Edinburgh Castle
Edinburgh Castle
4.5
9:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Monday
9:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
9:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
9:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
9:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
9:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
9:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
9:30 AM - 5:00 PM
About
Edinburgh Castle is a world famous icon of Scotland and part of the Old and New Towns of Edinburgh’s World Heritage Site. It was recently voted top UK Heritage Attraction in the British Travel Awards and is Scotland’s number one paid-for tourist attraction. This most famous of Scottish castles has a complex building history. The oldest part, St Margaret's Chapel, dates from the 12th century; the Great Hall was erected by James IV around 1510; the Half Moon Battery by the Regent Morton in the late 16th century; and the Scottish National War Memorial after the First World War. The castle houses the Honours (Crown Jewels) of Scotland, the Stone of Destiny, the famous 15th century gun Mons Meg, the One O' Clock Gun and the National War Museum of Scotland.
Duration: More than 3 hours
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The area
Address
Neighbourhood: Old Town
Few Edinburghers live in the Old Town, but its labyrinth of dank alleys and steep streets suggests this was not always the case. Today, it’s mostly visitors, tartan-flavoured souvenir shops, and pipers that you’ll find on its cobbled streets. This is the place to get a feel for Auld Reekie (Old Smelly), as the town was once nicknamed, and stroll the Royal Mile, the thoroughfare that links the castle with the royal palace – two of Edinburgh’s great set-piece attractions. But there’s lots more exploring to do here down dozens of little alleys, or wynds, while at night the city’s busiest clubs erupt along the Cowgate which is closed to traffic for this purpose.
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See what travellers are saying
  • Alison J
    Southampton, United Kingdom36 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Amazing views and great day out
    The castle and on site museums were fascinating with amazing views over Edinburgh. We were there for 4 hours and could have spent many more hours there. My only criticism was trying to find and read the audio numbers in the war museum. Otherwise tge audio was great
    Visited March 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 19 March 2023
  • Luci De Castro
    6 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Beautiful attraction
    Be in a place where many battles and important moments happened at hundreds years ago, it is invaluable. The time we spent there, was winter, so not exactly crowd, we purchased the ticket online to avoid lines, but at that moment, there were not line, it might be no peak day. It is worth it.
    Visited March 2023
    Written 21 March 2023
  • Kirsty B
    9 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    I live in Edinburgh and have visited my favourite building many times. It’s glorious
    Anyone visiting Edinburgh Castle and who leave a negative review should have saved their money and gone to McDonalds instead. They clearly missed the many amazing points of this building. Where it stands How long it’s been there The history it is steeped in The people who lived, worked in and around it. It is a glorious castle in the centre of a beautiful city and right up there with one of the best castles in the world
    Visited August 2022
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 24 March 2023
  • AmyEG3318
    Toronto, Canada167 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    One of the *must see* places in Edinburgh
    Gorgeous view from the castle grounds. On a clear day, you can see for miles. Interesting exhibits. Loved seeing the Honours of Scotland (crown jewels). No queue for it at the time we went, but granted, it was morning and in March, which isn't the high season for tourists. Definitely a *must see*, especially for a first time tourist. If you're only in Edinburgh for a day, definitely try to see it.
    Visited March 2023
    Written 26 March 2023
  • RobLTulsa
    Bixby, Oklahoma13 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Worth the climb
    A must see. The views are unreal. The castle itself has an epic history and the various plaques and displays scattered liberally throughout the grounds do a good job of telling that history. You aren't forced in a specific direction, so you can go see what you want in whatever order you want. That lack of structure does make it is easy to potentially miss something, so grab a map and take your time.
    Visited March 2023
    Written 27 March 2023
  • Brody M
    3 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Must do!
    What a place!! Would never have been able to truly appreciate this place without our guide. We were very tired when we arrived for the tour but our guide had great energy and stories that kept un engaged throughout the tour. Thank you Melanie!
    Visited March 2023
    Written 27 March 2023
  • Brett L
    3 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    3+ hours required to fully enjoy!
    So much history behind this place. We spent about 3 hours here (off season in march) walking through all the different sections, including the military museum and the prison. We could have spent a full day there if we had the audio guide, but we just bought the booklet and followed that as we walked. We went in the morning during the week, so there was very few people there which made the experience even more enjoyable. Definitely in my top 3 things to do in Edinburgh!
    Visited March 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 28 March 2023
  • Lydz Adventures in Wonder World
    Belfast, United Kingdom98 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Great Attraction-a real must see/do
    Great site to visit, so much to see and hear. The history involved with this place is incredible and we honestly spent a good few hours here. Great views from the top aswell. Definitely a must do when in Edinburgh.
    Visited February 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 29 March 2023
  • ldjs
    Fort Lee, New Jersey692 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Stunning beauty!
    The castle is amazing and unforgettable! Breathtaking views from any angle, centuries of history come alive. Allocate at least 2 hours and try to visit all buildings. If don’t have enough time, the must sees are noted on the castle map. Audio guide is very good, they send you a link if you purchase in advance, but we ended up just getting audio guides on premises. If you have time the canon fire at 1 pm( the one o’clock gun) is quite a spectacle. The Royal apartment with the room of Mary Queen of Scotts and Scottish Royal jewels are a highlight. The War Veterans Memorial is stunning, very unique and impactful World War I Memorial across from Royal jewels. Don’t miss Prisoners of War exhibits. Recommend to get the tickets in advance and also recommend one of their guide books as a souvenir, beautiful print. The castle gets windy, dress to be outside, so you could take time admiring the views of Edinburgh.
    Visited March 2023
    Travelled with family
    Written 1 April 2023
  • Vicki M
    Aberdeen, United Kingdom68 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Amazing views
    I have been to the castle on a previous trip to Edinburgh but this time decided to take my children. Apart from the cannons and the prison cells they were pretty bored by it all so we went around it quicker than our previous visit. The views are are amazing and I could spend all day sitting looking out over Edinburgh. It's not the type of castle where you see rooms etc and most if it really is just walking about outside however there are several museum sections if you are interested in the history. Avoid the toilets if you can, you can smell them before you see them, I appreciate a lot of people use them but so do most places in Edinburgh and these are the worst I have seen, they need cleaned better, we used two different toilets during our time and both were disgusting
    Visited April 2023
    Travelled with family
    Written 3 April 2023
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4.5
4.5 of 5 bubbles53,040 reviews
Excellent
30,885
Very good
15,307
Average
5,273
Poor
1,117
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463

