United Kingdom
Edinburgh in December
🧥 WinterCold and some showers.
🎒 Pack: warm jacket for evenings
Why December scores 8.3What goes into the score
How it works- Weather comfort7.0
- !Cold (7°C highs / 2°C lows)
- ✓Comfortable humidity (dew point 3°C)
- ✓Mostly dry (~67 mm rain)
- Air quality10.0
- ✓Good (within WHO guideline) (PM2.5 ~4 µg/m³)
- Seasonal hazards10.0
- ·No notable seasonal hazards
- Safety baseline7.5
- ·Increased caution
| Dec | Aug | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 8.3 Very good | 9.4 Excellent |
| Season | 🧥 Winter | ☀️ Summer |
| High / low | 7° / 2° | 19° / 12° |
| Rain | 67 mm | 72 mm |
| Humidity | dew pt 3° | dew pt 12° |
| PM2.5 | 4 µg/m³ | 6 µg/m³ |
Typical-month data: NASA POWER (MERRA-2 reanalysis) 2015–2024 (modelled, not a forecast). Temperatures: Edinburgh weather-station normals. Rainfall: Edinburgh weather-station normals (national met service).
Holidays & crowdsDecember 2026
Long weekendThere's at least one long weekend. Domestic travel picks up and popular spots get busier over those days.
- Boxing Day 25–28 Dec · 4 days off in a row
National holidays only; regional holidays and school breaks aren't included. Source: holidays (open-source public-holiday calendar).
Explore EdinburghEvents, sights, food & souvenirs
Check event dates locallyScotland's capital, built around a castle on volcanic rock, known for its medieval Old Town, Georgian New Town and huge August festivals.
HogmanayDate variesUsually 29 or 30 December to 1 January
Scotland's New Year celebrations, with a street party and fireworks over the castle at midnight on 31 December.
Why go: Street party entry is ticketed and central roads close on New Year's Eve.
Where: Princes Street, the city centre and Calton Hill
Coming up later
Edinburgh Festival FringeDate variesUsually throughout August
The world's largest arts festival, with thousands of comedy, theatre and music shows.
Why go: Accommodation becomes very expensive and scarce; book months ahead.
Where: Venues across the city
Edinburgh International FestivalDate variesUsually August, running alongside the Fringe
A curated festival of opera, classical music, theatre and dance.
Why go: Tickets for headline performances sell out early.
Where: Major theatres and concert halls
Royal Edinburgh Military TattooDate variesUsually throughout August
Massed military bands, pipes and drums performing nightly in front of the castle.
Why go: Evening shows are outdoors, so bring warm and waterproof layers.
Where: Edinburgh Castle Esplanade
Edinburgh Castle
A fortress on Castle Rock holding the Scottish crown jewels and the Stone of Destiny.
💡 Booking a timed entry in advance is wise in summer.
Royal Mile
The historic street running from the castle down to Holyrood, lined with closes, churches and shops, including St Giles' Cathedral.
Arthur's Seat
An extinct volcano in Holyrood Park whose summit gives views over the city and the Firth of Forth.
💡 Wear proper shoes; the paths are steep and can be slippery when wet.
Palace of Holyroodhouse
The monarch's official residence in Scotland, with state apartments and the ruins of Holyrood Abbey.
National Museum of Scotland
A large free museum covering Scottish history, natural history and world cultures, with a rooftop terrace.
Calton Hill
A hill topped with monuments including the unfinished National Monument, a popular sunset viewpoint.
Haggis, neeps and tatties
Spiced sheep offal and oatmeal served with mashed turnip and potato.
💡 Pubs and Scottish restaurants
Cullen skink
A thick soup of smoked haddock, potato and onion.
Cranachan
A dessert of raspberries, whipped cream, honey, whisky and toasted oats.
Scotch whisky
Scotland's national spirit, available in many specialist bars and shops for tasting.
💡 Whisky bars around the Old Town
Shortbread
Rich, crumbly butter biscuits, a Scottish classic.
Tartan and cashmere
Woollen scarves, blankets and kilts in clan tartans, plus Scottish cashmere knitwear.
💡 Royal Mile and specialist woollen shops
Scotch whisky
Single malts from Scotland's distilling regions.
💡 Specialist whisky shops
Harris Tweed
Handwoven wool cloth from the Outer Hebrides, sold as jackets, bags and accessories.
Shortbread
Tinned shortbread is an easy, packable edible gift.