Summer is always the best time to be in Edinburgh. From May until September, the Scottish capital is experiencing its best weather of the year, and while sunshine is never guaranteed in this part of the world, temperatures can still hit average highs of 20°C (68°F).
Admittedly, everyone else will have the same idea as you, and Edinburgh is also at its busiest in the summer. Brave the crowds though, and you can experience the euphoria and excitement of the famous Edinburgh Fringe Festival (held all through August), and enjoy sights like Edinburgh Castle and the Royal Botanic Gardens in their best light.
It’s super easy to escape the crowds, too. Hire a bike and cycle the Union Canal, take a day trip to Portobello Beach, and hike to Arthur’s Seat early in the morning.
With so many things to see and do, you might not know where to begin. So I’ve compiled a list of the absolute best things to do in Edinburgh in summer for you. Stick to these fun and unique Edinburgh bucket list recommendations and there’s no doubt you’ll have an amazing time exploring the gorgeous Scottish capital!
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The 10 Fun Things to Do in Edinburgh in the Summer
1. Hike to Arthur’s Peak
When the sun’s shining, nothing beats a good old-fashioned hike. You might be staying in one of the UK’s largest cities, but Edinburgh is lucky enough to have one of Scotland’s best walking trails right on its doorstep.
Follow the Royal Mile down to Holyrood Park, and rising high above the grass and gorse is Arthur’s Peak. This extinct volcano is a remnant of a geological age long since past, but with a height of 251 meters (823 feet), it’s now one of the best vantage points in Edinburgh.
The site of an Iron Age fort, the hilltop is so prominent that romantics attributed the volcano to be the seat of King Arthur, the legendary king of the Britons. It’s a steep but short ascent to the top, with hikers typically taking around 2 hours there and back (from Holyrood Palace), allowing plenty of time to take in the views!
2. Take a walking tour of Edinburgh
A walking tour is one of the best things to do in Edinburgh in the summer. It’s the perfect time of year to see the best Edinburgh sightseeing attractions on foot, and being one of the UK’s most popular city break destinations, you’re spoiled for choice when it comes to picking a tour.
Companies like Sandemans and the Edinburgh Free Tour offer tips-based walking tours of the city all through the summer (so you only pay what you feel the experience was worth at the end). Classic tours delve into the city’s origins and evolution, taking you to major sights along the Royal Mile, historic areas like Grassmarket, and quirky attractions like the Greyfriars Kirkyard.
If you’re already well versed in the Old Town’s history, you can also join tours of the New Town, ghost walks, Harry Potter-themed tours, pub crawls, castle tours, and more when you’re in Edinburgh.
3. Get cultured at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival
If you’re here in August, there’s no avoiding the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, which quite literally takes over the entire city for the month. Edinburgh is swamped by artists, performers, musicians, comedians, actors, and tourists as the city plays host to the largest performing arts festival of its kind anywhere in the world.
First established in 1947, the festival has since become larger than life, and for many artists, it’s a rite of passage to perform at the Fringe. In recent years, the festival has hosted almost 4,000 different shows across over 300 different venues, providing a space for both up-and-coming and established performers alike to wow the crowds.
Book your accommodation well in advance if you’re visiting in August, because prices can skyrocket. It’s well worth it, though, to see the greatest performing arts festival on the planet, and you’ll find that once you’re here, many of the shows held in pubs are free to attend (you just buy a few drinks, and tip the performers if you enjoyed it!).
4. Be awed by the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo
Also taking place in August is the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, which takes over Castle Esplanade for six nights a week throughout the month. The event has its roots in Edinburgh’s military past, celebrating the discipline, skills, and even the artistry of the Armed Forces.
From the stands, you’ll see military marching bands, hear the Massed Pipes and Drums of the Scottish regiments, and be awed by some incredible military maneuvers. There are Highland dancers, performances from overseas military units, and the famed Lone Piper.
It’s one of the biggest events of the year in Edinburgh, and it’s all crowned off with fireworks and fanfare, every night of the show.
5. Have a beach day in Portobello
Just a short bus ride away from the city center, Portobello is the perfect place for a beach day in summer. With a long seafront lined by Georgian buildings and Victorian gardens, Portobello has long been a favored coastal escape.
You’ll love the sandy, two-mile-long beach leading out into the Firth of Forth, and in June or July, you’ll see the local crowds braving the waters for a dip. Portobello Beach is also a fantastic place for kayaking, paddleboarding, or canoeing (if you’d rather spend more time on the water than in it), and you can find rental shops along the seafront.
6. Cycle the Union Canal
Constructed over 200 years ago, the Union Canal stretches for some 48 kilometers (30 miles) from Edinburgh to Falkirk, where it connects with the Forth and Clyde Canal and continues to Glasgow.
Designed for industry, the Union Canal has now become the domain of cyclists, dog walkers, and narrowboat lovers. Hire a bicycle in Edinburgh, and you can cycle along the car-free towpath to Falkirk or even further onto Glasgow.
Along the way, stop off at cafes and canalside pubs, and if you’re feeling weary, just hop on the train back to Edinburgh when you make it to Falkirk.
7. Order fish and chips in Leith
Overlooking the Firth of Forth, Leith was once the gritty domain of sailors and merchant ships. Now, the port has transformed itself into one of Edinburgh’s most colorful and creative suburbs, but the pubs and restaurants have stayed true to their maritime roots.
Leith is home to some of the best seafood restaurants in the capital, and on a summer’s day, there’s not much that can beat a cold beer and a plate of fresh fish and chips overlooking the water.
One of the best places to eat in Leith is The Fishmarket, where fish is taken straight out of the fishermen’s nets in the docks and sent to the kitchens. The Ship on the Shore serves champagne and oysters, while Fishers Leith prepares gourmet plaice and sea bass in an old 17th-century watchtower.
8. Explore UNESCO-listed heritage on Calton Hill
Calton Hill is another prominent volcanic plug that looms large over Edinburgh. This unique hilltop was completely transformed in the late 18th century when the city began building an Acropolis in the style of the ancient Greeks.
Edinburgh was attempting to turn itself into the Athens of the North, and their mock Pantheon endures today as Scotland’s National Monument. Take a walk amongst the architecture, see the Nelson Monument, the Robert Burns statue, and more as you absorb Scottish history and heritage on Calton Hill.
9. Visit Edinburgh’s gardens
Edinburgh is unique in the number of public parks and green spaces found within the city limits.
You’ll have already visited Holyrood Park if you’ve hiked to Arthur’s Seat, but you’ve also got 37 acres of greenery to enjoy in Princes Street Gardens, which were designed in 1820 to separate the old and new towns of Edinburgh.
The Royal Botanic Garden is even older, dating back to 1679, and you can spend hours lost amongst the greenhouses and gardens. And after all that walking, you’ll want to save the best gardens for last. Make sure you pop into one of Edinburgh’s many pub beer gardens for a cold drink – there’s no better place to be on a summer’s day!
10. Walk the ramparts of Edinburgh Castle
I’m saving the best until last because no trip to Edinburgh – no matter the season – is ever complete without visiting Edinburgh Castle. In summer, the castle is at its busiest, but you’ll have soaring views across the city from its perch on a volcanic plug above the Old Town.
Castle Rock has been fortified since the Iron Age, and you can feel the weight of Scottish history beneath your feet as you walk the ramparts. The medieval castle dates to the 11th century AD, and even today, it’s still run by the British Army.
Visit the Scottish National War Memorial, the National War Museum, and the museums of famous Scottish army regiments during your tour of Edinburgh Castle.
