Hogmanay in EdinburghHogmanay in Edinburgh: a visitor's guide
Hogmanay in Edinburgh runs over several days at the turn of the year. Here's what happens, how to get home on the night, where to stay, what to pack and how to enjoy it with children.
Hogmanay in Edinburgh: what it is and why people come
Hogmanay is the Scots word for the last day of the year, and the celebrations that go with it. In Scotland, New Year has long mattered as much as Christmas, and in Edinburgh it has grown into a festival of several days, with the castle lit up above it all. Hogmanay in Edinburgh is one of the best-known New Year celebrations in the world.
For 2026 to 2027, the festival is listed from 29 December 2026 to 1 January 2027. Some of it is ticketed and some is free. Much of the city simply carries on as normal around it, just busier and brighter.
A few traditions you'll come across
- Auld Lang Syne. Robert Burns' song, sung at midnight with arms crossed and hands joined. Nobody minds if you only know the first verse.
- First-footing. The first person to cross a threshold after midnight is the 'first foot', traditionally bringing a small gift for luck, such as shortbread, black bun or a piece of coal.
- Two days off. In Scotland, both 1 and 2 January are public holidays, so the city stays quiet into the second.
Edinburgh in late December is dark early, cold and often damp, and also beautiful: lights on the Old Town, frost on the Meadows, and the smell of woodsmoke in the closes. If you're weighing it up against other times of year, our guide to the best time to visit Edinburgh compares the seasons honestly. For general tips on visiting, start at our Edinburgh visitor guides.
Edinburgh's Hogmanay 2026/27: the official events
The official programme is published on the Edinburgh's Hogmanay website (edinburghshogmanay.com now takes you to the Edinburgh Winter Festivals site). At the time of writing, it lists these events. Line-ups, times and rules can change, so check there before you book anything.
| Date | Event | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| 29 December | Torchlight Procession | Thousands of torch-bearers walking through the city in the evening |
| 30 December | Night Afore concert | A ticketed concert the night before Hogmanay |
| 31 December | Edinburgh's Hogmanay Street Party | Ticketed party in the city centre, with music and the midnight fireworks from the castle |
| 31 December | Hogmanay in the Gardens | Ticketed headline concert in West Princes Street Gardens, below the castle |
| 1 January | First Footin' | Free, unticketed events on New Year's Day |
Rules worth knowing for the Street Party
- You need a ticket to get into the Street Party area. There are set entry points around Princes Street and the Mound.
- No under-12s. Under-16s must be with an adult aged 18 or over.
- Bags must be no bigger than a sheet of A3 paper. No umbrellas, no glass and no drones.
- Roads close around the city centre, and buses are diverted.
If you don't have a ticket, you can still see the fireworks from many parts of the city. Plenty of people prefer a quieter night in a warm flat with a view, then a walk out at midnight.
Our where to stay in Edinburgh guide explains which areas sit close to the events and which are calmer. If you're staying with us and want a hand planning the night, message our team.
New Year's Day in Edinburgh
New Year's Day is slow and gentle, and that's the point. The city sleeps in. When it wakes up, it goes for a walk.
What's on
The official programme usually includes free First Footin' events on 1 January. Check the Edinburgh's Hogmanay website for this year's details. Beyond that, the best of the day is outdoors:
- Arthur's Seat and Holyrood Park. A climb with a view of the whole city and the Forth. Wear proper shoes, as the paths are steep and slippery in winter.
- Calton Hill. A shorter walk for the classic view down Princes Street.
- Portobello promenade. Sea air and a long, flat walk along the beach.
- The Water of Leith walkway. Through Dean Village and Stockbridge, sheltered from the wind.
Some people mark the day with a cold-water dip in the Forth. These dips are organised locally and change from year to year, so check what's planned, and never swim alone in winter water.
What's open
Many shops, attractions and cafés close on 1 January or open shorter hours, and 2 January is also a public holiday in Scotland. Check times before you go, and stock up the day before if you'll want breakfast at home.
