Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I get a commission if you decide to make a purchase through my links, at no extra cost for you!
Are you planning to visit Edinburgh in Autumn? You’ve come to the right place!
Edinburgh is one of the best places in Europe to visit during the fall. Not only is the weather pretty good (well as good as it can get in Scotland) but the city truly becomes even more beautiful in Autumn.
The trees in the parks start showing their yellow, orange and red colours which is absolutely gorgeous!
Also, it’s a quieter time of the year when it comes to tourists. Most people come in July and August but by the end of September, things get back to a more normal pace.
⏱️ IN A RUSH? Here are the Top 5 Things To Do in Edinburgh in Autumn
1️⃣ Ghost Tour
2️⃣ Princes Street Gardens
3️⃣ The Vennel Steps
5️⃣ Whisky Tasting
Finally, Edinburgh is known for being one of the most haunted cities in the world so it’s the perfect place to discover some spooky stories for Halloween!
So, are you ready to discover the best things to do in Edinburgh in Autumn and for Halloween? Let’s get started!
Weather in Edinburgh in Autumn: Is Autumn a good time to visit Edinburgh?
Autumn is the perfect time to visit Edinburgh. While many people assume that summer is the best time to visit, autumn is actually even better!
Edinburgh is a city that was made for autumn and it truly shines in September and October.
Average temperatures are between 6° and 16° which is pretty pleasant.
Of course, you will need a good jacket. A hat can also be appreciated but it is overall very pleasant.
More importantly, the city is very pretty during the autumn months. The trees are beautiful and very colourful.
Best things to do in Edinburgh in Autumn
There are a lot of things you can do in Edinburgh in Autumn. The best thing about this season is that the temperatures are perfect for both indoor and outdoor activities, meaning that you will get to enjoy literally everything in the city!
Also, spending Halloween in Edinburgh is a cool thing to do.
The Scottish capital is one of the most haunted cities in Europe so you can be sure to find many spooky activities!
1. Ghost tour
What is the biggest event in October? That’s right, Halloween!
Edinburgh is known to be one of the most haunted cities in the world. There are so many ghost stories here and it’s such an interesting part of the local culture.
You can find ghost tours running in the Old Town all year round but if you get to join one at Halloween, it’s even better!
It’s super spooky and the ultimate thing to do in Edinburgh for Halloween.
There are several ghost tours in Edinburgh but the best ones are the walking ghost tour of the Old Town and the Ghost bus.
The ghost bus is better for people who want a more immersive experience since the guide will be dressed up and the entire vintage double-decker bus is as spooky as it can be! You will not be walking here, the bus will bring you to all the spots.
If you’re fine with walking then the ghost tour in the Old Town will be best for you. It runs in the evening (it has to be dark after all!).
The guide will take you to some secret passages and the Greyfriars Kirkyard, the most haunted graveyard in Scotland!
No matter which one you choose, you will hear it all about the witches burnt at stake and the creepy story of Bloody MacKenzie.
2. Roaming around Princes Street Gardens
Located between the Old and the New Town, Princes Street Gardens are the most famous park in Edinburgh.
There are a lot of landmarks in these gardens including Mortonhall Baby Ashes Memorial, Wojtek the Soldier Bear Memorial and Ross Fountain.
More importantly, it boasts absolutely stunning views of Edinburgh Castle.
PRO TIP: One of the best places to take photos in Princes Street Gardens is by Ross Fountain so you get to see both the fountain and the Castle in the background.
Princes Street Gardens are absolutely stunning in autumn. There are a lot of different varieties of trees which means you get to discover various colours.
The prettiest tree is located between Ross Fountain and the Parish Church of St Cuthbert. It becomes completely red in the fall (that’s the one in the photo above)!
Also, you can see the castle just behind it so the views from there are very pretty.
3. The Vennel Steps
The Vennel Steps are one of the best places to take photos in Edinburgh. They go from Heriot Place all the way down to Grassmarket.
The reason why they are so popular is that you get fantastic views of the castle.
