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Things to Do in Edinburgh When It Rains

It rains in Edinburgh, and the city has plenty of wonderful places to wait it out, from museums and galleries to bookshops and a beautiful old cinema. These are the places to head for when the sky turns grey.

Curated and written by Hidden Scotland

Updated 23 September 2026. Across Edinburgh.

It rains in Edinburgh, and the city has some wonderful places to wait it out. Museums and galleries you could spend a day in, a whisky experience at the top of the Royal Mile, bookshops with a chair in the corner, a beautiful old cinema and a library full of poetry. A wet afternoon here can be one of the best of the trip.

We've rounded up our favourite things to do in Edinburgh when the sky turns grey, most of them a short walk from each other and several of them free. You might even find yourself hoping for rain.

Where these are

More of Edinburgh

Castle, closes and a festival every August

Our guide to EdinburghThings to do on EdinburghOn the map

Days out on Edinburgh

Ready-made days, stop by stop, with somewhere to eat
More infoA morningCoffee at Steampunk and the Coastal Communities MuseumNo car neededMore infoA walkA walk round Blackness Castle by the foreshoreBy carMore infoA walkA walk down the Royal Mile by its closesNo car neededMore infoA walkA walk through Princes Street Gardens, east to westNo car needed

Stay on Edinburgh

Places to stay we know, near these
A man walks past Bucken Booths entrance flanked by black lamp postsMore infoEdinburghOld Town ChambersPlace to stayA round table and chairs stand before tall curtained windows looking onto stone buildings, a sofa and mounted television to the right.More infoEdinburghMoment George IV BridgeSleeps 2A black kitchen counter with flowers on the worktop stands before a curved timber slatted screen opening onto a bedroom.More infoEdinburghCartshedSleeps 2More infoEdinburghWoodshedSleeps 2
The Best of Edinburgh

The Best of Edinburgh

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