Planning a Trip to Edinburgh? Here's the Weather
See what weather to expect in Edinburgh, United Kingdom and plan your trip with confidence. Monthly averages from real historical weather data.
Edinburgh's climate is famously moody — a city where a crisp, bright afternoon can give way to a squall before you've finished your coffee, and where that unpredictability is half the character. Temperatures stay cool year-round, peaking around 19°C in July and dipping to lows near 2°C in January, making the city's many cafés — think tucked-away espresso spots in the Old Town — as essential to the experience as its castle and volcanic skyline.
Written by Leo Vicente, founder & engineer who loves to travel
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12°C
Avg. high
7°C
Avg. low
945mm
Yearly rainfall
5
Best months
Travel Window Score · 6.1/10
Edinburgh's best travel month is June — around 14 rain days and daytime highs near 17°C, on a 10-year historical average (climatology tier).
Climatology · 10-YR AVG · How we forecast →
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Start PlanningMonthly Temperature & Rainfall
6°
2°
74mm
Jan
7°
3°
75mm
Feb
9°
3°
73mm
Mar
11°
4°
52mm
Apr
14°
8°
69mm
May
17°
10°
79mm
Jun
19°
12°
89mm
Jul
18°
12°
81mm
Aug
16°
10°
79mm
Sep
13°
8°
100mm
Oct
9°
5°
82mm
Nov
7°
3°
92mm
Dec
What Weather to Expect in Edinburgh
Edinburgh typically has the most favorable weather for travel during May, June, July, August, September, with comfortable temperatures and relatively low rainfall — ideal conditions for sightseeing and outdoor activities.
Best Time to Visit Edinburgh
May through September bring the most comfortable conditions for exploring Edinburgh's parks, waterfront, and historic landmarks, with highs climbing from 14°C into the high teens — warm enough to spend long hours outdoors without the bitter chill that defines the rest of the year. April, just before this window, is the single driest month of the year at 52mm, so early visitors catch the tail of that drier spell before heading into the milder but wetter summer months.
The best time to visit Edinburgh is May through September, when daytime highs average around 17°C and rainfall stays low at roughly 79mm per month. These months offer the most comfortable conditions for sightseeing, outdoor activities, and exploring the city at a relaxed pace. May is typically the driest of these months, with only around 69mm of precipitation.
October is the wettest month of the year, averaging 100mm of rain, and combined with rapidly cooling temperatures it makes for genuinely gloomy conditions that can dampen outdoor sightseeing considerably.
Edinburgh Weather by Season
Spring
Spring (March–May) brings cool weather to Edinburgh, with highs averaging 11°C and lows around 5°C. The season is moderately wet, accumulating around 194mm total with roughly 13 rainy days per month.
Summer
Summer (June–August) brings mild weather to Edinburgh, with highs averaging 18°C and lows around 11°C. The season is moderately wet, accumulating around 249mm total with roughly 15 rainy days per month.
Autumn
Autumn (September–November) brings cool weather to Edinburgh, with highs averaging 13°C and lows around 8°C. The season is moderately wet, accumulating around 261mm total with roughly 15 rainy days per month.
Winter
Winter (December–February) brings cold weather to Edinburgh, with highs averaging 7°C and lows around 3°C. The season is moderately wet, accumulating around 241mm total with roughly 14 rainy days per month.
Things to do in Edinburgh
Handpicked activities you can book now, matched to typical weather in Edinburgh.
Itineraries Featuring Edinburgh
Climate data is a 10-year historical average (2016–2025), averaged across a wide area rather than a single weather station. Temperatures in Celsius. How we forecast →