Winter in Scotland is truly magical. With festive lights decorating the cities and the promise of snow-topped mountains, there’s beauty everywhere you turn. And while it’s the coldest time of year for a Scottish vacation, the thought of wrapping up in your big woollies and sipping on hot mulled wine with the smell of gingerbread in the air is enough to warm your soul.  After a day out exploring the festive sights, there is nothing better than returning to a warm welcome and the open fires at the Scottish castle or country house that you are staying at, ready to put your feet up and relax.

Whether you’re planning a Christmas trip to Scotland or looking for a hiking destination with unbelievable wintry landscapes, you’ll be spoilt for choice for things to do and places to see. These are just a few of the activities that will make you want to return year after year.

The weather in Scotland in December can vary from being cold and frosty with lots of snow and temperatures as low as -5° to -10° C to much milder weather, sometimes as warm as 10° to 15° C.  The Highlands of Scotland are often the coldest areas of the country with the coastal regions a little bit milder but nevertheless, usually chilly.  On windy days, it can feel a lot colder and it is important to wrap up warm and be well prepared for the day ahead.

There is usually plenty of rain in December in Scotland with an average rainfall of around 65-97mm (2.5-3.8 inches) and about 12-18 rainy days.  The west coast and Highlands are usually the wettest areas of the country with many towns and cities escaping such heavy rainfalls.

Whilst the cities such as Edinburgh and Glasgow offer festive Christmas markets and cozy pubs, they are often quite damp when walking about from melted snow and rain.  Whereas, the Highlands of Scotland are remote and usually display a beautiful winter landscape with snow, wilder conditions and hardly any people.

It is important to be prepared for every form of cold and wet weather when visiting Scotland in December and remember, the days are shorter with darkness falling between 3.30pm/4pm each day.

What to Pack

• Warm and waterproof jacket & trousers
• Plenty of warm layers (thermal and fleece)
• Hat, gloves and scarf
• Waterproof boots/shoes

Edinburgh’s Christmas & Winter Festival and Edinburgh’s Hogmanay are two of the best festivals and events to visit in Scotland in December.  December is an exciting time to visit Scotland with the festive count down to Christmas and the build up to huge celebrations on New Year’s Eve or Hogmanay as it is called in Scotland.  There are traditional Christmas markets and other Christmas events in many of the towns and cities of Scotland which locals and visitors can enjoy together.  There are winter light shows and family fun experiences with Santa, torchlight processions and festive concerts.

Edinburgh’s Christmas & Winter Festival

Edinburgh’s Winter Festival runs from November 2025 to January 2026 and is held annually.  It is full of individual events and markets packed with festive fun.  From the ice rink on George Street to the big winter wheel in Princes Street Gardens; from the traditional Christmas Market to Santa’s Stories also in Princes Street Gardens, there is something for all the family.

Edinburgh’s Hogmanay

Traditionally celebrated on ‘old year’s night’, 31st December, Hogmanay is one of the most important events in any Scottish calendar.  Edinburgh’s Hogmanay is world renowned and celebrations begin on 29th December before culminating in Edinburgh’s Street Party on 31st December.  45,000 people travel from all over Scotland and the rest of the world to be a part of these historic celebrations with Edinburgh Castle as an impressive backdrop.  There is live music, DJ’s, silent disco, Scottish music, lots of street food & drink, funfair attractions and of course, the exceptional fire work display.

Boxing Day Holiday

Boxing Day in Scotland is 26th December and is always an official public holiday after all the festivities of Christmas Day on the 25th December.  If it falls on a weekend, then an extra holiday is observed on the first day afterwards (usually 27th or 28th December).  Boxing Day is an historic holiday stemming from charitable roots where gifts were boxed up and given to servants and the poor.  There are now more modern activites which take place such as retail sales and sporting events such as football matches.  Many people spend the time walking off the excesses of Christmas Day in the countryside and relaxing at home.

The best places to visit in Scotland in December are the cities such as Edinburgh, Glasgow, Perth and Aberdeen.  For those people looking for more adventurous places to visit, depending on the weather, the Cairngorms and Glencoe are the best places to visit.  The Cairngorms and Glencoe offer winter sports and spectacular scenery whilst the cities are full of festive cheer with Christmas Markets and Winter Wonderland for the whole family to enjoy.  As long as there isn’t too much snow forecast, a road trip to Loch Ness, Inverness and the Isle of Skye can be a wonderful experience and chance to feast on the wild natural beauty of the Scottish Highlands.

