Leonardo Royal Hotel Edinburgh
Edinburgh - 43 Jeffrey Street
Book now
Edinburgh’s New Year celebrations, called Hogmanay, are Europe’s biggest New Year festival and one of the world’s largest New Year events, attracting over 150,000 people during the 3-day festival, from 30 December to 1 January.
Over these three days, an extensive programme of events takes place, both ticketed and free: spectacular parades you can join in person, concerts by international artists, traditional music performances in pubs and operatic performances in the cathedral, film screenings and spectacular fireworks displays. Not to mention the giant observation wheel overlooking the Prince Street Gardens, where a Christmas market and entertainment for children and teenagers are also organised.
But the heart of the celebration is naturally 31 December: a significant portion of the historic centre, stretching from the Royal Mile to Princes Street and its gardens, is closed to both vehicle and pedestrian traffic, with access only permitted with a ticket. Music from the main stages continues until 2am, punctuated by fireworks at midnight.
After the festival, the party continues in the pubs, where you can enjoy live music and celebrations carry on into the morning.
Edinburgh’s Hogmanay offers an extensive programme of events, some free and others ticketed. Here are the main highlights you absolutely shouldn’t miss, based on our personal experience.
The Torchlight Procession is the event that traditionally kicks off the celebrations on the evening of 30 December. Thousands of people, each carrying a lit torch, form a river of light flowing through the city’s historic centre, typically starting from the Royal Mile and ending at Holyrood Park. The procession is accompanied by bagpipe bands and percussion groups creating a magical and solemn atmosphere.
Taking part in this procession is truly moving: walking alongside thousands of people illuminating the night with their torches, whilst bagpipe notes echo between the city’s ancient buildings, creates an almost mystical atmosphere. At the end of the procession, a light choreography often forms an image or word visible from above, followed by an opening fireworks display.
On the evening of 31 December, the main event takes place: the Princes Street Street Party, one of the world’s largest street festivals. The entire Princes Street, Edinburgh’s main shopping thoroughfare, is closed to traffic and transforms into a huge celebration area with several stages hosting live concerts by international and local artists.
The Street Party generally starts around 19:00 and continues into the early morning hours. The atmosphere is electric, with tens of thousands of people dancing, singing and celebrating together. It’s absolutely worth buying tickets in advance for this event, as they sell out quickly.
Alongside the Street Party, there’s the Concert in the Gardens, a special concert in Princes Street Gardens, at the foot of Edinburgh Castle. This is a more exclusive event with limited tickets, offering the opportunity to see world-renowned artists in a spectacular location.
The climax of the evening is, of course, the midnight countdown followed by a spectacular fireworks display launched from Edinburgh Castle. This is one of Europe’s largest and most impressive pyrotechnic shows, lighting up the entire city skyline for approximately 5 minutes. The sight of fireworks exploding above the castle’s silhouette is truly breathtaking and creates an atmosphere of collective wonder that unites everyone present.
Immediately after midnight, Scottish tradition calls for everyone to sing “Auld Lang Syne”, the famous song written by national poet Robert Burns. It’s a touching moment seeing thousands of people holding hands forming enormous circles and singing this nostalgic melody together, celebrating friendship and memories.
On 1 January, if you still have energy, there are several events to enjoy. The Loony Dook is perhaps the most eccentric: hundreds of people in fancy dress plunge into the freezing waters of the Firth of Forth at South Queensferry, just outside Edinburgh.
Throughout the Hogmanay period, the city also offers traditional Scottish dance performances, called “ceilidhs”. The largest is “Ceilidh under the Castle”, held outdoors in the Castle Street area. Even if you don’t know the steps, don’t worry: there are always “callers” who guide participants through the dances, and the atmosphere is so inclusive that beginners can have fun without difficulty.
On the evening of 30 December, the famous Torchlight Procession takes place. From the Royal Mile, an enormous procession of Edinburgh residents, tourists and visitors marches on foot to Calton Hill, carrying large torches that create a stunning atmosphere.
