The best time to visit Edinburgh is June through August, when average highs reach 16.8 °C in June and 18.4 °C in July alongside the year's longest daylight and up to 11 hours of sunshine a day. July and August are peak season, coinciding with school holidays and the city's world-famous festivals, so expect crowds and book well ahead. Winter is the quiet low season — cold, dark and often wet, with December seeing just 2.6 hours of sunshine a day.
Best months JuneJulyAugust
Edinburgh month by month
Average highs and lows (°C), 2016–2025. Highlighted bars are the best months.
| Month | High | Low | Rain days | Sun / day |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 6.2 °C | 2.2 °C | 13 | 3.7 h |
| February | 7.3 °C | 2.6 °C | 14 | 5.1 h |
| March | 8.7 °C | 3.1 °C | 15 | 6.8 h |
| April | 10.7 °C | 4.1 °C | 11 | 9.4 h |
| May | 14.2 °C | 7.5 °C | 12 | 10.5 h |
| June | 16.8 °C | 10.3 °C | 14 | 11 h |
| July | 18.4 °C | 12.1 °C | 16 | 10.2 h |
| August | 18 °C | 12 °C | 14 | 9.7 h |
| September | 16 °C | 10.2 °C | 14 | 7.8 h |
| October | 12.6 °C | 7.8 °C | 16 | 5.3 h |
| November | 8.9 °C | 4.5 °C | 14 | 4.3 h |
| December | 7.2 °C | 3.2 °C | 15 | 2.6 h |
How the months are picked.A month qualifies when its average high sits in the comfortable 20–28 °C band (scored down towards 9 °C and 37 °C), rain days are few and sunshine hours are high — at least 78 % of the city's best-scoring month. July and August are then set aside as peak season (school-holiday crowds and prices) whenever at least three other months qualify; where summer is the only comfortable window they stay. Figures are ten-year averages (2016-01-01 to 2025-12-31) from ERA5 reanalysis data via Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0) for the city centre coordinates.
When to go, and what to expect
Spring (Mar–May)
Great for budget-minded travellers who want lengthening days without festival crowds.
Summer (Jun–Aug)
The prime window for mild weather and long evenings — book early.
Autumn (Sep–Nov)
A good shoulder pick for September's lingering warmth and thinner crowds.
Winter (Dec–Feb)
Best for festive markets and Hogmanay; skip it if you want daylight and warmth.
Notable events
- August
- Edinburgh Festival Fringe & International Festival
- Late December
- Hogmanay (New Year celebrations)
- November–December
- Edinburgh's Christmas markets
- Late April
- Beltane Fire Festival
Frequently asked
Is August too hot in Edinburgh?
No — August averages a mild high of 18 °C with 9.7 hours of sunshine a day, so heat is rarely an issue. The bigger factor is festival crowds and 14 rain days.
What is the rainiest month in Edinburgh?
July, October and December all record the most wet weather, with July and October each seeing 16 rain days. Rain is common year-round, so pack a waterproof.
Is winter worth visiting Edinburgh?
It can be, for Christmas markets and Hogmanay, but expect cold highs of 6.2–7.3 °C and very short days — December has just 2.6 hours of sunshine daily.
Know when to go? Now decide where to stay — our Edinburgh area guide →
Areas of Edinburgh
Best time to visit near here
Sources
- Open-Meteo historical weather API — monthly climate normals, 2016–2025 (CC BY 4.0)
- ERA5 reanalysis (ECMWF / Copernicus) — the underlying temperature, precipitation and sunshine data
- ReasonStay methodology — how the best months are computed and checked
An independent guide to Edinburgh — honest, verified, no invented data. Climate figures: ERA5 via Open-Meteo, 2016–2025 averages; the best months are computed from them, not opinion.