Book Edinburgh Castle Tickets
Headout is an authorized and trusted partner of the venue, offering curated experiences to enjoy this attraction. This is not the venue's website.
- Unlock the tales of royalty, wars, and gallantry that are etched into the stone walls of Edinburgh Castle with this ticket.
- A peek at the oldest crown jewels in the British Isles awaits you in the Crown Room.
- Wander through the Royal Palace's stone chambers where Mary Queen of Scots once walked.
- Visit the Great Hall for its medieval architecture and the National War Museum where you’ll uncover tales of heroic battles and brave soldiers.
- Witness the centuries-old tradition, the One O’clock Gun, a time-telling spectacle for ships.
Inclusions
- Entry to Edinburgh Castle
- Tip: For a seamless journey in the castle, start your visit with the Crown Jewels, then the Royal Palace, and Great Hall, and finish at the National War Museum.
- These tickets can't be cancelled or rescheduled.
Entry Tickets to 3 Royal Attractions with Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tours
- Discover the heart of Edinburgh with a 48-hour pass that's your key to the city's best attractions with a HOHO pass to 3 different bus tours.
- With access to 3 hop-on hop-off bus tours, see iconic landmarks such as the Royal Mile, a succession of streets in Old Town, the Grassmarket, and more.
- Enter Edinburgh Castle, home to the nation’s Crown Jewels, including the Stone of Destiny, and admire the views across the capital.
- Sail into the past on the Royal Yacht Britannia as you learn about this floating piece of British history through a multilingual audio guide.
- Step into the Palace of Holyroodhouse and marvel at the artworks and exhibitions that highlight the restored monarchy with a multilingual audio guide.
Inclusions
- 48-hour pass to 3 HOHO bus tours & 3 attractions
- Entry to Edinburgh Castle
- Entry to Royal Yacht Britannia
- Entry to the Palace of Holyroodhouse
- Unlimited 48-hour 3 HOHO bus tours: Edinburgh City Sightseeing, Edinburgh Tour & Majestic Tour
- Audio tour in 9 languages in the Palace of Holyroodhouse
- Audio tour in 30 languages on the Royal Yacht Britannia
- Tip: Don't miss the Honours of Scotland exhibition at Edinburgh Castle, showcasing the oldest Crown jewels in the British Isles!
- The audio-guided tour on the Royal Yacht Britannia is available in English (Adult), English (Child), English (Visually Impaired), Basic English (Good for foreign language students), Arabic, Brazilian, Portuguese, Cantonese, Czech, Danish, Dutch, Finnish, French, Gaelic, German, Greek, Hebrew, Hindi, Hungarian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Mandarin, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese, Punjabi, Romanian, Russian, Spanish, Swedish, Thai, Turkish, Ukrainian, Urdu & Welsh.
- The Palace of Holyroodhouse is largely accessible, with some restrictions in Mary, Queen of Scots' rooms. Concessionary rates are available for guests with disabilities.
- Registered assistance dogs are allowed in the Palace of Holyroodhouse.
- Facilities: Wheelchair accessibility on the Royal Yacht Britannia & hop-on hop-off bus tours, 2 mobility scooter accessibility on the bus tours.
- The Edinburgh Castle is partly accessible.
- The Royal Yacht Britannia and Edinburgh Castle are open 7 days a week.
- Please note that your timeslot will be reserved for Edinburgh Castle when you redeem your voucher.
- Click here to see all the details about the HOHO bus tours.
- Children up to and including 15 must be accompanied by an adult or senior citizen.
- The Palace of Holyroodhouse is closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays each week except July, August, and September when it is open 7 days. No alternative will be offered when the Palace is closed.
- You can cancel these tickets up to 24 hours before the experience begins and get a full refund.
Walking Tour of Royal Mile with Optional Edinburgh Castle Tickets
- Meet your expert English-speaking guide at Mercat Cross and get started on your journey to the Royal Mile.
- As you walk past the iconic sites along this route, learn about the fascinating secrets and stories of the city.
