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Edinburgh Castle, Edinburgh

4.3
#1 of 3,817 in Things to do in Scotland
Castle Tourist Spot Must See
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$8
A major monument of Scottish heritage and one of the world's most striking fortresses, Edinburgh Castle dominates the city's skyline. Sitting atop a large volcanic rock, the castle dates back to the 12th century. It served as the seat of Scottish royalty until the 17th century, when it became a military barracks. Today, the castle holds the Scottish crown jewels, three military museums, and a handful of exhibits. Guided tours included in the price of admission offer the most efficient and informative way to visit the castle. You'll hear highlights from its history and understand the significance of its various buildings and artifacts. After your tour, sit for tea in one of the complex's tearooms and enjoy a traditional Scottish meal in the Redcoat Cafe. Try to secure your tickets before visiting the castle to avoid waiting in line at the entrance. Add Edinburgh Castle and other attractions to your Edinburgh trip itinerary using our Edinburgh trip planning website .
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Edinburgh Castle Tours
Royal Edinburgh Ticket Including Hop-On Hop-Off Tours and Edinburgh Castle Admission BOOK WITH VIATOR FROM $69
Edinburgh Castle Entrance Ticket BOOK WITH VIATOR FROM $22
Edinburgh Historical Walking Tour Including Skip the Line Entry to Edinburgh Castle BOOK WITH VIATOR FROM $40
Edinburgh Rail Day Trip from London including Edinburgh Castle Entry and Hop-On Hop-Off Bus BOOK WITH VIATOR FROM $231
Historic Scotland Explorer Pass BOOK WITH VIATOR FROM $41
Edinburgh Ghost Tour by Vintage Bus BOOK WITH VIATOR FROM $21
Private Half-Day Tour of Edinburgh in a Mini BOOK WITH VIATOR FROM $257
Skip-the-Line Edinburgh Castle Walking Tour BOOK WITH VIATOR FROM $40
Edinburgh Shore Excursion: City Highlights Tour BOOK WITH VIATOR FROM $62
Stirling Castle Entrance Ticket BOOK WITH VIATOR FROM $20
Private Edinburgh City Tour in a Minibus BOOK WITH VIATOR FROM $560
Edinburgh Harry Potter Walking Tour BOOK WITH VIATOR FROM $26
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Edinburgh Castle Reviews
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TripAdvisor Traveler Rating
34,268 reviews
Google
4.4
TripAdvisor
  • August 21, 2017
    Very beautiful and spacious facility. Visit definitely worth seeing. Very crowded by tourists. Long lines at the Scottish Crown jewels.
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  • August 21, 2017
    The whole castle is a great backdrop for the Royal Military Tattoo, and is a whole afternoon of exploring its ramparts, exhibits on Scottish Military history (which are great if you are even remotely ...  more »
  • August 21, 2017
    Visit obliged. If you have the explorer pass, does not need to do tail and enter directly. It is advisable to take Guide because there is much to see. There are many people, so that with time.
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Google
  • I have always loved castles and this has been on the list to visit for a long time, and it didn't disappoint! You can see the castle from most places in Edinburgh as it is sat on top of a very large hill, and looms over the city like some silent guardian. We were part of a large group exploring Edinburgh and couldn't justify the cost for us all to go in, so went to find more haggis instead! However the views from the parapet are outstanding.
  • Excellent views of the area. Lots of history to see here. The only drawback is that more maps and signage telling you where you are in relation to the other areas would be helpful. 25 minute line/wait for tickets. Still had a great time here. Give yourself at least 2 hours for a quick walk-through or half a day to see it all.
  • It's a beautiful and historic place. The views from the top are lovely. The history of the castle is also amazing. I had taken the audio guide for the tour which proved to be really informative. Highly recommended to anyone who is visiting Edinburgh!
  • Beautiful and historic place. Excellent view of the area. Lots of history. It's interesting to walk around the museum and exhibitions. The memorial in the chapel were stunning. Keep at least 3 hours for the visit.
