Best time to visit Scotland

Our verdict

The best time to visit Scotland is April-June

While Scotland is a popular destination to visit all year round, April-June is the ideal time to go due to a number of factors such as the climate, cost of travel and accommodation, as well as avoiding peak holiday periods.

The very hottest temperatures in Edinburgh, one of the most popular tourist destinations in Scotland, tend to reach around 20℃ (67℉) in the height of summer. The weather at night in the winter, which is around January-time, can get down to a minimum of -1℃ (30℉) in Edinburgh. Other destinations in Scotland can sometimes get even colder than this, so if you’re planning on visiting a few different places, make sure you check out the climate comparison table below.

If you want to get the most out of your time visiting Scotland, or you’re just afraid of the dark, the days in June are usually the longest between sunrise and sunset. The wet season in Scotland falls around August, so if you prefer the dryer weather, you should look to visit in April instead.

Keep reading to find out more detailed information about the seasons and climate in Scotland, explore hidden gems and destinations to visit while you’re there, discover our favourite tools to help you find the best options for transport, accommodation, and much more.

Warmest month

July

Least rainfall

April

Most daylight

June

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Scotland seasons

Before you plan your trip, it’s important to know when the seasons are as they may be different to yours depending on where you’re travelling from. Scotland is in the Northern hemisphere, so the seasons fall on:

Season Months
Summer June to August
Autumn/fall September to November
Winter December to February
Spring March to May

Best time to visit the top destinations in Scotland

We’ve put together a breakdown of the average minimum and maximum temperatures by month, as well as the best times to visit for each. To learn more about these destinations including detailed climate breakdowns and much more, click or tap the city/destination name below.

CityBest time to visitJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
AberdeenMay-June
5℃
3℃
6℃
3℃
8℃
3℃
10℃
5℃
12℃
6℃
14℃
9℃
16℃
11℃
16℃
11℃
14℃
10℃
11℃
8℃
8℃
5℃
6℃
3℃
BowlingJune
5℃
2℃
6℃
1℃
7℃
2℃
11℃
4℃
13℃
6℃
16℃
8℃
17℃
10℃
16℃
10℃
14℃
9℃
11℃
7℃
8℃
4℃
6℃
2℃
EdinburghApril-June
5℃
2℃
6℃
2℃
8℃
3℃
11℃
4℃
13℃
6℃
16℃
8℃
17℃
11℃
17℃
10℃
15℃
9℃
12℃
7℃
8℃
4℃
6℃
2℃
Fort WilliamApril-June
3℃
-0℃
3℃
-0℃
6℃
1℃
9℃
3℃
11℃
5℃
14℃
7℃
15℃
9℃
14℃
8℃
13℃
7℃
10℃
5℃
6℃
2℃
4℃
0℃
GlasgowApril-June
5℃
1℃
5℃
1℃
7℃
2℃
10℃
4℃
13℃
6℃
15℃
8℃
17℃
10℃
16℃
10℃
14℃
8℃
11℃
6℃
7℃
3℃
5℃
2℃
InvernessJune
4℃
1℃
5℃
1℃
7℃
2℃
10℃
4℃
13℃
5℃
15℃
8℃
17℃
10℃
16℃
10℃
14℃
8℃
11℃
6℃
7℃
3℃
5℃
1℃
St AndrewsMay-June
6℃
3℃
6℃
3℃
8℃
4℃
10℃
5℃
12℃
7℃
14℃
9℃
17℃
11℃
16℃
12℃
15℃
10℃
12℃
8℃
8℃
5℃
6℃
3℃
Isle of ArranJune-September
7℃
5℃
7℃
5℃
8℃
5℃
10℃
7℃
12℃
8℃
14℃
11℃
16℃
13℃
15℃
13℃
14℃
12℃
12℃
10℃
10℃
8℃
8℃
6℃
Shetland IslandsJune-September
7℃
5℃
7℃
5℃
7℃
5℃
8℃
6℃
9℃
8℃
12℃
10℃
13℃
12℃
14℃
13℃
13℃
12℃
11℃
9℃
9℃
7℃
8℃
6℃
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Top FAQs

Scotland is in Europe.
The warmest month of the year in Edinburgh, one of the most popular places to visit in Scotland, is July.
The driest month of the year in Edinburgh, Scotland, is usually around April each year.

Scotland map