Edinburgh Winter Festival and Christmas celebrations

The Edinburgh Winter Festival is made up of two festivals - Edinburgh's Christmas and Edinburgh's Hogmanay. It lasts for more than a month, starting with the Christmas Lights Switch On followed by Christmas time in fairytale like Edinburgh, and finally, finishing off with the Hogmanay (New Year's) 4 day long celebrations

Both turn the darkness of an Edinburgh winter into a sparkling and joyous place, where German markets sell hot mulled wine as skaters twirl round the ice rink in Princes Street Gardens. Not to mention the biggest New Year's party in the world that is Edinburgh's Hogmanay, where party goers from around the world enjoy all the fun and festivities the city has to offer at this time of year

The winter festival in Edinburgh kicks off with the Christmas Lights Night when all of the Christmas decorations and lights in the City Centre get switched on by the Lord Provost of Edinburgh. The free event takes place in East Princes Street Gardens and features carol singing, fireworks and lots of fun. The Christmas Lights Night is the most popular of all Edinburgh Christmas events. And while the Christmas Lights Night in Princes Street Gardens is obviously the most spectacular event, other similar events take place all around Edinburgh, celebrating the start of the Capital's Winter Festival

The festival continues with the St Andrews Day celebrations

The Christmas celebrations continue. There's no doubt that the best thing about Christmas in Edinburgh is the Winter Wonderland, a mix of fairground rides, Ferris Wheel, outdoor ice rink, hot food stands, Christmas fair and a traditional German Christmas market. These are all open for visitors for nearly 4 weeks

Other Christmas events include the Santa Run, Edinburgh's attempt at breaking the record for the largest gathering of Santas, the Reindeer Gardens in West Princes Street Gardens and carol concerts throughout Scotland's Capital

The winter festival reaches its climax with the spectacular Edinburgh Hogmanay and New Year celebrations including the world famous Hogmanay Street Party

View and book our Edinburgh Hogmanay breaks