Edinburgh Castle tours at a glance
There are three ways to see the castle with some guidance. The guided tour lasts 30 minutes and is held in English. An audio guide lets you move at your own pace. Suggested self-guided routes give you an order of stops. Outside the walls, Royal Mile walks, vault tours and day trips fill the rest of the day.
The guided tour is a separate booking. It costs £6.50 per person on top of admission, and a combined ticket bundles admission and the tour. The tour runs outdoors on steep cobbled paths, so wear sturdy shoes.
Our picks: Edinburgh Castle tours
Our take: the walk takes in the Royal Mile on the way up, the history tour is the classic, and the in-depth tour runs two hours.
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.
Edinburgh Castle and Royal Mile walk with ticket
- Local guide
- Edinburgh Castle entry
A local guide along the Royal Mile and into the castle, with the ticket included.
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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.
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Edinburgh Castle history tour with tickets
- Edinburgh Castle entry
- English or Spanish guide
Ninety minutes of castle history with a guide in English or Spanish.
Check availability →Edinburgh Castle tours and day trips
Castle entry with a guide, Royal Mile walks, vault and ghost tours and day trips into the Highlands, with live prices and availability. Check which options include admission.
Guided tours inside the castle
How the official 30-minute tour works.
Book a tour time
You book in advance and pick a tour time. From 1 October to 31 March the starts are 10:15, 11:15, 12:15, 14:15 and 15:15. From 1 April to 30 September they run from 09:45 to 15:45, mostly every 30 minutes.
Opening hours →Meeting point
You meet behind the Main Gate on the right, 15 minutes before the tour begins. Leave extra time for entering the castle first.
A missed tour is gone
You cannot join a later tour on the same day if you miss yours. Weather can change or cancel a tour.
What it costs
The tour is £6.50 per visitor and free for Historic Scotland members. That is the tour price alone, not the price of admission plus tour.
Edinburgh Castle tickets →Tour options compared
What each way of exploring offers and costs, 2026.
| Option | Length | Price | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Guided castle tour | 30 minutes | £6.50 per person plus admission | A quick orientation with stories |
| Audio guide | Your own pace | £4, German available | Visitors who want detail without a group |
| Self-guided route (Family Day Out) | About 3 hours | Suggested route, no tour booking | Families with children |
| Royal Mile walking tour | Depends on the tour | Depends on the tour | The Old Town, closes and stories |
| Vault tour (South Bridge) | 60 minutes | £24 per person, £80 for 4 | A walk through the South Bridge vaults |
| Vaults and graveyard tour | 90 minutes | £26 per person, £80 for 4 | Older children and adults |
For most first-time visitors, a standard ticket plus either the 30-minute guided tour or the audio guide covers the castle well. Families with children should look at the Family Day Out route. A Royal Mile walk does not give castle entry unless the tour description says so, and the meeting point is often in the Old Town, not at the gate. The £80 price covers a group of 4, not one person.
Edinburgh Castle and the Royal Mile
The Royal Mile joins the castle with the Palace of Holyroodhouse and passes closes, a cathedral and several visitor attractions. A walking tour there is a separate product from a castle visit. It does not include a castle interior tour, a shared admission or a start at the castle gate unless the tour description says so.
Many visitors do the castle in the morning and walk down the Royal Mile after, with a stop at St Giles' Cathedral. Entry there costs £12 for visitors aged 16 and over who do not live in Scotland. Read more on the Royal Mile page.
The Real Mary King's Close is its own attraction and is not part of a castle ticket. The prison vaults in the castle, called Prisons of War, are part of the castle visit and are not the same as the South Bridge vaults.
Vault tours and ghost stories
Legends, not proven events.
Vaults tours
The 60-minute vault tour is not suitable for children under 5. It meets at 300 Lawnmarket, with starts every half hour from 10:00 to 16:30 and an end at 45 Niddry Street.
Ghost tours →Vaults and graveyard
The 90-minute tour is not suitable for under 12s. Starts are at 17:30, 18:00, 19:30 and 20:00, again from 300 Lawnmarket, and it passes Greyfriars graveyard and the Grassmarket.
Stories as stories
Tales of ghosts and curses are legends told by guides. What you can plan around is the route, the length, the price and the age rule.
Day trips from Edinburgh
Tours that leave the city, not the castle.
Day tours to the Highlands start in the city centre, not at the castle gate, and the meeting point belongs to the product you choose. A Loch Ness, Glencoe and Highlands day tour starts from £59 per adult in a minicoach of up to 16 people, and a day tour to Stirling, Loch Lomond and the Kelpies from £64. A Loch Ness day takes about 12 to 13 hours including transfers, and a St Andrews trip 9 to 10 hours with 3 to 4 hours on site. These are starting prices without a guaranteed date.
Loch Lomond has its own guide. See Loch Lomond tours and things to do for the lake, and the day trips page for the full list of options from Edinburgh.
Edinburgh Castle tours: frequently asked questions
How much is the Edinburgh Castle guided tour?
£6.50 per person, on top of admission, and free for Historic Scotland members. A combined ticket bundles admission and the tour.
How long is the guided tour?
30 minutes, in English, outdoors on steep cobbled paths. Be at the meeting point behind the Main Gate 15 minutes before.
Is a guide included in the standard ticket?
No. The standard ticket is admission only. Add the tour, or an audio guide for £4, when you book.
Is there an audio guide in German?
Yes. German is available as a device or download. Bring your own headphones, and download before you arrive.
Can I join a later tour if I miss mine?
No. A missed tour cannot be moved to a later tour on the same day.
Is edinburgh-castle.org the official tour seller?
No. This is an independent guide, not connected to the castle, Historic Environment Scotland or any tour operator. Check the details of each offer before you book.