Shopping New Town, Edinburgh
Edinburgh's Christmas
A place to shop in New Town, Edinburgh, budget-friendly ($) and worth about 2 hours. Best time to go: After dark.
Why go
The city's Christmas market and fair, with stalls, rides and a big wheel in East Princes Street Gardens below the Scott Monument.
It is one of 15 curated places we feature in Edinburgh, alongside 6 sights, 2 activities and 2 bars & cafés. 6 more of our picks sit within about half a mile in a straight line, so it pairs easily with Victoria Street and Oink.
- Type
- Shopping
- Neighborhood
- New Town
- Price
- $
- Time needed
- 2 hr
- Best time
- After dark
Nearby
The 6 closest curated picks in Edinburgh, measured as straight-line distance.
- 1Victoria Street
Curving street of colourful shopfronts that drops from George IV Bridge to the Grassmarket.
Shopping · 0.2 mi straight-line - 2Oink
Hog-roast rolls carved from a whole pig in the window.
Food · 0.2 mi straight-line - 3St Giles' Cathedral
Medieval High Kirk with the ornate Thistle Chapel.
Sight · 0.2 mi straight-line - 4The Bow Bar
Traditional pub on Victoria Street with cask ales and a deep whisky list.
Drinks · 0.2 mi straight-line - 5The Balmoral
Grand 1902 railway hotel at the east end of Princes Street, known for its clock tower above Waverley Station.
Stay · 0.2 mi straight-line - 6Edinburgh's Hogmanay
The city's New Year festival; the 31 December street party on Princes Street ends with fireworks over the castle.
Activity · 0.2 mi straight-line
On these curated routes
Edinburgh's Christmas is a stop on our Edinburgh & the Cairngorms route. Open it to see the full day-by-day plan.
More to do in Edinburgh
Edinburgh's Christmas is our only shopping pick in Edinburgh; here is what else we recommend there. See the full Edinburgh guide.
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Edinburgh Castle
Clifftop fortress holding the Scottish Crown Jewels and the Stone of Destiny.
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Royal Mile
Old Town spine of closes and wynds running from the castle to Holyrood.
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National Museum of Scotland
Free museum from Dolly the sheep to Lewis chessmen, with a rooftop terrace.
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Palace of Holyroodhouse
The monarch's official Scottish residence and ruined abbey.
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Arthur's Seat
Extinct volcano in Holyrood Park with a 45-minute climb to city-wide views.
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Calton Hill
City hill with monuments and the classic view down Princes Street.
When to go
Average daily highs in Edinburgh run from 42°F in January to 65°F in July; August is usually the wettest month. For Edinburgh's Christmas itself, we suggest: After dark.
Modelled monthly averages for Edinburgh from NASA POWER, not a forecast. Full Edinburgh weather by month.
Getting there
Map links open a live search for Edinburgh's Christmas, so hours and directions come straight from the map app.
- Coordinates
- 55.95140, -3.19464
- Destination
- Edinburgh, United Kingdom
- Website
- edinburghschristmas.com
Edinburgh's Christmas: quick answers
How much time do you need at Edinburgh's Christmas?
Plan on about 2 hours at Edinburgh's Christmas. That is our curated estimate for a typical visit; groups that linger will want more.
When is the best time to visit Edinburgh's Christmas?
Our pick: After dark. Insider tip: Go on a weekday evening; weekends after dark are very crowded.
Which TripsCircle routes include Edinburgh's Christmas?
Edinburgh's Christmas appears on Edinburgh & the Cairngorms, a curated route you can open on TripsCircle and plan with your group.
Add Edinburgh's Christmas to your crew's plan
Save it to a shared TripsCircle itinerary, settle the timing with a quick poll, and split the costs with everyone going to Edinburgh.
Plan Edinburgh
- Edinburgh travel guide 15 places
- Best time to visit Edinburgh weather by month
- Edinburgh to Aviemore & the Cairngorms 89 mi straight-line
- Edinburgh to Fort William 95 mi straight-line
Lists & regions
Also in Edinburgh
- Calton Hill Sight
- Arthur's Seat Activity
- The White Hart Inn Drinks
- The Kitchin Food
Curated recommendation, not live listing data. Confirm hours, prices, bookings and access before you go.