Edinburgh Castle is one of the most exciting historic sites in Western Europe. Set in the heart of Scotland's dynamic capital city, it is sure to capture your imagination.
Edinburgh Castle is alive with exciting tales of its time as a military fortress, royal residence and prison of war. When you climb Castle Hill, you will walk in the footsteps of soldiers, kings and queens – and even the odd pirate or two.
Book online for the best value tickets, and then spend your time looking around.
The rooms, the history, the views, are all breathtaking.
There are tours you can book and listening to the guides you will not be dissapointed.
See the 1pm cannon go off, visit the jails, try the whiskey or stop at a cafe but if in Edinburgh, do go and visit.
Ein wichtiger Hinweis: Tickets sollte man unbedingt im Voraus buchen, da der Besucherandrang groß ist. Vor allem in der Hochsaison sind die Warteschlangen lang, und die Burg ist häufig gut gefüllt mit Touristen. Trotz der Menschenmassen ist die Atmosphäre beeindruckend, und die einzigartige Kombination aus Geschichte, Kultur und Aussicht macht den Besuch unvergesslich.
Für Geschichts- und Architekturinteressierte ist Edinburgh Castle ein echtes Highlight – eine eindrucksvolle Reise in die Vergangenheit, die den Trubel absolut wert ist!
Enjoyed the external view of the building and the panoramic view of the city.
From a considerable distance, it looks formidable. Love how it forms the skyline and provides open space in the heart of the city.
You really need to book well in advance. We were in off season and it was booked out for days. Book BEFORE you go to Edinburgh. The weather on the day we were there turned from "slightly bleak" to full on Scottish - with howling wind and rain that slapped you in the face. It was great. It scared off all those people afraid of a bit of moisture ;-)
There are things you will have to queue for - and that is really up to you. If you book the earliest tour then I would head straight for the Crown Jewels (NOT literally) as this is the place that draws the largest crowd. You can then explore all the truly good things and then finish off with the One O'Clock Gun.
The highlight for me was the Scottish National War Memorial. Absolutely NO pictures allowed (out of respect) - but you will still see some disrespectful people trying to capture a snap - but they get pounced on quite quickly. It is truly a somber and emotional part of the Castle grounds and you should not miss it.
When we visited the castle, there were no more tickets for “walk-in” visitors, at least at lunchtime.
We also ordered an audio guide for our cell phone. This ended up being more pleasant because we could use our headphones. With others I've seen you have to hold the castle's devices to your ear.
(We only ordered one, but the link to the guide lets you start it on multiple devices)
The Audi guide and the entire exhibition were very well done, informative and entertaining. The focus was heavily on the topic of military and combat. It would have been nice if there had been some information about everyday life at the castle.
During our tour we also practiced a stop at the restaurant. The prices there were fair, it had a good selection, it was clean and the staff was friendly.
The castle should not be missed on a trip to Edinburgh, even if it was a bit overcrowded.
Important to book tickets in advance as this place is very popular. We had to book about 1 week ahead earlier this summer!
The result is something of a jumble, but entertaining and informative in a variety of ways. It's a history book with pages that reach all the way to the present.
Worth the cost and time investment. Take your time, and enjoy the various features.
I’ve attended the Tattoo twice now, several years apart, and it has yet to disappoint as a spectacle of military bands and marching prowess. The coordination involved is incredible, especially at the culmination of the show with the massed pipes and drums.
The castle itself sits ominously over the city centre, being visible for miles around and at several points around city. Several nice walks are available around the grounds and up to the front gates, affording plenty of opportunities for photographers.
Definitely plan a visit around the gun shooting scheduled at 1pm every day.
It is a beautiful castle and the information is not overwhelming and Museum like. Especially the exhibition in the end. Very well kept up. And the view of the city is amazing from here
We also visited the Royal military tattoo that was on. Great show! A must if you ask me! Castle costs around £20 and the show is around £60-70
Castle, Castlehill, Edinburgh EH1 2NG, UK
Monday
9:00 am - 5:00 pm
Tuesday
9:00 am - 5:00 pm
Wednesday
9:00 am - 5:00 pm
Thursday
9:00 am - 5:00 pm
Friday
9:00 am - 5:00 pm
Saturday
9:00 am - 5:00 pm
Sunday
9:00 am - 5:00 pm
September 10, 2026 7:54 am local time
The information on Monty's Guide website is advisory and some places have restricted access during temporary closures or special event days. Please be sure to check the website of the place you intend to visit before travelling
Tickets often sell out far in advance, especially over the summer months. Book your tickets online in advance for the best price and to guarantee entry. Once tickets are sold out online, there will be no further tickets available at the castle.
