United Kingdom
Things to do in Edinburgh
Day trips, walking tours and food tours and more, with the best month for each. Edinburgh is most comfortable for sightseeing in May to September.
Photo: Matti Blume, CC BY-SA 4.0
Popular tours in Edinburgh
Underground Vaults Walking Tour in Edinburgh Old TownFrom $33View 
Edinburgh Castle Guided Tour Tickets IncludedFrom $53View 
Edinburgh Castle: Guided Walking Tour with Entry TicketFrom $56View 
Edinburgh Castle and Royal Mile Walking Tour - Ticket IncludedFrom $72View 
Edinburgh Castle Guided Walking Tour - Entry Tickets IncludedFrom $53View 
Edinburgh Full-Day Tour with Edinburgh Castle includedFrom $130View
Tours from Viator. Good Outing may earn a commission when you book, at no cost to you.
What to book in Edinburgh
Edinburgh weather by month
Averages for Edinburgh, 1991–2020. Highlighted months are the most comfortable for sightseeing.
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °F (°C) | 45 (7) | 46 (8) | 49 (10) | 54 (12) | 59 (15) | 63 (17) | 67 (19) | 66 (19) | 62 (17) | 56 (13) | 50 (10) | 45 (7) |
| Low °F (°C) | 35 (2) | 35 (2) | 37 (3) | 40 (5) | 45 (7) | 50 (10) | 53 (12) | 53 (12) | 49 (10) | 44 (7) | 39 (4) | 35 (2) |
| Rainy days | 12 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 12 | 10 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 12 |
| Sunset (15th) | 4:10 pm | 5:16 pm | 6:15 pm | 8:18 pm | 9:18 pm | 10:00 pm | 9:49 pm | 8:51 pm | 7:32 pm | 6:13 pm | 4:06 pm | 3:38 pm |
Day trips from Edinburgh
- Falkirk 23 mi
- The Falkirk Wheel boat lift and the Kelpies sculptures.
- Glasgow 42 mi
- Scotland's biggest city, 50 minutes by train.
- Gullane 15 mi
- Sandy beaches and links golf on the East Lothian coast.
- Dunbar 26 mi
- A harbour town and the birthplace of John Muir.
- Dunfermline 13 mi
- The abbey and Andrew Carnegie's birthplace.
- Culross 19 mi
- A preserved 17th-century village used in Outlander.
- Dundee 36 mi
- The V&A design museum and the RRS Discovery.
- Jedburgh 42 mi
- Abbey ruins in the Scottish Borders.
Questions
When is the best time to visit Edinburgh?
For walking around and sightseeing, May to September. July is the warmest month at about 67°F (19°C), and January the coolest at about 45°F (7°C).
What is the rainiest month in Edinburgh?
January, with about 12 rainy days. Book outdoor tours early in your stay that month, so there's room to move them.