  • I loved it! It's a beautiful and historic place. Give yourself at least 3 hours to visit it with a small break in the café for a fast snack and a good coffee. I suggest to buy the tickets online (as I did) or you'll have to queue up for a long time for buying them.
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Where to stay in Edinburgh

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Edinburgh hides a maze of cobbled streets dotted with boutique hotels offering inexpensive rooms and outstanding restaurants. Many of the city's Gothic buildings house chic hotels with easy access to most of the city’s main tourist sites. For a uniquely Scottish experience, consider staying in the famous old town. Despite being in this historical district, many hotels here feature contemporary decor with lots of glass walls and muted color schemes. They’re also known for offering spacious rooms, comfortable beds, and restaurants serving classic European cuisine, with a modern Scottish twist.
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15 days in Europe BY A USER FROM UNITED STATES February, culture, relaxing, romantic, historic sites, hidden gems PREFERENCES: February, culture, relaxing, romantic, historic sites ATTRACTION STYLE: Hidden gems PACE: Medium 53 days in Europe BY A USER FROM IRELAND May, culture, outdoors, beaches, historic sites, museums, wildlife, popular & hidden gems PREFERENCES: May, culture, outdoors, beaches, historic sites, museums, wildlife ATTRACTION STYLE: Popular & hidden gems PACE: Medium 8 days in Scotland BY A USER FROM POLAND October, outdoors, popular & hidden gems PREFERENCES: October, outdoors ATTRACTION STYLE: Popular & hidden gems PACE: Medium 2 days in Edinburgh BY A USER FROM PHILIPPINES October, culture, relaxing, romantic, historic sites, museums, shopping, popular & hidden gems PREFERENCES: October, culture, relaxing, romantic, historic sites, museums, shopping ATTRACTION STYLE: Popular & hidden gems PACE: Medium 8 days in United Kingdom & Ireland BY A USER FROM UNITED STATES October, outdoors, historic sites, museums, popular PREFERENCES: October, outdoors, historic sites, museums ATTRACTION STYLE: Popular PACE: Medium 14 days in London, Wales & Scotland BY A USER FROM INDIA January, culture, outdoors, relaxing, romantic, historic sites, shopping, wildlife, popular PREFERENCES: January, culture, outdoors, relaxing, romantic, historic sites, shopping, wildlife ATTRACTION STYLE: Popular PACE: Medium 7 days in Scotland BY A USER FROM UNITED STATES December, culture, outdoors, historic sites, museums, wildlife, hidden gems PREFERENCES: December, culture, outdoors, historic sites, museums, wildlife ATTRACTION STYLE: Hidden gems PACE: Medium 13 days in Europe BY A USER FROM CANADA July, teens, culture, historic sites, museums, shopping, slow & easy, hidden gems PREFERENCES: July, teens, culture, historic sites, museums, shopping ATTRACTION STYLE: Hidden gems PACE: Slow & easy 13 days in United Kingdom SEE PLAN October, culture, relaxing, romantic, historic sites, museums, shopping, popular & hidden gems PREFERENCES: October, culture, relaxing, romantic, historic sites, museums, shopping ATTRACTION STYLE: Popular & hidden gems PACE: Medium 13 days in United Kingdom SEE PLAN October, culture, outdoors, relaxing, historic sites, museums, shopping, popular & hidden gems PREFERENCES: October, culture, outdoors, relaxing, historic sites, museums, shopping ATTRACTION STYLE: Popular & hidden gems PACE: Medium 20 days in Western Europe BY A USER FROM UNITED STATES August, popular & hidden gems PREFERENCES: August ATTRACTION STYLE: Popular & hidden gems PACE: Medium 3 days in Edinburgh BY A USER FROM SINGAPORE December, popular PREFERENCES: December ATTRACTION STYLE: Popular PACE: Medium
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