Guided Tours

Edinburgh Castle Guided Tour with Entry Tickets

4.8/5(538)

Carlos P

Couple

Verified booking

2 days ago

Jesús was theatrical, attentive to everyone, with a witty sense of humor and lots of energy. From the very beginning and at every step, he taught us the incredibly rich history of the Castle and its dynasties. Excellent, meticulous, thoughtful, and ready for every question and follow-up question. Thank you very much! Congratulations, Jesús!

Margareta E

Couple

Verified booking

Last week

David from Australia was a terrific guide. Passionate about his work and spoke with clear and strong voice. He mixed the information with anecdotes which made the tour even more fun.

David D

Couple

Verified booking

2 weeks ago

Zenon was a great tour guide. He did a wonderful job explaining the history of Edinburgh & Scotland. He gave us a great local recommendations for places to eat and grab a pint.

Kelly S

Group

Verified booking

Last week

We enjoyed the self guided tour of Holyrood Palace and learned so many new things about the Royal family. We weren't that impressed with the guided tour of Edinburgh Castle. We probably would've liked a self guided tour more. My sister abandoned it halfway through because she didn't care for Jen, the guide. She was a bit too negative on how many falsehoods in historical pieces had been put out. I didn't mind it, but she is definitely a quirky personality. I appreciated the nerdiness, but others did not.

Jamie T

Couple

Verified booking

3 weeks ago

Our guide was Mark. He was fantastic,he had good knowledge and was very enthusiastic and made us all welcome. He remembered where everyone was from and he brought a group of strangers together. I really enjoyed the tour and Mark gave me his umbrella to keep my daughter dry and for that I'm very grateful. Thank you Mark your a top guy and it was my honour to meet you. Thank you all again Jamie

Billy R

Couple

Verified booking

Sep 2026

Joe was a great guide. He had a really interesting story to tell about the castle and good insights for the highlights to see if we were limited in time. He also recommended a good pub for a meal. We took his advice and he was right. He was entertaining and informative and we got a lot out of the visit because of that.

Explore Edinburgh Castle (exterior) with a local English-speaking guide and hear fascinating tales of royalty, sieges, and legendary events.

See the Great Hall, St. Margaret’s Chapel, the oldest surviving building in Edinburgh, and marvel at Scotland’s Crown Jewels independently after the guided tour.

Stand atop Castle Rock to soak in sweeping views of the city and uncover hidden treasures with your included Edinburgh city audio tour on your own digital app.

Upgrade for a longer 1.5-hour guided tour, an expert Spanish, Italian, French, or German guide, an express guided tour, or a small-group Royal Mile guided walking tour.

Entry to Edinburgh Castle

Guided tour of the Castle

Expert local English-speaking guide

Edinburgh city audio tour (digital app) in English, French & German

1-hour 30-minute guided tour of Edinburgh Castle (outside the castle)

Free time for independent exploration of Edinburgh Castle

15% discount on Edinburgh Gin Distillery experiences (subject to availability; see voucher for details)

Additional paid upgrades:

1-hour 30-minute guided tour of Edinburgh Castle

Expert Spanish, French, Italian or German-speaking guide

2-hour 15-minute guided tour of Edinburgh Castle and the Royal Mile

Small group of max. 20 guests

Headset and mobile device

Edinburgh Castle internal audio guide (£3.50)

Transportation

Gratuities

These tickets can't be cancelled. However, they can be rescheduled up to 72 hours before the experience begins.

