12 Things to Do in Edinburgh in Summer

Edinburgh is a city whose charms are seasonless. But there are few better times to do so than in summer. Not just because of the good weather, but also because of the extraordinary atmosphere and cultural life that takes over the Scottish capital in the summer months.

Edinburgh is often referred to as the "city of festivals". Summer is undoubtedly the time of year that lives up to this nickname. The variety of festivals is huge, so you won't get bored. In this list I'll show you the most interesting ones and I'll also suggest a little getaway to take a break and get away from the madding crowd for a while. These are, of course, just a few selected things to see and do in Edinburgh, but you have to start somewhere!

If you want a total immersion in Scottish culture, you'll love the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo. It consists of a grouping of various Scottish military bands on the Esplanade of Edinburgh Castle, for which you can hire a guided tour, who show their musical skills to the audience.

The interest of this Festival is, above all, due to its location. And because of its massive stakes: more than 1,000 people usually take part in it. Otherwise, it's all a display of musical folklore: bagpipes, drums, fifes... and, of course, people parading in traditional Scottish costume.

Visit Edinburgh Castle

If you are fascinated by the setting of the castle where it takes place, I recommend you set aside a few hours to visit it in detail. Here you can find all the information on how to visit Edinburgh Castle. If you want maximum convenience, you can always take one of the many tours that take you inside the castle as well as other significant places in the city.

How about a trip to the Highlands? It's a great place to get some fresh air, enjoy the silence of nature and, of course, the good weather.

The Scottish Highlands are an immersion in the landscape of the country: green expanses of land, wild coastlines, rugged cliffs and beautiful views of the sea and its islands.

Moreover, it is in this area of the country where the famous Loch Ness is located. We can't guarantee that you'll see Nessie, as he may be on holiday. However, we do promise you'll get the most out of your experience if you check out this article on Highlands and Loch Ness tours.

A different plan, and especially for those who like scary stories, is the Edinburgh Ghost Bus tour, for which you can book your tickets in advance. What is it all about? It's a tour where you can learn about the city's spookiest ghost stories from a tour guide.

An hour's tour where you'll learn first-hand about themost mysterious events that, according to legend, occurred in such iconic places in the city as Edinburgh Castle, the Royal Mile and the Grassmarket.

Another plan that may also interest you is to visit the Edinburgh Cemetery, for which you can get your tickets here. This is a walking tour where you can learn about mysterious stories of witches, haunted crypts, curses... we assure you it will be terrifyingly fun!

And, since you'll be in a good time for excursions and outings thanks to the good weather, we suggest a trip to the Scottish Highlands.

50km from the capital, you can visit some of the most beautiful castles as well as contemplate the spectacular views from its mountains, such as Doune Castle and Inveraray Castle, its lochs... which were even the setting for well-known series such as Game of Thrones.

We start with the Edinburgh International Festival, the mother of all cultural festivals. It starts in the first week of August and usually lasts the whole month. During these days all kinds of shows take place, prioritising theatre, musicals, dance and opera.

When I mentioned that it is the mother of all festivals, I wasn't just saying that. Although it was the first to appear, countless festivals have orbited around it, making Edinburgh one of the most culturally vibrant cities in the world today.

The Edinburgh International Festival still has this focus on classical music, dance and opera, although all the festivals that grace the city throughout August are often referred to by the same name. However, they should not be confused.

It takes place in a multitude of theatres and auditoriums in the city, although the most important are the following:

• Usher Hall: Specially dedicated to music concerts.
• Kings Theater: Usually hosts opera performances.
• Royal Lyceum Theater: Intended to host theatrical performances.

Ticket information

The price depends on many variables. On the one hand, it depends on the artists who are going to take part in the event. On the other hand, it depends on whether you have a festival membership. This means that, for the payment of an annual fee, you get first access to the ticket reservation. There are different fees, ranging from €60 to more than €200.

If you do not have this kind of patronage, then you have to wait until the general public tickets are released (usually in April).

Therefore, if you want to buy a ticket on a one-off basis, the price will depend very much on what the patrons have already chosen. The price, therefore, is not easy to determine precisely, although it is estimated that, for a classical music concert, tickets can be purchased from €40.

Getting back to festivals, the Edinburgh Jazz Festival is an established musical event that has been livening up the Scottish capital's summer days for over 40 years. It usually takes place during the second half of July, a few days in which some of the most renowned jazz and blues artists in the world come together.

But that's not all. The Edinburgh Jazz and Blues Festival also aims to showcase young talent in these two musical styles. So you'll be able to enjoy some real glories as well as rising stars. What more could you ask for? You might say a good location. You can make this wish come true because, taking advantage of the good weather, there are a large number of concerts taking place in the open air in the city centre.

Some of them, however, take place in some of the best venues for shows, such as the Edinburgh Festival Theatre. Tickets vary in price, depending on the artist, although you can get tickets from €15.

The Edinburgh Fringe Festival is an event closely related to the International Festival, although it runs in parallel. Its original aim, when it came into being in the late 1950s, was to give a voice to more alternative artists than those who were part of the International Festival.

