Best time to visit Edinburgh
The best time to visit Edinburgh is June–August, judged on twenty years of weather records and the events worth going for.
Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom
°C
mm
- Average daily high and low
- Precipitation
- Good month
- Best month
- Made good or best by an event
| Month | Average daily high | Average daily low | Precipitation | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 6.5 °C / 44 °F | 2.5 °C / 37 °F | 72 mm / 2.8 in | good month, for Hogmanay. The weather alone makes it neither best nor good. |
| February | 7.3 °C / 45 °F | 2.8 °C / 37 °F | 63 mm / 2.5 in | neither best nor good |
| March | 8.9 °C / 48 °F | 3.3 °C / 38 °F | 64 mm / 2.5 in | neither best nor good |
| April | 11.4 °C / 53 °F | 4.7 °C / 40 °F | 46 mm / 1.8 in | good month |
| May | 14.3 °C / 58 °F | 7.4 °C / 45 °F | 58 mm / 2.3 in | good month |
| June | 16.8 °C / 62 °F | 10.2 °C / 50 °F | 62 mm / 2.4 in | best month |
| July | 18.7 °C / 66 °F | 12 °C / 54 °F | 78 mm / 3.1 in | best month |
| August | 18 °C / 64 °F | 11.8 °C / 53 °F | 81 mm / 3.2 in | best month |
| September | 16.2 °C / 61 °F | 10.1 °C / 50 °F | 60 mm / 2.4 in | good month |
| October | 12.9 °C / 55 °F | 7.7 °C / 46 °F | 82 mm / 3.2 in | neither best nor good |
| November | 9.2 °C / 49 °F | 4.6 °C / 40 °F | 75 mm / 3 in | neither best nor good |
| December | 6.9 °C / 44 °F | 2.7 °C / 37 °F | 87 mm / 3.4 in | good month, for Hogmanay. The weather alone makes it neither best nor good. |
Good and best months depend on more than temperature, rain and events. How they are chosen
Each activity on this page has its own good and best months, rated on twenty years of daily weather records. Which measures count, and how much, depends on the activity: humidity for exploring outdoors, wind for the beach, hiking and skiing, snow for skiing alone. Between them, the activities are rated on:
- Daytime highs
- Night-time lows
- How warm it feels
- Humidity
- How much of the day is sunny
- Hours of daylight
- Monthly rainfall
- How many days it rains
- Days of heavy rain
- Wind
- Snowfall and days with snow
- Major events, such as festivals
The chart shows the good and best months for exploring outdoors.
The event icon marks a month that an event lifts to good or best, such as a festival or a natural spectacle. Choose “Weather only” in the toolbar to rate the months on weather alone.
Best months by activity
Exploring outdoors
Mild days and nights, mostly dry and bright. The default for 'when should I go'.
- JJanuary: good
- FFebruary: neither
- MMarch: neither
- AApril: good
- MMay: good
- JJune: best
- JJuly: best
- AAugust: best
- SSeptember: good
- OOctober: neither
- NNovember: neither
- DDecember: good
- Best
- June–August
- Good
- April–May, September, December–January
June to August bring the warmest, brightest weather for exploring on foot, and the Fringe Festival lifts July and August further; April, May and September are also pleasant if cooler and greyer. The rest of the year is cold, dark and wet, though Hogmanay livens up the turn of the year despite the harsh winter weather.
Why these months
January · good
Made good by Hogmanay.
In its favour: share of daylight that is sunny 47%, days with heavy rain 1.6 days.
Against: feels like (high) 2.3 °C / 36 °F, average daily high 6.5 °C / 44 °F, wet days 13.2 days, relative humidity 85%, precipitation 72 mm / 2.8 in, sunshine per day 3.6 h, average daily low 2.5 °C / 37 °F.
Also on: Burns Night, Loony Dook, Manipulate Festival, Six Nations rugby internationals.
Watch out for: Christmas Day and New Year's Day closures, Christmas-New Year transport disruption, Hogmanay street closures, Six Nations rugby crowds.
April · good
In its favour: share of daylight that is sunny 67%, days with heavy rain 0.7 days, average daily low 4.7 °C / 40 °F, relative humidity 76%.
Against: feels like (high) 7.9 °C / 46 °F, wet days 10.9 days, precipitation 46 mm / 1.8 in, average daily high 11.4 °C / 53 °F.