- Take a journey through time and explore the lives of Edinburgh residents like Mary Queen of Scots and Robert Burns, a Scottish poet and lyricist.
- Upgrade your experience and add to your ticket a skip-the-line entry into Edinburgh Castle to learn about the many battles fought here such as the War of Independence.
- See the oldest crown jewels here and pay a visit to the legendary Stone of Destiny where Scottish kings used to be anointed.
Inclusions
- Walking tour of the Royal Mile
- Expert English-speaking guide
- Skip-the-line entry into Edinburgh Castle (optional)
- Wireless audio system with headphones (optional)
- Tip: Take home souvenirs to remember this tour. Royal Mile is lined with shops that sell great souvenirs.
- You can bring your own headphones or earphones to use with the audio system. It’s a standard 3.5 mm audio jack.
- You can cancel these tickets up to 24 hours before the experience begins and get a full refund.
Why Visit Edinburgh Castle?
- Stunning views: Edinburgh Castle is perched on a volcanic rock overlooking the city, offering breathtaking views of the skyline and surrounding countryside.
- Crown jewels: It is home to the Crown Jewels of Scotland, one of the oldest and most valuable collections of royal regalia in Europe.
- Fascinating history: The palace has been a royal residence, a military fortress, and a prison over the centuries. Visitors can learn about its fascinating history through exhibits, tours, and reenactments.
- Diverse attractions: Edinburgh Castle is more than just a castle. It's also a museum, an art gallery, and a venue for cultural events. Visitors can explore the castle's many buildings and monuments, admire its crown jewels, learn about its history, and enjoy a variety of cultural events.
- One o'Clock Gun: Every day at one o'clock in the afternoon, a cannon is fired from Edinburgh Castle. This tradition dates back to the 18th century and is a popular tourist attraction.
- Military Tattoo: Every summer, Edinburgh Castle hosts the Military Tattoo, an international military festival that attracts hundreds of thousands of spectators. The Tattoo is a spectacular event that features marching bands, pipers and drummers, and military displays.
Plan Your Visit to Edonburgh Castle
Timings
Location
Entrances
Facilities
Tips
Eat
Stay
Nearby
- Opening hours: Monday to Saturday: 9:30 am to 5:30 pm, Sunday: 10:00 am to 4:00 pm
- Closing hours: Last admission is 5:00 p.m. on all days
- Closed on: 25 and 26 December, Unexpected closures may occur due to bad weather or other circumstances
Address: Castlehill, Edinburgh EH1 2NG, UK
Getting There
- By metro:
The nearest metro station to Edinburgh Castle is West End - Princes Street. From the station, it is a short walk up the Royal Mile to the castle. - By car: There is no public parking at Edinburgh Castle. However, there are a number of car parks in the surrounding area, including Castle Terrace Car Park, Princes Street Car Park, Waverley Parking
- By bus:
A number of buses stop near Edinburgh Castle, including Lothian Buses 24, 35, 38, and 45. From the bus stop, it is a short walk up the Royal Mile to the castle.
There is only one main entrance to Edinburgh Castle, which is located at the bottom of the Royal Mile. Visitors can access the castle over a wooden-slatted bridge.
However, there are a number of other entrances to the castle that are used for specific purposes, such as:
- The Esplanade Gate: This gate is used for access to the castle grounds and the Royal Military Tattoo.
- The Argyll Battery Gate: This gate is used for access to the Argyll Battery and the One o'Clock Gun.
- The Crown Square Gate: This gate is used for access to the Crown Square area of the castle.
- The Foog's Gate: This gate is used for access to the Upper Ward of the castle.
Visitors are not permitted to use these entrances unless they have a specific reason to do so, such as attending a military event or visiting the castle grounds.
- Ticket Office: Buy castle tickets at the main entrance.
- Info Desk: Get castle info and history here.
- Guided Tours: Tours in various languages.
- Audio Guides: Rent at ticket office.
- Museums: Home to National War Museum of Scotland, Scottish National War Memorial, and Regimental Museums.
- Exhibitions: Year-round temporary displays.
