Scotland does winter properly. Edinburgh’s Christmas market glows beneath the castle, Glasgow and Aberdeen light up their squares, and the Highlands turn quiet, snowy and spectacular. Then comes Hogmanay, Scotland’s New Year, which many Scots still celebrate more enthusiastically than Christmas itself.
This guide covers the best of the season, from the markets to the street parties, plus what is open, what to pack and how to build a festive trip to Scotland from the US.
Edinburgh at Christmas
Edinburgh’s Christmas usually runs from mid-November into early January, centered on the gardens below the Castle and the Old Town. Expect a large Christmas market of wooden chalets, a big wheel with views across the city, fairground rides, an ice rink, and a light trail through the gardens.
Away from the market, Christmas in the capital is about the Old Town after dark: the Royal Mile hung with lights, carol services at St Giles’ Cathedral, and candlelit whisky bars in the closes and wynds. Edinburgh Castle stays open through the season apart from Christmas Day and Boxing Day, and the Palace of Holyroodhouse and the Royal Yacht Britannia make good festive visits too.
Hogmanay: Scotland’s New Year
Hogmanay is the Scottish celebration of the last day of the year, and Edinburgh’s Hogmanay is one of the biggest New Year events in the world. The program changes from year to year, but it is usually built around a ticketed Street Party and concert on Princes Street, fireworks over the Castle at midnight, and events across the city over several days around the 31st.
A few traditions to know:
- First-footing. The first person to cross your threshold after midnight brings luck for the year, traditionally a tall, dark-haired visitor carrying coal, shortbread, salt or a dram of whisky.
- Auld Lang Syne. Robert Burns’ song is sung at midnight with arms crossed and hands joined. In Scotland, people know more than the first verse.
- The Loony Dook. On New Year’s Day, crowds in fancy dress traditionally plunge into the freezing Firth of Forth at South Queensferry, in the shadow of the Forth Bridge.
- Two days off. The 1st and 2nd of January are both public holidays in Scotland, so the celebration carries on.
Glasgow, Aberdeen and Stirling
Glasgow has its own Christmas markets and light displays in the city center, and some of the best shopping in Scotland. Aberdeen puts on a Christmas village in its granite city center. Stirling combines a castle, the Old Town and festive events on a smaller, easier scale, and makes a good base between Edinburgh and the Highlands.
A Highland Christmas
If your idea of Christmas is snow on the hills and a fire in the hotel bar, head north. The Cairngorms National Park around Aviemore is the most reliable place in Britain for winter snow, and you can visit the Cairngorm reindeer herd, Britain’s only free-ranging reindeer. Further west, Loch Ness, Glencoe and the road to Skye are dramatic and almost empty in December. Country house hotels and castle hotels across the Highlands offer Christmas programs with dinners, ceilidhs and walks, which take care of the holidays when everything else closes.
What is open over Christmas in Scotland?
Christmas Day is quiet. Most shops, attractions and pubs close and public transport largely stops, but hotels remain open and serve Christmas lunch. Boxing Day is a public holiday, with some attractions reopening. Over Hogmanay, expect road closures and ticketed areas in central Edinburgh on the 31st, and some closures on the 1st and 2nd of January.
What is the weather like in Scotland in December?
Cold, often wet and occasionally snowy. Edinburgh averages around 1°C to 7°C (34°F to 45°F) in December, and the Highlands are colder, with snow likely on higher ground. Days are short: Edinburgh gets around seven hours of daylight at the solstice, and less further north. Pack warm layers, a hat, gloves, a waterproof jacket and boots with good grip.
A sample 7-night Scottish Christmas and Hogmanay itinerary
- Days 1 to 3: Edinburgh. The Christmas market, the Castle, the Royal Mile and a whisky tasting in the Old Town.
- Day 4: Stirling and the Trossachs. Stirling Castle and Loch Lomond on the way north.
- Days 5 and 6: The Cairngorms. Snow walks, the reindeer herd and a Christmas dinner in a Highland hotel.
- Day 7: Back to Edinburgh for Hogmanay. The Street Party, the fireworks and midnight on Princes Street.
- Day 8: New Year’s Day and departure. Watch (or join) the Loony Dook before your flight home.
We can shift this around Christmas Day or build a shorter Hogmanay-only trip.
Plan your Scottish Christmas with Great British Trips
December is short and Edinburgh’s best hotels fill months in advance for market weekends and Hogmanay. Tell us your dates and what you would like to see, and we will build a tailor-made festive itinerary around it, including Hogmanay tickets, transfers and a Highland Christmas if you want one.
Frequently asked questions
Is Scotland worth visiting at Christmas?
Yes. Edinburgh is one of Europe’s best Christmas cities, the Highlands are at their most atmospheric, and Hogmanay is a once-in-a-lifetime New Year.
When does the Edinburgh Christmas market open?
Edinburgh’s Christmas usually opens in mid-November and runs into early January. Exact dates are announced each autumn, and we confirm them when we plan your trip.
What is Hogmanay?
Hogmanay is the Scottish celebration of New Year’s Eve. Edinburgh’s Hogmanay is the most famous, with a Street Party, a concert and fireworks over the Castle at midnight.
Do you need tickets for Edinburgh’s Hogmanay?
For the main Street Party and concert, yes. Tickets are released in advance and the most popular events sell out, so it is worth booking as part of your trip.
Does it snow in Scotland at Christmas?
Snow is common in the Highlands and the Cairngorms in December, but less likely in Edinburgh and Glasgow, where cold, damp weather is more typical.
Is everything closed on Christmas Day in Scotland?
Most shops, attractions and pubs close on the 25th and public transport largely stops. Hotels stay open and serve Christmas lunch, which is why we recommend a hotel with a Christmas program.