10 Things to Do in Edinburgh in May

In May, daylight hours begin to lengthen in Edinburgh. With longer days, you can get much more out of your trip to the Scottish city. It's no surprise that May is one of the most recommended months for travelers to visit this region.

The weather in Scotland's capital is always unpredictable, but this month things seem to be looking up. It's the ideal season to explore its stunning landscapes and take your time seeing everything there is to see in Edinburgh and, if you can, its surroundings.

If you're traveling to Edinburgh in May, I recommend visiting Edinburgh Castle, as the good weather is a great ally for this excursion.

Perched atop Castle Rock, the castle is one of the oldest in the United Kingdom and its history is fascinating, while remaining, like almost everything in Edinburgh, terrifying and dark.

Also, if I were you, I wouldn't miss the throne room to see the Scottish Crown Jewels up close. In any case, guided tours include this part. It's one of the best castles in Edinburgh, so I wouldn't skip it.

Can you imagine the beautiful spring colors of the Scottish capital in May? Well, the best way to appreciate them is from Edinburgh's best viewpoint: Arthur's Seat.

It's not a particularly difficult climb. It's only 251 meters, but it allows you to enjoy an incredible panoramic view. You'll see all of Edinburgh and all the greenery between the viewpoint and the city itself. In about an hour from Holyroodhouse Palace, you'll be taking out your camera to photograph the landscape.

For this reason, I recommend that you take advantage of the opportunity to visit this beautiful royal palace with its incredible outdoor garden before setting off for the viewpoint, as its exterior in spring is also truly unique.

Visiting the Isle of Skye is amazing, even more so in May when you can enjoy this experience in good weather.

However, you'll need to set aside at least three days to fully enjoy the various attractions you'll find on the island.

Skye is Scotland's most famous island, and although it's almost a 5-hour drive from Edinburgh, I recommend that you don't miss the opportunity to visit it if you're in the capital. By booking an excursion, you can enjoy it to the fullest and not have to worry about a thing.

It's worth spending a day on an excursion to St. Andrews and the villages of Fife in May to make the most of all the outdoor time this experience has to offer.

This destination is unique, and travelers who have visited on a tour say that the time spent there is magical. This is very likely, as it is a medieval setting that will make you feel like you are in another time or the star of a movie about the time of King Arthur.

The Highland Games are held at venues throughout the country, including, of course, Edinburgh. The price and location where you can buy your tickets varies depending on the venue you choose. In May, you can visit the Gordon Castle Games.

The Gordon Castle Highland Games and Country Fair take place near Inverness, at Gordon Castle, with tickets starting at €12 per adult.

The Highland Games are tests of strength, bagpipe competitions, and traditional dances. It is a way of celebrating Scottish culture, especially that of the Highlands, the mountainous region of northern Scotland. And if seeing this festival makes you want to learn more about this area of the country, I recommend taking a trip to the Highlands from Edinburgh.

At the beginning and end of May in Edinburgh, you'll have a great excuse to visit the Shetland Islands and the Orkney Islands. That's because both islands host their own local folk festivals, the Shetland Folk Festival and the Orkney Folk Festival.

It's ideal because during the day you can explore the natural surroundings and at night you can enjoy a wonderful experience surrounded by music. What's more, in my opinion, there's nothing more beautiful or that brings you closer to a place you're visiting than experiencing these kinds of events firsthand: you'll feel like one of the locals.

Tickets are usually available in April on the websites of both festivals. Approximate prices are usually:

• For the Shetland Folk Festival: between €21 and €30 per concert for non-members. The festival does not offer general admission tickets.
• For the Orkney Folk Festival: same as the Shetland festival, so you will need to purchase tickets for each individual event. Prices are published from March onwards.

You can visit the Japanese Garden at Lauriston Castle all year round, but if you're traveling to Edinburgh in May, I highly recommend it, as spring will be in full bloom.

It's a pleasant space, close to the island of Cramond, and ideal for visiting early in the morning.

Dean Village feels like it's outside of time and space. Until recently, it wasn't very popular, but now no one wants to miss the chance to visit this incredible place in Edinburgh. I highly recommend it, as it's twice as beautiful when the weather is good.

If you choose to visit, even though you will still be in the city, you will feel like you are in an Eden on earth with beautiful little houses and old buildings. In addition, the village overlooks the river, which adds to the feeling of not being in a city at all. It feels more like a remote village... in a remote century.

You will find that Dean Village offers tranquility, ideal for recharging your batteries away from the noise, without having to travel for hours. I especially recommend this plan for a day when you feel you need a break from the tourist pace and want to walk for a while. Admission is free.

Edinburgh's gardens begin to bloom in April, but in May the temperature improves so you can enjoy them in all their colorful splendor.

Pack a picnic and bring everything you need to spend a morning in one of Edinburgh's gardens. You'll harvest some wonderful memories. You can choose between:

• Dunbar Close, a lesser-known and less-visited garden.
• Take a stroll through the Princes Street Gardens.
• Starbank Park Gardens, another favorite among travelers for its natural beauty.

Take advantage of the good weather in May in Edinburgh to stroll along the Royal Mile. It is a steep street in the old town, and most tourists want to see it.

The pink buds that begin to appear on Edinburgh's trees in April become more prominent in May. And on the Royal Mile, you'll find many of them as you explore all the attractions in the area, as well as its souvenir shops and quaint bars.

In May, temperatures in Edinburgh tend to range between 5° and 15° degrees. There is a 9% chance of rain throughout the month. Although, with Edinburgh, you never really know.

In addition, the days begin to get longer, there is much more sunshine, and the gardens are particularly beautiful in May in Edinburgh.

The truth is that, luckily, you won't find the streets crowded and impassable. But it's also true that many travelers find Edinburgh in May fascinating and beautiful.

Thanks to this open secret, many people are already starting to choose to travel to Edinburgh in May. However, although the season is starting to pick up, the city is not yet crowded. This means that you can still get good prices on accommodation and demand is relatively low.

If you're traveling to Edinburgh in May, you should pack cool, light, and comfortable clothes for the cooler days. If I were you, I would also include a few outfits for going out at night. In addition, bring a coat, and if you have one specifically for rain, pack that too.

You can also bring entertainment in case you get caught in one of those days when it never stops raining: a board game, cards, books, a journal for taking notes. Whatever comes to mind. If not, you will always have the internet.

If you're traveling to Edinburgh, you can always buy an Edinburgh City Pass. With this card, you can save money on some of the activities you want to explore in the city.

Buying the card is quite helpful if you make the most of it. For example, it covers transportation to the airport, which is quite rare for cards of this type. It also covers the tourist bus.

With the Edinburgh City Pass, you can also visit some of the city's most popular attractions. You can buy it for 1, 2, or 3 days, and the price will depend on that. All you have to do is show it when you want to enter a place.