Edinburgh Castle Tickets & Tours: The 14 Best Ways In

1.Edinburgh Castle: Guided Walking Tour with Entry Ticket

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 5,540 reviews · 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.) · from $51Our pick

Join guides such as Joe, Raj, Sonia, or Valeria for a 90-minute outdoor tour inside Edinburgh Castle. Hear sharp Scottish history, see Mary Queen of Scots’ palace and the Great Hall, then explore museums, prisons, and other buildings on your own.

“Absolutely great experience. Definitely worth the price. Sonia was our guide and she did an amazing job. My whole family loved it including my two teenage boys.”

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2.Edinburgh Castle Guided Walking Tour in English

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 5,214 reviews · 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.) · from $52

Meet near the Adam Smith statue on Edinburgh’s Royal Mile for a 90-minute English walking tour to Edinburgh Castle. Guides such as Koffe, Greg, Steph, Euan, and Graeme bring Scottish stories to life, then leave you free to explore the castle buildings on your own.

“Very knowledgable guide. Lots to see and do. Value for money. Worthwhile visit. Wrap up warm as the wind makes it very cold.”

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3.Royal Mile and Edinburgh Castle – Small Group Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,523 reviews · 2 hours 15 minutes (approx.) · from $70

Walk from Mercat Cross to Edinburgh Castle with guides such as Craig, Linda, Nicola, or Marina, hearing stories of reform, royalty, and rebellion. The roughly 2-hour-15-minute tour includes steep cobbles, castle entry with the selected option, and free time inside afterward.

“Nicola was wonderful. She told the history with passion and she was funny. Weather was not the best but we made it through. Explored the castle on our own after the tour.”

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4.Edinburgh Castle Guided Tour – Tickets Included

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,211 reviews · 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.) · from $51

Walk from Edinburgh’s Royal Mile into the castle with guides such as James, David, or Laura. In 90 minutes, hear stories of Scottish rulers, see Mons Meg and St. Margaret’s Chapel, then explore the castle interiors independently.

“It’s been very interesting well organized the guide was on time very entertaining and prepared I would recommend this experience and I will use again this service”

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5.Edinburgh Castle & Royal Mile Walking Tour – Ticket Included

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 894 reviews · 2 hours 15 minutes (approx.) · from $65

Start on Edinburgh’s Royal Mile with guides such as James, Paul, Mark, or Zenon, then follow closes, St. Giles’ Cathedral, Victoria Street, and the Grassmarket to Edinburgh Castle. Your guide leads the castle grounds and history, then you explore its museums and buildings at your own pace.

“Paul was a fantastic tour guide. He had terrific knowledge of Edinburgh's history and presented it with a lot of fun, humour and energy. We'd highly recommend him.”

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6.Edinburgh Castle Highlights Tour with Tickets, Map, and Guide

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 362 reviews · 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.) · from $58

Meet your guide by the David Hume Statue on Edinburgh’s Royal Mile, then walk uphill into Edinburgh Castle for a 90-minute tour. Guides such as John and Charlotte explain the fortress, St. Margaret’s Chapel, the One O’Clock Gun, royal quarters, and Crown Jewels before leaving you free to explore.

“Our tour was very informative! He was the perfect balance of education and comedy! We would highly recommend!”

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7.Harry Potter Tour & Edinburgh Castle Visit

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 340 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $102

Walk Edinburgh’s Royal Mile, Old Town, Greyfriars Cemetery, Victoria Street, and other Harry Potter-related sights with a guide such as Jackson, Hazel, Paul, or Kristy. The four-hour experience includes a two-hour walking tour and self-guided entry to Edinburgh Castle.

“I really enjoyed our tour and our tour guide was fantastic! He had a great sense of humor and had a smooth flow throughout the tour. He had a great Harry Potter spirit. I unfortunately cannot remember his name. The tour itself highlighted a lot of J.K. Rowlings life and inspiration of her book during her time in Edinburgh. It’s a great walk around the city. There is a lot of walking at in incline, stairs, and uneven pavement so I would say wear good comfortable shoes. If you are going during late November definitely dress really warm with a hat, scarf and gloves because it was cold and windy…”

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8.Edinburgh Castle & Old Town Small Group Guided Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 31 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $102

Walk Edinburgh’s Old Town with a guide such as John, Sonia, or Charlotte, then enter Edinburgh Castle for a 50-minute guided visit. Expect religious history, graveyards, filming locations, castle views, stairs, and a group capped at 15 people.

