Complete Guide to the Edinburgh Christmas Markets and Winter Events 2026
There’s no question that Edinburgh’s Christmas is a BIG DEAL. If you’re anywhere near the city during the holiday season, you’ve likely seen or heard about the Christmas Markets and the beautiful ice rink.
But, after visiting the Edinburgh Christmas Market a few times last year (and in years past), I realized there’s a little bit more to know than just showing up. But I couldn’t find the detailed information I needed anywhere!
So, here’s a complete guide to Edinburgh’s Christmas market and Edinburgh’s Christmas as a whole. You’ll find locations, opening times, frequently asked questions, and helpful details that you need to know to make your visit worthwhile!
In a Rush? Here are the Edinburgh Christmas Market Details You Need!
🎄 Opening Dates: Saturday, November 14th, 2026- Sunday, January 3rd. 2027
⏰Opening Times: Varies by Day (Often 10:00 AM- 8 or 10:00 PM)
❄️Where? 4 Main Locations- View them Here!
🚨 Tickets for special events (Santa Stories, Ice Bar, etc) can be booked here!
Is Edinburgh Christmas Market Worth Visiting?
I could (sadly) go either way on this one. If you are spending time in Edinburgh, or somewhere nearby, then the Christmas market is definitely worth some of your time.
In contrast, if you’re nowhere near Scotland, I do not recommend that you come to town just to see the Christmas Market. Sadly, since COVID, it just isn’t as great as it used to be. There are other Christmas markets in Europe much more worth your time.
Even as someone who loves Christmas, loves the Scottish holiday spirit, loves mulled wine, loves everything about Christmas markets, I would say you should only visit Edinburgh’s Christmas Market if you’re in the area already.
🎄 Want to visit other Christmas markets in Scotland? Here’s my full guide to all of the best ones around the country!
Edinburgh Christmas Market Details
When I first went to Edinburgh during the festival season, I naively assumed that I could just show up to the Christmas market, and that would be it.
Shew, was I wrong. Here are some details that I didn’t know that would’ve really helped me in the moment:
Edinburgh Christmas Market Dates
Edinburgh’s Christmas will run from Saturday, November 14th, 2026, to Sunday, January 3rd, 2027!
This means the market will open TWO weeks before Thanksgiving in 2026 (a change from years past) and run through the beginning of the year.
Where is Edinburgh Christmas Market?
Edinburgh’s Christmas is located at four locations all throughout New Town, Edinburgh.
The main market at the famous East Princes Street Gardens is the most popular place to visit, but there are other, smaller event locations happening in the city. While this year’s separate market locations have yet to be announced, here’s where they were located in year’s past:
🎄 Main Market: East Princes Street Gardens Christmas Market
Address: Princes St, Edinburgh EH2 2DG, UK
The largest part of the Edinburgh Christmas Market is located in East Princes St. Gardens, right across the street from Waverley Train Station. You’ll see the iconic Scotts Monument in the middle of the action.
This portion of the Christmas market is what you might call the main location. When you think of the Edinburgh Christmas Market, this is it!
It’s easily the most popular portion of Edinburgh’s Christmas to visit, with many artisan stalls, plenty of options for food and drink, and rides for kids.
You’ll also find the Illumination trail here, but it really isn’t…much. Last year, it was surprisingly lackluster, with just a short walk of lights.
I loved visiting this section of the festivities, and I actually ended up visiting four times throughout the few days I was in the city.
I find it’s best to visit in the evening because there’s just so many lights and so much going on. However, the Christmas market is much less crowded during the day, and it’s still a great place to grab lunch or take a quick walkabout.
⭐ IMPORTANT TIP: Last year, you could ONLY enter the market on the side by Waverley Station. The EXIT was on Princes St, but they would not let you in that way.
🎡 West Princes St. Gardens Festive Family Funfair (Open From Nov 16th)
Address: Princes St, Edinburgh EH2 2HG, United Kingdom
If you have young kids, this is going to be the highlight of their life! The West Princes Street Gardens hosts the Festive Family Funfair and is packed with rides for little ones, a fun house, and plenty of food and drink options. It’s an epic thing to do with kids in Edinburgh!
Beyond that, this the location for the Ross Bandstand where special events, concerts, and parties (ceilidhs) occur.
⛸️ George Street West & Ice Rink (Open from November 22nd)
Address: 115-141 George St, Edinburgh EH2 4JN, UK
Last year, the popular ice rink was moved from St. Andrew Square to the George Street location.
At George Street, you’ll find a smaller market (though no less awesome) and the pop-up ice rink.
The ice skating rink at Edinburgh’s Christmas is insanely popular- for obvious reasons. There’s just something about a pop-up rink that is so quintessentially the holiday season in Europe.
The ice skating rink does have iec skate rentals available as well as skating aids for younger children.
AND- The ice rink is covered, meaning it is accessible in any weather (even with Scottish snow!). But it is still chilly (Hello, it’s an ice rink!), so dress accordingly.
