There is a particular moment at the start of September when Edinburgh seems to breathe out. The Fringe posters come down, the crowds thin, the streets open up again, and the city settles back into itself. For a lot of people who know Edinburgh well, this is the best time of all to visit. If you are thinking about visiting Edinburgh in September or later into autumn, here is why the quiet season is such a treat, and how to make the most of it.
The city after August
August is glorious, but it is also relentless. Every venue is packed, every restaurant is booked, and the centre never quite stops. Come September, all of that eases. You can walk the Royal Mile without weaving through crowds, get a table without booking weeks ahead, and see the big sights at a human pace. The city is still lively, just no longer overwhelmed, and it feels a great deal more like the real Edinburgh.
Prices ease too. Once the festival demand drops away, accommodation becomes more available and better value, which makes a September or October break kinder on the budget as well as the nerves. Our guide to Edinburgh on a budget has more on keeping costs down whenever you visit.
Autumn light and autumn colour
Edinburgh suits autumn. The low, golden light does wonderful things to the Old Town’s stonework, and the city’s many green spaces turn every shade of amber and rust. Princes Street Gardens, the Water of Leith, the Royal Botanic Garden and Holyrood Park are all at their most photogenic, and a crisp, clear autumn day gives you some of the best views of the year from Calton Hill or Arthur’s Seat.
It is perfect walking weather, too: cool enough to enjoy a proper hike up Arthur’s Seat without overheating, and comfortable for long days of sightseeing on foot. Our roundup of the top 10 things to do in Edinburgh works beautifully at this time of year, with far shorter queues than in August.
Room to enjoy the food and culture
With the festival crowds gone, Edinburgh’s restaurants, museums and galleries are yours to enjoy properly. This is a fine time to treat yourself to one of Leith’s celebrated kitchens without battling for a reservation, or to spend an unhurried afternoon in the National Museum of Scotland or the Scottish National Gallery, both free to enter.
Leith in particular is lovely in autumn, its waterfront quiet and its food scene as good as ever. Our complete guide to Leith points you to the best of it, and our best restaurants and cafés near Ocean guide will help you plan where to eat.
A calmer base for a calmer trip
An autumn trip is all about a gentler pace, and where you stay should match. The Western Harbour waterfront is peaceful year round, but it comes into its own in the quieter months, when a walk along the front with the Firth of Forth turning silver under an autumn sky is a genuine pleasure. Many of our apartments look out over the water, and there is something especially restful about an autumn stay with that view, as our guide to harbour view apartments describes.
You still get the city easily. The number 11 bus and the tram reach the centre in around 20 to 30 minutes, so you can be in the thick of things by day and back by the calm of the water in the evening. Our guide to the best areas to stay in Edinburgh makes the case for the waterfront in more detail.
What is still on in autumn
Edinburgh does not go quiet in the sense of shutting down once August ends. It simply becomes more relaxed, and there is still plenty to enjoy. Early autumn often brings its own events and cultural happenings, from open-house weekends that let you into buildings usually closed to the public, to food and film events as the season turns. It is always worth checking what is on for your dates, because you will often find something special without the festival-scale crowds.
The permanent attractions are at their best, too. This is the ideal time to visit Edinburgh Castle, the Palace of Holyroodhouse or the Royal Yacht Britannia without long queues, and to enjoy the museums and galleries at a leisurely pace. As the nights draw in, the city’s pubs and restaurants become cosy again, and there is a real pleasure in a warming meal after a crisp day out.
Autumn day trips from the city
Autumn is a wonderful season for getting out of the city, and Edinburgh is superbly placed for it. The countryside of the Borders and the hills of Perthshire put on a spectacular show of colour, and the East Lothian coast is bracing and beautiful under big autumn skies. With complimentary parking at the apartment, keeping a car for these day trips costs nothing extra, and you return each evening to the calm of the waterfront. Our 3 to 5 day Scotland itinerary from Edinburgh has plenty of ideas for making the most of the season beyond the city.
Great value for a longer autumn stay
Autumn is an ideal time to stay a little longer. With better availability and our long-stay discounts, a week or more in Edinburgh becomes very good value: 10% off stays of 7 nights or more, 15% off 14 nights or more and 25% off 30 nights or more, all on our Stay and Save terms, with a best rate guarantee when you book direct. It is a lovely season to settle in, explore at leisure and use the city as a base for day trips into the autumn countryside. Our spacious two-bedroom apartments give you room to do exactly that.
Ideal for a relaxed long weekend
Autumn lends itself beautifully to a long weekend, when you want a proper change of scene without the intensity of a peak-season trip. Three or four days is enough to enjoy the highlights at a gentle pace: a morning up Arthur’s Seat or Calton Hill, an afternoon in a museum or two, a long lunch in Leith, and time simply to wander without a packed schedule.
Because the city is quieter and better value once the festivals end, a shoulder-season weekend often gives you more for your money than the same trip in August would, from the room you stay in to the ease of getting a table. It is the kind of unhurried break that leaves you feeling rested rather than footsore, which is exactly what a good city weekend should do. A waterfront apartment, with its space and calm and a walk along the front to bookend each day, is the natural home for a trip like that.
Frequently asked questions
Is September a good time to visit Edinburgh?
Yes. Once the August festivals end, the city is much quieter, more affordable and just as beautiful, with autumn light, shorter queues and easier restaurant bookings.
What is Edinburgh like after the Fringe?
Calmer and more relaxed. You can enjoy the sights, food and culture at a gentle pace, without the crowds and the peak-season prices of August.
Is the weather still good in autumn?
Autumn brings cool, crisp days that are perfect for walking and sightseeing, along with some of the best light of the year for photographs and views.
Is it cheaper to visit Edinburgh in autumn?
Generally yes. Accommodation is more available and better value once festival demand drops, especially for longer stays booked direct.
Book a quieter Edinburgh escape
If the idea of Edinburgh without the crowds appeals, autumn is your season. Request a quote with your dates for a calm, well-connected apartment on the waterfront, or call the team on 0131 553 7394, and book direct for the best rate.