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Edinburgh Castle

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Edinburgh Castle

Castlehill, Edinburgh (EH1 2NG) • Lothian

star4.7(85,400)
Lothian
👑 The Honours of Scotland 🪨 The Stone of Destiny 💥 The One O'Clock Gun 🏙️ Spectacular City Views
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scheduleDaily: 09:30 – 18:00 (Summer) / 09:30 – 17:00 (Winter). Last entry is 1 hour before closing.

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OFFICIAL bolt GetYourGuide

Skip-the-Line Guided Walking Tour

The castle is massive and can be overwhelming. Upgrade to a 90-minute guided walking tour to skip the massive ticket queues and uncover the dark history of the fortress with a local expert.

£35.00/ person
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Getting Here

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Location Address

Castlehill, Edinburgh (EH1 2NG)

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Public Bus Services

Local bus lines operate frequent daily services directly to stops adjacent to the attraction entrance.

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Regional Transit Links

Connections
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Edinburgh Waverley Station

Walking

12 min walk
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Edinburgh City Centre

Lothian Buses (To George IV Bridge or The Mound)

10 min

About Edinburgh Castle

Perched dramatically on Castle Rock, Edinburgh Castle is the most besieged place in Great Britain and the undisputed crown jewel of the Scottish capital. It has served as a royal residence, a military garrison, and a prison of war. Today, visitors flock here to view the Honours of Scotland (the oldest Crown Jewels in Britain), the legendary Stone of Destiny, the magnificent Great Hall, and St Margaret's Chapel—the oldest surviving building in Edinburgh.

Quick Facts

  • 👑The Honours of Scotland
  • 🪨The Stone of Destiny
  • 💥The One O'Clock Gun
  • 🏙️Spectacular City Views
  • scheduleDaily: 09:30 – 18:00 (Summer) / 09:30 – 17:00 (Winter). Last entry is 1 hour before closing.
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Insider Tips

  • check_circleThe Sunday Gun Rule: The famous One O'Clock Gun is fired from the Half Moon Battery every day at exactly 1:00 PM—EXCEPT on Sundays, Good Friday, and Christmas Day.
  • check_circleWear appropriate footwear: The walk up Castlehill is a steep, uneven cobblestone street, and the castle grounds are entirely made of historic, uneven stone. Do not wear heels.
  • check_circleThe August Warning: If you are visiting in August during the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and the Royal Military Tattoo, the esplanade will be covered in grandstands and tickets will sell out weeks in advance. Book early.
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What to Expect

1. The Argyle Battery

As soon as you cross the drawbridge, you will walk along the imposing Argyle Battery, featuring sweeping panoramic views of the New Town and the Firth of Forth.

2. St Margaret's Chapel

Climb to the very top of the rock to step inside this tiny, Norman-style chapel. Built around 1130, it is the oldest surviving building in all of Edinburgh.

3. Crown Square & The Great Hall

Enter the heart of the fortress to see the magnificent Great Hall with its original wooden hammerbeam roof, built for King James IV in 1511.

4. The Honours of Scotland

View the breathtaking Scottish Crown Jewels and the legendary Stone of Destiny—the ancient sandstone block upon which Scottish (and now British) monarchs are crowned.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to tour Edinburgh Castle? expand_more

Edinburgh Castle is vast. Most visitors spend at least 2 to 3 hours exploring the grounds, the museums, and viewing the Crown Jewels.

Can you drive up to Edinburgh Castle? expand_more

No. There is absolutely no public parking at Edinburgh Castle. You must walk up the Royal Mile (Castlehill) to reach the entrance.

Is Edinburgh Castle free to enter? expand_more

No, you must purchase a ticket to cross the drawbridge and enter the castle walls. However, the large esplanade area outside the gates is free to walk around and offers excellent views of the city.

Explore the Area

Camera Obscura & World of Illusions

Camera Obscura & World of Illusions

Situated directly next to Edinburgh Castle, Camera Obscura has been entertaining visitors since 1853. The experience starts on the roof inside the Victorian 'Camera Obscura' itself—a fascinating optical periscope projecting a live, moving image of the city onto a viewing table. Below this, there are five incredibly chaotic floors packed with over 100 hands-on optical illusions, light tricks, a mirror maze, and a dizzying vortex tunnel.

The Scotch Whisky Experience

The Scotch Whisky Experience

Situated right at the top of the Royal Mile just steps from Edinburgh Castle, The Scotch Whisky Experience is an interactive exhibition and tasting venue dedicated to Scotland's most famous export. Rather than focusing on a single brand, the experience educates visitors on all five whisky-producing regions of Scotland. The tour features a newly updated, high-tech immersive storytelling journey, an expert-led tasting, and culminates inside a breathtaking glass-and-marble vault housing one of the world's largest collections of Scotch whisky.

Johnnie Walker Princes Street

Johnnie Walker Princes Street

Opened in 2021 inside a massive former department store, Johnnie Walker Princes Street is a staggering, high-budget visitor attraction that redefines the whisky tour. Rather than a dry history lesson, the flagship 'Journey of Flavour' tour is a highly personalized, theatrical experience. Upon arrival, you take a flavor quiz that dictates the customized highball cocktails you are served as actors guide you through incredible, high-tech projection rooms. The building is capped off by the stunning 1820 Rooftop Bar, offering phenomenal views of Edinburgh Castle.

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Local Car Rentals

Explore the beauty of Lothian at your own pace. Hire a car from trusted agencies nearby.

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VW Polo or similar (Economy)

Manual • 5 seats • Hertz

£35/day
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Nissan Qashqai or similar (SUV)

Automatic • 5 seats • Enterprise

£68/day
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