Leading the procession are bands of pipers, bagpipe players, together with representatives of the Shetland Up Helly Aa festival, dressed in authentic Viking costume.
The procession winds through the city centre streets and climbs the hill from where spectacular fireworks are launched and a sound and light show unfolds over the monuments of Calton Hill.
The city is illuminated by hundreds of torches and the night resonates with the powerful rhythm of drums and the ancient sound of bagpipes: it’s truly an unforgettable experience!
Participation in the Torchlight Procession is free and open to all, and from our experience we can assure you it’s genuinely moving to march with one of the official torches (the only ones permitted).
Torches are purchased directly on the Royal Mile at designated stalls and cost very little.
Our advice is to position yourself as close as possible to the front of the procession both to witness the spectacle of the Vikings and pipers and to reach the top of the hill: otherwise much of the procession remains along the flanks of Calton Hill.
If you prefer not to join the procession but want to watch the spectacle, we recommend choosing a vantage point, such as the Esplanade, to admire the torches and fireworks from afar.
The Torchlight Procession generally starts around 19:00 and lasts approximately two hours. Participants with torches usually gather between 17:30 and 18:30, so it’s advisable to arrive well in advance to collect your torch and find your position in the procession.
On New Year’s Eve, much of the historic centre is closed to traffic by barriers and access is only permitted with tickets.
Concerts continue until midnight when the night sky above the castle illuminates with hundreds of fireworks that for 20 minutes light up the city to the strains of Auld Lang Syne, an ancient Scottish melody to verse by Robert Burns, the national poet. A truly magical moment!
When booking your tickets, you’ll have 3 possible options to choose from: festival tickets can be purchased easily online and will be sent to you by post directly to your home.
For more information and to purchase tickets, always refer to the official website.
This is a massive street party where you can move freely within the area reserved for Hogmanay participants.
The Street Party opens its gates at 19:00 and continues until 01:00 on 1 January. However, we strongly recommend arriving early, ideally around 18:00-18:30, to avoid the long queues that form at the entrance as opening time approaches.
Once you’ve passed the bag and ticket checks, you can walk through the streets around Princes Street Gardens and stop to listen to concerts at 5 stages spread across 5 different points in the area: the musical variety is exceptional and each stage is dedicated to a particular genre, from pop to rock, folk to disco music with different artists performing throughout the evening.
This second ticket type allows access not only to the entire Street Party area, but also to a restricted-entry zone where the Ceilidh takes place, featuring performances by several traditional Scottish music groups for an evening of folk dances.
Indeed, this area attracts lovers and enthusiasts of Scottish dances who can enjoy an evening of dancing in a deliberately quieter zone compared to the Street Party where there are many young and rowdy crowds.
This third ticket type allows access to both the Street Party and concerts in the festival area gardens. A major concert featuring names from local and international music scenes, predominantly from the British music landscape, takes place here.
As most are pop and rock groups and artists, it attracts the majority of the city’s younger spectators.
On 1 January, various free closing parades and events take place through the city streets.
The most celebrated event is The Loony Dook, a swim in the freezing waters of the Firth of Forth in front of the majestic Forth Bridges, just outside Edinburgh. It’s hilarious to watch and an invigorating experience for those brave enough to participate, originally conceived as a cure for New Year’s hangovers and now a beloved tradition.
Participants generally meet at 11:30 at South Queensferry, with the official plunge taking place around noon.
Please note that on 1 January many shops and attractions remain closed or open later than usual. Major tourist attractions like Edinburgh Castle are generally closed on 1 January, so plan accordingly.
Beyond the official Hogmanay celebrations, Edinburgh hosts numerous other events during the New Year period that further enrich the visitor experience.
