Quick Answer
At a glance
- Best time
- May–Sep; mid-Nov to early Jan for festivities
- Time needed
- 3 days
- Currency
- Pound sterling (GBP)
- Language
- English
- Visa
- UK ETA (£20) for most visitors
- Getting around
- Trams, Lothian buses; Old Town walkable
Edinburgh in winter is a compact, hilly city with a castle on a volcanic rock, a medieval Old Town on one side of Princes Street Gardens and a Georgian New Town on the other. UNESCO lists both together as the Old and New Towns of Edinburgh, inscribed in 1995. The trip comes down to three choices: which dates (Christmas season or Hogmanay), which base, and how much of the short daylight you spend indoors. Dates and prices below were checked on 8 October 2026.
When is the best time to visit Edinburgh?
May to September gives the longest days and the mildest weather. Mid-November to early January is the festive season, and the main reason to come in winter.
| Month | Average high / low (°C) | Rain days (≥1 mm) | Sunshine (hours a month) | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| November | 9.5 / 3.6 | 12.9 | 67 | Christmas season opens 14 November |
| December | 7.0 / 1.4 | 13.1 | 38 | Christmas market, Hogmanay |
| January | 6.9 / 1.5 | 13.3 | 47 | Quiet streets, lower hotel prices |
| February | 7.5 / 1.6 | 10.7 | 78 | Museums and walks |
| May | 14.9 / 6.7 | 10.8 | 190 | The sunniest month |
| July | 19.4 / 11.0 | 11.4 | 161 | Warmest; summer festival crowds |
| October | 13.2 / 6.5 | 13.0 | 94 | Autumn colour, wettest month (83 mm) |
Figures are the Met Office’s 1991-2020 normals for Edinburgh Gogarbank, by the airport. The city gets around 784 mm of rain a year spread across about 137 rainy days, so the issue in winter is drizzle and early darkness more than snow. December averages only about 38 hours of sunshine in the whole month: plan the castle and outdoor viewpoints for late morning and keep museums for the afternoon. For how Edinburgh compares with London, see our UK travel guide.
Edinburgh at Christmas and Hogmanay: what is on in 2026?
Edinburgh’s Christmas (14 November 2026 to 3 January 2027) spreads across three sites, according to Forever Edinburgh, the city’s official visitor site:
- East Princes Street Gardens: the Christmas Market, free to enter, with around 70 stalls of gifts, clothing and food, plus the 46 m Big Wheel and the 80 m Star Flyer.
- West Princes Street Gardens: the family funfair, Santa’s Stories and festive food stalls.
- George Street: an undercover ice rink, so it runs whatever the weather.
Rides, the rink and Santa’s Stories need their own tickets, sold on the official Edinburgh’s Christmas site.
Edinburgh’s Hogmanay is the city’s New Year festival. The official 2026/27 programme lists:
| Date | Event | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| 29 December, 18:30 | Torchlight Procession | A river of fire through the city streets, carried by around 15,000 torch bearers |
| 30 December, 18:00 | Night Afore Party with The Fratellis | Concert in Princes Street Gardens beneath the castle |
| 31 December, 20:00 | Street Party | The ticketed party in the historic city centre |
| 31 December, 20:00 | Hogmanay in the Gardens with Underworld | Concert ending with the Midnight Moment fireworks over the castle |
| 1 January 2027 | First Footin' | A free, unticketed live music trail across city venues |
Ticket prices were listed as “coming soon” on 8 October 2026, so watch the official site and book as soon as they open, especially for the Street Party and the Gardens concert. Comparing Edinburgh with Vienna, Prague and the German markets? See our Christmas markets in Europe 2026 guide and Christmas markets by train.
Where should you stay in Edinburgh?
Edinburgh is small enough that the right area is mostly about walking distance and price.
| Area | Best for | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| Old Town (Royal Mile, Grassmarket) | First-timers, the castle on your doorstep | Steep cobbles, the busiest and priciest rooms in December |
| New Town (Princes Street, George Street) | Christmas market and ice rink within minutes, tram stops | Hotels on the main streets fill early for Hogmanay |
| West End and Haymarket | Rail station and tram stop, calmer streets | A longer walk to the Royal Mile and the castle |
| Leith | Lower prices, the waterfront, on the tram to Newhaven | You ride in for the festivities and back late at night |
For Christmas markets and Hogmanay, the New Town is the easiest base: the gardens, George Street and the tram are all within a few minutes on foot. For Hogmanay itself, book well ahead, because rooms in both central areas go first. Compare Edinburgh hotel prices for your dates .
How do you get to and around Edinburgh?
