Edinburgh Castle tickets are your passkey to one of Scotland’s most famous attractions, centuries worth of history, royal collection, and more.
There are several types of tickets available and picking the right ticket is extremely crucial for a great experience.
Learn all you need to know about the various types of tickets for Edinburgh Castle and grab the best one for an unforgettable experience.
Snapshot
Opening hours: 9.30 am to 5 pm
Best Time to Visit: 9.30 am
Tour Duration: 3 to 4 hours
Highlight: The Honors of Scotland
Location: Castlehill, Edinburgh EH1 2NG, United Kingdom.
Ticket Prices: From £35 ($46)
Entry TicketWhere to Buy Edinburgh Castle Tickets?
You can purchase Edinburgh Castle tickets online or on-site.
However, we suggest that visitors purchase their tickets in advance online.
Online tickets tend to be cheaper than offline tickets.
Thousands of people visit the castle daily, and crowds increase significantly on weekends and during the busy seasons.
To skip these long queues, visitors can purchase Edinburgh Castle tickets online.
Additionally, you can secure entry and avoid last-minute disappointment as tickets to Edinburgh Castle are timed.
How to Buy Edinburgh Castle Tickets?
To secure your entry to Edinburgh Castle, you can just go to the booking page and select your preferred date and the number of tickets.
After your purchase, you will receive your tickets in your email. You do not need to take printouts.
You can enter the Castle by presenting your tickets via email or smartphone.
To gain entry, you must be at Edinburgh Castle’s entrance within 30 minutes of the time mentioned on your ticket.
Edinburgh Castle Tickets Price
The guided tour of Edinburgh Castle costs £35 ($45) for adults between 16 and 64 years.
Kids aged 7 to 15 get a £9 ($12) discount and pay a reduced price of £25 ($33) for entry.
Children aged six and below enter for free.
Seniors 65 years and above receive a £2 ($3) ticket price reduction and can enter Edinburgh Castle for just £33 ($43).
Types of Edinburgh Castle Tickets
The Edinburgh Castle offers the following types of tickets:
- Skip-the-Line Tour
- Private Tour
- Comedy Horror Ghost Bus Tour
- 24-Hour Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour
1. Skip-the-Line Walking Tour of Edinburgh Castle
This is a guided tour of Edinburgh Castle where you will save time with the skip the line tour of the Castle.
This tour is the most popular amongst visitors because you can enter the castle without waiting in a queue! And the guide’s background narrative about everything you see adds meaning to your visit.
Meet your guide in front of the entrance to Advocates Close. The live tour guide is available in English, Italian, Spanish and German.
Visitors will get a chance to take photos of the expansive cityscapes from the summit of Castle Rock and learn about the castle’s history.
After the tour, you will have plenty of time to explore the castle and see all its buildings at your own pace.
These include the museums, the Royal Palace, the Prisons, the Great Hall and much more!
This ticket includes:
- A skip-the-line ticket and guided tour
Ticket Prices:
Senior ticket (65+ years): £33 ($43)
Adult ticket (16 to 64 years): £35 ($45)
Youth ticket (7 to 15 years): £25 ($33)
Infant ticket (up to 6 years): Free entry
2. Private Tour of Edinburgh Castle & Royal Mile
Book this combined private tour while planning your visit if you want a customized experience curated to your interests and preferences.
With a private walking tour of Edinburgh Castle and the Royal Mile, you can set off on an exclusive journey of the city’s history.
A private tour enables a more personal and immersive experience since you may interact with your guide one-on-one.
The tour guide can modify the itinerary according to your speed. This will allow you to spend more time investigating sites you are interested in.
It will be an interactive session, as the guide answers questions and informs you of the palace’s history and other significant details.
Explore the rich history of Scotland’s most famous fortress and learn about the secrets that line the Royal Mile and Edinburgh Castle.
