Best Time to Visit Edinburgh
Best time to visit Edinburgh: June, July, August and September. Month-by-month temperature, rainfall and crowd guidance.
Best time to visit Edinburgh
Go in June, July, August and September. These months score highest on comfortable temperatures, low rainfall and useful daylight.
Hardest months: January, November and December - expect the least comfortable mix of heat, cold or rain.
Climate in Edinburgh month by month
Average high, average low and total rainfall, based on three years of reanalysis data.
| Month | Avg high | Avg low | Rainfall | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 42° | 35° | 2,9 in | ★★★☆☆ |
| February | 46° | 38° | 2,5 in | ★★★☆☆ |
| March | 50° | 39° | 2,7 in | ★★★☆☆ |
| April | 54° | 41° | 2,8 in | ★★★☆☆ |
| May | 60° | 47° | 3,6 in | ★★★★☆ |
| June | 64° | 51° | 3,0 in | ★★★★☆ |
| July | 66° | 55° | 3,3 in | ★★★★☆ |
| August | 67° | 55° | 2,8 in | ★★★★☆ |
| September | 61° | 51° | 2,2 in | ★★★★☆ |
| October | 55° | 47° | 4,8 in | ★★★☆☆ |
| November | 49° | 40° | 3,9 in | ★★★☆☆ |
| December | 47° | 40° | 4,7 in | ★★☆☆☆ |
Climate type: Temperate. Source: Open-Meteo archive (ERA5).
How Edinburgh compares with nearby places
Annual averages, and the difference against Edinburgh.
| Place | Distance | Avg temp | vs here | Annual rain |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greater Glasgow | 42 mi | 49°F | about the same | 49 in |
| Glasgow | 42 mi | 49°F | about the same | 49 in |
| Northumberland | 67 mi | 48°F | 34°F cooler | 38 in |
| Newcastle upon Tyne | 91 mi | 51°F | about the same | 34 in |
| Cumbria | 96 mi | 47°F | 35°F cooler | 55 in |
Best time to visit each attraction in Edinburgh
1 attractions mapped in this atlas
Best time to visit each unesco world heritage site in Edinburgh
1 unesco world heritage sites mapped in this atlas
Best time to visit each district in Edinburgh
1 districts and neighborhoods mapped in this atlas
What to pack, what to skip
- A packable rain shell - 3 of the next 7 days carry a real chance of rain
- If your dates are flexible, avoid January, November and December - historically the least comfortable months here.
Summary
Edinburgh is a city in Lothian. Edinburgh is known for Castle, Royal Mile and the Fringe. It has a population of about 510.000.
Right now it is 62°F (17°C) in Edinburgh with clear sky. It feels like 59°F. Today runs from 53°F to 63°F. Chance of precipitation is 100%. Sightseeing conditions score 7.1/10 - good conditions.
The best time to visit Edinburgh is June, July, August and September. The climate is temperate. January, November and December tend to be the least comfortable months. August is the warmest month with average highs near 67°F, while January is the coldest with lows near 35°F.
The closest major airport is Dublin Airport (DUB), about 214 mi away. Nearby highlights include Edinburgh Castle, Old and New Towns of Edinburgh, Lake District National Park and Loch Ness.
In plain terms. Today is warmer than average for October. The forecast high of 63°F is 7.6°F above the 55°F typical for this month. The best window to be outside is roughly 9 AM to 12 PM, when temperature, rain chance and wind line up best. fishing is the strongest bet in Edinburgh today at 8.3/10. Wet roads are likely; braking distances roughly double in heavy rain.
Compiled from this page's own data: atlas facts plus live Open-Meteo readings.
Weather in Edinburgh right now
Source: Open-Meteo. Updated 12:30 PM, Oct 2 local time.
Weekend outlook
☁️ 59° / 49°
Overcast · 38% rain · wind 11 mph
🌦️ 63° / 52°
Drizzle · 45% rain · wind 14 mph
Things to do in Edinburgh
Attractions, parks and landmarks in and around Edinburgh.
Quick facts about Edinburgh
| Type | City |
|---|---|
| County | Lothian |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Continent | Europe |
| Coordinates | 55°57′11.9″N 3°11′17.9″W (55.9533, -3.1883) |
| Population | 510.000 |
| Known for | Castle, Royal Mile and the Fringe |
| Local time | 12:30 PM (UTC+01:00) |
| Best months | June, July, August and September |
| Climate | Temperate |
Explore Edinburgh
Every topic we hold for this place, and the same topic for the places around it.
Best Time to Visit for related places
Frequently asked questions
Where is Edinburgh?
Edinburgh is a city in Lothian. Its coordinates are 55.9533, -3.1883. It lies in Europe.
What is the weather like in Edinburgh right now?
It is currently 62°F (17°C) with clear sky. Humidity is 64% and wind is 7 mph.
When is the best time to visit Edinburgh?
June, July, August and September offer the most comfortable conditions in Edinburgh, which has a temperate climate. January, November and December are usually the hardest months for outdoor plans.
What time zone is Edinburgh in?
Edinburgh observes Europe/London (UTC+01:00). The local time is 12:30 PM.
How many people live in Edinburgh?
Edinburgh has a population of approximately 510.000.
What is the nearest airport to Edinburgh?
The closest airports are Dublin Airport (DUB), 214 mi away.
What are the top things to do in Edinburgh?
Popular options include Edinburgh Castle, Old and New Towns of Edinburgh, Lake District National Park, Loch Ness, Isle of Skye and Snowdonia National Park.
What places are in Edinburgh?
Edinburgh covers 3 places in this atlas, including Edinburgh Castle, Old and New Towns of Edinburgh and Old Town.
Related articles
Data sources and methodology
| Place data | USPOTUS Atlas dataset (cities-world) - coordinates, hierarchy and facts. |
|---|---|
| Forecast and observations | Open-Meteo (ECMWF and national models). |
| Air quality and pollen | Copernicus CAMS via Open-Meteo. US AQI scale. |
| Climate averages | ERA5 reanalysis via the Open-Meteo archive, aggregated over 3 years. |
| Method | Scores, comparisons and advice on this page are computed from the inputs above. Distances are straight-line. Nothing is estimated where data is missing - the block is simply not shown. |
Last updated October 2, 2026 at 12:30 PM local time. Live blocks refresh every 15 minutes; climate averages monthly.