You should set aside at least 2 hours to see the main attractions at Edinburgh Castle.
Opening times for the independent museums at the castle may vary.
The castle is closed on 25 and 26 December.
1 January - the castle will open at the later time of 11am.
Monty's Guide
December 20, 2022 at 7:28 pm4.6
Book online for the best value tickets, and then spend your time looking around.
The rooms, the history, the views, are all breathtaking.
There are tours you can book and listening to the guides you will not be dissapointed.
See the 1pm cannon go off, visit the jails, try the whiskey or stop at a cafe but if in Edinburgh, do go and visit.
It's a must see if you visit Scotland. Our guide's narrative was informative though a bit rote. I do suggest skipping the crown jewels. They are underwhelming compared to those in London. The passages leading to the crown jewels are overcrowded and the staff needs to keep them a lot more sparse.
Overall, a hugely significant structure.
Nice people
Friendly staff
Overcrowded at any time at any weather.
Ein wichtiger Hinweis: Tickets sollte man unbedingt im Voraus buchen, da der Besucherandrang groß ist. Vor allem in der Hochsaison sind die Warteschlangen lang, und die Burg ist häufig gut gefüllt mit Touristen. Trotz der Menschenmassen ist die Atmosphäre beeindruckend, und die einzigartige Kombination aus Geschichte, Kultur und Aussicht macht den Besuch unvergesslich.
Für Geschichts- und Architekturinteressierte ist Edinburgh Castle ein echtes Highlight – eine eindrucksvolle Reise in die Vergangenheit, die den Trubel absolut wert ist!
Since it was the low season, we purchased our castle admission tickets on the day.
Enjoyed the external view of the building and the panoramic view of the city.
From a considerable distance, it looks formidable. Love how it forms the skyline and provides open space in the heart of the city.
You really need to book well in advance. We were in off season and it was booked out for days. Book BEFORE you go to Edinburgh. The weather on the day we were there turned from "slightly bleak" to full on Scottish - with howling wind and rain that slapped you in the face. It was great. It scared off all those people afraid of a bit of moisture 😉
There are things you will have to queue for - and that is really up to you. If you book the earliest tour then I would head straight for the Crown Jewels (NOT literally) as this is the place that draws the largest crowd. You can then explore all the truly good things and then finish off with the One O'Clock Gun.
The highlight for me was the Scottish National War Memorial. Absolutely NO pictures allowed (out of respect) - but you will still see some disrespectful people trying to capture a snap - but they get pounced on quite quickly. It is truly a somber and emotional part of the Castle grounds and you should not miss it.
When the weather is nice, all hell is bound to break loose here. Many tourist buses stop here. It's really crowded, so a cloudy day was just right to take in everything in peace.
I've seen it on TV for many years
But to see it live was fantastic.
Well organised
When we visited the castle, there were no more tickets for “walk-in” visitors, at least at lunchtime.
We also ordered an audio guide for our cell phone. This ended up being more pleasant because we could use our headphones. With others I've seen you have to hold the castle's devices to your ear.
(We only ordered one, but the link to the guide lets you start it on multiple devices)
The Audi guide and the entire exhibition were very well done, informative and entertaining. The focus was heavily on the topic of military and combat. It would have been nice if there had been some information about everyday life at the castle.
During our tour we also practiced a stop at the restaurant. The prices there were fair, it had a good selection, it was clean and the staff was friendly.
The castle should not be missed on a trip to Edinburgh, even if it was a bit overcrowded.
Important to book tickets in advance as this place is very popular. We had to book about 1 week ahead earlier this summer!
If you run out of time to book a ticket and everything is sold out on their website, try asking one of the Hop-On Hop-Off guides standing on the street. They can book a ticket for you, but we had to show them our Hop-On Hop-Off ticket before they booked the castle ticket for us.
The organisation is incredible, give yourself time to get in and find seats and facilities before the event
The only thing I found was that it was a bit confusing where to start and since it was a bit crowded, I was at least a little lost about going.
The accurate reconstructions and panels allow you to easily enjoy the entire castle without the need for a guide.
