Edinburgh Weather

Edinburgh Climate in: best time to visit, weather by month, temperature

Scottish weather has a rather infamous reputation among travelers. Some embrace it, but the prevailing image is of rain, grey skies and low temperatures. Edinburgh is no exception, though it’s worth noting that its climate is temperate thanks to maritime influences, and considerably milder—particularly in winter—than similar locations at the same latitude, such as Moscow or Copenhagen.

All in all, Edinburgh’s temperatures remain within the 0–20°C range throughout the year, though extreme readings have been recorded occasionally. What’s more noteworthy is the wind, due to the city’s position between the coast and surrounding hills: this brings warm, unstable air from the North Atlantic, resulting in rain that falls fairly constantly throughout the year.

Consequently, there’s no ideal season or poor season to visit Edinburgh. Certainly, summer brings milder temperatures, but winter has the undeniable charm of Christmas, snow (not uncommon in these parts, though it rarely gets bitterly cold), whilst the shoulder seasons offer pleasant temperatures for outdoor activities and smaller tourist crowds, bringing lower prices for flights and accommodation.

Bottom line? Pack an umbrella and go—Edinburgh awaits you year-round!