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Best Times to Visit Edinburgh
The best time to visit Edinburgh is June through August when the average high temperatures rise to a balmy 65 degrees Fahrenheit. But this is also the city's busiest time for tourism, especially in August when festivals fill up the calendar. To avoid spending a small fortune, you'll have to bundle up: winter (November to March) offers the best low-season deals, except during the city's New Year's celebration, Hogmanay. Spring and early fall are the sweet spots – relatively mild weather and thin crowds pair with the chance to find hotel and airfare deals.
Weather in Edinburgh
Data sourced from the National Climatic Data Center
| June-August |
Summertime's average temperatures range between 50 and 65 degrees Fahrenheit, making it the most comfortable time to visit weather-wise. Plus, because of the country's high latitude, summer days are long. But the fine weather and compilation of festivals also make it the most popular time to travel. If you plan on coming, book your hotel months in advance and expect crowds left and right. Key Events:
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September-October |
Edinburgh experiences a brief autumn when it comes to temperatures; by the end of October, you'll need a heavy winter jacket as temperatures dip to the low 40s. Key Events:
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| November-March |
Winter in Edinburgh is long – but maybe not as cold as you might think: Average low temperatures hover in the 30s. However, the city can seem quite dismal with short daylight hours. On the bright side, you’ll probably save a good chunk of change on accommodations and airfare. Keep in mind: January and February are generally Scotland's coldest months. Key Events:
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April-May |
These months are Edinburgh's prime time. No, it's not exactly warm – temperatures range between the high 30s and 50s – but hotel prices are lower and tourists still aren't very plenty. |
Popular Times to Visit Edinburgh
Tourism volume is estimated based on in-market destination search query interest from Google and on travel.usnews.com in 2015-2016. Hotel prices are sourced from a sample of U.S. News Best Hotels rates through 2015-2016.
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