Trains are the big one. In recent years ScotRail has run no trains on New Year's Day, with a reduced timetable on 2 January. If you're leaving Edinburgh, plan around that. Our guide to getting to and around Edinburgh covers buses, trams and the airport.
If the weather turns, our guide to Edinburgh on a rainy day has ideas for warm, indoor afternoons.
Getting around on Hogmanay night
Getting home is the part of Hogmanay that catches people out. Decide how you'll do it before you go out, not at ten past midnight.
What changes on the night
- Road closures. Streets around Princes Street, the Mound and the Old Town close for the events, and bus routes are diverted. Check service updates on the day.
- Trains finish early. In recent years ScotRail services have started to wind down from early evening on 31 December, with last trains much earlier than usual. If you're staying outside the city, check your last train before you book tickets for anything.
- Night buses and trams. Lothian night buses run after midnight, and in recent years there have been late trams after midnight too. The organisers publish the travel plan for the year nearer the time.
- Taxis. There are taxi ranks, but queues are long after midnight. Don't rely on one.
A simple plan that works
- Stay within walking distance of the centre, or on a direct tram or night bus route.
- Save your route home on your phone, and screenshot it in case the signal is poor in the crowds.
- Agree a meeting point with your group in case you're separated.
- Carry a charged phone and a small charger. Your tickets are probably on it.
- Walk home with others, and take the closes and steps slowly. They're often wet and icy.
For trams, buses and contactless fares in more detail, see our transport guide. If you're staying with us and something goes wrong on the way home, our emergency line is there 24/7 during your stay. The guest guide has the numbers and how to reach us.
Where to stay for Hogmanay in Edinburgh
Where you stay shapes your Hogmanay. Close to the centre, you can walk to the events and home again. A little further out, you trade a short ride for a quieter street and an easier night's sleep.
Areas to consider
- The New Town. Elegant Georgian streets a short walk from Princes Street. Close to everything, but expect closures and crowds nearby on the night.
- The Old Town. The atmosphere is right on the doorstep. So is the noise, and some streets are closed or crowded through the evening.
- Stockbridge and Canonmills. A village feel, a walk downhill from the centre and a calmer walk home.
- Leith. On the tram line, with its own New Year buzz.
- Haymarket and the West End. Walkable to Princes Street, with the tram and trains at Haymarket.
- Newington and Marchmont. Residential streets south of the Meadows, a straightforward walk in.
Our guide to Edinburgh's areas describes each one in more depth. You can browse all our homes or our stays in Edinburgh.
Staying with us over New Year
- Check-in is self check-in with a code. You verify your ID first, then we send the code, so arriving after dark is simple.
- Some of our homes are on shared tenement stairs. Quiet hours start at 10pm, and that still applies at New Year: celebrate in the flat quietly and keep the stair calm for neighbours.
- Stays in the City of Edinburgh include the Visitor Levy, 5% on the first five nights.
You can read what other guests say in our reviews.
Minimum stays over New Year
Over New Year, many homes in Edinburgh set a minimum stay, so you can't always book 31 December on its own. It's common across the city, and worth knowing before you plan your dates.
How it works in practice
- Check the booking page. If a home has a minimum stay, it shows when you choose your dates. If the dates you want won't book, try adding a night either side.
- Think about the shape of your trip. Arriving on the 30th lets you settle in, see the city the night before, and enjoy Hogmanay without rushing. Leaving on the 2nd gives you a slow New Year's Day rather than a travel day.
- Plan for the trains. With no trains on New Year's Day in recent years, a 1 January check-out can mean a long wait for a bus or a hunt for a taxi. Many people find it easier to stay an extra night.
- Book with time to spare. New Year is one of the busiest weeks of the year in Edinburgh. Booking ahead gives you more choice of homes and areas.
Early check-in and late check-out
If you're arriving early or leaving late, you can request early check-in or late check-out in the app, up to 24 hours before. It's confirmed once accepted and paid. Over New Year, homes are often booked back to back, so we can't always say yes, but it's always worth asking.
