Edinburgh, the cosy Scottish capital, is a magical place and so is the winter season here. The Scottish believe in the saying- ‘There’s no such thing as bad weather, just the wrong clothing’, and we aren’t denying it. Just like the capital has a medieval Old Town and an elegant Georgian New Town with gardens and neoclassical buildings, balancing out the new and old. Similarly, the entrance of winter here does that too!
As the arrival of winter changes the whole lifestyle here, there are a few things that seem to brighten up the mood.
The city gets covered in a beautiful white blanket of snow and the Christmas lights come up making the night much more beautiful than they always do as per usual. Things seem to take a festive mood and your visit to Edinburgh in the winter season will only help you elevate your trip.
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Things To Do In Edinburgh In Winter
Table of Contents
Planning Your Trip
We use the below booking platforms to plan our trips. We hope you find them useful too!
Where to Stay in Edinburgh
There is a wide range of accommodations available in Edinburgh, so you will not be short on options. Here are our top suggestions for the best places to stay in Edinburgh for any budget.
Luxury – Sitting less than 500m from one of Edinburgh’s main stations, Edinburgh Haymarket, the Leonardo Royal hotel is a fantastic choice if you would like a bit of luxury. The spacious and comfortable rooms at this city-centre hotel are complete with a large TV, tea and coffee facilities and work away.
Book your stay at the Leonardo Royal Haymarket here.
Mid-Range – For a more reasonably priced stay in the city of Edinburgh, without crimping on comfort, the Haymarket Hub Hotel is the best choice for you. This comfortable and central hotel is just a 15-minute walk from sights such as the Edinburgh Castle and the Royal Mile.
Book your stay at the Haymarket Hub Hotel here.
Budget – For those wishing to make the most of their time out in Edinburgh and don’t plan on staying long inside the accommodation itself, the High Street Hostel is your best choice. The building that hosts this hostel dates back to 1564 and sits right on a high street just off the Royal Mile.
Edinburgh’s Christmas Markets
As you visit Edinburgh in winter, you will come across a lot of festive decorations and will definitely feel the festive vibes. Celebrated in a grand manner, Christmas’ arrival always means the setup of Christmas Markets that attract many people, every year.
Edinburgh’s Christmas Markets can be easily spotted at Princes Street Gardens and are one of the highlights of the celebrations. Rides, shops, food and much more can be found here. Among some of the traditional Christmas Market highlights, you’ll also find things like mulled Irn Bru and vegan pigs in blankets!
You’ll also find wonderful gifts including can also find Harry Potter-themed gifts and local handmade produce. The crowd really gets into the festive feel, you can’t beat the Christmas Markets in Edinburgh!
Christmas Lights
Edinburgh in winter is definitely a winter wonderland and to support this beauty, you can spot the amazing Christmas lights spread across the city. There are many but the one that stands out will always be at the Royal Botanic Gardens.
Every year, the city experiences a different yet special Christmas celebration with glorious decorations. The Light Switch-ons have been known to happen in some areas from November itself, so if you are planning to visit Edinburgh in December, you can expect the city to be brightly lit up!
Usually, the light-up sessions are ticketed and this year, tickets for the event at Royal Botanic Gardens ranges between £21.50 for an adult ticket and £15 for a child ticket. Whereas, tickets for the Castle of Light: A Kingdom of Colours event at Edinburgh Castle are around £20 for an adult ticket and £12 for a kid’s ticket.
Edinburgh Hogmanay party
A place where the world comes to party is probably the Edinburgh Hogmanay party. Hogmanay is the Scottish word for New Year’s Eve and the people of Edinburgh believe in partying out until the last.
Welcoming the new year in a new way, the concept of such a party was warmly welcomed by the people of Scotland. Tickets for this event sell out quite early and so be quick when getting your tickets. This party was first introduced in 1993 and since then, has evolved as one of the biggest celebrations in the world.
Traditionally, Hogmanay is celebrated as 1 day but the Edinburgh Hogmanay Party lasts for 3 days. It is not just celebrated in Edinburgh, but also in different regions in Scotland.
Being here and attending this party is a must. This definitely makes it to your list of things to do in December in Edinburgh or things to do in Edinburgh at Christmas.
Ice Skating
With the arrival of winter in Edinburgh, the city gets ready to skate its way out on the famous ice rinks in the city. Often, the idea of ice skating draws an image of a trippy, falling-down person resembling a wobbly-kneed foal attempting to walk for the first time. Or, if you are a pro, breaking into a pirouette or sliding into impressive shapes makes its way to your mind.
But, be it a pro or an amateur, Edinburgh gladly showcases some of its best ice rinks and gets them prepared just for your arrival. Some of the famous ice rinks in Edinburgh are St Andrew Square, Murrayfield Ice Rink, and Princes Street Gardens Ice Rink. some are old and some are new additions, but they do fulfil their purpose excellently.
Be a kid again and skate your way here as this is one of the best Things To Do In Edinburgh In Winter.
Pantomime
If you are wondering what are the best Things To Do In Edinburgh In Winter, then being a spectator at a Pantomime in Edinburgh is a great choice. This is one of the most romantic things to do in Edinburgh. A crucial part of the New Year celebrations, the Pantomime have been here for a long time.
Pantomime is a type of musical comedy stage production designed for family entertainment. It was designed by the English and is still performed throughout the United Kingdom, Ireland and other English-speaking countries.
Every year, this version of the celebration attracts the locals a lot and the celebrations usually take place during the year-end and continue util the start of the next one.
Hop and Shop
One of the essential must-be-done activities while you stay in Edinburgh, is to ‘hop and shop’. The shopping experience here will not only welcome you to a different world full of festive vibes but also help you to make the most of winter in Edinburgh.
