Edinburgh
Edinburgh in the rain
Rain falls on 9 to 12 days in every month, so a wet day is likely at some point. The National Museum of Scotland, St Giles' Cathedral, the Real Mary King's Close and the Royal Yacht Britannia keep you dry. The castle has covered rooms but long open stretches between them, so a rain jacket still helps there.
- Stops under a roof: 5
Data checked on October 5, 2026
A rainy day, stop by stop
A day built only from stops that are under a roof, in an order that keeps the walks short.
Day 1
Holyrood and Arthur's Seat · Old Town
3 stops · 6 h 30 of visits · 26 min on foot
Open this day's route in Google Maps-
10:00 am12:00 pm
Palace of Holyroodhouse
The King's official residence in Scotland, at the foot of the Royal Mile. The visit takes in the State Apartments, the rooms linked to Mary, Queen of Scots, and the ruined abbey beside the palace.
Visit after the Royal Mile on the same day, as it sits at the bottom of the street and Holyrood Park starts at the gate.
Book a dated ticket on the official page, or through the partner link when it is shown. Check the dates first, since the palace can close at short notice for royal use.
Check the official page for current opening times. The palace closes at times when it is used by the royal family, so look at the dates before you go.
Source: Royal Collection Trust, checked October 5, 2026
- 20 min walk
-
12:20 pm3:20 pm
National Museum of Scotland
A large free museum with Scottish history, natural history, world cultures and science, set in a Victorian hall and a modern wing. It is the best wet weather stop in the centre.
Head for the rooftop terrace on a clear day and plan around one or two floors rather than the whole building.
Open every day from 10:00 to 17:00. Check the museum's own page before a special visit.
Source: Forever Edinburgh (edinburgh.org), checked October 5, 2026
- 6 min walk
- Lunch break
-
4:26 pm5:56 pm
The Real Mary King's Close
A guided tour through a set of preserved streets and rooms under the Royal Mile, with costumed guides telling the stories of past residents. The tour lasts about an hour and goes down stairs in low light.
Book an early or late slot in the day, when the groups are smaller and the tour feels less crowded.
Tours sell out, so book a time slot on the official page a few days or weeks ahead. The standard ticket allows changes up to four hours before the tour.
Opening hours change through the year. In the week of 5 October the site opens at 09:30 on weekdays and 09:00 at weekends, and from 12 October it opens at 09:00 every day. Last entry is at 21:00. The calendar shows the attraction closed on 1 November 2026.
Source: The Real Mary King's Close, checked October 5, 2026
- Running late? Drop The Real Mary King's Close first. Nothing is booked there.
Every stop under a roof
-
Palace of Holyroodhouse
The King's official residence in Scotland, at the foot of the Royal Mile. The visit takes in the State Apartments, the rooms linked to Mary, Queen of Scots, and the ruined abbey beside the palace.
Source: Royal Collection Trust, checked October 5, 2026
-
National Museum of Scotland
A large free museum with Scottish history, natural history, world cultures and science, set in a Victorian hall and a modern wing. It is the best wet weather stop in the centre.
Source: Forever Edinburgh (edinburgh.org), checked October 5, 2026
-
St Giles' Cathedral
The High Kirk of Edinburgh, with a crown shaped spire, the Thistle Chapel and stained glass from several centuries.
Source: St Giles' Cathedral, checked October 5, 2026
-
The Real Mary King's Close
A guided tour through a set of preserved streets and rooms under the Royal Mile, with costumed guides telling the stories of past residents. The tour lasts about an hour and goes down stairs in low light.
Source: The Real Mary King's Close, checked October 5, 2026
-
Royal Yacht Britannia
The former royal yacht, now moored at Ocean Terminal in Leith, with five decks you walk through on a self guided tour with an audio guide. Most visitors spend about two hours aboard.
Source: Royal Yacht Britannia, checked October 5, 2026
Rainy days by month
Climate averages: Met Office, 1991-2020 averages, Edinburgh (Royal Botanic Garden station).