Questions before you book
If you're not sure which home fits your group, or want to check the minimum for particular dates, ask us. We'll tell you plainly what's possible. Coming in August instead? Our Fringe visitor's guide covers Edinburgh's busiest month in the same way.
Weather and packing for Hogmanay in Edinburgh
Edinburgh at the end of December is cold, often wet and usually windy. It gets light late and dark by mid-afternoon. Snow is possible but rain is more likely. The Street Party is outdoors and there's a lot of standing about, so dress for hours outside, not for the walk from the door.
What to pack
- Layers. A thermal or merino base layer, a warm jumper and a waterproof coat with a hood.
- Hat, gloves and a scarf. The wind comes straight up the closes from the Forth.
- Waterproof shoes with grip. Cobbles, stairs and steep closes get slippery. Leave the smart shoes for indoors.
- A small bag. No bigger than A3 if you're going to the Street Party.
- No umbrella. They aren't allowed at the Street Party, and the wind would take it anyway.
- A portable charger. Cold weather drains phone batteries, and your tickets are probably on your phone.
- Something warm for later. A flask for the walk home, or hot water bottles back at the flat.
Short days, well used
With so little daylight, plan outdoor sights for the middle of the day and save museums and galleries for the dark afternoons. Our rainy-day guide lists good indoor options, and our food and drink guide covers warming places to eat by area.
If you're staying with us and the heating or hot water isn't doing what it should, message us. The guest guide explains how to reach us between 9am and midnight, and the emergency line for anything urgent during your stay.
A quieter Hogmanay in East Lothian
Not everyone wants a city-centre party. East Lothian, along the coast east of Edinburgh, offers a slower New Year with big skies, long beaches and small towns.
Why people choose it
- Space and quiet. Beach walks on New Year's Day at North Berwick, Gullane, Yellowcraig or Dunbar, with the Bass Rock out in the firth.
- Still close to the city. North Berwick has a direct train to Edinburgh Waverley. But remember that trains wind down early on 31 December and, in recent years, haven't run at all on New Year's Day. If you want to go into town for the night, plan your way back first.
- No Visitor Levy. The Edinburgh Visitor Levy applies only in the City of Edinburgh, not in East Lothian.
- Local celebrations. Towns mark the night in their own way. Check local listings nearer the time.
See our stays in North Berwick, or read our day trips from Edinburgh guide for ideas along the coast. Golfers coming later in the year might like our golf holiday homes in East Lothian.
What to know
Coastal weather in winter can be wild. Check the tide times before beach walks, keep to paths on the cliffs, and bring an extra layer. Shops in small towns may close earlier over the holidays, so plan your food shop. And if you'd like a bit of both, stay out by the sea and visit Edinburgh for a daytime wander on the 30th, when the city is festive but calm.
Hogmanay in Edinburgh with kids
Hogmanay in Edinburgh can be lovely with children, as long as you plan around the late night and the crowds.
What suits families
- The Street Party isn't for young children. Under-12s aren't allowed in, and under-16s must be with an adult. The headline concert in the Gardens has age rules too, so check them before booking.
- Earlier events. The Torchlight Procession on 29 December happens in the evening rather than at midnight. Check the official site for any age guidance and how to watch.
- Fireworks from a distance. The midnight fireworks over the castle can be seen from many parts of the city. Some families watch from a window, or step outside briefly at midnight.
- An early 'midnight'. Many parents celebrate with the kids earlier in the evening, then let the adults stay up for the real thing.
Practical tips
- Bring ear defenders for fireworks and crowds.
- A sling or light buggy copes better with cobbles and stairs than a big pram.
- Plan daytime fun indoors for the short, dark afternoons. Our Edinburgh with kids guide has plenty of ideas.
- Remember the quiet hours from 10pm on shared stairs. A home with a bit of space, or a main-door flat, makes a late night easier on everyone.
Tell us who is coming when you book, and we'll help you find a home that fits. You can browse all our homes, or ask us about cots, stairs and space.
By the Stays In team, Edinburgh. Checked 1 October 2026: times, prices and programmes change, so check before you go.