Also on: Cherry blossom in The Meadows, Edinburgh Science Festival, Edinburgh TradFest, Gorse bloom on Arthur's Seat, IberoDocs, Terminal V.
May · good
In its favour: share of daylight that is sunny 65%, days with heavy rain 1.3 days, average daily high 14.3 °C / 58 °F, average daily low 7.4 °C / 45 °F, relative humidity 76%.
Against: wet days 12.8 days, precipitation 58 mm / 2.3 in, feels like (high) 11.6 °C / 53 °F.
Also on: Beltane Fire Festival, Cherry blossom in The Meadows, Degree Show, Edinburgh International Children's Festival, Edinburgh Marathon, Imaginate Festival.
June · best
In its favour: feels like (high) 15.1 °C / 59 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 59%, average daily high 16.8 °C / 62 °F, days with heavy rain 1.4 days, average daily low 10.2 °C / 50 °F.
Against: wet days 12.3 days, precipitation 62 mm / 2.4 in, relative humidity 78%.
Also on: Edinburgh International Film Festival, Edinburgh Jazz and Blues Festival, Imaginate Festival, Meadows Festival, Pride Edinburgh, Scotland's Gardens open days.
Watch out for: Festival-season accommodation crunch.
July · best
In its favour: feels like (high) 17.4 °C / 63 °F, average daily high 18.7 °C / 66 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 61%, days with heavy rain 1.6 days, average daily low 12 °C / 54 °F.
Against: wet days 14.8 days, relative humidity 79%, precipitation 78 mm / 3.1 in.
Also on: Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Edinburgh Art Festival, Edinburgh Food Festival, Edinburgh International Festival, Scotland's Gardens open days.
Watch out for: Festival-season accommodation crunch.
August · best
In its favour: feels like (high) 16.4 °C / 62 °F, average daily high 18 °C / 64 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 61%, days with heavy rain 2.4 days, average daily low 11.8 °C / 53 °F.
Against: wet days 14.2 days, relative humidity 80%, precipitation 81 mm / 3.2 in.
Also on: Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Edinburgh International Book Festival, Edinburgh International Festival, Edinburgh Military Tattoo, Edinburgh Summer Sessions, Fringe of Colour, Jupiter Rising, Masters Degree Show, Scotland's Gardens open days.
Watch out for: Festival-season accommodation crunch.
September · good
In its favour: share of daylight that is sunny 59%, feels like (high) 14.1 °C / 57 °F, average daily high 16.2 °C / 61 °F, days with heavy rain 1.2 days, average daily low 10.1 °C / 50 °F.
Against: relative humidity 81%, wet days 11.2 days, precipitation 60 mm / 2.4 in, sunshine per day 7.5 h.
Also on: Art Walk Porty, Edinburgh Doors Open Days, Hidden Door, Take One Action Film Festival.
December · good
Made good by Hogmanay.
In its favour: days with heavy rain 2.2 days, share of daylight that is sunny 39%.
Against: feels like (high) 3 °C / 37 °F, average daily high 6.9 °C / 44 °F, wet days 14.6 days, relative humidity 86%, precipitation 87 mm / 3.4 in, sunshine per day 2.8 h, average daily low 2.7 °C / 37 °F.
Also on: Boxing Day sales, Christmas at the Botanics, Edinburgh Christmas Market (Princes Street Gardens), Edinburgh's Christmas.
Watch out for: Christmas Day and New Year's Day closures, Christmas-New Year transport disruption, Christmas shopping crowds, Hogmanay street closures, Pre-Christmas travel rush.
Hiking and trekking
Cool enough to climb in, dry enough to enjoy, long enough days.
- JJanuary: neither
- FFebruary: neither
- MMarch: neither
- AApril: best
- MMay: best
- JJune: best
- JJuly: good
- AAugust: good
- SSeptember: good
- OOctober: neither
- NNovember: neither
- DDecember: neither
- Best
- April–June
- Good
- July–September
April through June offer the coolest, driest, brightest conditions for walking and trekking, with July through September still good despite warmer, wetter weather and shortening days. The dark, cold, wet months from October to March are poorly suited to hiking.
Why these months
April · best
In its favour: average daily high 11.4 °C / 53 °F, days with heavy rain 0.7 days, average daily low 4.7 °C / 40 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 67%, daylight per day 14.2 h, wind (daily max) 21 km/h / 13 mph.
