Edinburgh breaks
Layered Scottish capital of closes and crescents, ideal for festival seasons and atmospheric winter city breaks.
17°C SeptemberBest Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep2–4 nights
At a glance
- festival-focused trips
- heritage city breaks
- short Scottish stays
Trip cost
- Stay
- ≈€552
- Food & local
- ≈€150
An estimate, not a quote — each booking happens separately with its supplier. How we work this out.
Prices shown on this page are indicative estimates in euros, not quotes. Every booking happens separately with its own supplier, at that supplier's own live price. How we work this out.
Stays
Stays in Edinburgh
Typically around €75/night, a United Kingdom-wide estimate · €138 mid-range — not a live listing price
Map
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Self-catering
Prefer a place of your own? Browse holiday homes and apartments in Edinburgh on Holidu.
Getting to Edinburgh
- AirportEdinburgh Airport (EDI)
- Transfer optionsTram, bus, taxi
Airlink buses, trams and taxis connect the airport west of the city with the centre and main rail stations.
Areas of Edinburgh
A few places people base themselves, and who each tends to suit.
- Old TownWorld Heritage core ideal for visitors who want to stay among historic closes and main sights.
- New TownGeorgian terraces and shopping streets suiting families and those who prefer wider streets.
- Royal MileStrip between castle and palace good for first-time visitors on short visits.
- West EndArea recommended for budget-conscious travellers wanting access to central attractions.
- LeithHarbour district for travellers looking for a more independent-feeling part of town.
Edinburgh weather by month
Edinburgh is warmest in July, when daily highs average 19°C, and coolest in January at 7°C. October is the wettest month at about 126 mm, June the driest at 54 mm. Taking warmth and rainfall together, June, July, August, September score best for a trip.
- Best overall
- June · July · August · September
- Hottest
- July · 19°C
- Wettest
- October · 126mm
- January: average daily high 7°C, 69mm rainfall.
- February: average daily high 8°C, 67mm rainfall.
- March: average daily high 10°C, 69mm rainfall.
- April: average daily high 11°C, 56mm rainfall.
- May: average daily high 14°C, 70mm rainfall.
- June: average daily high 17°C, 54mm rainfall. Good month for weather.
- July: average daily high 19°C, 76mm rainfall. Good month for weather.
- August: average daily high 19°C, 66mm rainfall. Good month for weather.
- September: average daily high 17°C, 79mm rainfall. Good month for weather.
- October: average daily high 13°C, 126mm rainfall.
- November: average daily high 10°C, 96mm rainfall.
- December: average daily high 8°C, 110mm rainfall.
How these figures are worked out
Monthly averages — multi-year historical data, not a standard 30-year climate normal or a forecast. Gold months are the best weather fit: each month scores on how close its average daily high sits to about 27 °C, with heavy rainfall counting against it, and months far outside that range are not ranked at all.
What each season is like
- Spring
- Moderately busy with improving conditions and more daylight, suiting general sightseeing.
- Summer
- August festival season brings large crowds and highly active streets, especially in central areas.
- Autumn
- Quieter than peak festival months, with a more local feel and shorter days.
- Winter
- Cold and darker but atmospheric, fitting those who want a cosier city break and indoor culture.
What’s on in Edinburgh
Tue 22 SeptKevin Bridges: Here If You Need Me
Tue 22 SeptAlasdair Beckett-King: King of CrumbsSee all events in Edinburgh on Wanderistan (opens in a new tab)
Compare United Kingdom destinations
Still deciding? Other United Kingdom destinations, with the same weather and typical-stay data behind them.
| Destination | Aug | Typical stay |
|---|---|---|
| London | 23°C | 3–7 nights |
Nearby and alternative destinations
Also consider
Good to know about Edinburgh
Why go
- Offers a clear split between Old Town and Georgian New Town, giving different feels within one compact centre.
- Hosts major August festivals, including the Fringe and the Tattoo, that transform the city each summer.
- Works well as a base for short train trips into surrounding landscapes without needing a car.
Worth knowing
- Festival periods, particularly August, can feel extremely busy and make accommodation harder to secure.
- Hilly streets, cobbles and stairs may be tiring, especially in Old Town.
- Changeable weather means you need to plan for rain and wind even in summer.