10 Best Things To Do in Edinburgh Throughout the Seasons

From culture and cuisine to history and hikes, there are endless things to do in Edinburgh during any season. Glimpsing the architecture in the Scottish capital feels like stepping back in time, while a contemporary arts scene awaits beneath the surface. Discover Edinburgh's many charms with activity ideas for all weather.

Spring is a wonderful time of year to visit the capital of Scotland, when this bonnie city comes alive with the freshness of the new season.

The Water of Leith is the main river running through Edinburgh, and the Water of Leith Walkway runs alongside the river for 19 kilometres, starting in the village of Balerno and running all the way through the centre to Leith on the coast.

While keen walkers can explore this wildlife haven at any time, it’s most delightful in spring when wildflowers bloom in the meadows, and shy roe deer nibble on fresh grass in wooded areas. As you breathe in the warm scent of nature, you might even catch a glimpse of a kingfisher along the river banks.

Take a short detour, across the historic Bell’s Brae Bridge, and you'll enter the heart of Dean Village. This hidden gem near Edinburgh was founded in the 12th century. Among the charming edifices, look out for Well Court, an 1800s social housing building for mill workers. Keep an eye out, too, for stone plaques with depictions of baked bread and pies.

Set on nearly 30 hectares, the Royal Botanic Garden is home to verdant trees, lush shrubs and budding flowers – a vibrant spectacle that's delightful for people of all ages and a top attraction in Edinburgh during spring.

Wander the flourishing gardens, admire the stone pavilion decorated with seashells and pine cones, and take a tour of the sultry Tropical Palm House. Between April and October each year, guided walks offer the chance to learn about hidden secrets of the gardens and to discover more about the impressive plant collection, as well as the 350-year-old history of the location.

The gardens offer views of the Edinburgh skyline, and there's artwork to admire in the Inverleith House exhibition space.

Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh

• Arboretum Pl, Edinburgh EH3 5NZ
• Open daily from 10am–5pm (10am–4pm from November until February)
• Free entry to the gardens; guided walks cost £10 for adults

Edinburgh is glorious when the sun begins to shine, and summer is also the season for one of the world's great cultural festivals.

Summer is the perfect time of year to head to Holyrood Park, where 260 hectares of green space await, and it’s here you’ll find the extinct volcano called Arthur’s Seat. Offering spectacular views of the city, this is a must-see for avid explorers and is one of the more invigorating things to do in Edinburgh.

Holyrood Park is also known for its archeological gems, and Arthur's Seat is one of four locations within the park where ancient hill forts once stood, with origins dating back 2,000 years or more. The peaks are Salisbury Crags, Samson’s Ribs, Arthur’s Seat and Dunsapie Crag.

Traces of hill forts can still be seen on the land, including evidence of ancient houses at Dunsapie Crag.

Every August, the Edinburgh Festival Fringe hosts an array of events, including comedy, theatre, dance, cabaret, circus and music, and it never fails to draw a diverse crowd. Soak up the eccentric atmosphere by simply wandering the streets, attending a show, or mingling with performers in Edinburgh bars and cafes.

There's so much going on during these three weeks in summer that performances take place well beyond the stages of Edinburgh theatres. Repurposed buses and shipping containers even play host to events, and city parks also serve as venues. You could see one of the best-known names in comedy performing at a major theatre, or a new talent just starting out on their career by performing at a small café or bar during the festival.

Every season brings memorable things to do in Edinburgh, and autumn is no exception. So, as the tree-lined streets and parklands take on an orangey-red glow, discover some of the city's most famous attractions.

Edinburgh Castle sits high above the city, and looking down onto a sea of autumnal colours from this regal setting is a captivating sight. Wrap up in your warm clothes, listen to the crisp leaves crackle underfoot as you take a brisk walk through the rust-coloured grounds, and take in vistas of castle stone framed by rowan trees.

The medieval castle, once home to kings and queens, is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Hear the echoes of history in the Great Hall, glimpse the private lives of the royals in the Royal Apartments, or visit any of the three military museums housed at the castle. Long-held traditions continue to keep history alive, such as the firing of the One o’Clock Gun. Begun in 1861, this practice once helped vessels in the Firth of Forth to set their maritime clocks.

