As Edinburgh gets ready for its annual influx of visitors during its world-renowned August festival season, KAYAK, the global leader in travel search, has published new data showing the impact of the city’s busy events calendar on travel trends and pricing.
With everything from street performances to high-profile arts festivals on the agenda, demand for travel to Edinburgh has surged. KAYAK’s latest data offers a clear view of how the city is responding to this seasonal popularity—and offers helpful insight for those still hoping to find affordable travel options during this cultural peak.
Flight prices stayed steady amid increasing inbound travel and a buzz around a legendary Britpop reunion
With the Fringe, Edinburgh International Festival (EIF), and headline concerts like the Oasis reunion attracting global attention, KAYAK data shows an 8% increase in flight searches to Edinburgh compared to August last year, and a 26% increase compared to the month prior.
Despite that upward trend, the average return airfare is actually down 2% month-on-month and year-on-year, offering welcome news for travellers still planning a last minute trip. However, travellers should be aware of the peak travel dates around 6-9 August, when the average return economy price exceeds £260. Those flying to Edinburgh from other UK cities may also want to avoid departing on 21-22 August, which coincides with the busy bank holiday weekend, when return economy flights can cost as much as £105.
International flight searches from Italy, Austria, and Spain top the list of traveller origin countries looking for flights to Edinburgh this August, with Switzerland (+14%), Spain (+11%) and Austria (+9%) showing the biggest year-on-year increases within the Top 10.
Hotel rates rise with the event calendar
Hotel pricing paints a different picture, with average nightly rates up 17% year-on-year and 38% month-on-month to £232. Prices peak in early August, particularly around high-demand dates tied to headline acts like the Oasis concerts, but KAYAK notes late month stays offer great value. During the final week of the festival the average hotel prices drop to £187 per night, representing potential savings of up to 34% compared to peak dates.
“August brings an added sense of occasion to Edinburgh, while the city’s charm hardly fades during the rest of the year. While it’s no surprise that travel searches are up in that month, it’s encouraging to see there are still affordable options, especially for flexible travellers who can adjust their dates or travel later in the month.” says Rachel Mumford, KAYAK’s travel expert.
You can find more details on travel trends and prices for travelling to Edinburgh in August, along with KAYAK’s expert tips on the best days to travel and how savvy festival-goers can keep costs down, in our guide here.