Edinburgh is at its most vibrant and alive during summer, as the June through August season is when most out-of-town visitors converge on Scotland’s capital city. The days stretch daylight well past 10pm in midsummer and this 17-hour active day combined with the Festival Fringe transforms August into something extraordinary in Edinburgh.

However, most Princess Cruises guests choose to book their Edinburgh visit for May or September, the “shoulder season” months that highlight Edinburgh’s charms without peak summer crowds. There are fewer competing distractions and visitors to landmarks such as Edinburgh Castle and the Royal Mile then, so the best time to visit Edinburgh will depend on whether you delight in the energy of people and events (like the Fringe), or whether you prefer to experience the area and history in a less bustling environment.

Key takeaways

Summer (June-August) is Edinburgh's peak season, with the longest days, the warmest temperatures (average 18-19°C / 64-66°F) and the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in August. 

Spring (April-May) and early autumn (September) offer Edinburgh at its most photogenic, with cherry blossom in Princes Street Gardens in May, golden light on the castle in September and the full range of Princess® excursions operating throughout. Princess European sailings to Edinburgh are available during the full window from May to September.

Edinburgh Castle, Arthur's Seat and the Royal Mile are accessible year-round but reward visitors most in the drier summer and autumn conditions. The National Museum of Scotland offers a compelling Edinburgh experience in any weather.

Edinburgh in summer: June, July and August

Edinburgh, being quite far north, experiences its longest days in June (17+ hours of daylight), with average daily temperatures around a very pleasant 18-19°C / 64-66°F. The light at 9pm in July still paints the castle walls in gold, and the longer days help the Old Town and New Town feel genuinely inhabited rather than merely historically preserved, though Edinburgh has certainly earned its rightful place in history.

The Edinburgh Festival Fringe (often referred to simply as The Fringe) is the world's largest performing arts festival. Performing acts, plays, comedy shows and drama teams travel from the world over to fill the Royal Mile and theaters all round the city. Edinburgh’s pubs, churches and unused spaces become venues and the atmosphere in August is unlike any other European city in any month. Princess guests calling at Edinburgh in August should expect animated crowds, an active nightlife and the chance to partake in the Fringe, with thousands of shows packed into churches, pub back rooms and street corners across the city.

The Royal Mile (check out the Princess curated excursion) is the historic heart and main of Edinburgh's Old Town, running about a mile (1.6 km) down from Edinburgh Castle at the top of the city to the Palace of Holyroodhouse at the bottom. In summer, the Mile is at its most animated, particularly when the Fringe energy fills the street. Performers claim their spaces amid the cobblestones, visitors crowd around cheering and laughing and music mixes with the smells of food and drink to pervade the warm summer air. 

An excursion to Edinburgh Castle lets you experience the 15th-16th century Royal Palace, the Crown Room and the chamber where Mary Queen of Scots gave birth to James, all perched atop a large formation of volcanic rock visible from across the city and surrounding area.

Bronze statue of a seated philosopher in the foreground with St Giles Cathedral's crown steeple rising behind it along a cobblestone street.
Enjoy the Royal Mile in Edinburgh’s summer.

Start your Edinburgh adventure

View Cruises

Edinburgh in spring: April and May

In the spring months of April and May, Edinburgh’s temperatures average 10-14°C /50-57°F as the city shakes off the grey of late winter. The Princes Street Gardens bloom with cherry blossom and daffodils in April and tulips in May. Visitors enjoy visiting the castle illuminated against clear spring skies.

Arthur's Seat is an extinct volcano with its peak at 251 meters (823 feet) above sea level (Edinburgh borders the North Sea). This landmark is best visited in clear spring conditions. Several Edinburgh shore excursions include a photo stop with views of Arthur’s Seat, but if you want to actually hike to the top, expect a moderately strenuous 2.8 mile loop, with some potentially windy and rainy conditions depending on the weather. From the summit you can see the castle and Edinburgh below and the Firth of Forth beyond. May allows full Princess excursion access, and lets you experience the city before the summer festival buildup.

Rugged green hillside cliffs with hiking trails leading toward Edinburgh's skyline and castle under a sunset sky.
Catch golden Spring light over Arthur's Seat.

Edinburgh in autumn: September and October

This part of the year displays Edinburgh’s autumn character: temperatures cooling from Edinburgh's summer peak; the first gold appearing in the trees of Holyrood Park; the Fringe has ended and the city settles into itself. September’s light is particular, with a lower angle on the horizon, a richer tone and a more dramatic feel against the castle walls and the Georgian facades of New Town.

September is within Princess cruise season, and is the final shoulder month. Guests arriving in September encounter a city that has just completed its most intense festival period, and the Royal Mile and the Old Town are quieter and more intimate.

Arthur's Seat in September and October potentially offers some of the year's clearest atmospheric conditions. Depending on that year’s seasonal variations, Holyrood Park could be starting to show its autumn colors in September.

The National Museum of Scotland is worth a visit year round, but is a great choice for rainy or windy days. A curated excursion to Stirling Castle is another favorite, and will be less crowded in the autumn and spring. This 900-year-old castle sits dramatically atop a 250-foot extinct volcano, and is steeped in 15th-16th century royal history. Both Edinburgh Castle and Stirling Castle are centuries-old Scottish fortresses atop volcanic rocks, but they offer different experiences. Edinburgh is grand, highly urban and military-focused with potentially large crowds, while Stirling is more intimate, richly decorated with Renaissance palace rooms and less crowded.

Edinburgh Castle sitting atop a rocky cliff with orange autumn leaves in the foreground under a cloudy sky.
Enjoy Edinburgh Castle in autumn.

Planning your Edinburgh cruise with Princess

Edinburgh (South Queensferry) is on available Princess European itineraries from May through September, the full arc from spring shoulder to summer peak to early autumn. The best time to visit Edinburgh will depend on your preferences. If you enjoy the energy and vitality of a city bustling with people, exciting performances and shows, then the summer months, particularly the Fringe during August, are an ideal window for a visit.

On the other hand, if you prefer a quieter chance to explore Edinburgh’s historical highlights and rugged hills, then the Princess Cruises itineraries for May and September will likely suit you best. Edinburgh rewards every visitor in each season. Explore Princess Cruises European voyages and discover your ideal visit to Edinburgh.

FAQs