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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

from

£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, after the uphill walk to the upper ward
  • Visit duration: 5–10 min self-guided / 10–15 min with guide or audio context
  • Best time: First entry slot on a weekday, or late afternoon, when the upper ward is quieter
  • Restrictions: None specific to the chapel beyond standard Edinburgh Castle rules

St Margaret’s Chapel is included with all Edinburgh Castle tickets. No separate ticket is needed. You’ll usually reach it in the upper part of the castle route, near Mons Meg and the upper battlements, after the climb from the main entrance, and there’s no independent chapel entry. Book an early-entry castle ticket or a guided castle visit so you reach this small space before the upper level gets crowded.

Best tickets to experience St Margaret’s Chapel

For nearly 900 years, St Margaret’s Chapel has survived sieges, reformations, and military occupation to remain Edinburgh’s oldest surviving building. Built around 1130 by David I in memory of his mother, Queen Margaret, it began as a royal place of prayer and later endured because it was reused rather than demolished. Today it still hosts small weddings and christenings, so you’re entering a living chapel, not a museum set.
👉 Explore the full history of Edinburgh Castle