This has meant that the Fringe Festival is now one of the best forums for new trends in the world of the performing arts. The genres and types of shows are very varied, although always maintaining that independent touch. This is what you will find:

• Dramatic and comic theatre
• Music shows
• Performances
• Mime theatre
• Experimental theatre
• Circus shows
• Children's performances
• Living statues
• Street performers

The shows are street performances, so it can be a great way to get to know Edinburgh if you are travelling during August when this event takes place. As for the price, you pay whatever you want directly to the performer - exactly the same as with a street performer!

It's definitely a great plan if you're travelling to Scotland as a family. By the way, if you want perfect plans for kids in Edinburgh, don't miss the Harry Potter tours in Edinburgh or the Mysteries and Legends tours in Edinburgh.

Another festival of exception: the Edinburgh Arts Festival. It takes place at the end of July and usually runs until the end of August. It is the largest event of its kind in Scotland and features both renowned artists and emerging talent. There are usually around 40 exhibitions, all of them related to contemporary and abstract art.

It takes place in various galleries, museums and urban spaces in Edinburgh, among them:

• The National Museum of Modern Art
• Stills Photography Centre
• The Royal Botanic Gardens

Ticket prices

The ticket price will depend on where you want to go. To give you an idea, tickets to the National Museum of Modern Art, one of the main venues for this festival, can be purchased from €10.

The Edinburgh Book Fair is another of the Scottish capital's most famous festivals. It usually takes place in the second half of August. The numbers at this fair are almost unbelievable. Hundreds of events take place in the 15 days or so that it lasts. Not to mention the visits of authors, which are counted by the dozens.

The strong points of this event are also the books on offer. If you like to lose yourself in bookshelves and mountains of books, this will be your paradise. In addition, there are also workshops and conferences (highly recommended if you are fluent in English).

And if you're a literature lover, keep an eye out, as this festival is visited by some of the best authors of the moment. In fact, Murakami, Vargas Llosa, Paul Auster... and many, many others have already visited!

It all takes place in Charlotte Square, one of the city's World Heritage attractions. As for prices, you'll have to pay for workshops, lectures and the chance to have a book signed by your favourite author. However, prices are usually affordable: you can get your pass for as little as €4.

The Edinburgh International Film Festival, which has been running since 1947, is considered to be the oldest continuously running film festival. It takes place from the second half of the month and lasts around 8 or 9 days.

During these days, film, documentary, animation and experimental cinema screenings take place. It also includes the participation of professionals from the seventh art, as well as workshops and conferences.

Most of the screenings take place at the Filmhouse in Edinburgh, although the opening is held at the Festival Theater. Tickets are available from €9 and from €4 for under 25s.

The Edinburgh Mela takes place at the end of August, an ideal festival if you like world music and cultural diversity. "Mela' in Sanskrit means 'welcome' and this is precisely what the festival offers: a welcome to music and dance from different cultures around the world.

These are open-air performances, but there are also parallel activities such as a multicultural market and a fashion festival. The venue for these events is the Leith Links, one of the city's main outdoor venues.

If you're travelling to Edinburgh at the end of August, when the festival atmosphere is starting to wane, it might be a great idea to come along to this colourful event. Tickets are available from €3.

The Royal Highland Festival is the perfect way to kick off the summer. It takes place at the end of June, always after the 21st. It is a 3-day celebration of rural Scotland, an immersion in the country's traditional way of life, especially through its farming and livestock farming.

It is a festival that attracts thousands of people every year. It brings together a wide range of activities. From livestock competitions to craft markets. All enlivened by live folk music. It is held at the Royal Highland Centre, located very close to Edinburgh Airport. Tickets start from €25.

The best time of year for weather is undoubtedly summer. Between June and September the weather in Edinburgh is pleasant without being hot. In fact, maximum temperatures usually range between 18 and 19 degrees Celsius while minimum temperatures are around 8 or 9 degrees Celsius.

However, due to Edinburgh's particular oceanic climate, we should not think directly that summer, as in Spain, means clear weather. In fact, even in summer there is more likelihood of cloudy skies than sunny ones. Only in mid-July does this ratio of cloudy to sunny skies even out at 50%.

It's advisable to save space in your suitcase to pack some warm clothes in case the weather doesn't work out. Summers in Edinburgh can also be cloudy and temperatures can be as low as 8 or 9 degrees Celsius. So it never hurts to pack some long sleeves just in case.

Yes, in fact summer is the busiest time for tourists in the city. Tourism is generally constant throughout the year (Edinburgh is not seasonal), but there will be a slight peak in mid-July in particular. This is largely due to the very intense cultural life of the city in the summer, especially through its many festivals.

Summer is Edinburgh's most touristy time of year. Many people flock to the Scottish capital to enjoy its festivals, which act as a major tourist attraction. As a result, prices rise, especially for tickets and accommodation. To give you an idea, the average cost of a Madrid-Edinburgh flight can be purchased from €80 and easily exceed €200.

As for accommodation, a night's accommodation for two adults during the month of July is available from €150. From this amount it can go up to €250 for a three-star hotel.