Edinburgh in Winter
Edinburgh is a beautiful city to visit all year round but I feel it has the most to offer in winter. If you can brave the cold and often times wet weather it really comes alive with Christmas spirit and fun activities.
The capital city of Scotland has lots of history to see and explore. It is quite a small city but this makes it easy to explore by foot and there is still plenty to do over a long weekend.
Must Pack Items
Multiply layers – as you will expect it can be very cold in Scotland during the winter. The temperature can vary but you should plan for it to be around 5°C which is pretty chilly! You’ll be spending a lot of time in and out of buildings so a nice coat and multiple layers will keep you comfortable.
Good walking shoes – the best way to see Edinburgh is by foot so a good comfortable pair of shoes is essential to enjoy your time there. It is also a very hilly area so good grip and ankle support will help too.
Power bank – whilst spending the day out exploring I used my phone a lot to take pictures and get directions from Google maps. A power bank was essential to keep my phone charged all day.
Best Activities
Christmas Market – Of course the most important thing to do if you’re visiting Edinburgh in the winter is explore the Christmas market! The Christmas festivities normally run from mid November to the beginning of January. The main high street in Edinburgh is The Royal Mile and this is where the market can be found. The market tends to be busiest in the evening so I’d recommend checking out the market during the day as well if you want to get a proper look at all the stalls. (Make sure to check online for this years specific details)
Calton Hill – This hill in the centre of Edinburgh is a great way to get a view of the city. It only takes about 10 minutes to reach the top where you’ll also find the National Monument of Scotland and Nelson Monument for some more great photo opportunities.
Victoria Street & Christmas Lights – Victoria street is one of Edinburgh’s famous photo spots. The line of colourful buildings is very recognisable online now a days. During the colder months these popular places in the city will be decorated with Christmas lights, so spend some time in the evenings checking out the lights at all the popular spots.
Try The Food – There are some lovely festive snacks to try a the market but also some great independent restaurants around Edinburgh you should look in to for your visit. One of our favourites was Oink on Victoria street which served tasty hog roast rolls.
