Edinburgh In October: The Ultimate Scotland Fall Guide

Edinburgh in October is a mixed bag!

The leaves are starting to change colour and there’s a lack of tourists, but all that comes at a cost – colder weather and shorter days!

Here’s the ultimate guide to knowing whether travelling to Edinburgh in the fall is the right time for your visit! 

Psst! This blog post contains affiliate links in it which sends me a bit of extra money if you use them… at no extra cost to you!

October Weather In Edinburgh

The weather in Scotland doesn’t fluctuate too much throughout the year.

So when you visit Edinburgh in October, you aren’t missing out on beautiful sunny weather as you would in other destinations. But don’t think it won’t be colder though!

The average high in the summer is only 19°C (66°F) and in October, the high is 13°C (55°F). The average low in October is about 6°C (43°F), so you’ll definitely want to pack some warmer clothes.

October is also one of the rainier months in Scotland, with 11 days of rain over the month on average. So be sure to pack that rain jacket and umbrella!

But expect the fall in Edinburgh to be cold, very windy, and rainy!

	High (C/F)	Low (C/F)	# of Rainy Days
September	16°C / 61°F	9°C/ 48°F	9
October	13°C/ 55°F	6°C/ 43°F	11
November	9°C/ 48°F	3°C/ 37°F	19

What To Pack For Edinburgh In The Fall

It’s all about layers for a trip to Edinburgh in the fall!

You want to be able to bundle up if you need to, and remove layers if it starts warming up.

In Scotland, you’re usually outside for the most of the day, so the warmer you dress the happier you’ll be!

P.S. See more of my pro packing tips and download my digital packing packing list to stay organized!

A Warm, Long Jacket Is A Must!

You’re going to want a nice warm jacket that blocks the wind and is also waterproof. I didn’t have one that checked both those boxes, so I brought my lined jean jacket with a packable waterproof windbreaker on top.

I will admit, I could have brought a bigger (and definitely longer) jacket. I regretted not packing my long puffer jacket.

I recommend wearing your jacket on the plane so it doesn’t take up room in your suitcase. 

Warm Fall Accessories

Make sure you also pack all the proper fall accessories like a hat, gloves, and don’t forget a scarf (unless you’re planning on buying a tartan one when you’re there!). 

I even brought leg warmers (like these on Amazon) because my legs often get really cold when standing outside all day.

You could also pack a pair of leggings to wear underneath as an extra layer underneath any pair of pants.

I also made sure to pack some wool socks because my feet tend to get cold.

What Shoes To Pack For Scotland In The Fall?

For shoes, make sure to want to pack rugged, water-resistant shoes. You might get caught in the rain a few times, and there’s nothing worse than walking around with wet feet all day. 

My new favourite waterproof shoes are the Cloud 5 Waterproof On running shoes. Although I didn’t have them for Scotland, I bring them on every trip since I’ve had them.

And this is Scotland so you’ll most likely want to leave the cities and do a few hikes while you’re here.

I packed Blundstones for hiking and walking around the city. But now I recommend the Columbia Newton Ridge, they are not only my favourite travel boot but also my favourite fall boots at home. They’re waterproof and comfortable to walk all day in.

Edinburgh Scotland In The Fall: Enjoy The Leaves Changing Colours!

As the weather starts to cool down, the leaves start to change colour. The red and yellow leaves make for some pretty beautiful pictures in Scotland.

The downside is that you have time it perfectly because after the leaves change, they fall… and that is not pretty at all!  

Visiting Edinburgh in the fall is tricky. You might miss the changing of the leaves and only see the bare branches on the trees, which definitely isn’t as nice.

And you can’t always time it because it can change year over year based on the weather.

When I visited in October, the leaves were still green at the beginning of the month and only started to change towards the end.

Expect Shorter Days Visiting Edinburgh In October

The main thing you have to watch out for when travelling to Edinburgh in October is that the days are a lot shorter. 

You can have up to 20 hours of daylight during the summer months in Edinburgh. The sun rises before 4:00 A.M. and sets after 9:00 P.M..

