temperature
- 2–7°C
- Cold, dark and often wet, with short daylight hours
- Crowds
- Moderate (early) / Low (rest of month)
- Busy around Hogmanay and New Year, quiet for the rest of the month
- Prices
- €€
- High around New Year, low for the rest of the month
Book months ahead for Hogmanay itself, or arrive just after New Year for a near-empty, much cheaper city.
- Hogmanay (1st–2nd)
- Low prices (rest of month)
- Temperature
- 2–8°C
- Cold and often wet, with daylight slowly lengthening
- Crowds
- Low
- Low — one of the quietest months of the year
- Prices
- €
- Low — good value for a city break
Pack properly for wind and rain — Edinburgh’s hills and the Royal Mile feel exposed in winter weather.
- Museums
- Whisky tasting
- Temperature
- 3–10°C
- Cool and changeable, with daylight hours lengthening quickly
- Crowds
- Low
- Low — still well before the spring and summer rise
- Prices
- €
- Low — prices stay close to winter levels
Layer up — Edinburgh’s wind off the Firth of Forth can make it feel colder than the thermometer suggests.
- Walking
- Low crowds
- Temperature
- 5–12°C
- Milder, with noticeably longer evenings
- Crowds
- Moderate
- Moderate — rising ahead of the summer season
- Prices
- €€
- Moderate
Book Beltane viewing spots on Calton Hill early — it draws large crowds for a relatively small hill.
- Beltane Fire Festival
- Evening walks
- Temperature
- 7–15°C
- Mild and often bright, with long, light evenings
- Crowds
- Moderate
- Moderate — busy without the August festival crowds
- Prices
- €€
- Moderate
Book Arthur’s Seat or a Pentland Hills walk for a clear evening — sunset light lasts well into the night by late May.
- Weather
- Overall experience
- Temperature
- 10–17°C
- Mild, with daylight lasting close to 18 hours near the solstice
- Crowds
- Moderate
- Moderate — lively but still well before the Fringe
- Prices
- €€€
- Moderate
Take advantage of the late light with an evening climb up Arthur’s Seat or Calton Hill.
- Long daylight
- Overall experience
- Temperature
- 12–19°C
- Edinburgh’s warmest month, though still cool by continental standards
- Crowds
- Moderate–High
- Moderate–high — rising as festival-goers and fringe previews arrive
- Prices
- €€€
- Moderate–high
If you want a taste of the Fringe without August’s full crowds, aim for the final week of July.
- Warm weather
- Fringe previews (late July)
- Temperature
- 12–19°C
- Mild and changeable, with the city too busy to notice
- Crowds
- Extremely High
- Extremely high — the Fringe alone draws millions of visitors
- Prices
- €€€€€
- Extremely high — accommodation can book out months ahead
Book accommodation as far ahead as possible, ideally six months or more, and expect to pay several times a normal-month rate.
- Fringe
- International Festival
- Military Tattoo
- Temperature
- 10–17°C
- Still mild, with shortening days as the month progresses
- Crowds
- Moderate
- Moderate — a sharp drop from August once the festivals end
- Prices
- €€
- Moderate
The first week can still carry some festival overflow — the second half of September is the calmer, better-value window.
- Overall experience
- Value after August
- Temperature
- 7–13°C
- Cooler, with rain becoming more frequent
- Crowds
- Low
- Low — a quiet month before the Christmas season
- Prices
- €
- Low — good value before December
Keep an indoor plan ready and pack proper waterproofs — Edinburgh rain rarely announces itself far in advance.
- Museums
- Whisky bars
- Value
- Temperature
- 4–10°C
- Cold and often wet, with daylight shrinking fast
- Crowds
- Low
- Low, rising toward the end as Christmas markets open
- Prices
- €
- Low, rising toward the end of the month
Check the Christmas Market opening date for the year you’re travelling — it typically lands in late November.
- Value
- Early Christmas markets
- Temperature
- 2–7°C
- Cold and dark, with the shortest days of the year
- Crowds
- Moderate–High
- Moderate, rising sharply for Hogmanay on 31 December
- Prices
- €€€€
- High, peaking sharply around Hogmanay
Book Hogmanay accommodation as far ahead as possible — the final days of December are Edinburgh’s most expensive and most booked-out of the entire year.
- Christmas markets
- Hogmanay
Climate
Edinburgh weather by month
| Month | High | Low | Precipitation | Wet days |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7°C / 45°F | 2°C / 36°F | 65 mm | 12 |
| February | 8°C / 46°F | 2°C / 36°F | 53 mm | 10 |
| March | 10°C / 50°F | 3°C / 37°F | 48 mm | 10 |
| April | 12°C / 54°F | 5°C / 41°F | 41 mm | 9 |
| May | 15°C / 59°F | 7°C / 45°F | 48 mm | 10 |
| June | 17°C / 63°F | 10°C / 50°F | 66 mm | 10 |
| July | 19°C / 66°F | 12°C / 54°F | 72 mm | 12 |
| August | 19°C / 66°F | 12°C / 54°F | 72 mm | 10 |
| September | 17°C / 63°F | 10°C / 50°F | 55 mm | 10 |
| October | 13°C / 55°F | 7°C / 45°F | 76 mm | 12 |
| November | 10°C / 50°F | 4°C / 39°F | 65 mm | 12 |
| December | 7°C / 45°F | 2°C / 36°F | 67 mm | 12 |
Climate data: Met Office. Temperatures are averages of daily highs and lows.
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