When the autumn air begins to nip at your toes, a room at Novotel Edinburgh Centre, just 10 minutes' walk from the castle, is the ideal cosy haven to head back to.

Edinburgh Castle

• Castlehill, Edinburgh EH1 2NG
• Open daily from 9:30am–5pm (9:30am–4pm from 1 October to 24 December); opening times vary over Christmas and New Year
• Buying tickets online is advised to get discounts and to ensure availability

The Royal Mile is a handsome street at the heart of Edinburgh’s Old Town, where shopping, culture and history combine. Georgian, medieval, Victorian and Gothic architecture frames the cobbled thoroughfare, and street musicians offer bagpipe performances.

Along the Royal Mile, the Museum of Childhood is one of the best free things to do in Edinburgh for families, and the splendid St Giles' Cathedral also offers free tours. Just across the street, you'll find the entrance to The Real Mary King’s Close, a labyrinth of 17th-century alleyways that exudes history.

If you're in the mood for a wee dram as an autumn evening draws in, duck into the Devil’s Advocate just off the Royal Mile. One of the best whisky bars in Edinburgh, this snug joint is set in an old Victorian pump house and offers around 300 different whiskies, as well as seasonal food menus celebrating Scottish ingredients.

Museum of Childhood

• 42 High St, Edinburgh EH1 1TG
• Open daily from 10am–5pm

Why not spend a peaceful autumn morning at Greyfriars Kirkyard, one of the most famous graveyards in the world and the resting place of some of the most celebrated figures in the history of Edinburgh? This includes James Craig, who designed the city's New Town. Greyfriars Bobby, a faithful dog who guarded his owner's grave at Greyfriars, finally came to rest in the same place as the beloved owner, and it's said that Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling took inspiration for some of her characters' names from the gravestones here. Look closely and you'll notice Sirius Black and Thomas Riddell, as well as the family names Potter and McGonagall.

Whether covered in a blanket of snow or veiled by ethereal mist and drizzle, the city provides plenty of reasons to wrap up in your favourite scarf, wriggle into your gloves and don a woolly hat while you discover things to do in Edinburgh in December.

Edinburgh’s Christmas markets are a great reason to come out of the snug cocoon of your four-star city-centre hotel. Along with the host of stands, a Ferris wheel, impressive light displays, and plenty of live entertainment, the alluring aromas from the artisan foods and mulled wines contribute to a warming festive atmosphere.

As you stroll around the East Princes Street Gardens Christmas Market with a cup of hot chocolate in hand, catch glimpses of city landmarks that are visible from the market, like the Scott Monument and Edinburgh Castle. The Castle of Light winter event uses the castle walls as a canvas for light displays.

As the days come to an early darkness, one of the best things to do in Edinburgh is go on a ghost tour. With its long history, Edinburgh is home to spooky stories of ghosts, ghouls and things that go bump in the night. Get your adrenaline pumping on a haunted tour amid Gothic architecture, dark secret passageways, underground catacombs and foreboding dungeons that take on an extra special atmosphere during a Scottish winter.

To give your feet a rest and add a few laughs to your ghost tour, join one of the Ghost Bus Tours that takes in many of the city's famous sights while delivering a comedy-horror theatre experience on four wheels.

People around the world celebrate New Year's Eve, but Hogmanay remains a unique thing to do in Edinburgh thanks to its Scottish traditions. Hogmanay, a Scottish word for December 31st and its celebrations, involves a huge street party, concerts, torchlight processions and a firework display set against the backdrop of Edinburgh Castle. Important reminders of Scottish heritage are woven into the local culture, such as the ancient act of "first footing" that says the first person to enter a home after midnight brings good luck. The "first footer" usually brings gifts like whisky or shortbread, and this may be a fun thing to enact when you return to your hotel.

Which Edinburgh season appeals to you the most? Start your Scottish adventure by planning a weekend in Edinburgh – the city's delightful in every season!