538 reviews
How do we collect reviews?
These ratings include verified reviews from both Headout guests and our trusted partners who operate this experience locally. All reviews come from real travelers who've taken this experience.
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Guests from United States, Canada, Australia and over 52 countries have loved this experience
What our guests say
David D
Couple
Verified booking
2 weeks ago
Zenon was a great tour guide. He did a wonderful job explaining the history of Edinburgh & Scotland. He gave us a great local recommendations for places to eat and grab a pint.
Alina C
Group
Verified booking
3 weeks ago
I love most our guide, Jen! And the castle, of course! But Jen is the best guide! So much information presented in an original, lively and funny way!
Amanda E
Group
Verified booking
3 weeks ago
He was very knowledgeable and I loved that he was wearing a killer! Spoke a little fast sometimes it was hard to understand him that he was fantastic
Vilia B
Couple
Verified booking
3 weeks ago
Well informed guide who gave us loads of information. She was easy to follow about and offered answers to all our questions.
Kelly S
Group
Verified booking
Last week
We enjoyed the self guided tour of Holyrood Palace and learned so many new things about the Royal family. We weren't that impressed with the guided tour of Edinburgh Castle. We probably would've liked a self guided tour more. My sister abandoned it halfway through because she didn't care for Jen, the guide. She was a bit too negative on how many falsehoods in historical pieces had been put out. I didn't mind it, but she is definitely a quirky personality. I appreciated the nerdiness, but others did not.

Edinburgh Castle

Edinburgh Castle crowns Castle Rock as a powerful symbol of Scottish heritage. For centuries, it has stood witness to pivotal moments in the nation’s history. Today, it offers visitors a vivid window into Scotland’s storied past.

Features

The Great Hall: Step inside the grand hall where monarchs, including Mary, Queen of Scots, once hosted feasts and gatherings.

Royal Palace: Visit the former royal residence and discover its role in the lives of Scotland’s kings and queens.

St. Margaret’s Chapel: See Edinburgh’s oldest surviving building, dating back to the 12th century.

Royal Mile: Walk the Royal Mile, the historic street linking Edinburgh Castle to the Palace of Holyroodhouse, lined with centuries-old buildings, shops, and landmarks.

English-speaking guide: Gain insights, get personalised attention, and clarify your doubts with your expert guide.

Audio tour: After your guided tour and independent exploration of the castle, learn more about the city with an insightful audio tour, available on a digital app.

Extras

Guided tour: Want more insights into Edinburgh Castle? Choose the 1.5-hour tour for a more comprehensive indoor experience.

Royal Mile walking tour: Go on a guided walking tour of the most famous street in Edinburgh.

Small group: In a small-group setting of just 20 guests, you get a better chance to learn in-depth about the castle and get your questions answered in more detail.

Expert guides: Opt for an expert Spanish-, Italian-, French-, or German-speaking guide for better insights in the language of your choice.

What to bring

Bring a valid photo ID if requested at the entrance.

Download the audio app before reaching the meeting point to dodge any network glitches at the location. Simply scan the QR code on your voucher and follow the instructions to download the Vox City app and the city map in your preferred language. If you encounter any problems, contact customer@voxcity.com or contact customer support live 24/7 through the website.

Carry your earphones for an immersive audio guide experience.

What’s not allowed

Luggage, large bags, and bags over 30L in volume are not permitted inside Edinburgh Castle.

Due to venue restrictions, your pets are not permitted.

Drones are strictly prohibited on the premises.

Access to the roof is not permitted in poor weather conditions.

Accessibility

The experience is not fully wheelchair-accessible due to uneven terrain and steps within the castle grounds and surrounding areas.

Additional information

The guided tour takes place outdoors around Edinburgh Castle. Entry to interior buildings is not included during the guided portion, but you may explore them independently after the tour.

Some areas may be temporarily unavailable for visit.

Specific stops during the tour are assigned by castle authorities and may vary.

Minors must be accompanied by an adult to join the tour.

Please arrive at the meeting point at least 10-15 mins before your scheduled start time.

If Edinburgh Castle is unexpectedly closed on the day of your visit, tickets to Holyrood Palace will be provided instead if available.

Meeting points may vary by tour. Ensure you check your booking confirmation for details.

Please note the Honours of Scotland (Crown Jewels) will be closed from January 12 to Easter in 2026.

Your voucher will be emailed to you shortly.

Display the voucher on your mobile phone with a valid photo ID at the starting point.

Please check your final voucher for the starting point details & specific instructions.