- Cafes & Restaurants: Enjoy on-site dining. Toilets: Conveniently located.
- Gift Shops: Grab souvenirs here.
- Book your tickets in advance: This will save you time and queuing, especially during peak season.
- Arrive early: The castle opens at 9:30am, so arriving early will help you avoid the crowds.
- Wear comfortable shoes: There is a lot of walking involved, so you'll want to wear comfortable shoes.
- Bring a hat and sunscreen: The castle can be quite exposed to the elements, so it's a good idea to bring a hat and sunscreen.
- Take a guided tour: Guided tours are a great way to learn about the castle's history and see all the highlights.
- Start with the Crown Jewels: The Crown Jewels are one of the most popular attractions in the castle, so it's best to see them early before the crowds arrive.
- Don't forget to see the One o'Clock Gun: The One o'Clock Gun is fired from the castle every day at 1pm. It's a popular tourist attraction, so be sure to arrive early to get a good spot.
- The Redcoat Cafe: This cafe is located within the castle grounds and offers a variety of Scottish and international dishes, including sandwiches, salads, soups, and cakes.
- The Witchery by the Castle: This award-winning restaurant is located in a historic building overlooking the castle and offers a fine dining experience with a focus on Scottish cuisine.
- Chaophraya Edinburgh: This Thai restaurant is located a short walk from the castle and offers a variety of authentic Thai dishes, including curries, noodles, and stir-fries.
- Dine: This restaurant is located in the heart of the city centre, a short walk from the castle, and offers a modern British menu with a focus on seasonal ingredients.
Budget: Hub by Premier Inn Edinburgh City Centre (Rose Street), Ibis Edinburgh Centre South Bridge, Cityroomz Edinburgh
Mid-range: Premier Inn Edinburgh City Centre (Princes Street), Old Waverley Hotel, Best Western Kings Manor Hotel
Luxury: The Witchery by the Castle, The Balmoral Hotel, Waldorf Astoria Edinburgh - The Caledonian
- The Royal Mile: This historic street is lined with shops, restaurants, and pubs, and it is a great place to soak up the atmosphere of Edinburgh.
- Palace of Holyroodhouse: This royal palace is the official residence of the British monarch in Scotland, and it is open to the public for tours.
- Arthur's Seat: This extinct volcano offers stunning views of the city and surrounding countryside, and it is a popular spot for hiking and walking.
- Princes Street Gardens: These beautiful gardens are located at the foot of Edinburgh Castle and offer a tranquil oasis in the heart of the city.
- National Museum of Scotland: This museum houses a collection of over 20 million objects, including artifacts from Scottish history, culture, and natural history.
- Camera Obscura and World of Illusions: This popular tourist attraction offers a variety of optical illusions and interactive exhibits.
Frequently Asked Questions About Edinburgh Castle Tickets
How much is a ticket to the Edinburgh Castle?
Ticket prices vary depending on age and group size, but start at £18 for adults and £9 for children.
How to book tickets to the Edinburgh Castle?
Tickets can be booked online on the Edinburgh Castle website
Why should I book Edinburgh Castle tickets online?
Booking tickets online in advance guarantees your entry and saves you time queuing.
What do Edinburgh Castle tickets include?
Edinburgh Castle tickets include entry to the castle grounds, the Crown Jewels of Scotland, the National War Museum of Scotland, and all other exhibits and attractions.
Are discounts available on Edinburgh Castle tickets?
Discounts are available for children, seniors, students, groups, and members of the Historic Environment Scotland.
Can I get skip-the-line tickets for the Edinburgh Castle?
Yes, skip-the-line tickets are available for purchase online at an additional cost.
What is the cancelation policy for Edinburgh Castle tickets?
Tickets can be cancelled up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.
How long does it take to complete a Edinburgh Castle tour?
Most visitors spend around 2-3 hours exploring Edinburgh Castle. However, you can spend longer or shorter depending on your interests.
What are the opening hours of Edinburgh Castle?
Edinburgh Castle is open from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. from Monday to Saturday and from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Sunday.