Edinburgh Castle Ticket
Valid: 1 day
Visit Edinburgh Castle with this ticket. Learn about the battles and sieges fought at the castle, and about the royals who lived and died within its…
Edinburgh Castle
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Edinburgh Castle: Tours & Tickets
Edinburgh Castle: Skip-the-Line Guided Tour
Duration: 1.5 hours
Likely to sell out
This engaging castle tour enables you to skip the line into Scotland's most iconic fortification. The 90-minute tour will cover the 3,000-year…
Edinburgh: Royal Attractions with Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tours
Valid: 48 hours
See all Edinburgh’s attractions from the comfort of a hop-on-hop-off sightseeing bus and get free entry to 3 royal attractions with a 48-hour Royal…
Edinburgh Castle: Skip-the-Line Guided Tour
Duration: 1.5 hours
Likely to sell out
Skip the lines for a 1.5-hour tour of Edinburgh Castle and hear stories of one of the world’s most heroic and bloody national histories. Enjoy…
Edinburgh: Hop-On Hop-Off 48-Hour 3-Bus Tours Pass
Valid: 48 hours
Tour Edinburgh at your leisure on 3 different hop-on and hop-off bus routes with 48 hours unlimited travel. Take the City Sightseeing Tour and the…
Historic Scotland 5 and 14-Day Attractions Explorer Pass
Valid: 5 - 14 days
Bestseller
Explore over 70 Historic Scotland paid visitor attractions with a 5-day or 14-day Explorer Pass. Enjoy free access to sites such as Edinburgh Castle,…
Edinburgh: Old Town Historical Walking Tour
Duration: 90 minutes
We think the best way to explore Edinburgh is to follow your feet. Where the buses can’t take you, and the guide books don’t show you is where our…
Edinburgh: 3-Hour Guided Walking Tour
Duration: 3 hours
This 3-hour walking tour of Edinburgh, led by Stuart or Richard Usher of Scotland's historic House of Usher, focuses on the historical, cultural, and…
Edinburgh Castle: Guided Tour in Spanish
Duration: 2 hours
Discover over 1,000 years of history at Edinburgh's famous castle. Marvel at the skyline's most defining feature from up close. Don't miss a bit of…
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Find the Best View of Edinburgh Castle
If you're looking for picturesque, you'll love Edinburgh. The cityscape of the Scottish capital is a feast for the eyes, topped by the imposing Edinburgh Castle at its highest point. To get the best view of this beautiful city, head to these five points.
Calton Hill
One of the oldest public parks in Scotland, Calton Hill is a local favorite. It's also an easy climb – in just five minutes, you'll be able enjoy the spectacular views.
Princes Street Gardens
This lovely, perfectly-maintained public garden offers a breathtaking view of the castle from below. Just head to the Ross Fountain to the West and look up, you'll be amazed.
Arthur's Seat
A dormant volcano sitting 251m above sea level, Arthur's Seat offers a magnificent aerial view of the city and castle. Be sure to check out the historic fort there, too.
Blackford Hill
It may not be as famous as Calton Hill or Arthur's Seat, but Blackford Hill has views that are just as gorgeous. It's also home to the Royal Observatory, a favorite of astronomy lovers.
Dorothy's Eye View
This view of the castle inspired George Gibson to paint the Emerald City from Wizard of Oz. Head to the corner of Bread Street and Spittal Street and behold: Emerald City!
Our insider tips
Sunset over Edinburgh Castle
For a view that you'll remember for the rest of your life, watch the sun set over Edinburgh Castle. The best spots for this are Arthur's Seat and Calton Hill, both located to the East of the city center. The deep-red sun, the colors in the sky, and the black silhouette of the castle come together in an absolutely magnificent panorama.
Fireworks
If you're lucky enough to be in Edinburgh when there are fireworks going off over Edinburgh Castle, for example on Hogmanay or at the end of the Edinburgh Festival, then make sure to head to one of these viewpoints to admire the show and snap some amazing photographs. Princes Street Gardens and Calton Hill are likely to be the most popular spots to watch the fireworks, so if you're looking for a less crowded experience, Blackford Hill and Arthur's Seat are better bets.
Good to know
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- When should I visit?
- Opening hours from 9:30AM - 6PM year-round, except for December 25th and 26th.
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- Is it expensive?
- Free to look at from the outside, £17 for adult entry.
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- Will I need a guide?
- Only if you want one.
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- How to get there
- Hop-on-hop-off buses stop at the Castle. You can make your own way by taking bus 24 to Waverly Bridge and walking.
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- Additional information
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- It never hurts to carry an umbrella when in Scotland!
- Since you'll be climbing hills, good walking shoes are a must.
What people are saying about Edinburgh Castle
Must see if you love the Scottish history
Absolute iconic building located in Old Edinburgh, few minutes walk from Edinburgh Waverley Station following market street. A truly lovely destination knowing how the Scottish struggle to keep the castle fight with the English. The castle is divided into three parts : Upper Ward, Hawk Hill and lower ward. Main attractions are Prison of War, Royal Scots Dragoon Guard, Royal Scots Museum and Queen Jewels. Keep an easy 3-4 hours to visit the castle. It can get very busy at times, we went on a long weekend August Holiday. You can enjoy the best view from the top which gives you history on how the new Edinburgh was build up. Don’t forget to walk on the royal mile as it is worth going with lot of things happening. We were lucky enough as they had a fringe festival. Can’t wait to go back. Love you Edinburgh, a beautiful and lively city.
An excellent and a must see place for anyone who is visiting Scotland.
I liked the one oclock artillery gun fire. It was a great treat to see how land was ruled and controlled by the rulers in the old days. Wars were fought for land, money and women. The dress codes and the weapons used during wars were astonishing. Justice and fairness were never the number one goal may it be in the past or in the present. Achievements were always measured with wealth that got acquired at the end of wars. It is also great to see how records were kept in those days and how those records were safe guarded against enemies. Hats off to those Who had the foresight and the determination to safe guard all those remaining wealth. Thank you once again. Rajah
Fun Scottish history lesson @ the EdnCastle
This pass-the-line guided walking tour was presented by a (seemingly) well knowledgeable and funny guide: Greg. In 1.5 hours he walked from the Edn High Street through Castle to the top, next door to Crown Jewels and the Scottish War Memorial. On the way he made several stops, at each he gave a lively presentation of bits of Scottish history. Very catchy presented, way to go Greg!
3 great tours and 3 great attractions in one price
We had the best time went to the 3 attractions first then traveled all 3 buses for the full route have to say the the tour guides on the green bus were fantastic. We had plenty of time to enjoy other sites as well Would definitely recommend that you purchase this pass
Excellent. Staff extremely helpful and friendly.
Worth every penny. Especially Royal Yacht Britannia and Hollyrood House. Bus very easy to catch. Automated tour guide very informative. Would highly recommend. We had the 48 hour pass and 3 attractions which was excellent value for money.
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