Against: wet days 10.9 days, feels like (high) 7.9 °C / 46 °F, precipitation 46 mm / 1.8 in.
Also on: Cherry blossom in The Meadows, Edinburgh Science Festival, Edinburgh TradFest, Gorse bloom on Arthur's Seat, IberoDocs, Terminal V.
May · best
In its favour: average daily high 14.3 °C / 58 °F, days with heavy rain 1.3 days, feels like (high) 11.6 °C / 53 °F, average daily low 7.4 °C / 45 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 65%, daylight per day 16.3 h, wind (daily max) 20 km/h / 13 mph.
Against: wet days 12.8 days, precipitation 58 mm / 2.3 in.
Also on: Beltane Fire Festival, Cherry blossom in The Meadows, Degree Show, Edinburgh International Children's Festival, Edinburgh Marathon, Imaginate Festival.
June · best
In its favour: average daily high 16.8 °C / 62 °F, days with heavy rain 1.4 days, feels like (high) 15.1 °C / 59 °F, average daily low 10.2 °C / 50 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 59%, daylight per day 17.5 h, wind (daily max) 19 km/h / 12 mph.
Against: wet days 12.3 days, precipitation 62 mm / 2.4 in.
Also on: Edinburgh International Film Festival, Edinburgh Jazz and Blues Festival, Imaginate Festival, Meadows Festival, Pride Edinburgh, Scotland's Gardens open days.
Watch out for: Festival-season accommodation crunch.
July · good
In its favour: average daily high 18.7 °C / 66 °F, days with heavy rain 1.6 days, feels like (high) 17.4 °C / 63 °F, average daily low 12 °C / 54 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 61%, daylight per day 16.9 h, wind (daily max) 19 km/h / 12 mph.
Against: wet days 14.8 days, precipitation 78 mm / 3.1 in, relative humidity 79%.
Also on: Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Edinburgh Art Festival, Edinburgh Food Festival, Edinburgh International Festival, Scotland's Gardens open days.
Watch out for: Festival-season accommodation crunch.
August · good
In its favour: average daily high 18 °C / 64 °F, days with heavy rain 2.4 days, feels like (high) 16.4 °C / 62 °F, average daily low 11.8 °C / 53 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 61%, daylight per day 15 h, wind (daily max) 20 km/h / 12 mph.
Against: wet days 14.2 days, precipitation 81 mm / 3.2 in, relative humidity 80%.
Also on: Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Edinburgh International Book Festival, Edinburgh International Festival, Edinburgh Military Tattoo, Edinburgh Summer Sessions, Fringe of Colour, Jupiter Rising, Masters Degree Show, Scotland's Gardens open days.
Watch out for: Festival-season accommodation crunch.
September · good
In its favour: average daily high 16.2 °C / 61 °F, days with heavy rain 1.2 days, feels like (high) 14.1 °C / 57 °F, average daily low 10.1 °C / 50 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 59%, daylight per day 12.7 h, wind (daily max) 21 km/h / 13 mph.
Against: wet days 11.2 days, precipitation 60 mm / 2.4 in, sunshine per day 7.5 h, relative humidity 81%.
Also on: Art Walk Porty, Edinburgh Doors Open Days, Hidden Door, Take One Action Film Festival.
An activity is listed only where it applies: skiing at ski destinations, beach and swimming at beach destinations. The nearest ski area is Glenshee Ski Center, 103 km away.