The stairs are also very pretty and tucked in that narrow alleyway which makes them even cuter.
Again, this is a place you can visit all year round but it’s particularly pretty in autumn. You can see the trees on the side of the stairs starting changing colours and the beige / brown colours of the stairs, the rock and the castle make the entire scene very autumnal.
PRO TIP: If you want down towards Grassmarket, once you are at the bottom of the steps turn left. You’ll walk in front of a hostel named Kick-Ass Grassmarket.
On the other side of the building, you can see some beautiful red ivy leaves.
4. Harvest Moon Installation at the Ivy on the Square
A lot of bars and restaurants put up autumn and Halloween themed decorations but The Ivy is definitely the most famous one.
Located on St. Andrew Square, in the New Town, The Ivy is an excellent British brasserie. Inside, the restaurant is beautifully decorated so it’s always a nice place to go for a meal or a cocktail.
When September comes around, they put up an autumn display called the harvest moon installation.
It includes red and yellow leaves, pumpkins and all sorts of autumnal things.
It’s very pretty (also an excellent photo spot by the way!).
They also create an autumn-themed cocktail so make sure to order that!
PRO TIP: You can also find an Ivy in Manchester in Spinningfields and it’s also super pretty so if you are visiting Manchester soon, consider going there.
5. Whisky Tasting in Edinburgh
While the weather is usually pretty good in autumn in Edinburgh, spending your evenings indoors can be much appreciated sometimes.
No matter what you do, you should try Scotland’s national drink: whisky!
If that’s something you are interested in, there are several options:
- Edinburgh Whisky Experience. Located right by the castle, it’s home to the largest collection of whisky in the world. They offer fantastic tours.
- Whisky Tasting Tour & Folklore. This one is run by a small tour company in Edinburgh and is such an amazing experience. Here you will be with a local guide who will bring you to one of the oldest pubs in Edinburgh, The Waverley, where you’ll try 4 different whiskies. The guide will explain everything you need to know about whisky in Scotland but also tell you interesting folklore stories and legends. It’s great value for money and I can’t recommend it enough!
- Go to the pub. If you already know your whisky and don’t like tours then hit the local pubs! They all have various sorts of whisky so you can be sure to find the one you want!
6. Chocolatarium
The Chocolatarium is a micro chocolate factory located near Canongate.
They offer tours of the factory with a chocolate workshop all year round but they also have a Halloween edition in October.
That’s a very cool thing to do especially with children or on a rainy day.
You’ll learn how chocolate is made and will get to personalise your own chocolate bar!
Please note that vegan-friendly chocolate is also available so if you are vegan or have food allergies, they will be able to accommodate you without any problem.
The tour lasts 90 minutes and is available every day.
Click here to see the latest prices.
READ MORE: 20 Things to do in Edinburgh when it’s Raining
7. Harry Potter walking tour
Edinburgh is known for being the birthplace of Harry Potter.
That’s where JK Rowling wrote most of the books and if you are a Harry Potter fan, going on a Harry Potter walking tour of Edinburgh is an absolute must-do!
Admittedly, this is not an ‘autumn-only’ activity but the fall season is a good time to go on a walking tour.
It’s not always pleasant to go on a walking tour in winter since it can be so cold. In summer, the city gets very busy (especially during the Fringe festival).
In Autumn, you get to enjoy a calmer atmosphere and you won’t get cold.
The Harry Potter walking tour will take you all around the Old Town. Stops include Victoria Street (yep, that’s the real-life version of Diagon Alley), The Elephant House, Potterrow and plenty more!
READ MORE: 11 Harry Potter Sites in Edinburgh & Other Magical Activities
8. Halloween Trail at Edinburgh zoo
If you love everything that has to do with Halloween and also want to visit one of the most famous places in Edinburgh, book your tickets for Halloween at Edinburgh Zoo.
This takes place throughout the month of October and is so much fun!
You will discover a universe made of spooky lights, witches, skeletons and many other things!
