Edinburgh Castle: Hours, Address, Edinburgh Castle Reviews: 4.5/5
Edinburgh Castle
Edinburgh Castle
4.5
9:30 AM - 6:00 PM
Monday
9:30 AM - 6:00 PM
Tuesday
9:30 AM - 6:00 PM
Wednesday
9:30 AM - 6:00 PM
Thursday
9:30 AM - 6:00 PM
Friday
9:30 AM - 6:00 PM
Saturday
9:30 AM - 6:00 PM
Sunday
9:30 AM - 6:00 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.
Suggested 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.
Best nearby
Restaurants
2,070 within 5 kms

Quinn's Cafe
306
0.3 km₹₹ - ₹₹₹ • Cafe • British • Scottish

Makars Gourmet Mash Bar
6,654
0.4 km₹₹ - ₹₹₹ • Bar • British • Healthy

Dine
2,375
0.3 km₹₹ - ₹₹₹ • European • British • Contemporary

Mary's Milk Bar
1,140
0.2 km₹ • Dessert • Cafe

The Grain Store
1,317
0.4 km₹₹₹₹ • European • British • Contemporary

L'Etoile Salon de Tea
223
0.2 km₹ • French • Cafe • European

Social Bite
257
0.4 km₹ • Quick Bites • Cafe • Fast food

Cuckoo's Bakery
447
0.3 km₹₹ - ₹₹₹ • Bakeries • Cafe • British

Scotts Kitchen
433
0.4 km₹₹ - ₹₹₹ • European • British • Scottish

Veeno Edinburgh
548
0.4 km₹₹ - ₹₹₹ • Italian • Mediterranean • Wine Bar
Attractions
453 within 10 kms

Argyle Battery
6
17 mHistoric Sites • Points of Interest & Landmarks
One O’Clock Gun
1
18 mPoints of Interest & Landmarks

St. Margaret's Chapel
159
21 mReligious Sites

National War Museum of Scotland
837
47 mMilitary Museums • History Museums

The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo
6,531
0.2 kmCultural Events

Camera Obscura and World of Illusions
15,078
0.3 kmScience Museums • Observation Decks & Towers

Edinburgh Castle Esplanade
77
0.1 kmPoints of Interest & Landmarks • Castles

Castlehill
70
99 mNeighbourhoods

The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards Museum
88
91 mMilitary Museums

