Edinburgh Castle - Entrance with Royal Edinburgh Card

Edinburgh is synonymous with its imposing Castle. Edinburgh Castle stands atop a volcanic hill, called Castle Rock, and can be seen from much of the Scottish capital.

But don't be satisfied with just seeing it from afar: buy tickets, go inside its walls and explore a fortress where centuries of history echo at every step.

Edinburgh Castle.

Highlights of the visit

Presence of the One o'clock GunThe cannon is fired at one o'clock sharp from the Castle every day (except Sundays, Christmas Day and Good Friday) and reverberates throughout the city.
Immerse yourself in the splendour of the Royal Palacewhere you will discover how kings and queens lived.
Behold the Scottish Honours (the crown, sceptre and sword of state), the jewels used to crown Scottish kings.
Visit the St Margaret's ChapelEdinburgh's oldest building, with a history dating back to 1130.

Tickets

With the Royal Edinburgh Card

Entrance to Edinburgh Castle is included in the Royal Edinburgh Card.

When you activate your pass at the first Edinburgh Bus Tours stop (at Waterloo Place), you will be given a ticket for the day and time of your choice to visit the Castle.
Even if that time is sold out on the website (it's the most popular attraction in the city), they have tickets saved for travellers who have bought a Royal Edinburgh Card.
The card also includes Holyrood Palace, the Royal Yacht Britannia and the Edinburgh Sightseeing Bus.

👑 Buy the royal edinburgh card

Entrance and tour of the Castle in Spanish

If you don't buy the Royal Edinburgh Pass, another option is to buy entry to Edinburgh Castle with a tour in English included.

You will discover the history of this fortress from the hands of a guide.

🎟️ Guided tour of the castle

Entrance to the Castle

Finally, you have the option of buying a single ticket for Edinburgh Castle, which is not part of a pass such as the Royal Edinburgh.

In that case, we recommend you to buy the ticket from the official website (cheaper than at the box office).

How to get to Edinburgh Castle

If you want to get there on foot, you'll have to walk up the Royal Mile, the main street of Edinburgh's Old Town, lined with cafes, museums and souvenir shops.

At the end of this street, the Castle esplanade awaits you (with great views of the city) and, beyond it, the fortress.

You can also get there on one of the Lothian Buses city buses or on the Edinburgh Sightseeing Bus, included in the the Royal Edinburgh Card.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to buy tickets in advance for the Castle?

Yes, we recommend it. At the ticket office they are more expensive, you will have to queue, and they may already be sold out for the time slot you want.

On the other hand, if you buy the Royal Edinburgh CardIf you have booked a ticket, you will be allocated a ticket with a reserved date and time, even if that time slot is sold out on the website.

How long does it take to visit Edinburgh Castle?

Book it for 2 to 3 hours, but there is no time limit: you can stay as long as you like within the opening hours.

Is Edinburgh Castle worth a visit?

If you like history and fortresses, yes, it's a symbol of the city! It's also the most popular attraction, so if you don't like crowds, you might consider visiting another, lesser-known castle, Craigmillar Castle.

Is Edinburgh Castle haunted?

We have no proof... but no doubts either! If you like macabre and mysterious stories, you can relive the legend of the Edinburgh piper at the Castle.

It is said that, centuries ago, secret tunnels were discovered under the castle. The army sent one of its pipers to investigate where they led.

To keep track of him, as he advanced through the tunnels, he played the bagpipes. Then, suddenly, the sound stopped... and the piper was never heard from again.

Although many claim that, even today, if you listen carefully, you can still hear the faint melody of bagpipes under the castle...

Does the castle have a guide in English?

You can rent an audio guide in Spanish once you are there or, if you prefer, you can hire a guided tour in English from here.