Things to do in Edinburgh when the sun is out
A clear day is for the hills: Arthur’s Seat, Calton Hill and the Pentlands, with Portobello beach for the warm ones.
14 picks that fit, best first. The order assumes the conditions in the title; the live forecast only nudges it.
Arthur's Seat and Holyrood Park
Holyrood
An extinct volcano in the middle of the city, an hour’s climb to a view of everything.
Clear skies for the view. Free.
- Free
- Outdoors
- Half a day
- Good with kids
Calton Hill
New Town
A ten-minute climb to the unfinished Parthenon and the best sunset in the city.
Clear skies for the view. Free.
- Free
- Outdoors
- Under 2 hours
- Good with kids
The Royal Mile and its closes
Old Town
The spine of the Old Town from the castle to Holyrood, with hidden closes off both sides.
Clear skies, and this is best outdoors. Free.
- Free
- Outdoors
- Under 2 hours
- Good with kids
Edinburgh Castle
Old Town
The fortress on the rock, with the Crown Jewels of Scotland and the one o’clock gun.
Clear skies for the view.
- Over £25
- In and out
- Half a day
- Good with kids
Dean Village and the Water of Leith
Dean
A riverside village of old mills a few minutes from the West End, and a walkway to Stockbridge.
Clear skies, and this is best outdoors. Free.
- Free
- Outdoors
- Under 2 hours
Portobello Beach
Portobello
Two miles of sand and a Victorian promenade, twenty minutes from the centre by bus.
Clear skies, and this is best outdoors. Free.
- Free
- Outdoors
- Half a day
- Good with kids
Cramond and the tidal island
Cramond
A Roman fort, a harbour village and a causeway to an island you can only reach at low tide.
Clear skies, and this is best outdoors. Free.
- Free
- Outdoors
- Half a day
- Good with kids
Grassmarket and Victoria Street
Old Town
The curved street of coloured shopfronts and the square of pubs beneath the castle.
Free.
- Free
- In and out
- Under 2 hours
- Fine in rain
Greyfriars Kirkyard
Old Town
The graveyard of Greyfriars Bobby, the Covenanters and, allegedly, some Harry Potter names.
Clear skies, and this is best outdoors. Free.
- Free
- Outdoors
- Under 2 hours
- Good with kids
Pentland Hills
Day trip
Proper hill walking half an hour from the city, with reservoirs, ridges and views to the Highlands.
Clear skies for the view. Free.
- Free
- Outdoors
- A full day
Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh
Inverleith
Seventy acres of garden with glasshouses and a skyline view across the lawns.
Free.
- Free
- In and out
- Half a day
- Good with kids
Garden free; glasshouses ticketed
Edinburgh Zoo
Corstorphine
A hillside zoo with penguins, koalas and a daily penguin parade.
Clear skies, and this is best outdoors.
- Over £25
- Outdoors
- Half a day
- Good with kids
Palace of Holyroodhouse
Holyrood
The King’s official residence in Scotland, with Mary Queen of Scots’ chambers and the abbey ruins.
- Over £25
- In and out
- Half a day
Stockbridge
Stockbridge
A village within the city: delis, charity shops and a Sunday market by the river.
- Under £10
- In and out
- Under 2 hours
- Fine in rain
Good to know
Where should I go in Edinburgh when it is sunny?
A clear day is for the hills: Arthur’s Seat, Calton Hill and the Pentlands, with Portobello beach for the warm ones. This page keeps 14 outdoor and open-air picks, with viewpoints and parks pushed up the list when the forecast is clear.
What if the weather turns?
The list is re-ranked with the live forecast. If rain is on the way, mixed indoor-outdoor places move up and the fully outdoor ones move down, so you can still pick something that works.