coffeeandbooks
23 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2023 • Friends
The castle tour is a must when visiting Edinburgh. You can spend a good few hours here exploring all the different places within the castle.
Written 18 March 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Carey B
Sheffield, UK31 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2024 • Couples
Beautiful castle. Please ask the guides about extra information. They are so knowledgeable and might even give you extra insights into palace life.
Written 18 March 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

roy grey
Cheltenham, UK241 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2024 • Couples
For the Historians or for those who just have a bucket list of places to visit, this a must and well worth the experience, Would recommend sturdy footwear/ and plenty of steps to negotiate especially to see the Scottish Crown Jewels.
Written 18 March 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Eva D
San Francisco, CA3 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2024 • Friends
Very well presented castle, and a lots of interesting history. Cost wise could be more affordable especially for family's.
Written 17 March 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

AnnEdinburgh
Edinburgh, UK42 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Nov 2023 • Couples
Was Edinburgh Residents ourselves the Castle is an occasional visit for us. It has the most wonderful views ever !! The war memorial and the great hall are also musts. Highly recommend to every person visiting Edinburgh
Written 17 March 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

pakabay
Adelaide, Australia2,141 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2024 • Couples
I’m not into military history or celebration and I’m certainly not a royalist, so I didn’t really know what to expect from my visit to the castle.

It is obviously an iconic location and its sheer overwhelming presence, literally towering over the Scottish capital cannot be underestimated. It’s visually powerful. And of course the views from all of the various vantage points around the grounds are worth the price of admission alone.

The site is impressively huge and if you wanted to do everything on offer, you could easily spend half a day here. But if you’re like me, an hour or so wandering around is more than sufficient.

One of the ‘highlights’ that are heavily promoted is the chance to see the Scottish Crown Jewels. But I have to say that I found the experience of being corralled like sheep through a one way series of narrow stairs, dark close spaces for 15 odd minutes, just to eventually wander past a few bits of bling totally insulting. I pity anyone who is claustrophobic or gats anxious in tight crowds - it would be a nightmare. Frankly, I couldn’t wait to leave the site after that experience.
Written 16 March 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Louisa E
Spalding, UK57 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2024 • Couples
Spent a great day at the castle. The military museums were excellent. The views of the city spectacular. We took the day at our own pace which was right for us
Written 13 March 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

amanda5805
Duncan, Canada5,039 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2023 • Couples
Exploring Edinburgh Castle was a highlight of our stay in Edinburgh. Situated atop a hill overlooking the city, the castle is impossible to miss. The location offers breathtaking views of Edinburgh. Royals such as Mary Queen of Scots and King James VI resided within its walls, leaving behind a legacy through the centuries. Walking through the various chambers and courtyards, it's easy to appreciate the castle's significance in shaping Scotland's identity. The informative exhibits offered valuable insights into its rich history and importance. The Scottish Crown Jewel was incredible to see.

Edinburgh Castle was strategically built atop Castle Rock, a volcanic hill, for defensive purposes. Its elevated position provided a natural advantage, offering clear views of approaching enemies and allowing defenders to spot potential threats from afar. This strategic location made it easier to defend the castle against sieges and attacks.
Written 12 March 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Adele G
Donegal Town, Ireland64 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2024 • Couples
Didn't disappoint. Amazing views. Loads of displays and museum pieces . In fact much if it was like a huge museum. Crown jewels were nice. I thought we would see a little more of the day to day living of the castle.. . A kitchen. A bedroom, a living room, I don't know what I expected but I enjoyed the The Royal Yacht Britannia experience more
Written 11 March 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Vaibhav
12 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2023 • Couples
I really liked the exterior of the castle which holds a prominent place in Edinburgh. However, wasn't particularly exciting to see it from the inside for someone who may have seen other castles, forts, etc.
Written 10 March 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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EDINBURGH CASTLE: All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)

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