Edinburgh's Hogmanay, attracts a huge amount of people to the city and is a four day free for all celebrating the new year with contemporary and traditional music, pipe bands, street theatre, a fantastic firework display and much much more! A real treat for all those who love a good party!

The event lasts for four days and takes place annually at the end of December and the beginning of January (29 December - 1st January), and is the perfect excuse for a trip to Edinburgh! The roots of Hogmanay are a mixture of traditions from the pagan celebration of the winter solstice among the Norse, and customs from the Gaelic New Year's celebration of Samhain.

The origin of the word is not really known - some say that it comes from either Old Gaelic, Anglo-Saxon or Old French but no-one is sure. The funniest explanation of the word's origins comes from the writings of John McTaggart in 1824 who wrote "I think Hog-ma-nay means hug-me-now" which is a pretty accurate representation of how Hogmanay is celebrated in modern times - when midnight strikes those celebrating at the Street Party start hugging and kissing each other (so don't worry if you get strangers running up and hugging you!).

The celebrations include a wide variety entertainment that cannot be missed, so check out the following events when planning your Hogmanay break :


Some of the events need tickets - so be sure to purchase them in advance to avoid any last minute panic! At midnight there is a firework display in front of Edinburgh Castle. The best views are from Princes Street, but you can also enjoy the view from any of the hills which surround the city. Wherever you are make sure that you wrap up warm, as temperatures may be below freezing at night at this time of year!

There is a wide range Edinburgh Hogmany accommodation available, but it gets booked up pretty quickly as its in very high demand, so make sure that you book accommodation as far in advance as possible. Transport services to and from the city also get full, so buy tickets early.

If you fancy an Edinburgh Hogmanay break, check out our properties and choose the best place for you.