Scotland in the fall, however, only has 10 hours of daylight. The sun rises around 7:00 A.M. and sets around 5:30 P.M..

That’s half the amount of daylight in the fall compared to the summer!

The later sunrise can work in your favour because now you can wake up to see the sunrise at Arthur’s Seat (one of the main attractions in Edinburgh!). 

Less Daylight Means Possible Shorter Touring Days

The shorter days became an issue for our day trips out of Edinburgh, this included visiting nearby castles, cities and towns, or going on hikes.

We didn’t want to drive back in the dark (on their small, narrow, and poorly lit roads). Or worse, we didn’t want to be stuck on a hike in the pitch black…

So we’d have to start heading back to the city around 3:00 P.M. (if not earlier… depending on where we were!).

My suggestion would be that if you are interested in heading out of the city on a day trip, book an organized day tour. This way, you’re with a guide, and you don’t have to be concerned with beating the sun before it sets.

P.S. There Is A Time Change In October

Be aware that towards the last Sunday in October the clocks go back one hour.

Now your days get even shorter, teetering on only 9 hours of daylight.

It’s important to know when the time change is, and not forget it! You don’t want to miss any scheduled tours or flights you might have.

Fewer Tourists But Not Completely Empty In October

October is a pretty quiet month for travel throughout the world.

But Edinburgh wasn’t as quiet as I thought it would have been in October.

The Royal Mile is still bustling with people!

Some nights we even had a hard time finding a restaurant that still had space. I can’t imagine what it would be like during the summer.

But it was nice to not feel deserted everywhere we went. And we still didn’t have book any tickets for top attractions months in advance, so this gives you way more leeway in your schedule.

For example, in the summer you have to book Edinburgh Castle months before you visit (and make sure to book a morning visit – I’ve heard horror stories of how busy it can get in the afternoon in the summer!).

But when we visited Edinburgh in the fall, we booked our ticket the day before, didn’t have to rush there first thing in the morning, and it still wasn’t too busy when we went.

Edinburgh Autumn: Attractions Start To Close

You won’t have any issues in Edinburgh in the fall, the main attractions stay open all year round. 

But if you’re planning on leaving the city to visit some nearby towns and castles, there are a few places that close for the winter.

It’s usually the smaller castles that don’t see enough tourists, or those that are on an island (so you need to take a boat to get there) that will close between October and April.

But it’s important to be aware when planning a trip to Scotland in the fall.

P.S. Stay organized when planning your trip with my digital and printable travel planner.

Edinburgh Events In October

The best part of visiting Edinburgh in October are the festivals throughout the month.

If you’re there October 31 (Halloween) then you have to go to one of the best festivals in Edinburgh, Samhuin Fire Festival.

This is the Gaelic tradition celebrating the start of winter. All I’ll say is that it’s an experience you won’t get anywhere else!

You have some other festivals in Edinburgh in October as well. Like the Scottish International Storytelling festival that lasts two weeks and Edinburgh Cocktail week!

Related

Top 10 Edinburgh Hidden Gems You Won’t Want Miss

Edinburgh Hotel Recommendations

I stayed at an Airbnb for a month in Edinburgh just across from The Meadows. For shorter stays, I found these accommodations to stay at for every type of traveller.

Best Location & Price: Just down the street from the Royal Mile Motel One Edinburgh – Royal is a short walk to all the main attractions. See room rates & availability.

Modern & New Apartment: Stay in Edinburgh’s New Town at Golden Thistle Apartment to live like a local. It’s offers a beautifully renovated modern apartment with cafes and bars at your fingertips! See room rates & availability on Plum Guide.

Luxury: The Balmoral Hotel is Edinburgh’s finest hotel but nothing compares to it. J.K. even stayed here to finish writing the Harry Potter Series. Maybe you’ll get lucky and stay in the same suite! See room rates & availability.

See other accommodations on Booking.com in Edinburgh, or more apartments on Plum Guide.

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Last update on 2024-12-22 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API