Things to Do in Edinburgh in Spring

There is no bad time to visit Edinburgh, but spring — especially April and May — is a real delight, as long as you pack for all four seasons. The city wakes from its winter slumber: days grow longer, gardens bloom, cherry blossoms explode into pink, and Easter traditions fill the calendar.

This guide rounds up the best things to do in Edinburgh in spring — from blossom trails and coastal walks to walking tours, rainy-day back-ups and Easter feasts. Check our Scotland packing list before you set off, because spring weather changes by the hour.

Edinburgh Weather in Spring

Expect to eat a takeaway lunch in Princes Street Gardens one day and dodge hailstones the next. Temperatures can swing from -2°C to 18°C, so pack both a warm hat and sunscreen. May is often drier and warmer than early summer — proper “taps aff” weather, as locals say. Remember the clocks go forward on the last Sunday in March, giving you lighter evenings to pack more into your days. For the fuller picture, see our guide to the best time to visit Edinburgh.

Blossom & Blooming Gardens

Spring is when Edinburgh puts on its prettiest show. Tulips and daffodils brighten the parks, and by mid-April the city’s cherry trees erupt into clouds of pink.

• Cherry blossoms — the pink tunnels in The Meadows and the blossoms at Canongate Kirk on the Royal Mile are the classics; buds usually peak around the 20th of April. See our guide to the best spots for cherry blossom in Edinburgh.
• City gardens — wander Princes Street Gardens, the sweet-smelling Dunbar’s Close Garden off the Royal Mile, and the well-loved Starbank Park in Newhaven.
• Parks & green spaces — more ideas in our guide to Edinburgh’s parks, gardens and beaches, and the prettiest blossom shots in our most Instagrammable places guide.

The Great Outdoors

Longer, milder days make spring the season to get outside — whether that means a beer garden, a bracing sea dip or a hill with a view.

• Al fresco drinks — sip a pint in the shadow of the castle at spots like Cold Town House, Three Sisters, The Pear Tree and Starbar; many have heaters. See our full guide to craft beer and beer gardens in Edinburgh.
• Wild swimming — hardy swimmers take to Portobello Beach from April; go prepared and never swim alone (the Edinburgh Wild Swimmers community is a good place to start).
• Beach strolls — walk the Portobello prom, or head to Cramond for a forest walk to the falls or across to Cramond Island at low tide. East Lothian and Fife have gorgeous beaches under an hour away.
• Urban hikes — ease into the season on Calton Hill (under 15 minutes) or up Arthur’s Seat and Salisbury Crags in about an hour; Blackford Hill and the Pentlands reward more adventurous walkers.

Walking Tours & Lighter Nights

Many of Edinburgh’s walking tours hibernate over winter and return to the streets around April, ready to share tales of Auld Reekie. Spring is a great time to join one before the summer crowds arrive.

• Classic tours — an Old Town walk taking in the underground vaults and Harry Potter locations.
• Something different — the Edinburgh Black History Tour, Invisible Cities (led by people affected by homelessness) and the Silent Disco Tour are all well worth booking.
• Lighter nights — with the clocks forward you get long evenings; time a sunset climb up Arthur’s Seat, or use the extra daylight for an Edinburgh day trip.

Rainy-Day Edinburgh

It is Scotland, so pack for showers — but a downpour is no problem here. There is more than enough indoors to fill a wet afternoon.

• Museums & galleries — most are free, from the National Museum of Scotland to the Scottish National Gallery; see our guide to museums in Edinburgh.
• Attractions — get whacky at Camera Obscura, tour the Royal Yacht Britannia, make your own bar at the Chocolatarium, or head underground at The Real Mary King’s Close.
• Fun & games — cocktails and bowling at Lane 7, retro arcades at NQ64, comedy at Monkey Barrel or The Stand, or an escape room at the Department of Magic.

For the full list, see our guide to things to do in Edinburgh on a rainy day.

Spring Food & Easter

Spring brings its own flavours and traditions to Edinburgh’s tables, from pancake flipping to Easter roasts.

• Pancake Day — Shrove Tuesday is a highlight for dessert fans; flip your own with lemon and sugar, or let The Chocolate Cafe, Loudons or The Treehouse do the work.
• Easter traditions — families decorate and roll boiled eggs down hills and set up chocolate egg hunts; look out for community hunts around the city. Schools break for two weeks, so expect it to be busier.
• Easter lunch — book a traditional Sunday roast of lamb, beef or chicken; our Edinburgh restaurant guide has options for every budget.
• Seasonal menus — kitchens swap winter comfort food for spring produce like rhubarb, leeks and wild garlic, plus prized Scottish oysters and herring.