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What to Wear in Edinburgh in December (a 5-Day Packing List)

“Edinburgh in December is a city of stairs, cobbles and wind, lit up like a stage set before four in the afternoon. Dress for the hills first. Grippy boots and a hood will do more for your trip than any outfit in your suitcase.”Her take

What is Edinburgh like in December?

Cold, often wet and frequently windy. Daytime highs are usually in single figures, often around 5 to 7°C, nights hover around freezing, with frosty mornings, and rain or sleet is more likely than settled snow. The wind is what catches visitors out, especially on the bridges, Calton Hill and open streets in the New Town.

Days are short. The sun rises late and it's dark by mid-afternoon, so much of your sightseeing will be in twilight, with Christmas lights, markets and warm pubs and restaurants filling the evenings. It's also a city of hills, stone steps and cobbles, and you'll walk almost everywhere in the centre.

What shoes should you wear in Edinburgh?

Grip matters more than anything else. The Old Town's cobbled streets and the narrow closes and steps running off the Royal Mile are steep and become slick when wet or frosty. Choose waterproof boots with a rubber, ridged sole, and make sure they're broken in before you travel.

Here's how the usual options compare for a December trip.

• Waterproof leather boots with a lug sole: the best all-rounder. Grippy on cobbles, warm, and smart enough for dinner.
• Walking boots: ideal if you plan to climb Arthur's Seat or Calton Hill. Less polished for evenings.
• Chelsea boots with a smooth sole: look great but slip on wet setts. Only if the sole has real tread.
• Heels: skip them. Block heels with a rubber sole are the most you'll want on the Old Town's hills.
• Trainers: fine on a dry day if they're leather or water-resistant, but cold and wet in rain or sleet.

Which coat should you pack?

Pack one warm, water-resistant coat with a hood that covers your hips or longer. Umbrellas struggle in Edinburgh's wind, so a good hood and a hat are more reliable. A padded or quilted coat with a water-resistant outer, or a long wool coat with a packable waterproof shell for rainy days, both work.

Make sure the coat fastens high at the neck or can hold a scarf inside the collar, and that it has room for a knit underneath. Wear it on the journey to save suitcase space.

What should you pack for five days in Edinburgh?

Keep to one colour family, such as navy, grey, camel and cream, or black and burgundy, so every piece works together. A tartan or check scarf is a natural accent here. Wear the coat and boots to travel, and the rest fits in a carry-on.

• One warm, hooded, water-resistant coat, plus a packable waterproof if your coat is wool.
• Waterproof boots with grip, plus one smarter pair with a rubber sole for evenings.
• Two pairs of dark jeans or trousers and one knit dress or skirt with thick opaque tights.
• Three warm knits, such as a roll-neck, a crew neck and a cardigan.
• Two thermal base layers and thermal leggings.
• A wool hat, a scarf, gloves and thick wool-blend socks.
• One dressier layer for evenings, such as a silky shirt, velvet trousers or a sparkly knit.

What should you wear to the Christmas markets?

The markets mean standing outdoors in the cold, browsing, queueing for food and holding a hot drink, then ducking into warm cafes and shops. Wear your thermal layer, a knit and your warmest coat, and choose gloves that let you use your phone and hold a cup.

Keep your bag small and hands-free, such as a crossbody with a zip, worn at the front in crowds. Edinburgh's Christmas is spread across East and West Princes Street Gardens and George Street, and those areas, plus the Royal Mile, get packed in the evenings and at weekends. Entry to the main market is usually free, but rides and skating are ticketed, so check the official programme for opening hours over Christmas and New Year.

What should you wear for Hogmanay in Edinburgh?

If you're going to an outdoor Hogmanay event, dress as if you'll stand outside for hours late at night in winter, because you will. Thermals under warm trousers, a thick knit, your warmest coat, a hat, gloves and boots you can stand and dance in. Check the event's own guidance on what bags and items you can bring before you go.

For a ceilidh, choose something you can spin in: a full or swishy midi skirt or a dress with tights, flat or low-heeled shoes, and nothing that trails or catches. For a smart dinner, dark velvet, a silky shirt under a sharp blazer or a sparkly knit with trousers looks festive and still works with practical boots.

Questions people ask

The takeaway

Grippy waterproof boots, a hooded coat for wind and rain, thermals under knits, one colour family for five days, and a dressier layer for the evenings.

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