This year the market includes the new Polar Ice Bar, a very cool place to grab mulled wine or hot chocolate along with other holiday treats! Don’t miss it!
⭐Double-check the opening times for the George Street Ice Rink separately- it sometimes DOES close earlier than the George Street Market.
🎅 St. Andrew Square Winter Garden (Santa Stories- From Nov 20th-Dec 24th!)
Address: St Andrew Square, Edinburgh EH2 2AD, UK
⭐ TICKETS REQUIRED: £15 Per ticket (includes one child + one adult)
Santa makes his appearance in Edinburgh! Visit St. Andrew Square for all of the Santa Clause fun AND the Christmas Tree Maze!
The top attraction at this location is the Santa Stories event. At this ticketed event, kids meet Santa, get a gift, and hear a story.
In addition, there is a place for your young one to write a letter to Santa and post it to the North Pole!
St. Andrew Square also hosts the Christmas Tree Maze (another event you need tickets for- £5 per person). You can get lost among the firs on this lighted Christmas tree trail- it is the perfect photo op for families!
You can book advance tickets for Santa Stories here!
🕗 Opening Times: Edinburgh Traditional Christmas Market
Opening times for Edinburgh Christmas Market can vary based on the week.
Most often, it opens around 10:00 AM and closes between 8:00 PM- 10:00 PM.
Facilities at Edinburgh’s Christmas
The facilities at each of the Edinburgh’s Christmas locations are actually pretty nice. I was pleasantly surprised!
Each of the four areas has toilets, seating, and information desks.There are also individuals on hand for accessibility information.
When to Visit Edinburgh’s Christmas
You definitely want to visit Edinburgh’s Christmas early on. I have often visited during the first or second week (right before or after Thanksgiving), and it has been fantastic.
I have even visited the Christmas market on the first day it opened. And, honestly, I expected it to be super crowded…but it wasn’t that bad!
I love going early because everyone is still so excited at the novelty, the artisans are well-stocked, and it really it a great way to kick off the Christmas season and get yourself into the spirit.
Things to Do at Edinburgh Christmas Market
There is so much to do at the Edinburgh Christmas Market and at Edinburgh’s Christmas as a whole.
Here are the three things you definitely want to see:
1. Visit Christmas Market Stalls
The market stalls around the various locations are definitely something worth visiting. I love perusing the wool scarves, the hand-carved Nativity scenes, and the unique ornaments. I always come home with something- they make the best souvenirs from Scotland!
You’ll find the largest number of market stalls at the East Princes St. Gardens Christmas Market location, but there are also some at the George Street area as well.
2. Does Edinburgh Christmas Market have rides?
Yes! There are many rides at the Edinburgh Christmas Market.
The rides are mainly split up between the East Princes Street Gardens Christmas Market and the West Princes Street Gardens Festive Family Funfair locations.
The East Princes St. Gardens hosts rides more suited for older kids- they often have height restrictions. Here, you can find the massive ferris wheel (a market favorite!), Techno Power, Helter Skelter, and the popular Starflyer.
The Family Funfair at West Princes St. Gardens has rides for younger ones. There is a family funhouse with rides, a carousel, and other fun fair rides.
3. Go Ice Skating at George Street Rink
The ice skating rink at George Street is bursting with Christmas spirit. Like, how could it not be with Christmas music blasting, cheerful skaters, and the scent of hot chocolate wafting through the air?
Definitely go ice skating during your time in Edinburgh, even if it’s only for a half hour or so! I love that kids of all ages can really manage to skate, since they have the skate supports available for rent, too!
4. Santa Stories at St. Andrew Square
Santa Claus and his elves are hanging out in Edinburgh?!? Of course they are!
Stop by the St. Andrew Square location to participate in Santa Stories. In groups of 22, children and their parents can visit with Santa, hear a story, and receive a small gift!
🚨 You do need to purchase a ticket to participate in Santa Stories!!
The tickets are priced as follows:
1 adult and 1 Child- £15
Each additional adult- £6
Book tickets for Santa Stories at the Edinburgh Christmas Market 2026 here!
Other Winter Festivities in Edinburgh
Castle of Light: Fire & Ice
While we are waiting for the official announcement from Historic Environment Scotland on the dates and details of Castle of Light for 2026-2027, here is what to expect based on last year:
Edinburgh Castle shuts down early most nights—from 4 pm, last entry at 2:30 pm—but in the evenings it transforms into a projection wonderland called Castle of Light: Fire & Ice. It’ll sparkle on selected nights from 21 November to 4 January. Most dates are in late Nov, throughout December (especially weekends), plus early Jan.
Each night opens up from 4:30 pm to 9 pm, with last entry between 7:30–7:45 pm. It’s totally outdoors, with projections telling Scottish tales, along with fire pits for toasting marshmallows and café or street food treats. A quiet night is even set aside—check the website around early December if you want less crowd bustle.
