Edinburgh Tickets
Edinburgh Castle

Edinburgh

Included with Edinburgh Castle tickets

Timings

RECOMMENDED DURATION

2 hours

Edinburgh

Top things to do in Edinburgh

Palace of Holyroodhouse with turrets and stone facade in Edinburgh, Scotland.

Holyrood Palace

from

£11

Urquhart Castle overlooking Loch Ness with visitors exploring the ruins.

Loch Ness Tours

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£55

Tour guide leading Edinburgh Ghost Tour in underground vaults.

Edinburgh Ghost Tours

from

£19

Couple toasting whisky glasses at a bar during The Gold Tour - Scotch Whisky Experience.

Edinburgh Whisky

from

£25

Man in stocks with actor holding tool at Edinburgh Dungeon.

Edinburgh Dungeon

from

£15

Colorful buildings and tourists on Victoria Street, Edinburgh, associated with Harry Potter.

Harry Potter Edinburgh

from

£15

Royal Yacht Britannia docked at Ocean Terminal, Edinburgh.

Royal Yacht Britannia

from

£25

Alnwick Castle in Northumberland, England, with lush green grounds.

Alnwick Castle

from

£135

Linne's two-toed sloth hanging on a rope at Edinburgh Zoo exhibit.

Edinburgh Zoo Tickets

from

£27.25

Edinburgh Gin distillery exterior with copper stills visible through glass.

Edinburgh Gin

from

£28

Bartender preparing a drink at Plaza Premium Lounge bar in Edinburgh.

Edinburgh Airport Lounges

from

£38.50

Steam train crossing the Glenfinnan Viaduct in Isle of Skye, Scotland.

Isle of Skye

from

£230

Open-top tour bus on a street in Edinburgh with historic buildings in the background.

City Sightseeing Edinburgh Hop-on Hop-off Tours

from

£39.90

Reflections in the Perpetual Portrait room at Camera Obscura & World of Illusions, Edinburgh.

Camera Obscura Edinburgh Tickets

from

£24.95

Underground stone corridor with steps on the Terror Tour in Edinburgh.

Edinburgh Vaults Tours

from

£19.44

Quick overview

  • Access: Included in all Edinburgh Castle tickets
  • Separate ticket: Not required
  • When you’ll see it: Midway through the castle route, in Crown Square in the upper ward
  • Visit duration: 10–15 min self-guided / 15–20 min with the castle audio guide
  • Best time: First entry slot or early afternoon after the 1pm gun crowds move on
  • Restrictions: Castle-wide bag limits apply; large bags over 30L and drones are prohibited

The Great Hall is included with all Edinburgh Castle tickets. No separate ticket is needed. It sits in Crown Square in the upper part of the castle route, usually reached after the uphill walk through the main defenses, and you can enter it as part of your self-guided visit. Book an entry ticket with a guided castle introduction if you want the hall’s royal and military details to make more sense once you step inside.

Best tickets to experience the Great Hall

Completed in 1511 for James IV, the Great Hall was built as the castle’s main ceremonial chamber, then later lost that role when the fortress shifted toward military use. After Cromwell’s occupation, it served as barracks, which changed the space dramatically before later restoration. Today it helps visitors read Edinburgh Castle as both a royal residence and a working stronghold, not just a monument.
👉 Explore the full history of Edinburgh Castle