It is recommended to get tickets a couple of days in advance
We tried visit the castle on the first day, we were told that they don’t accept walk in and we have to book online!! We checked the website and it was all sold out for few days!! However, the big bus tour company was offering to sell us tickets of the same day, but only if we book a bus tour with it!!
We managed to get a ticket after few days, and I can say that it is overrated!! I mean I totally respect the historic significance of the place and some of the iconic pieces in it, but it’s not worth the fuss made about it. A full tour can easily be completed with less than 2 hours, visiting every open for public space (other than the gift shops.
The result is something of a jumble, but entertaining and informative in a variety of ways. It's a history book with pages that reach all the way to the present.
Worth the cost and time investment. Take your time, and enjoy the various features.
최적의 요세로 느껴짐. 그래도 보존하고 있어 중세를 그대로 느낄 수 있었던곳
I advise !
Cannon fire at 1 p.m. for the bravest.
Many small exhibitions about the history of the city and the country.
You can also buy the Scottish Crown Jewels and the Stone of Destiny.
view.
Such a great experience, perfect at night on a weekday. Relatively quiet and just surreal
Royal Crown Jewels are central place that usually gets crowded and there is quite a lot of queueing. You should be ready to wait ~30 minutes to get in.
We walked pretty fast and did not cover everything, but it still took a little over 2 hours here. If you really want to soak in and see everything that castle offers you should probably spend here around 3-4 hours.
We were on a skip-the-line tour, where the guide told us about the castle buildings in the courtyard.
A very popular destination, so I recommend buying tickets in advance.
Get a guide through little fish tours, they were really great!
Castle is huge and there are lot of things to explore. It’ll take at least 4-5hrs to finish exploring everything. Don’t miss anything. The view from the castle is amazing.
It is where the history of the most conflicts in centuries has been breathed due to the war between England and Scotland.
The castle is a rugged fortress without a single tree, and it is said that it was once all destroyed and rebuilt.
Make sure you buy tickets online at least a few days in advance or more, cause it definitely sells out.
The 1 O'clock gun is really cool, find a spot a little higher above the gun before 1, as it gets really crowded quickly and you'll miss it. They do take off the area around the gun, so there's a safe space for them to fire it.
Take your time and read the information and use the audio guide, definitely worth the few bucks to rent it.
The memorial for all their fallen Scotsmen in battle is stunning. Be respectful in such a sacred place.
The Red Coat Cafe has absolutely amazing food!
Get the Swiss cake roll.....ooooh delicious!!! Plus they have vegan and gluten free options, which made for a very happy little guy of mine.
Awesome history in this place, so thankful it's been so well taken care of!
I’ve attended the Tattoo twice now, several years apart, and it has yet to disappoint as a spectacle of military bands and marching prowess. The coordination involved is incredible, especially at the culmination of the show with the massed pipes and drums.
The castle itself sits ominously over the city centre, being visible for miles around and at several points around city. Several nice walks are available around the grounds and up to the front gates, affording plenty of opportunities for photographers.
You can buy tickets online a bit cheaper and book Entry slots.
Definitely plan a visit around the gun shooting scheduled at 1pm every day.
It is a beautiful castle and the information is not overwhelming and Museum like. Especially the exhibition in the end. Very well kept up. And the view of the city is amazing from here
The view is stunning. It is worth a visit and even better if clear sky.
We also visited the Royal military tattoo that was on. Great show! A must if you ask me! Castle costs around £20 and the show is around £60-70
It took us 4 hours to see everything, stopping for lunch and taking photos, but not waiting in lines
The view is stunning. It is worth a visit and even better if clear sky.
1. Prepay ticket and arrive 10 minutes prior to time on ticket.
2. Buy tickets before 1pm or 1300 so you can view the 1pm cannon firing. Make sure to find a spot to view the firingat least by 1245. Most. Good spots will be taken by then
3.There are several museums/areas on the castle grounds. A few of them are the Prison, National war museum and Royal Scots Dragoon.
I found them to be nice and worth the time to spend exploring.
4. Bathrooms are available and first one as you enter on the left hand side.
5. The Scottish jewels was the longest wait of all places.
6. The have audio tours you can purchase to the right of the entrance if that is something you are interested in.
7. I would give myself at least 2 hours for museums and touring the castle.
8. Highly recommended