Weather averages
Monthly averages over twenty years, 2006–2025. Highs, lows and precipitation are in the chart at the top.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feels like (high) | 2.3 °C | 3.1 °C | 4.8 °C | 7.9 °C | 11.6 °C | 15.1 °C | 17.4 °C | 16.4 °C | 14.1 °C | 10 °C | 5.8 °C | 3 °C |
| Days with heavy rain | 1.6 days | 1.6 days | 1.1 days | 0.7 days | 1.3 days | 1.4 days | 1.6 days | 2.4 days | 1.2 days | 2 days | 2 days | 2.2 days |
| Time rain usually falls | 6 am | 8 am | 1 pm | 11 am | 4 pm | 5 pm | 6 pm | 6 pm | 8 pm | 10 am | 1 pm | 8 pm |
| Sunshine per day | 3.6 h | 5.2 h | 7 h | 9.6 h | 10.7 h | 10.4 h | 10.3 h | 9.1 h | 7.5 h | 5.3 h | 4.2 h | 2.8 h |
| Relative humidity | 85% | 83% | 80% | 76% | 76% | 78% | 79% | 80% | 81% | 84% | 85% | 86% |
Air quality
Averaged over a shorter period (2022–2025) than the twenty-year averages above, and not counted towards good or best months.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air pollution (PM2.5) 2022–2025 | 5.3 µg/m³ | 5.4 µg/m³ | 6.7 µg/m³ | 7.3 µg/m³ | 8.6 µg/m³ | 7.1 µg/m³ | 5.9 µg/m³ | 6.6 µg/m³ | 5.8 µg/m³ | 5.9 µg/m³ | 5.3 µg/m³ | 5 µg/m³ |
| Air pollution (PM2.5, daily peak) 2022–2025 | 9.5 µg/m³ | 9.6 µg/m³ | 11.9 µg/m³ | 12.4 µg/m³ | 13.3 µg/m³ | 11.7 µg/m³ | 10.1 µg/m³ | 10.7 µg/m³ | 9.1 µg/m³ | 9.8 µg/m³ | 9.6 µg/m³ | 8.7 µg/m³ |
- Good 15 µg/m³ or less
- Fair 15 to 25 µg/m³
- Moderate 25 to 37.5 µg/m³
- Poor 37.5 to 50 µg/m³
- Very poor 50 to 75 µg/m³
- Extremely poor over 75 µg/m³
Each figure is compared with the World Health Organization's guideline for a day's air, 15 µg/m³ or less, and with its interim targets above that. The words are ours: the WHO does not name its steps. The figures are modelled monthly averages, so single days can be well above them. The daily peak is the average of each day's highest hour, shaded on the same scale.
Events and seasons
What the weather records cannot show. A major event can lift a month to good or best. The warnings are there to help you plan, and never count against a month.
Reasons to go
- Hogmanay Major
30 December–1 January
- Edinburgh Festival Fringe Major
July and August
- Burns Night
25 January
- Loony Dook
January
- Manipulate Festival
January
- Six Nations rugby internationals
January, February and March, dates vary from year to year
- Edinburgh International Improv Festival
February
- Wee Dub Festival
March
- Edinburgh Science Festival
March and April
- RSA New Contemporaries
March
- Gorse bloom on Arthur's Seat
April
- Edinburgh TradFest
April
- Terminal V
April
- IberoDocs
April
- Cherry blossom in The Meadows
April and May
- Edinburgh International Children's Festival
May
- Edinburgh Marathon
May
- Beltane Fire Festival
May
- Degree Show
25–31 May
- Imaginate Festival
May and June
- Meadows Festival
15–30 June
- Edinburgh Jazz and Blues Festival
June
- Edinburgh International Film Festival
June
- Pride Edinburgh
June
- Scotland's Gardens open days
June, July and August
- Edinburgh Art Festival
July
- Edinburgh Food Festival
July
- Edinburgh International Festival
July and August
- Edinburgh Military Tattoo
August
- Jupiter Rising
August
- Edinburgh International Book Festival
August
- Fringe of Colour
August
- Edinburgh Summer Sessions
August
- Masters Degree Show
August
- Take One Action Film Festival
September
- Hidden Door
September, dates vary from year to year
- Art Walk Porty
September
- Edinburgh Doors Open Days
24–30 September
- Africa in Motion
October
- Scotland Loves Anime
October
- Edinburgh Spanish Film Festival
October
- Scottish International Storytelling Festival
October
- Push the Boat Out Festival
October
- Samhuinn Fire Festival
31 October
- Bonfire Night / Guy Fawkes Night fireworks
5 November
- St Andrew's Day
30 November
- French Film Festival UK
November
- Armistice Day observance
11 November
- Edinburgh Christmas Market (Princes Street Gardens)
December
- Edinburgh's Christmas
December
- Christmas at the Botanics
December
- Boxing Day sales
26 December
Worth knowing before you go
- Six Nations rugby crowds
January, February and March, dates vary from year to year
- Hogmanay street closures
30 December–1 January
- Christmas Day and New Year's Day closures
January and December
- Christmas-New Year transport disruption
24 December–1 January
- Festival-season accommodation crunch
June, July and August
- Christmas shopping crowds
December
- Pre-Christmas travel rush
18–24 December
World Heritage sites nearby
UNESCO World Heritage sites within 25 km, nearest first.
- Old and New Towns of Edinburgh
1 km away
- Forth Bridge
13 km away