When to go · Edinburgh, United Kingdom
Best time to visit Edinburgh
The sweet spot is June, July and September — averages 13°C, 10 rainy days, moderate crowds.
May - June, August, September
Oceanic climate: mild, wet, and famously unpredictable. "Four seasons in one day" is not an exaggeration. May-June offers the longest days (light until 10pm) and manageable crowds. August is the Edinburgh Festival Fringe - the largest arts festival on earth, the city triples its population and every surface becomes a venue. September brings golden light and the harvest. Winter is cold (4-7 degrees C) and atmospheric - the Christmas market in Princes Street Gardens and Hogmanay (New Year) are world-class events. Pack waterproofs year-round.
The short answer
13°C · 10 rainy days · mid season
15°C · 11 rainy days · high season
13°C · 11 rainy days · mid season
Hardest months: January and December. averages a raw 4°C, 13 rainy days, few other visitors.
Month by month
| Month | Avg temp | Rain days | Crowds | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 4°C | 13d | low | Wet |
| February | 4°C | 11d | low | Cold |
| March | 6°C | 12d | low | Wet |
| April | 8°C | 11d | mid | Chilly |
| May | 11°C | 11d | mid | Chilly |
| June | 13°C | 10d | mid | Mild |
| July | 15°C | 11d | high | Mild |
| August | 15°C | 12d | high | Wet |
| September | 13°C | 11d | mid | Mild |
| October | 10°C | 13d | mid | Wet |
| November | 7°C | 13d | low | Wet |
| December | 4°C | 13d | mid | Wet |
Verdicts are read off the three columns to their left — temperature distance from 21°C first, then rainfall, with crowds breaking ties. Averages, so any given week can differ.
If you'd rather go cheap than perfect
January, February, March and November are low season in Edinburgh — thinner crowds, and the months where accommodation is easiest to book late. Budget travellers already work to about $55–85 a day here; low season is where the accommodation share of that goes furthest.
Book the month you picked
Fares move with the same seasons as the crowds — the quiet months above are usually the cheap ones to fly.