Winter in Edinburgh can take a little stamina: Short days, long nights, and buckets of rain are a reality. But intrepid travelers willing to bundle up and bust out a raincoat may feel like they’ve got the city’s top attractions to themselves.

Winter is the perfect time of year to cozy up in Edinburgh’s legendary pubs and do a little day drinking. The sun drops before 4 p.m. in the dead of winter here, making an early Scotch the perfect way to hunker down.

Go wild with the locals during Edinburgh’s Hogamany, the city’s famous three-day New Year’s celebration. Expect a massive torch-lit parade, parties galore, and fireworks.

Holiday markets are a big draw for locals and tourists alike. The city’s largest takes over the Princes Street Garden in November and runs through the end of December.

Drier weather makes spring an excellent time to explore Edinburgh’s lively streets (and bonus: no umbrella juggling). Even better? The summertime masses haven’t rolled up yet, so you’ll still have plenty of elbow room at top sites.

Spring flowers begin to bloom, filling the city’s famed parks and gardens. It’s the perfect time of year to stroll through Princes Street Gardens or the Royal Botanic Garden. Edinburgh. If you time your visit right, you’ll also catch the stunning yellow carpets of gorse that take over the hillside of Arthur’s Seat.

Hit up Edinburgh Castle and the National Museum of Scotland. The two most popular attractions in Edinburgh will be far less crowded this time of year.

Get a taste for local life in Brockton and Morningside, and meander in and out of their indie boutiques, cafés, and vintage stores.

Yes, the Edinburgh rain is back, so dig out that umbrella—you’ll need your wet-weather gear. But travelers don’t seem to mind these water-logged days, judging by the packed hotels and mobbed attractions. Still, if you’re after big-city buzz, this is the season for you.

Launch into planning mode if you want to visit Edinburgh’s most famous sights, like the Edinburgh Castle. Online bookings for top attractions are a must, or you’ll risk being shut out by the swarms of summertime visitors.

August brings the famous Edinburgh Festival Fringe, a weeks-long riot of music, theater, and comedy that’s a huge event on the global cultural calendar.

More traditional theater and performing arts are also on display during August at the Edinburgh International Festival and the Edinburgh Arts Festival.