During the festive season, many shops offer a discount and it is the best time to utilise the opportunity. Another reason why shopping should be on your things to do in December In Edinburgh list is that your experience will be different. The lights and decorations make it visually aesthetic and much more fun!
So when in Edinburgh, enjoy the best version of winter here!
Before You Leave for Edinburgh
Before you set off on your way to Edinburgh, there are a number of things you will need to get organised to ensure a smooth and enjoyable journey. These include what to pack, where to stay and what is the best insurance for your trip to Scotland. All of this is discussed in detail below.
How to Get to Edinburgh
When you arrive in Edinburgh, you will most likely arrive at one of the two main train stations, the bus station or the airport. If you are wanting to explore the city centre sights, such as the Royal Mile, Edinburgh Castle, and the Princes Street shops, then Waverley is the best train station for you. The Edinburgh Bus station also sits just behind Princes St, so it is perfect for arriving into the city.
Haymarket Station sits slightly further from the city centre, and the airport itself even further out of the city, however, there is a very simple and reliable tram system that runs around the city. You can catch a tram from Edinburgh Airport directly into the city centre, passing through Haymarket, in just 35-minutes.
For this itinerary, any of these options will be fine for getting you into the city centre, however, most of the sights are based around the castle so Edinburgh Waverly or the bus station are the closest stations.
Where to Stay in Edinburgh
There is a wide range of accommodations available in Edinburgh, so you will not be short on options. Here are our top suggestions for the best places to stay in Edinburgh for any budget.
Luxury – Sitting less than 500m from one of Edinburgh’s main stations, Edinburgh Haymarket, the Leonardo Royal hotel is a fantastic choice if you would like a bit of luxury. The spacious and comfortable rooms at this city-centre hotel are complete with a large TV, tea and coffee facilities and work away.
Book your stay at the Leonardo Royal Haymarket here.
Mid-Range – For a more reasonably priced stay in the city of Edinburgh, without crimping on comfort, the Haymarket Hub Hotel is the best choice for you. This comfortable and central hotel is just a 15-minute walk from sights such as the Edinburgh Castle and the Royal Mile.
Book your stay at the Haymarket Hub Hotel here.
Budget – For those wishing to make the most of their time out in Edinburgh and don’t plan on staying long inside the accommodation itself, the High Street Hostel is your best choice. The building that hosts this hostel dates back to 1564 and sits right on a high street just off the Royal Mile.
What to Pack for Your Trip to Edinburgh
When it comes to packing for a trip to Scotland there is one item of clothing that you are going to need all year round: a waterproof. It rains in Scotland on average 250 days a year, meaning that during your trip to the Isle of Skye, you can expect rain at some point. Due to this, the number one item on your packing list is a good waterproof jacket.
Second to that, another item to not leave home without is a good pair of warm and, if possible, waterproof boots. A lot of the best sights on Skye require a bit of walking to reach them and the conditions underfoot can become very muddy. You do not want to ruin a good pair of white trainers so pack some sturdy boots.
You will definitely need a hat and gloves during the winter months as the wind chill can be bitter.
Given the beautiful sights and scenery that you are no doubt going to see around the Edinburgh, we highly recommend packing a good camera for your trip. If you want to read more about the cameras we use and why we love them, check out the link below.
Photography Equipment
Main Photography Camera – Sony A7v Mirrorless Camera and Sony A7iii Mirrorless Camera
Microphone – Sony Mic ECM-B1M
Main Lens – Tamron 17-28mm f/2.8
Zoom Lens – Tamron 70-180mm f/2.8
Camera Tripod – ZOMEI Z669C Camera Tripod
Gorilla Pod – JOBY JB01507-BWW GorillaPod
Action Camera – GoPro Hero 11 and Insta 360 One RS
Drone Camera – DJI Mavic Pro 3
Camera Bag – Wandrd PRVKE 41L and The Nest by Tropicfeel
Phone Tripod – Manfrotto MKPIXICLAMP-BK, Mini Tripod with Universal Smartphone Clamp
Sturdy Phone Tripod & Selfie Stick – ATUMTEK 61″ Selfie Stick Tripod, Sturdy Phone Tripod Stand with Wireless Remote
Hard Drives – LaCie Rugged Mini, 5TB, 2.5″, Portable External Hard Drive
SSD – SanDisk Extreme Pro 1TB Portable NVMe SSD
Travel Adapter –Worldwide Travel Adapter Universal Travel Plug with 4 USB Ports+Universal AC Socke
What is the Best Travel Insurance for Edinburgh
I know travel insurance is the least enjoyable thing to purchase and look at when you’re planning a trip, however, you wouldn’t want to be without it in the event that something happened. Accidents can happen anywhere and the extortionate medical bills will ruin your trip if you are not covered.
To ensure you have a stress-free trip with no worries about potential medical bills, make sure you cover yourself when you travel. We can recommend using SafetyWing, a backpacker-friendly and cheap insurance company that provides good coverage and support. It is also nomad-friendly, unlike most other insurance companies, meaning you do not need to worry about being out of your home country for too long.
Get a quote for your travel insurance right here and get covered!
So there you have it, your guide to visiting Edinburgh in winter. If you are visiting this incredible city and have any other questions on what to expect, leave us a comment down below. We love to chat about this stuff! If you have already been, let us know how it was! Did you get to visit the castle? Did you manage the trip without getting caught in the rain? Let us know in the comments below!
Also, remember to share this with your friends and family that you are going to share this amazing experience with. Sharing is caring and we want to ensure that everyone is fully prepared to maximise their experience visiting Edinburgh.
If you are planning a Scotland trip soon then check out our other Scotland content right here. Come and find us on social media to see where we are currently exploring. Tag us in your photos from your stay and we will share them with the rest of our community of explorers and backpackers.
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