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:
- The best things to do in Edinburgh
- An itinerary: How to spend 2 days in Edinburgh
- Things to do in Edinburgh in winter
- Why you should visit Craigmillar Castle in Edinburgh
- Cramond Island: The Edinburgh Island you can walk to
SCOTLAND RESOURCES
✨ On a budget? Grab my Scotland Bucket List Planner
✨ Organising a big trip? Grab my Ultimate Scotland Planner
✨ Want to tick off all the must-sees? Grab my Must-See Scotland Essential Travel Planners
✨ Have a question about travelling around Scotland? Join my Facebook groups Scotland Travel Tips and Scotland Travel Tips for Locals
✨ Love podcasts? Listen to my Scotland podcast Life in Scotland
✨ Want more Scotland? Join my exclusive Scotland community Secrets of Scotland to unlock bonus content
