Things to do near Edinburgh Castle
The castle sits at the top of the Royal Mile, and most of the places below lie on the street or a short walk from it. The list is an editorial selection, not a ranking, and not every entry is next to the gate. Entries 1 to 6 are on or just off the Royal Mile, entries 7 to 10 are on the south side of the Old Town, and entries 11 and 12 are at the far end near Holyrood.
Prices are 2026 adult prices where a charge applies. A castle ticket does not cover any of these places. If you prefer a guided route that joins several of them, compare the castle and Royal Mile options on the Edinburgh Castle tours page.
On and just off the Royal Mile (1 to 6)
The closest ideas, starting at Castlehill beside the castle.
1. Camera Obscura and World of Illusions
On Castlehill. Illusions on five floors, plus a camera obscura show that uses daylight. In the dark or in poor weather a recorded projection replaces the live view of the city. 2026 prices: adults £24.95, students and over-65s £21.95, children aged 5 to 15 £17.95, under 5 free. Book ahead if you can, since walk-up tickets depend on availability.
2. The Scotch Whisky Experience
At 354 Castlehill. The Silver Tour lasts about 50 minutes, runs every 20 minutes and includes a tasting or a soft drink option and a look at the collection. Adults pay £25. A German audio guide is available. Silver tickets can be rebooked up to 48 hours before, and you should bring photo ID.
3. Gladstone's Land
A historic home and shop on the Royal Mile with painted ceilings dating from 1620. Adults £11, concessions £9, children £7. Opening times change through the year, so check them before you plan around a visit.
4. The Writers' Museum
In Lady Stair's Close, about Burns, Scott and Stevenson. Entry is free. It is open daily from 10:00 to 17:00 with last entry at 16:30. A small museum, so it fits easily into a walk down the Royal Mile.
5. St Giles' Cathedral
On the High Street, with the Thistle Chapel. Visitors aged 16 and over who do not live in Scotland pay £12, and under-16s go in free. An accessibility ticket costs £10 and the companion is free. Scottish residents can apply for a free Resident Pass. The ticket covers the cathedral floor, the Thistle Chapel and the tours on offer, and it is valid for 12 months. Opening is 10:00 to 18:00 Monday to Friday, 09:00 to 17:00 on Saturday and 13:00 to 17:00 on Sunday. On Thursdays closing is at 17:00 or 18:00, so arrive before 17:00.
Royal Mile guide →6. The Real Mary King's Close
A guided visit to a preserved close under the Royal Mile. In 2026 the Essential ticket costs £25 for adults and £18 for children aged 5 to 15, and the Standard ticket costs £28.50 and £21. From 1 June to 31 August only Standard tickets are sold. Children under 5 are not admitted for safety reasons. Tours can sell out, so book online. Standard bookings change free of charge up to 4 hours before, and Essential changes cost £15 per booking. It is a separate attraction from the Blair Street vaults used by ghost tours.
Ghost tours and vaults →Our pick: the Old Town's book trail
Our take: a two-hour walk through the lanes below the castle.
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.
Tours that combine the castle with the Old Town
Castle visits, Royal Mile walks and underground tours, with live prices and availability.
Grassmarket and the south side (7 to 10)
Downhill from the castle, on the other side of the rock.
7. Grassmarket
A historic market square in the Old Town with views up to the castle, shops and places to eat. There is no general entry fee. It is a good place to stop after the castle, since the walk from the gate is downhill.
8. Victoria Street and West Bow
A street in the Grassmarket area, known for its coloured shopfronts. It is worth a short detour. Stories that it inspired a book or film are popular tales, not facts.
9. Greyfriars Kirkyard
A historic graveyard that is also part of the route of Vaults and Graveyard ghost tours. Visit it as a quiet historical stop in its own right. Ghost stories attached to it are legends, not documented events. Check the current opening times on site before you go.
Ghost tours →10. National Museum of Scotland
On Chambers Street. The permanent galleries are free and some special exhibitions charge. It is open daily from 10:00 to 17:00. It is closed on 25 December and opens from 12:00 to 17:00 on 26 December and 1 January. A good rain option next to the Old Town.
At the Holyrood end (11 and 12)
These two sit at the bottom of the Royal Mile, so plan a long walk or a bus ride and treat them as a separate half day.
11. Palace of Holyroodhouse, abbey and gardens
An official royal residence with the State Apartments, rooms linked to Mary Queen of Scots, the Great Gallery, Holyrood Abbey and gardens. 2026 adult tickets cost £22 booked ahead or £26 on the day. Young adults aged 18 to 24 pay £14 or £17, children aged 5 to 17 pay £11 or £13, and under-5s are free. Outside summer it is closed on Tuesday and Wednesday. Parts can close at short notice when the palace is in use. The Explorer Pass does not cover it.
12. Scottish Parliament
A free exhibition and self-guided visit during opening hours. Guided tours are free, last about 45 minutes and should be booked ahead. What you can see depends on the sitting calendar, so do not expect the same tour every day.
How to combine the ideas
A few ways to fit them around a castle visit.
A castle morning, Royal Mile afternoon
Allow at least 2 hours for the main castle sights, then walk down through entries 1 to 6 as time allows. Our opening hours page shows the season times and last entry.
A free day
The Writers' Museum, the National Museum of Scotland galleries, the Scottish Parliament exhibition and a walk through Grassmarket cost nothing to enter. Cathedral, close and palace tickets add up quickly.
A rainy day
Camera Obscura, the National Museum, the Writers' Museum and St Giles' are all indoors. Mary King's Close is underground, and the whisky tour is indoors too.
The whole Royal Mile
Walk it from the castle to Holyrood and pick two or three stops on the way. Trying to do all twelve in one day leaves little time at each.
The Royal Mile
Closes, sights and walking routes between castle and palace.
How to get to the castle
Walking, tram, bus and the airport.
Day trips from Edinburgh
Stirling, the Highlands and Loch Ness.
For a day beyond the city, see the Loch Lomond guide, or compare trips on the day trips page.
Things to do near Edinburgh Castle: frequently asked questions
What is next to Edinburgh Castle?
On Castlehill, just outside the gate, you find Camera Obscura and the Scotch Whisky Experience. St Giles' Cathedral and the Writers' Museum are further along the Royal Mile.
Are all twelve places close to the castle?
No. Entries 1 to 6 are on or just off the Royal Mile, entries 7 to 10 are on the south side, and Holyroodhouse and the Scottish Parliament are at the other end of the Royal Mile.
Which of these are free?
The Writers' Museum, the permanent galleries of the National Museum of Scotland and the Scottish Parliament are free. Some special exhibitions at the museum charge, and Grassmarket has no entry fee.
Does the castle ticket include any of them?
No. Camera Obscura, the whisky tour, Mary King's Close, St Giles' and Holyroodhouse each have their own ticket. The Explorer Pass does not cover Holyroodhouse.
Is this the official Edinburgh Castle website?
No. This is an independent travel guide. It is not the website of Historic Environment Scotland or Edinburgh Castle, and it is not connected to any attraction or tour operator listed here.