Cairngorm National Park

This is a breathtakingly beautiful part of Scotland to visit in December.  Usually with snow on the ground at this time of year, the scenery is spectacular and at the ski resorts of Glenshee, Cairngorm Mountain and The Lecht, both snowboarding and skiing is on offer as well as other winter activities.

Aberdeen

A festive city break to Aberdeen in December can easily fill 3 or 4 days.  The Aberdeen Christmas Village on Broad Street has lots on offer to keep families entertained.  Festive fair ground rides, open air ice rink, markets, street food, Christmas lights, carol concerts and events like the Santa Run are all fun events for everyone to enjoy.  If you’re happy to venture out of Aberdeen, there is also Dunnottar Castle, one of Scotland’s hidden treasures, to visit.  Romantic, haunting and steeped in history, the castle sits magnificently atop the cliffs overlooking the North Sea in three directions.

Fort William and Ben Nevis

In December in Fort William, there are also snow sports available at the Nevis Range along with serious winter mountaineering which requires experience and specialist gear, particularly for the snow-covered summit.  If you would rather not take on this mountaineering challenge (which is only for experienced climbers), there is a majestic winter landscape to be absorbed from below or from the Gondola.

Scotland’s oldest licensed whisky distillery, the Ben Nevis Distillery, offers whisky tastings for visitors and there is also the West Highland Museum which has an interesting display of Bonnie Prince Charlie and Jacobite artifacts.

If you are visiting Scotland in December, the best things to do are to visit a Christmas Market to enjoy the festive spirit of Christmas, plan a cold and frosty, winter walk in the Highlands and stay long enough to spend Hogmanay in Edinburgh.  This will give you a true sense of the wilderness in remote areas of Scotland in December and also allow you a chance to get excited for Christmas with the festive cheer found in the Christmas Markets.

Visit a Christmas Market

Scotland is home to some special Christmas Markets.  Some of the top Christmas Markets include Edinburgh, Inverness, Glasgow, Aberdeen, Perth, Dundee and the village of Balloch overlooking Loch Lomond.

For first-timers, these markets are filled with fun and excitement. Walk around either day or night and soak up the lively atmosphere, enjoy delicious street food, drink hot mulled wine and spiced cider, shop for handmade crafts and artisan food products, and enjoy the music and dancing. Some of the larger markets will have live entertainment and fairground rides for children too.

Plan a Winter Walk in the Highlands

Splendid views are promised at this time of year, and there are many great places you can go for a walk with moderately flat pathways. The loop around Loch Morlich is one of these places, with views of the northern Cairngorm Mountains, usually dusted with snow in December.

Knockan Crag National Nature Reserve in the North Highlands is another fantastic place for safe and easy winter trails. Or if you prefer a city walk that doesn’t veer too far from the cozy pubs and restaurants, explore Calton Hill in Edinburgh or the Aberdeen Granite Trail.

Spend Hogmanay in Edinburgh

If you’re looking for the perfect New Year’s Eve event, don’t miss Hogmanay in Edinburgh. A huge street party occurs each year on December 31^st from 7:30 pm, with amazing processions, lights and sculptures, costumes and street performers, live music and dancing until the early hours. For something a bit more low key, there’s also a torchlight procession the evening before.

Hunt the Northern Lights

With more darkness hours, December is the perfect time for viewing the incredible Aurora Borealis. Although there are no guarantees, your chances will be improved if you check the weather for clear skies and head to areas with the least light pollution.

Some good locations for Northern Light hunting include Noss Head in Caithness, the Shetland Islands, Aberdeenshire and the Moray Coast (such as Nairn, Portknockie and Cairn o’ Mount), the islands of Lewis and Harris and the most northerly tip of Skye, Cairngorms National Park, and Galloway Forest Park.

Book a Whiskey Tour

Many of Scotland’s distilleries are open late into December. Glenfiddich Distillery is one of these, and tours can be booked via their website. There are four different tour experiences ranging from 1.5 hours to 4 hours.

Other distilleries that will be open include the Glenkinchie Distillery, Lagavulin Distillery, Talisker Distillery, Auchentoshan, Highland Park, and Old Pulteney Distillery.

To find out more about our bespoke vacations to Scotland, get in touch with our team today.