The Scotch Whisky Experience
6,824
0.3 kmDistilleries
Contribute
Popular mentions
4.5
51,928 reviews
Excellent
30,199
Very good
15,061
Average
5,162
Poor
1,075
Terrible
436
MarnBarn86
7 contributions
Jun 2022 • Family
Loves Edinburgh Castle! From the fascinating history to the breathtaking views above the city, this is a must stop during any Edinburgh stay.
Written 27 June 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Brian W
Pershore117 contributions
Jun 2022
This is a fantastic old castle on a prominent rock overlooking the city and Firth of Forth. It is hilly, with steep steps, but the exercise is well worth the money. The only disappointing aspect of our visit was that the redcoat cafe was closed for refurbishment - rather bad planning, having had two years of Covid to have got this done, rather than waiting for June 2022, which was very busy - consequently long waits for a table at the other main cafe, which was just too much hassle. Poor management at such a popular time really let them down. Luckily the castle itself is such an interesting place!
Written 27 June 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Travel273547
Bangor, ME16 contributions
Jun 2022 • Family
Beautiful views. Really nicely maintained castle with nice spots to look around and great views. Some interactive exhibits were really interesting.
Written 27 June 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
MDoyle
Chicago, IL42 contributions
Jun 2022
Highly recommend booking tickets directly through the castle website in advance and buy the audio tour to learn about this historic palace.
Written 24 June 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
tylerp14
World5 contributions
Jun 2022
We spent around 2 hours at the castle, there's plenty to look at if you're a fan of history (the history of Scotland in particular) as there's lots of museums and exhibits within the castle. The castle itself didn't offer much, it's more like a courtyard of museums than a castle tour! We were also lucky enough to be at the castle for the 1 o'clock firing of the cannon which was great!
Written 24 June 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Ed from USA
7 contributions
Jun 2022
The most histotorial place I have ever been. Great place to take the family. There is a lot of hill climbing here and steps. It is not recommended for those with mobility issues.
Written 24 June 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
rockNrobin84
Beersheva, Israel77 contributions
Jun 2022
Everyone coming to Edinburgh must visit the castle. The pavement was extremely hard on the feet. The castle was enjoyable and we did learn a lot.
Written 24 June 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
maria p
Lisbon, Portugal7 contributions
Jun 2022 • Solo
Great place to visit. The audioguide helps a lot. I Stay there for 4-5 h. And book the ticket on advance.
Written 23 June 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Frea L
Weston super Mare, UK59 contributions
Jun 2022 • Couples
Lovely place full history and very well kept. Staff lovely polite and helpful really enjoyed our time at this beautiful city
Written 23 June 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Ann C
Nashville, TN2,661 contributions
Jun 2022
We were disappointed that we did not have full access due to a film crew having priority.
A film crew was allowed access during hours that tourists have booked tickets...we missed out on sections and were told we could come back later in the day. I find this rather inappropriate. Film crews should be allowed access outside of tour times if portions of the grounds will not be allowed access with a ticket...or at least notification should be given in advance so that one knows they will not get access to what they paid for.
The castle has heaps of history, it is fascinating and certainly deserves a visit.
A film crew was allowed access during hours that tourists have booked tickets...we missed out on sections and were told we could come back later in the day. I find this rather inappropriate. Film crews should be allowed access outside of tour times if portions of the grounds will not be allowed access with a ticket...or at least notification should be given in advance so that one knows they will not get access to what they paid for.
The castle has heaps of history, it is fascinating and certainly deserves a visit.
Written 23 June 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Are the seats for the concerts at the castle well set out with plenty of room between rows.
Margaret M
12 contributions
I am sorry I did not attend a concert at the castle. There did not appear to be any social distancing protocols in place when we visited the castle in May 2022.
Can I buy tickets on the spot for edinburgh castle, without buying online?
Adrian Pop
Slatina, Romania166 contributions
Yes. In the entrance area to the castle, there is a counter where you can buy entrance tickets, but it is usually very crowded and you risk waiting too long. I booked a visit to this castle through an application (get your guide) and I benefited from the services and support of a very good guide, and the price of the entrance ticket was included in the price of the visit.