What are the top things to do in Edinburgh?
| Sight | Entry (2026) | Tip |
|---|---|---|
| Edinburgh Castle | £23.50 online, £26.00 at the gate | Winter hours 9.30am to 5pm, last entry 4pm; closed 25 and 26 December |
| Royal Mile | Free | Walk downhill from the castle towards Holyrood |
| Arthur’s Seat, Holyrood Park | Free | An ancient volcano with city views; go early for the light |
| Calton Hill | Free | The classic view of the castle and Old Town, at its best at dusk |
| Christmas Market, East Princes Street Gardens | Free entry | Weekday daytime is the quietest |
| National Museum of Scotland | Check the museum’s site | A good afternoon when the light goes |
Historic Environment Scotland advises at least 2 hours for the castle’s main attractions, and tickets can sell out online in busy periods. Holyrood Park is free and open to the public, with a free audio guide through the Geotourist app. For food, the Christmas Market’s stalls and the cafés of the New Town are the easy warm-up stops between sights.
What day trips can you take from Edinburgh?
- Stirling Castle: adult tickets cost £18.50 online or £20.50 at the gate, and from 1 October to 31 March it opens daily from 9.30am to 5pm, according to Historic Environment Scotland. ScotRail trains run from Waverley.
- London: too far for a day trip, but a natural pairing with this city. See our London travel guide for a combined trip.
What goes wrong on a winter trip to Edinburgh?
- Short days. December averages around 38 hours of sunshine in the whole month. Do outdoor sights first.
- Wet, windy cobbles. Rain falls on about 13 days a month from October to January. Pack waterproof shoes: see our best winter boots for travel and Christmas market packing list.
- Hogmanay sells out. Street Party and Gardens concert tickets and central rooms go first; book the moment tickets open.
- Castle closures. It is closed on 25 and 26 December and opens late, at 11am, on 1 January.
- Forgetting the ETA. Apply on GOV.UK before you fly; other websites may charge more.
How many days do you need in Edinburgh?
Three days is the right length for a first visit: the castle and the Royal Mile on day one, the New Town, Calton Hill and the Christmas market on day two, and Arthur’s Seat plus a museum on day three. Add a fourth day for Stirling Castle. For a Hogmanay trip, arrive by 29 December for the Torchlight Procession and stay to 1 January for First Footin'.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is Edinburgh’s Christmas in 2026?
Edinburgh’s Christmas runs from 14 November 2026 to 3 January 2027 across East Princes Street Gardens, West Princes Street Gardens and George Street. The Christmas Market in East Princes Street Gardens is free to enter, with around 70 stalls; the Big Wheel, the Star Flyer, the family funfair and the undercover ice rink on George Street are ticketed separately.
What happens at Edinburgh’s Hogmanay 2026?
The official programme starts with the Torchlight Procession on 29 December 2026 at 18:30, followed by the Night Afore Party with The Fratellis in Princes Street Gardens on 30 December. On 31 December the Street Party fills the city centre and Hogmanay in the Gardens with Underworld ends with the Midnight Moment fireworks beneath Edinburgh Castle. First Footin’ on 1 January 2027 is a free, unticketed live music trail.
How cold is Edinburgh in winter?
Cold, damp and dark rather than snowy. The Met Office’s 1991-2020 normals for Edinburgh Gogarbank give December highs of about 7°C and lows of about 1.4°C, with around 13 days of rain and only about 38 hours of sunshine in the whole month. January is similar, with highs near 7°C and lows around 1.5°C.
How do I get from Edinburgh Airport to the city centre?
Take the tram or the Airlink 100 bus. The tram reaches the city centre in about 30 minutes, every 7 minutes in the daytime, and an adult airport single costs £7.50 bought in advance or usually £7.90 onboard. The Airlink 100 runs 24 hours a day to Waverley Bridge, with an adult single at £6.00 and a return at £8.50.
How much does Edinburgh Castle cost?
An adult ticket costs £23.50 online or £26.00 at the gate, according to Historic Environment Scotland. From 1 October to 31 March the castle opens at 9.30am, with last entry at 4pm and closing at 5pm. It is closed on 25 and 26 December, opens at 11am on 1 January, and tickets can sell out online in busy periods.
How many days do you need in Edinburgh?
Three days covers the essentials: a day for the castle and the Royal Mile, a day for the New Town, Calton Hill and the Christmas market, and a morning climbing Arthur’s Seat in Holyrood Park. Add a fourth day for a day trip to Stirling Castle, or plan around 29 to 31 December if Hogmanay is the reason for your trip.
Start planning your Edinburgh trip
If you are coming by train from London, you only need a room. If you are flying, compare a few dates around mid-December, when the market is in full swing but Hogmanay prices have not kicked in.
Find cheap flights to Edinburgh | Compare Edinburgh hotel prices
Planning a wider winter trip? See where to go in December, where to go in November, our best packable down jackets and thermal base layers, and the hotels hub.
