Mini guideUnited Kingdom
Edinburgh in winter: sunset at 15:39
“I'd give Edinburgh two days in winter, no more. Any longer and you spend most of it in the dark.”
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Before you book
- 01The rule: anything outdoors happens before 4pm.
- 02£23.50 online, £26 at the gate.
- 03Last entry 16:00, closed 25 and 26 December
- 04Calton Hill 20 minutes before sunset, then Dean Village.
- 05Edinburgh's Christmas runs 14 November to 3 January.
- 06Hogmanay on 31 December is £39 a ticket, over-12s only.
- 07Buy it now, not on the 30th
- 08From the airport, the Airlink 100 is £6 and runs 04:12 to 01:00.
Checked when the guide was written (20 Oct 2026). Confirm times and prices with the operator before booking.
The full guide, as text+
Edinburgh in December: the sun sets at 15:39 🏰
I'd give Edinburgh two days in winter, no more. Any longer and you spend most of it in the dark.
The rule: anything outdoors happens before 4pm.
1️⃣ The castle at 09:30. £23.50 online, £26 at the gate. Last entry 16:00, closed 25 and 26 December
2️⃣ Calton Hill 20 minutes before sunset, then Dean Village. Both free
3️⃣ Edinburgh's Christmas runs 14 November to 3 January. The traditional market in East Princes Street Gardens is free to walk into
4️⃣ Hogmanay on 31 December is £39 a ticket, over-12s only. Buy it now, not on the 30th
5️⃣ From the airport, the Airlink 100 is £6 and runs 04:12 to 01:00. The tram is £7.90 and back on its full route
👉 Swipe for the castle hours, the free half of the city and a two-day plan.
Save this for your trip and send it to who you'd go with.
Castle first or Christmas market first? 👇
📷 Rob Wingate, Toa Heftiba, Jirath Ninchaikovit, Roan Lavery, Sid Saxena, Julia Solonina, Joan, Antony Hyson Seltran, Chris Flexen / Unsplash