Torchlight Procession
One of my absolute faves—this fiery march lights up Edinburgh on 29 December, usually starting around 6:30 pm at The Meadows (Melville Drive) and winding through the Old Town, ending beneath the castle in a blazing finale around 8:30–9 pm. Check out the site for more info.
Expect drummers, fire performers, Up Helly Aa Vikings, and a carnival-like atmosphere with thousands of torch-bearers.
🔥 Tip: Make sure to collect your torch and wristband ahead—usually early afternoon—and plan to line up around 7:00 pm.
Edinburgh’s Hogmanay Street Party & Concert in the Gardens
This one’s the BIG New Year’s Eve blowout. Gates fling open at 8 pm on 31 December, with live music and DJs kicking off around 9 pm. The real spark arrives at midnight with fireworks from Edinburgh Castle and a heartfelt “Auld Lang Syne” to send you into the new year.
Expect pipers, street theatre, giant screens, and food stalls across the city centre. Concert in the Gardens (in West Princes Street Gardens) often welcomes big acts—past stars include Pulp, Biffy Clyro, Paolo Nutini, and Texas.
🔥Tip: This is another event where you want to grab your tickets early—it’s mega popular. But if you want to dodge the crowd and still see the fireworks, I recommend Calton Hill, Arthur’s Seat, or even North Bridge or Grassmarket for great views.
Things to Know For Visiting Edinburgh’s Christmas
Here are some practical things you need to know if you’re planning to visit the Christmas Market in Edinburgh:
Tickets For Edinburgh Christmas Market
Tickets are not needed for entry into any of the Edinburgh’s Christmas areas, including the Christmas Market at East Princes Street Garden.
The only exception to this is for those who wish to skate on the ice skating rink at St Andrew Square. You can visit the ice rink for free, but if you’d like to skate, there is a fee (in addition to skate rental if you need them).
Do you need cash for Edinburgh Christmas Markets?
When I visited in November 2023, the entirety of Edinburgh’s Christmas Markets was cash-free. None of the vendors anywhere would accept cash for any reason.
This was a huge change from the last time I visited in 2018, so I was surprised that even smaller artisans wouldn’t accept cash.
Student Supervision Rules
As the market is free to enter, there are always a significant number of people entering and exiting the premises.
The only supervision rule in play at Edinburgh’s Christmas is that after 8:00 PM, all individuals under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult.
What to buy at Edinburgh Christmas Market?
After perusing the market stalls for hours on multiple occasions, I can confidently tell you what has been worth buying.
Definitely go for a tartan wool scarf or blanket, a carved nativity scene, and, of course, an ornament!
Best Hotels for Edinburgh Christmas Markets
If you’re staying in Edinburgh for the traditional Christmas market, you definitely want to stay in Old Town or New Town Edinburgh. Both are pretty close to the location, and both neighborhoods have tons of character and fun!
Here are three hotels I’d recommend for your stay in Scotland:
Radisson Blu Edinburgh City Centre- Royal Mile
The Radisson Blue Edinburgh City Centre Hotel stands dramatically on the corner of the Royal Mile right near Cockburn Street. It’s smack dab in the center of the action in Old Town, Edinburgh, and they decorate for the holiday season BEAUTIFULLY!
For easy walking distance to just about everything and a comfortable, family-friendly stay, this is it!
The Scotsman Hotel
The Scotsman is a boutique hotel housed in a beautifully historic building; it will wow just about every visitor. The Scotsman is known for its hospitality and incredible customer service.
Think luxurious amenities with elevated flair just steps away from the East Princes St. Garden Christmas Market location.
The Balmoral
The Balmoral has been a hallmark hotel in Edinburgh for quite a while now. It is an upscale property, recently renovated and perfectly melding modern comforts with old world luxurious design.
The Balmoral is right next to Waverley Station, and a few minutes walk from the Traditional Christmas Market.
⭐ Psst: Here’s my full guide of the closest hotels to the Edinburgh Christmas Market!
FAQ: Christmas Market in Edinburgh
Here are the answers to a few other questions you might have regarding the Christmas Market in Edinburgh
What date is Edinburgh Christmas Market 2026?
The Edinburgh Christmas Market 2026 will run from November 14th to January 3rd.
How much are tickets to Edinburgh Christmas Market?
Tickets are not needed to enter the Edinburgh Christmas Market- it’s a completely free and unticketed event!
Is Edinburgh Christmas Market near the train station?
Yes! The main Christmas Market location at East Princes Street Garden is directly across the street from Waverley Train Station in Edinburgh. It’s not even a 5 minute walk!
Does Edinburgh Christmas Market have rides?
Absolutely! You can find rides at both the East Princes Street Garden Traditional Christmas Market and at the George Street location.
Wrapping Up: An Edinburgh Christmas
No matter what parts of Edinburgh Christmas you decide to participate in, you’re definitely in for a treat.
Spending a week in Edinburgh during the holiday season is just such a special experience…it almost feels like a storybook world.
Enjoy your visit to the Edinburgh Christmas Market, and leave a comment or shoot me an email if you have any questions!
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