Edinburgh’s Christmas overlaps partially with Hogmanay, running from mid-November through the first few days of January. During our visit, we discovered that many of the Christmas attractions remain fully operational during the New Year period, offering additional entertainment. In East Princes Street Gardens, you’ll find a large Christmas market with stalls selling artisan products, traditional foods and beverages. The giant observation wheel and other fairground rides create a festive atmosphere that blends perfectly with the Hogmanay celebrations.
Numerous pubs and venues throughout Edinburgh organise their own special New Year events, featuring dinners, live music and themed parties. These represent an excellent alternative for those preferring a more intimate atmosphere compared to the large Street Party. During our stay, we attended a dinner followed by a ceilidh in a traditional Old Town pub, and the experience was truly authentic and memorable. Venues such as “The Ghillie Dhu” or “Brewhemia” are renowned for their Hogmanay events with dinner, traditional Scottish music and dancing.
Numerous churches and cathedrals throughout Edinburgh host special concerts and religious services on New Year’s Eve. St Giles’ Cathedral on the Royal Mile, for example, often organises classical music concerts or bagpipe performances on the evening of 31 December, offering a quieter and more contemplative alternative to street celebrations.
For culture enthusiasts, Edinburgh’s major museums and galleries, such as the National Gallery of Scotland or the Museum of Scotland, are generally open until 31 December (closed 1 January) and often host temporary exhibitions or special events during the festive period.
Filmhouse Cinema and other independent cinemas in the city often programme film marathons or special screenings on New Year’s Eve, an interesting option for those wishing to avoid crowds whilst still celebrating in company.
For families with children, family Hogmanay events are organised during the afternoon of 31 December, with activities, performances and celebrations that finish early, allowing younger visitors to participate in the festivities without staying up late.
Edinburgh’s population quadruples during this period, and as this festival is so renowned worldwide, accommodation is booked a year in advance. We therefore recommend reserving your lodging as soon as possible – ideally at least 6-8 months ahead (or even earlier) – to secure the best value for money and, most importantly, good proximity to the historic centre.
Prices during Hogmanay are significantly higher than the rest of the year (often double or triple the usual rates).
The Old Town is Edinburgh’s oldest area and probably the most atmospheric in which to stay during Hogmanay. This area encompasses the Royal Mile and surrounding streets, and is just steps from the main festival locations. Staying here means immersing yourself completely in Edinburgh’s medieval atmosphere and having easy access to all festival events. During our stay, we chose an apartment near Grassmarket, a vibrant square in the Old Town, and the location proved perfect: we were a 10-minute walk from the Street Party and could see the fireworks directly from our flat’s windows.
The New Town, with its elegant Georgian streets, is another excellent option. This area, which includes George Street and Queen Street, is adjacent to Princes Street, where the Street Party takes place. Accommodation here tends to be somewhat more upmarket than in the Old Town, with many boutique hotels and refined apartments. The area also boasts excellent restaurants and high-end shops.
If you prefer a slightly more removed location but still conveniently placed, the neighbourhoods of Stockbridge or Bruntsfield could be good choices. These are peaceful yet lively residential areas with excellent restaurants and cafés, situated around 20-30 minutes’ walk from the city centre. You’ll find accommodation here somewhat less expensive than in central areas, whilst remaining well-connected by public transport.
For those on a tight budget, areas such as Leith or Haymarket offer more affordable options and are well served by public transport to the centre. Leith in particular has acquired considerable charm in recent years, with excellent dining options and a vibrant atmosphere.
Whichever area you choose, we strongly recommend checking how far it is on foot from the main event locations and what public transport options are available, especially for the journey home after the Street Party, when taxis are virtually impossible to find.
Whilst public transport is guaranteed throughout the festival period, it is always extremely crowded, routes undergo significant diversions and journey times increase considerably.
City Card allow you to save on public transport and / or on the entrances to the main tourist attractions.
Hotel 
Budget accommodations 
Apartments 
Family Hotel 
Luxury Hotel