Lisa M
Birmingham, UK47 contributions
What is pushchair access like? And if it’s not great is there somewhere to leave the pushchair and put baby in the carrier?
John F
Wexford, Ireland67 contributions
Hi Lisa,
The lead up to the castle and parts of it are steep, but we saw plenty of pushchairs and wheel chair access was also good.
Hope this helps.
John
I had Asthma and I want to arrange for a ride up the hill to the Edinburgh Castle. I'll be travelling with my family of 6 and have a private guided tour--can I arrange for the car up the hill to the castle ahead of time?
1TraveltheWorld
Alice Springs, Australia12,101 contributions
You cannot drive up the Royal Mile to the castle.
There are bollards to prevent driving up.
I would discuss the best option for you. with your guided tour operator.
Geordieboy73
1 contribution
Do you still have to queue after purchasing a ticket before hand on line.
worldtraveller30
london39 contributions
U just need to show your booking
corrinaandrob
Padstow, UK26 contributions
Good morning, We are looking to book tickets in July please can you advise about audio guides please? It says online we can add This on checkout but no option to? Thank you Corrina
Nicola D
Hessle, UK3,055 contributions
We got ours from the kiosk just inside the castle. It was quite interesting.
Azual L
2 contributions
If I book for 12pm and miss the timeslot, would they allow us in say 1 or 2pm?
ByHistoricScotland
Edinburgh1 contribution
Hello, many thanks for getting in touch. If you miss your timeslot we’ll do our best to fit you in if we can, but if we’ve reached capacity for the time slot when you arrive, you will have to wait until the next available time slot. Hope this helps.
Simon B
Southampton, UK17 contributions
Coming to Edinburgh next week we wish to visit castle . I can see we book and pay in advance on line how to we obtain ticket for entry .
areb5
283 contributions
Booking in advance is necessary. You will have the option of choosing an e-ticket, instead of a paper ticket.
You don't need to print the e-ticket. Just save it in your phone, and the barcode in it will be scanned upon entry.
We have very much difficulty walking any distance can we get a taxi to drop us off at the castle gates and if so roughly how much
emster25
Derby, UK42 contributions
Hi, yes you can, as we did this for my friend who has MS. We got a taxi from in the main street where the castle is and up to the top. Was a few pounds. Obviously, would depend where you were travelling from x
Connie I
Tucson, AZ18 contributions
What are the names and descriptions of the 3 crosses outside the entrance to the castle? One is the Scottish Horse, but what are the other two?
CANNOMAD
Stuttgart, Germany773 contributions
The other two crosses on the Edinburgh Castle Esplanade are:
The Runic Cross
The Runic Cross was erected in 1862 for the memory of the officers, non-commissioned officers and private soldiers of the 78 highland regiment who died at the suppression of the First Relief of Lucknow in 1857 during the Indian Mutiny (1857-59). Eight men of the 78th Highland Regiment were awarded the Victoria Cross and the regiment also received the Victoria Cross during the campaign. The troubles started due to the bullets being covered with pig fat which they had to bite. Putting pork of any kind in their mouths is against the religious beliefs of Hindus and Muslims.
78th Highlanders Memorial Celtic Cross
The Celtic Cross was erected in memory of Colonel Kenneth Douglas Mackenzie a member of the 92nd Highlanders
for forty-two years. He died on duty in 1873.
Frequently Asked Questions about Edinburgh Castle
- Edinburgh Castle is open:
- Sun - Sat 9:30 AM - 6:00 PM
- We recommend booking Edinburgh Castle tours ahead of time to secure your spot. If you book with Tripadvisor, you can cancel up to 24 hours before your tour starts for a full refund. See all 108 Edinburgh Castle tours on Tripadvisor
- According to Tripadvisor travellers, these are the best ways to experience Edinburgh Castle:
- Original Harry Potter Locations Tour - in English, French or German (From ₹ 1,458.46)
- Small Group Royal Mile Walking Tour with Optional Entry to Edinburgh Castle (From ₹ 2,103.37)
- Edinburgh Afternoon Tea Experience (From ₹ 3,597.75)
- Ghost Bus Tour of Edinburgh (From ₹ 1,944.88)
- 3-Hour Secret Food Tour in Edinburgh w/ Private Tour Option (From ₹ 7,179.89)
- Hotels near Edinburgh Castle:
- (0.02 km) Castle Hill
- (0.04 km) FESTIVAL LUXURY FLAT
- (0.19 km) Wilde Aparthotels By Staycity - Grassmarket
- (0.25 km) Edinburgh Luxury Apartment with Castle View
- (0.25 km) Castle Rock Hostel
- Restaurants near Edinburgh Castle:
- (0.06 km) The Tea Rooms at Edinburgh Castle
- (0.06 km) Redcoat cafe at Edinburgh Castle
- (0.24 km) Mary's Milk Bar
- (0.22 km) Cannonball Restaurant & Bar
- (0.27 km) Quinn's Cafe
- Attractions near Edinburgh Castle:
- (0.02 km) Argyle Battery
- (0.02 km) One O’Clock Gun
- (0.02 km) St. Margaret's Chapel
- (0.05 km) National War Museum of Scotland
- (0.10 km) Dirty Daves