The trail is family-friendly so you are more than welcome to come with kids. They will love it!
If you can, head to the zoo in the afternoon so you can visit the normal part and then go to the Halloween night (it’s between 5:30PM and 7:30PM).
9. Underground Vaults Tour
There are a lot of underground vaults in Edinburgh and they are pretty famous for their murder and ghost stories.
If you like the idea of being spooked out, joining this popular underground vaults tour will be an excellent choice.
It’s an hour-long which is quite a good amount of time. It won’t take too much of your time but it’s still long enough to get a lot out of it.
The tour takes place in the Old Town where you will visit the vaults of the South Bridge with a guide in costume.
If you are interested in paranormal activity and scary stories, you are in for a treat!
10. Stroll along George Street
George Street, in the New Town, is always a great place to go to if you want to grab a drink or go shopping.
It’s also one of the most beautiful streets in Edinburgh. It features amazing Georgian architecture and there are loads of things to see.
But the reason why you should head there in Autumn has to do with the fall foliage atmosphere and decorations.
A lot of bars, such as Tigerlily, put up beautiful autumnal decorations and arches. It makes the street so pretty!
They are also a great place to take photos with your friends.
11. Greyfriars Kirkyard Walking Tour
The Greyfriars Kirkyard is one of the most famous landmarks in the city as well as the most haunted graveyard in Scotland.
For these reasons, a lot of visitors come here every year. If you are interested in learning more about this very special place, you can book a walking tour of the graveyard.
If you’ve chosen to do the Harry Potter tour, the Old Town tour or the ghost tour, you will come here at some point.
This tour though will give you much more information about the graveyard specifically. It includes the connections with JK Rowling (yes, Tom Riddell’s grave is here!), the story of Bobby, witch stories and also quite a lot of ghost stories.
It’s a great way to learn more about the graveyard and get a complete picture of what it represents.
That having been said, there is a bit of an overlap with the other tours mentioned so that’s something to bear in mind if you are booking several.
12. Going to St. Vincent Bar
Located at the corner of Circus Lane, between Stockbridge and the New Town, St. Vincent Bar is a local’s favourite when it comes to traditional pubs.
It’s nicknamed ‘the Vinnie’ and is open every day (afternoon and evening).
They serve delicious burgers, pints and of course, whiskies.
The location of this bar is absolutely ideal if you are visiting Edinburgh since it’s located by Circus Lane, one of the most Instagrammable streets in the city, and the beautiful Saint-Stephen’s theatre.
While both of these places should be checked out, the reason why the Vinnie is a great place to visit in autumn is that it’s super pretty.
The front of the bar is always very flowery but it gets even more beautiful in autumn as the ivy turn red.
It’s cute, a great place to take photos and there is delicious food… what else can we ask for?!
13. Visiting a pumpkin patch
Nothing screams autumn more than pumpkin tart and pumpkin carving!
If you are looking for something to do in Edinburgh in October with kids, going to a pumpkin patch will be an excellent option!
Each year, a few pumpkin farms around Edinburgh open their gates to the public who can come and pick their own pumpkins!
This is perfect for people looking for pumpkins to carve for Halloween. Orange, green, white pumpkins… they are all there!
It’s also a nice thing to do with kids since they get to spend some time outside and discover more about nature.
Finally, it’s a great place to take some beautiful photos with an autumn vibe.
There are quite a few pumpkin patches that you can visit but the best-known ones are Craigie’s Farm and Deli and Kilduff Farm.
We hope you enjoyed the article and that it will help you plan your trip to Edinburgh in autumn!
You may also be interested in:
- 19 Best Things To Do in Edinburgh in Winter
- 10 Beautiful Hidden Gems in Edinburgh Even Locals Don’t Know
- Edinburgh Instagram Spots: 14 best photo spots in Edinburgh, Scotland
- Edinburgh 2-day itinerary: How to spend 2 days in Edinburgh, Scotland
- 20 Amazing Facts about Edinburgh that will blow your mind
