Edinburgh: When to Go

The climate in Edinburgh is best from May to September, but whenever you go, you're likely to see both sun and rain. In summer, daylight hours are long, and the evenings seem endless. In winter, it's cold and daylight hours are short, but with so much going on, Edinburgh is still worth visiting. Note that the city becomes impossibly crowded during the main festival period (August to early September) and Hogmanay (around 1 January), so make reservations well ahead of time if you plan to visit then.

Weather

Given just how far north it lies you might expect Edinburgh's climate to be colder than it is, but the Gulf Stream (a warm Atlantic current) keeps the prevailing westerly winds pleasantly mild. May and June are generally the best bet for dry, sunny weather with average temperatures between 6-16°C (61-43°F), but you can expect rain at any time. The weather changes quickly too - a rainy morning can often be followed by a sunny afternoon. A distinctive feature of Edinburgh's weather is the 'haar' - a dense, chilly fog that often blows in from the North Sea when the wind is in the east. You can usually escape it by heading just a few miles inland.

Temperature (average ° C)

Rainfall (average mm)

Sunshine (average hrs per day)