May in Edinburgh averages highs of 14 °C (57 °F) and lows of 7 °C (45 °F), with about 9 rainy days and 16 h 16 min of daylight.
May weather in Edinburgh at a glance
average high to low each dot ≈ 3 rainy days
Is May a good time to visit Edinburgh?
Mixed weather: cool and some rain. May is usually shoulder season in Edinburgh: fewer crowds than peak months, with prices often a little lower.
Our rule: a month scores 2 points for comfortable average highs of 18–28 °C (1 point for 14–18 or 28–32 °C) and 2 points for 5 or fewer rainy days (1 point for 6–10). Average highs above 35 °C or below 8 °C make it a tough month whatever the rain. A rainy day here means 2 mm of rain or more. 4 points = great, 3 = good, 2 = mixed, 0–1 = tough.
Holidays and events in May 2026
- Mon 4 May: Early May Bank Holiday public holiday
- Mon 25 May: Spring Bank Holiday public holiday
Banks and many shops close on public holidays, and museums may change their hours, so check before you go.
Things to do in Edinburgh in May
May's weather suits a mix of outdoor sights and museums, so the open-air ones come first.
- Royal Mile outdoors
- Arthur's Seat — an hour up an extinct volcano outdoors
- Calton Hill — sunset outdoors
- Dean Village and the Water of Leith outdoors
- Edinburgh Castle — book ahead indoors
- National Museum of Scotland — free indoors
Where to stay: Old Town for the castle and Royal Mile; New Town for elegant streets; Leith for food and value.
What to pack for Edinburgh in May
- Layers and a light jacket: days around 14 °C (57 °F), nights near 7 °C (45 °F).
- An umbrella or a light waterproof: about 9 days this month see real rain.
- Comfortable walking shoes.
What a day in Edinburgh costs
| Budget traveller | Mid-range | |
|---|---|---|
| Typical total per person, per day | £50–120 | £150–320 |
Excluding flights. May is usually shoulder season in Edinburgh: fewer crowds than peak months, with prices often a little lower.
May in nearby cities
| City | High / low | Rainy days | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dublin | 15° / 8° | 9 | Mixed weather |
| London | 17° / 8° | 8 | Mixed weather |
| Amsterdam | 17° / 9° | 8 | Mixed weather |
Want the whole trip planned? Join the Journey waitlist: tell it where, when and your budget, and it plans every day hour by hour.
FAQ
Is May a good time to visit Edinburgh?
By the numbers, May is a mixed month: cool and some rain, with average highs of 14 °C (57 °F) and about 9 rainy days. May is usually shoulder season in Edinburgh: fewer crowds than peak months, with prices often a little lower. The best months for weather are May, June, July.
How warm is Edinburgh in May?
Average highs are 14 °C (57 °F) and lows 7 °C (45 °F) (2015–2024 averages).
Does it rain a lot in Edinburgh in May?
Expect about 9 days with 2 mm of rain or more, about 72 mm in total. It is the 2nd driest month of the year in Edinburgh.
Sources: climate averages from Open-Meteo historical weather (ERA5 reanalysis, 2015–2024); sea temperatures from the Open-Meteo marine API (2023–2024); public holidays from Nager.Date. Daylight is calculated for the 15th of the month. Averages are a guide, not a forecast. Costs are typical ranges per person per day, excluding flights.