Our verdict
The best time to visit Edinburgh is April-June
In the summer months, temperatures can reach as high as 20℃ (67℉) in Edinburgh. The weather at night in the winter, which is around January-time, can get down to a minimum of -1℃ (30℉).
If you’re keen to see the sights of Edinburgh during the day, the sun stays up the longest around June. On average it rains the most days in August, making it the wettest month of the year. Although it’s the wet season, it can often rain a little bit during the day or evening but have fine weather for a majority of the day too, so don’t let this put you off.
Keep reading to find all the info you need (and none of the stuff you don’t) about the best times to go to Edinburgh. By the time you get to the bottom, you’ll be ready to start booking your trip.
Quick links: Fast facts / Seasons / Average temperatures / Monthly climate / FAQs / Map
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Edinburgh seasons
Before you continue, it’s important to know when the seasons are in Edinburgh as they might be different to yours depending on where in the world you’re travelling from. Edinburgh is in the Northern Hemisphere, so the seasons fall during these months:
| Season | Months |
|---|---|
| Summer | June to August |
| Autumn/fall | September to November |
| Winter | December to February |
| Spring | March to May |
Average temperatures in Edinburgh
If the temperature is a big factor for you to help you decide when to visit, the chart below shows the average minimum and maximum temperatures in Edinburgh for each month side-by-side so you can easily see the difference in weather throughout the year. To see the temperatures in both Celsius (°C) and Fahrenheit (°F), hover or tap the shaded boxes on the graph.
Edinburgh climate by month
If you already have a rough idea about which months you might want to travel, the section below shows a detailed breakdown of the climate in Edinburgh for each month so you can see if it all suits your wants and needs. Scroll down, or use the quick menu below to jump to your preferred month.
Jump to:
Edinburgh in January
- Average temperature: 3℃ (38℉)
- Average high temperature: 5℃ (41℉)
- Average low temperature: 2℃ (35℉)
- Average humidity: 87%
- Average sunny days: 11 days
- Average rainfall: 33mm (1") over 17 days
- Average snow days: 2 days
of pure sunshine
of showers or rain
What to pack: If you’re heading to Edinburgh in January, make sure you pack a thick snow/winter jacket, thermals and some extra layers as it's always very cold.
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Edinburgh in February
- Average temperature: 4℃ (39℉)
- Average high temperature: 6℃ (43℉)
- Average low temperature: 2℃ (35℉)
- Average humidity: 85%
- Average sunny days: 11 days
- Average rainfall: 43mm (2") over 13 days
- Average snow days: 3 days
of pure sunshine
of showers or rain
What to pack: If you’re heading to Edinburgh in February, make sure you pack a thick snow/winter jacket, thermals and some extra layers as it's always very cold.
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Edinburgh in March
- Average temperature: 5℃ (41℉)
- Average high temperature: 8℃ (46℉)
- Average low temperature: 3℃ (37℉)
- Average humidity: 83%
- Average sunny days: 12 days
- Average rainfall: 37mm (1") over 16 days
- Average snow days: 2 days
of pure sunshine
of showers or rain
What to pack: If you’re heading to Edinburgh in March, make sure you pack a thick snow/winter jacket, thermals and some extra layers as it's always very cold.
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Edinburgh in April
- Average temperature: 7℃ (45℉)
- Average high temperature: 11℃ (51℉)
- Average low temperature: 4℃ (39℉)
- Average humidity: 81%
- Average sunny days: 12 days
- Average rainfall: 25mm (1") over 14 days
of pure sunshine
of showers or rain
What to pack: If you’re heading to Edinburgh in April, make sure you pack a thick snow/winter jacket, thermals and some extra layers as it's always very cold.
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Edinburgh in May
- Average temperature: 10℃ (50℉)
- Average high temperature: 13℃ (56℉)
- Average low temperature: 6℃ (43℉)
- Average humidity: 81%
- Average sunny days: 10 days
- Average rainfall: 36mm (1") over 19 days
of pure sunshine
of showers or rain
What to pack: If you’re heading to Edinburgh in May, make sure you pack a warm jacket or coat.
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Edinburgh in June
- Average temperature: 12℃ (54℉)
- Average high temperature: 16℃ (60℉)
- Average low temperature: 8℃ (47℉)
- Average humidity: 85%
- Average sunny days: 7 days
- Average rainfall: 48mm (2") over 20 days
of pure sunshine
of showers or rain
What to pack: If you’re heading to Edinburgh in June, make sure you pack a warm jacket or coat.
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Edinburgh in July
- Average temperature: 14℃ (57℉)
- Average high temperature: 17℃ (63℉)
- Average low temperature: 11℃ (51℉)
- Average humidity: 85%
- Average sunny days: 6 days
- Average rainfall: 55mm (2") over 22 days
of pure sunshine
of showers or rain
What to pack: If you’re heading to Edinburgh in July, make sure you pack a warm jacket or coat.
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Edinburgh in August
- Average temperature: 14℃ (57℉)
- Average high temperature: 17℃ (62℉)
- Average low temperature: 10℃ (51℉)
- Average humidity: 85%
- Average sunny days: 7 days
- Average rainfall: 59mm (2") over 21 days
of pure sunshine
of showers or rain
What to pack: If you’re heading to Edinburgh in August, make sure you pack a warm jacket or coat.
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Edinburgh in September
- Average temperature: 12℃ (53℉)
- Average high temperature: 15℃ (59℉)
- Average low temperature: 9℃ (48℉)
- Average humidity: 86%
- Average sunny days: 11 days
- Average rainfall: 32mm (1") over 15 days
of pure sunshine
of showers or rain
What to pack: If you’re heading to Edinburgh in September, make sure you pack a warm jacket or coat.
Edinburgh in October
- Average temperature: 9℃ (49℉)
- Average high temperature: 12℃ (53℉)
- Average low temperature: 7℃ (45℉)
- Average humidity: 87%
- Average sunny days: 12 days
- Average rainfall: 41mm (2") over 17 days
of pure sunshine
of showers or rain
What to pack: If you’re heading to Edinburgh in October, make sure you pack a warm jacket or coat.
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Edinburgh in November
- Average temperature: 6℃ (43℉)
- Average high temperature: 8℃ (46℉)
- Average low temperature: 4℃ (39℉)
- Average humidity: 88%
- Average sunny days: 12 days
- Average rainfall: 38mm (2") over 16 days
of pure sunshine
of showers or rain
What to pack: If you’re heading to Edinburgh in November, make sure you pack a thick snow/winter jacket, thermals and some extra layers as it's always very cold.
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Edinburgh in December
- Average temperature: 4℃ (39℉)
- Average high temperature: 6℃ (42℉)
- Average low temperature: 2℃ (36℉)
- Average humidity: 88%
- Average sunny days: 12 days
- Average rainfall: 39mm (2") over 16 days
- Average snow days: 2 days
of pure sunshine
of showers or rain
What to pack: If you’re heading to Edinburgh in December, make sure you pack a thick snow/winter jacket, thermals and some extra layers as it's always very cold.
Add visitor or local insider tips >