There are a number of festivals, holidays and other events celebrated in Edinburgh each year. The main ones are listed below.
January 1-2: New Year (national)The new year is enthusiastically celebrated in Scotland! People gather on the streets, in pubs and restaurants to dance and toast to new beginnings. On January 1st, the tradition of Loony Dook encourages the brave to swim in the icy waters of the River Forth. The city also offers performances, film screenings, and parades… and, to recover from the festivities, January 2nd is also a holiday.
January 25: Burns Night (national)On January 25th 1759, Robert Burns, “Scotland's favourite son”, and one of the country's most famous poets, was born. To celebrate the event each year, the Scots gather at nightfall around a traditional meal, punctuated by speeches and lectures, and eat the famous haggis, a dish prepared with stuffed mutton, about which Burns wrote, 'Address to a Haggis'.
Friday before Easter: Good Friday (national)As in the rest of the United Kingdom, Good Friday is a bank holiday in Scotland (while Easter Monday is not).
April 30–May 1: Beltane Fire Festival (local)The people of Edinburgh celebrate the coming of summer with an immense Celtic festival. Costumes, lights, and music make for a delightful night. In the morning, the crowd climbs up to Holyrood to wash their face in the dew of the park.
May 1: May Day (national)To celebrate the arrival of spring, the Scottish capital is the scene of an official parade: kilts and bagpipes are a must!
Last Monday in May: Spring bank holiday (national)Historically, banks alone were closed on this day, but it has now become a holiday for all the people of Britain.
First Monday in August: Summer bank holiday (national)August traditionally offers a holiday for workers. Be aware that it falls on the first Monday of the month in Scotland and the last Monday of the month in the rest of Great Britain.
Last three weeks of August: Edinburgh International Festival (local)Every year since 1947, when it was created to celebrate the end of the war, this world-renowned cultural event has brought together a broad variety of musical events, as well as theatre, dance, and opera.
November 30: Saint Andrew's Day (national)The patron saint of Scotland is celebrated throughout the country on November 30th. On the programme: festive meals, public performances of traditional dances and theatre, as well as pub-crawls.
December 25: Christmas Day (national)This holiday is an opportunity for Scots to gather with family around the traditional Christmas Lunch.
December 26: Boxing Day (national)A tradition from the Middle Ages, this holiday was the day when a present or gratuity was given to an employee, or a gift was given to the needy in addition to food distributions, and collections for the poor... In recent years, it has also become known as the day sales are launched in Britain.
December 30-31: New Year's EveIn Edinburgh, starting on December 30th, a torchlight parade is organized in the city. The Hogmanay Street Party, held from December 30th to January 1st, attracts tens of thousands of people each year. Bagpipe and pop music concerts precede the fireworks, set off at midnight.
Month | Min. Average Temperature (°C/F°) | Max. Average Temperature (°C/F°) | Average Rains (MM) | Best Time to Travel |
---|---|---|---|---|
January | 1/34 | 6/43 | 57/2.2 | Not the best period to go |
February | 1/34 | 6/43 | 42/1.7 | Not the best period to go |
March | 2/36 | 8/46 | 51/2.0 | Not the best period to go |
April | 4/39 | 11/52 | 41/1.6 | Good period to go
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May | 6/43 | 14/57 | 51/2.0 | Good period to go
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June | 9/48 | 17/63 | 51/2.0 | Good period to go
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July | 11/52 | 18/64 | 57/2.2 | Good period to go
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August | 11/52 | 18/64 | 65/2.5 | Good period to go
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September | 9/48 | 16/61 | 67/2.6 | Good period to go
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October | 7/44 | 12/54 | 65/2.5 | Good period to go
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November | 4/39 | 9/48 | 63/2.4 | Not the best period to go |
December | 2/36 | 7/44 | 58/2.2 | Not the best period to go |
The Edinburgh international airport is located 13 km (8 miles) west of the city centre.
The city of Edinburgh has an excellent bus network. This is the ideal means of transport to discover the Scottish capital.
The centre of Edinburgh is comprised of many narrow and one-way streets and offers a limited number of parking spaces. Renting a car is only the best option if you plan to leave the capital, perhaps to visit the Scottish countryside.
Sixty bus lines (including 12 night-time bus lines) are available throughout the city and serve its main axes between 6:00 a.m. and midnight. Night buses (Lines N) then operate for the remainder of the night.
The price of a ticket is GBP 1.80 per adult (GBP 4.50 for a day ticket) and GBP 0.90 for children 15 and under (GBP 2.20 for a day ticket). For the night bus, tickets are one price: GBP 3. For further information, please visit https://www.lothianbuses.com.
Only one tramline, connecting the airport to the city centre, is currently active in Edinburgh.
The price of a ticket in the 'city zone' is GBP 1.80 for adults and GBP 0.90 for a child. A 'city zone' round trip is GBP 3.40 for adults and GBP 1.80 for a child. A day pass is also available for GBP 4.50 (adult) or GBP 2.20 (child). For further information, please visit https://edinburghtrams.com.
Taxis can easily be hailed in the streets (they can be identified by their black colour and yellow 'taxi' sign), or in areas reserved for them. They are a reliable way to get around the city, but more expensive than public transport (daytime fares are around GBP 6-7 for a three-kilometre fare in the city centre with a premium of 30 to 50% at night and on weekends).
Upon your arrival in Edinburgh, you can get in touch with local tourism professionals for further information and to help organise your stay.
Visitor information centre (Edinburgh iCentre)Offers practical information and useful recommendations (accommodation, restaurants, public transport, festivals, cultural events, etc.) and brochures.
The currency used in Scotland is the Sterling Pound (GBP).
CNY 1 = GBP 0.11
GBP 1 = CNY 9.09
The above exchange rate is given for information because is variable.
In order to travel in the best conditions and for your health and safety, we invite you to check all information regarding preventive measures and best practices to be respected, available on the official website of the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs: https://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/en/country-files/
Your comfort, well-being and health are at the heart of Air France's concerns, and we want to help you prepare for your trip in the best way possible. Find out more about the measures taken to ensure safe travelling on our website: https://www.airfrance.fr/FR/en/common/page_flottante/information/coronavirus.htm#notre-engagement-sanitaire
See your doctor before you travel. Edinburgh counts several hospitals and medical institutions, as well as quality medical practitioners and health specialists. It is also recommended to take out insurance covering medical expenses and repatriation before your trip.
No vaccine is required for entry into Scottish territory.
For more information, contact the Air France Vaccination Centre:
Tap water is safe to drink in Scotland. In some regions, however, it can taste slightly ‘peaty' and appear lightly coloured. These characteristics do not affect its safety.
As a French citizen, you do not need to obtain a visa if you will be visiting the United Kingdom for less than 90 days. You must be in possession of a national identity card or a passport valid for the proposed duration of your stay.
To enjoy peace of mind during your stay in Edinburgh and the United Kingdom, be sure to check with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in your home country for the latest travel information and recommendations. Comprehensive information that may be helpful for international visitors is also provided on the United Kingdom page of the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs' website: https://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/en/country-files/united-kingdom/#
Tipping
In Edinburgh, as in the rest of Scotland, tipping is only common in restaurants, where one generally tips 10% to 15% of the bill. In bars, hotels and taxis, tipping is not expected.