VoyaggoraTop-rated tours in Edinburgh
Planning your trip to Edinburgh
Best time to visit
May to September brings the longest days and the mildest weather, though rain is possible in any month. August is the festival month, when the city is lively but accommodation fills up early and costs more. Late autumn and winter are quieter and cheaper, with short days and a busy Christmas and Hogmanay season.
How many days you need
Two to three days covers the castle, the Royal Mile, the New Town, a walk up Arthur's Seat and a museum or two. Add a day or more for a trip into the Highlands, or for Stirling or the coast by train.
Getting around
The center is compact and walkable, but steep, with many stairs and cobbles between the Old Town and the New Town, so comfortable shoes help. A tram runs from the airport through the city center, and a dense bus network covers the rest. Trains leave from Waverley station in the middle of town.
What to skip
The shops along the Royal Mile selling mass-produced tartan and souvenirs are aimed at passing visitors; specialist shops elsewhere are a better bet if you want the real thing. Book castle tickets ahead in summer, and pack a layer and a waterproof even on a sunny morning.
Where to stay in Edinburgh
Hotels and vacation rentals around Edinburgh with live prices from the big booking sites. Pick your dates on the map to compare.
Hotel map by our partner Stay22. If you book through it we may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you.
Best time to visit Edinburgh
The most comfortable months in Edinburgh are June to September, with average daytime highs of 61 to 65°F and 13 to 17 rainy days a month. July is the hottest month, averaging 65°F, and January the coolest at 44°F. October sees the most rain, around 18 days, while January is the driest with about 12.
Average daily high / low and days with rain, from Open-Meteo ERA5 records for 2019-2024. Highlighted months are the pick above.
Plan the rest of your trip to Edinburgh
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Edinburgh: common questions
- When is the best time to visit Edinburgh?
- The most comfortable stretch is June to September, when average highs run 61 to 65°F with 13 to 17 rainy days a month. July is the hottest month at 65°F on average, and January the coolest at 44°F.
- What is the rainiest month in Edinburgh?
- October, with roughly 18 days of rain. The driest is January, with about 12. Both are averages from 2019-2024 records.
- How warm does it get in Edinburgh?
- July averages 65°F by day and 54°F at night, and January averages 44°F and 37°F. In the southern hemisphere those two are reversed.
- How do I book tours, a hotel or an airport transfer in Edinburgh?
- Everything on this page books through our travel partners: top-rated tours and tickets, hotels, car rental, airport transfers, an eSIM and travel insurance. Voyaggora earns a commission on some bookings at no extra cost to you, and our AI concierge can put a day-by-day plan together first.
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