Christmas in Edinburgh: markets and free audio guides

Edinburgh in December: a Christmas market, open from November 14 to January 3. Mappu’s self-guided walk passes close to East Princes Street Gardens, and the free audio guides tell the story of the places along the way.

Travel view of Edinburgh
Photo by Saffron BlazeWikimedia CommonsCC BY 3.0

Self-guided walks in Edinburgh

Free audio walks that connect the guides above into one route, with a map, distances and walking times.

Photo attribution

Christmas markets: walk the city centre

In the Christmas season 2026, markets open in the heart of Edinburgh. Mappu’s free audio guides tell the story of the places and the buildings around them, not of the stalls.

Market dates 2026

  • East Princes Street Gardens

    November 14, 2026 – January 3, 2027

    Audio guide nearby: Royal Mile Edinburgh

Official dates: edinburgh.org · checked on October 24, 2026

The best Christmas markets in Europe

Walk the route: Castle to Calton Hill, Edinburgh

Planning a trip to Edinburgh?

Get your plan

Mappu sketches your days free in the chat, no account needed. Then take the full plan with you:

  • Weekend trip, €9.99: Your day-by-day plan plus 2 live walks
  • Save your trip’s free guides on your phone in the Mappu app: they play with no signal
See the trip packs

Already going? The 2-hour live walk in Edinburgh is €4.99

Useful for your visit

Tickets, tours and practical extras for this trip, from Mappu's partners.

Partner links (Airalo, Amazon, Booking.com, GetYourGuide, Klook, Tiqets, Trip.com, Viator, Welcome Pickups): if you book or buy through them, Mappu may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you.