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Christmas and New Year Opening Hours for Edinburgh Attractions in 2021

Edinburgh Christmas and New Year Opening Hours

Are you wondering what is open in Edinburgh on Christmas Day and over the Hogmanay period in 2021/2022?

Here’s a list of Edinburgh’s most popular attractions and their opening hours. Due to Covid-19, you will need to purchase tickets to the attractions listed below in advance.

These will be updated as more opening hours are released.

Do you know any restaurants or attractions that will be open in Edinburgh over Christmas and Hogmanay? Let me know in the comments and I’ll add them to this list!

Read More: 50 Travel Tips for Scotland

Edinburgh Castle

  • Christmas Day – Closed
  • Boxing Day (26th December) – Closed
  • 27 December to 4 January – 10am – 4pm
  • Normal opening times resume on 5 January (9.30am – 5pm)

More information can be found here.

Listen to the Life in Scotland podcast: Christmas in Scotland

Holyrood Palace

Holyrood Palace will be closed on the following dates:

  • 25th-26th December 2021

Revised opening hours apply on the following dates:

  • 9 December 2021: Last admission at 12:15, and the Palace will close at 14:00
  • 24 December 2021: Last admission at 12:45, and the Palace will close at 15:00.
  • 31 December 2021: Last admission at 14:45, and the Palace will close at 16:00.
  • 1 January 2021: The Palace will open at 11:00, and the last admission is 15.15. Closes at 16:30

More information can be found here.

Edinburgh Christmas Markets

The Edinburgh Christmas Market opens on Saturday 20th November 2021 and runs until Tuesday 4 January 2022. It’s free to enter.

The market is open from 10am – 10pm every day apart from:

With the exceptions of:

  • 20th November: Early Afternoon – 10pm
  • 24th December: 10am – 8pm
  • 25th December: Closed
  • 26th December: 12pm – 8pm
  • 1st January: 12pm – 8pm

The Real Mary King’s Close

Tours are running between 10am – 5pm

  • Christmas Day – Closed

More information can be found here.

National Museum of Scotland

  • Open 10am – 5pm
  • Christmas Day – Closed
  • Open 26 Dec and 1 Jan, 12:00pm – 17:00pm

More information can be found here.

Camera Obscura and World of Illusions

  • Mon – Wed 09.30am – 07.00pm
  • Thurs 09.30am – 07.30pm
  • Fri – 09.30am – 09.00pm
  • Sat – 09.00am – 09.30pm
  • Sun 09.00am – 09.00pm
  • Christmas Day – Closed

More information can be found here.

The Scotch Whisky Experience

Times for different tours vary, but visit this page for more information.

  • Closed Christmas Day

Visiting Edinburgh?

If you’re looking for more inspiration on things to see in Edinburgh, check out my other guides:

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