“John has an amazing tour guide style!! So knowledgeable and friendly! I booked his Edinburgh castle tour based on my experience on this lively old town walk. His recommendations are right on for spots on Victoria St. Try it, you’ll love it!!”

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9.Private 4h Walking Tour in Edinburgh with Edinburgh Castle Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 22 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $300

Explore Edinburgh with a private English-speaking guide, from Calton Hill and Holyroodhouse to Victoria Street and St Giles’ Cathedral. You’ll finish with timed entry and a 30-minute guided visit inside Edinburgh Castle. Guides such as Marti, Mike, Ross, Susan, and Annette tailor the walk to your group.

“Marti was a wonderful guide. He was entertaining and knowledgeable. The tour was everything thing we expected and more. Wonderful intro to Edinburgh. Many thanks! I highly recommend this tour.”

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10.A life less narrow, the Genius of Harry Potter & Edinburgh Castle

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 16 reviews · 6 hours (approx.)

Join Sam for a private tour of up to five people through Edinburgh’s Old Town, tracing JK Rowling’s links to the city, with stops at the National Museum of Scotland, Old Parliament Hall, and Edinburgh Castle. Castle entry costs an extra £20 per person.

“Sam's Harry Potter Tour was a lot of fun for our family. We were able to see parts of Edinburgh that we likely wouldn't have explored on our own. He kept the kids engaged throughout the tour. The only critique is that Sam speaks really quickly so keeping up what he's saying while noisy vehicles are passing can be difficult at times. Overall, very knowledgeable and interesting tour. We definitely learned a lot!”

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11.Private Edinburgh Castle Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 14 reviews · 3 to 4 hours (approx.) · from $323

Explore Edinburgh Castle privately with a professional guide, often Andy, who leads you from a central hotel or Royal Mile meeting point through the battlements, St. Margaret’s Chapel, Great Hall, war memorial, and Mons Meg. Plan on three to four hours, comfortable shoes, and extra time if you enjoy detailed history.

“Had a wonderful and excellent historical tour of castle with Andy. Highly recommend the private tour if you want more in-depth history of castle”

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12.Private Walking Tour: Edinburgh Highlights, including entry to Edinburgh Castle

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 11 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $327

Start at The Hub with a private Blue Badge guide, then walk from Edinburgh Castle through Grassmarket, Greyfriars, the Royal Mile, Holyroodhouse, and the foot of Arthur’s Seat. Castle entry is included, and guides such as Sarah, Izabela, Federica, and June can adjust the pace and focus to your interests.

“Federica was so knowledgeable and engaging. Easily adapted her itinerary to our interests. Highly recommended. Very personable.”

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13.Private Full-Day Walking Tour in Edinburgh with Edinburgh Castle

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 9 reviews · 7 hours (approx.) · from $430

Spend seven hours with a private English-speaking guide exploring Edinburgh’s Old and New Towns, Calton Hill, Princes Street Gardens, Victoria Street, and Edinburgh Castle. Guides such as Andy, Susan, Paul, Fraser, and Martin tailor the day to your interests, pace, and weather.

“Andy was the perfect guide. He is literally a walking history book! We thoroughly enjoyed this tour. We have done many tours and this was totally the best. Ask for him and you won’t be disappointed!”

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14.Private Walking Tour of Edinburgh Castle with Skip-the-Line

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 4 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $765

Follow a private English-speaking guide from Edinburgh’s Royal Mile to Castle Rock, with skip-the-line entry to Edinburgh Castle. In two hours, you’ll see the National War Museum, St. Margaret’s Chapel, the Crown Jewels, cannons, and city views, ending at Castle Terrace.

“The Edinburgh Castle is a sprawling, multi-layered complex with various buildings and pathways and this guided tour expertly navigates through the most significant areas, ensuring that the key highlights are not missed. An ideal way to experience one of Scotland's most iconic landmarks.”

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