Edinburgh Castle in a nutshell
Edinburgh Castle sits in the Old Town at the top of the Royal Mile, postal address Castlehill, Edinburgh EH1 2NG. It has been a royal residence, a fortress, a garrison and a prison. The buildings come from different centuries, so it is not one castle built at a single date. The rock it stands on rises about 130 m above sea level, which is why the climb from the city is steep.
Most visitors need at least 2 hours for the main attractions: the Honours of Scotland, the Royal Palace, the Great Hall, St Margaret's Chapel, the big guns, the National War Memorial and the old prison vaults. Prices on this page are in pounds sterling for 2026, and they can change.
What this guide covers
This guide follows a visit from the first question to the last. Start with Edinburgh Castle tickets and time slots, then check the opening hours for your month. If you want a guide, the tours page compares the castle tour, audio guide and walks along the Royal Mile. Inside the walls, the room by room guide shows what is worth your time, and the pages on the Honours of Scotland and the One O'Clock Gun cover the two best known stops.
Around the castle you find the Royal Mile, the underground vaults and ghost tours, the evening Military Tattoo on the Esplanade and day trips from Edinburgh into the Highlands. For Loch Lomond, which has its own guide, see Loch Lomond.
Our picks: castle, vaults and the Highlands
Our take: the in-depth tour includes castle entry. The vaults tour suits an evening, and the Highlands trip is the long day out.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in British pounds (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Loch Ness, Glencoe and the Highlands from Edinburgh
- Air-conditioned coach
- Driver-guide
- Live commentary
A long day by coach with a driver-guide; the Loch Ness cruise and Urquhart Castle come with the matching option.
Check availability →
Edinburgh Castle in-depth tour with entry
- Edinburgh Castle entry
- Castle map
- Guided tour in English
Two hours with an expert guide, castle entry and a map included.
Check availability →
Haunted vaults and graveyard tour
- Greyfriars Kirkyard
- South Bridge Vaults entry
- Guide
Greyfriars Kirkyard and the South Bridge Vaults with a guide, a short walk from the castle.
Check availability →Edinburgh Castle tickets, tours and day trips
Castle entry with a guide, Royal Mile walks, ghost tours and day trips into the Highlands, with live prices and availability.
Plan your castle visit
The pages most visitors read first.
Tickets and time slots
Online and gate prices, the Flexi ticket, the Explorer Pass and what a guide costs extra.
Opening hours
Summer and winter times, last entry and the Christmas closures.
Tours compared
The 30-minute castle tour, audio guide, self-guided routes and walks on the Royal Mile.
What to see inside
Courtyards, chapel, palace, prison vaults and the places with steps.
Honours of Scotland
Crown, sceptre and sword of state, and where the Stone of Destiny is now.
One O'Clock Gun
Firing time, days without a shot and where the gun stands.
Getting to the castle
Walking from Waverley, trams, buses and the airport.
Best time to visit
Monthly weather figures, longer summer hours and festival timing.
Around the castle
History, the Old Town and trips further afield.
The Royal Mile
From the Esplanade to Holyrood: closes, cathedral and walking tours.
Military Tattoo
Dates for 2027, the arena on the Esplanade and the rules for the evening.
Ghost tours and vaults
Underground tours, graveyards and the legends behind them.
History of the castle
Castle Rock, sieges, Mary Queen of Scots and the Honours.
Edinburgh Castle facts
Age, the rock, visitor numbers and what can be said about records.
Day trips from Edinburgh
Loch Ness, Glencoe, Stirling and St Andrews: lengths and prices.
Things to do nearby
Twelve ideas in the Old Town, from museums to Holyrood.
Where to stay
Old Town, New Town or Leith, and the new visitor levy.
A few things to know before you go
Facts that save time and money in 2026.
The Stone of Destiny is in Perth
Since March 2024 the Stone is on show at Perth Museum, free of charge. It is no longer an exhibit at the castle. Single visitors no longer book online for the Stone; they take a time slot at the museum.
Honours of Scotland →The Honours are in the Crown Room
The crown, sceptre and sword of state are shown in the Crown Room on the first floor of the Royal Palace. The room was refurbished in early 2026. Check the visitor information on the day you go.
Inside the castle →A guided tour costs extra
A standard ticket does not include a guide. The 30-minute castle tour is a separate product at £6.50 per person on top of admission.
Tours →The Explorer Pass has limits
It is valid for 14 consecutive days and covers one visit per site. The Palace of Holyroodhouse is not included.
Ticket options →St Giles' now charges
Visitors aged 16 and over who do not live in Scotland pay £12. Entry is not free against a donation any more.
Royal Mile →Edinburgh has a visitor levy
Since 24 July 2026 a 5 percent charge applies to accommodation, limited to the first 5 consecutive nights.
Where to stay →The next Tattoo is in 2027
The 2026 edition is over. The next one runs from 6 to 28 August 2027, and tickets are sold only through the organiser's own sales channel.
Military Tattoo →The gun does not fire every day
The One O'Clock Gun fires at 1 p.m. except on Sundays, Good Friday and Christmas Day. Weather or operations can close the castle on other days too.
One O'Clock Gun →More independent Scotland guides
Separate guides from the same team, each focused on one place in Scotland.
Edinburgh Castle: frequently asked questions
How much is an Edinburgh Castle ticket in 2026?
An adult ticket for ages 16 to 64 costs £23.50 online and £26 at the gate. Visitors aged 65 and over pay £19 online and £21 at the gate, and children aged 7 to 15 pay £11.50 online and £13 at the gate. Children under 7 enter free but should be added to an online booking. See tickets for the Flexi ticket and the Explorer Pass.
When is Edinburgh Castle open?
From 1 April to 30 September it opens at 09:30 with last entry at 17:00 and closing at 18:00. From 1 October it closes at 17:00 with last entry at 16:00, and it is closed on 25 and 26 December. The opening hours page has the full calendar.
Do I have to book in advance?
No, there is a gate price. But tickets are sold per entry time, and once online tickets for a slot are gone, no extra tickets are held back for the gate. In summer they can sell out early, so book ahead if your date is fixed.
How long should I plan for the castle?
Plan at least 2 hours for the main attractions. Add time for the climb up from the Royal Mile, the bag check and a guided tour if you take one.
Can I see the Stone of Destiny at the castle?
No. It has been at Perth Museum since March 2024 and is free to see there. The castle shows the Honours of Scotland in the Crown Room.
Is edinburgh-castle.org the official website?
No. This is an independent travel guide with no link to Historic Environment Scotland, the castle, the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo or any tour operator or hotel.