This ticket includes:
- Private and professional guide
- Photo taking of guests per request
- Pickup and drop-off from the hotel
Ticket Price:
Participants (99 and younger): £150 ($193)
3. Comedy Horror Ghost Bus Tour
Want to experience a spine-tingling adventure during your trip?
We recommend choosing the Comedy Horror Ghost Bus Tour for a uniquely entertaining experience that sets it apart from regular bus tours.
Visitors can take a dramatic tour of Edinburgh in the exquisitely restored Ghost Bus while touring the city.
The bus is a renovated vintage double-decker painted in the classic midnight black.
But beware, this isn’t your typical ghost tour – prepare for unexpected bursts of laughter amidst the thrill of frights!
Your tour guide will tell you stories of homicides, torturings, and executions as you visit the Old Town and New Town.
During the tour, you will get to know the stories of plague victims, grave robbers, and spirits in Edinburgh – the most haunted city in Europe.
This ticket includes:
- Live tour guide
- Bus tour
Ticket Price:
Senior ticket (65+ years): £18 ($24)
Adult ticket (16 to 64 years): £21 ($27)
Child ticket (6 to 15 years): £16 ($21)
Infant ticket (up to 5 years): Free entry
Student (with ID): £18 ($24)
4. 24-Hour Family-Friendly Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour
Buy the Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour ticket and freely explore Edinburgh at your own speed.
You can enjoy panoramic views of the city from the open-top deck of the bus.
The ticket includes an audio guide. You can choose your preferred language from English, Spanish, French, Russian, German, Japanese, Italian, Portuguese, and Chinese.
Hop off at Edinburgh Castle to explore its historic significance and enjoy stunning views.
The Hop-On Hop-Off Bus also stops at places like the Royal Mile, St Andrew Square and Johnstone Terrace.
Edinburgh has many fantastic tourist sites, museums, galleries, and dining options to accommodate every preference or budget.
You can enjoy flexible access with your coupon for a maximum of 12 months starting on the date of travel you choose when checking out.
This ticket includes:
- 24-hour hop-on hop-off bus tour ticket
- One of the best audio commentaries in 9 languages plus ‘Horrible Histories’ Kid’s Commentary
- Headphones
Ticket Price:
Senior ticket (60+ years): £16 ($21)
Adult ticket (13 to 59 years): £18 ($24)
Child ticket (5 to 12 years): Free entry
Infant ticket (up to 4 years): Free entry
Other Ways of Buying Edinburgh Castle Tickets
You can also purchase passes and combo tickets to secure access to Edinburgh Castle along with entry to other top attractions, activities and experiences in the city.
Apart from getting you seamless entry to the included attractions, the passes and combo tickets also help you save 5 to 10%, making them pocket-friendly choices.
Here are the most popular passes and combo ticket options you can check out.
| Ticket | Price |
| Edinburgh Pass | £84 ($108) |
| Edinburgh Castle + Palace of Holyroodhouse Combo | £53 ($69) |
| Edinburgh Castle + Loch Ness Combo | £89 ($115) |
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Do you need to buy Edinburgh Castle tickets in advance?
Yes, it’s recommended to buy Edinburgh Castle tickets in advance, especially during peak tourist seasons. Purchasing tickets online allows you to skip the long ticket lines, ensuring quicker entry and avoiding the disappointment of the tickets selling out.
2. Is it worth buying tickets to Edinburgh Castle?
Yes, it is worth going to Edinburgh Castle. The Castle is a true jewel in Scotland’s history, with over 3000 years of history, being the birthplace of James VI (Mary, Queen of Scots’ son) and now a renowned tourist site. It might get crowded, but you will surely enjoy it.
3. Can you walk around Edinburgh Castle for free?
No, you need to buy tickets to go inside Edinburgh Castle.
4. Where can I buy authentic Edinburgh Castle tickets online?
The best way to purchase authentic Edinburgh Castle tickets is through authentic ticketing platforms like Get Your Guide Tiqets.
Image: Ben Guerin on Unsplash