Castles · EDINBURGH CASTLE TOURS

The 15 Best Edinburgh Castle Tours and Tickets

46 tours  ·  from $45 a head

The esplanade is free and the interesting part is not. These 15 compare plain admission against the guided walks that start on the Royal Mile, with prices, start times and how long the security queue really runs.

Edinburgh Castle: Guided Walking Tour with Entry Ticket - Meeting at Advocates Close and walking toward the castle
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Edinburgh Castle: Guided Walking Tour with Entry Ticket

1.Edinburgh Castle: Guided Walking Tour with Entry Ticket

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 11,699 reviews · 1.5 hours · from $49Our pick

Meet near St. Giles’ Cathedral, then walk uphill to Edinburgh Castle with a guide such as Joe, Jen, Nick, Valeria, or David. Hear stories of Mary, Queen of Scots, sieges, St. Margaret’s Chapel, and the Great Hall during a 90-minute outdoor tour. Your ticket lets you explore the castle buildings on your own afterward.

“The tour was excellent, we particularly liked the guide AYRTON, he gave us plenty of information in a very detailed way, such an excellent knowledge of him of all historical events and also very good leading skills. Astounding! Brilliant tour we would definitely recommend”

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Edinburgh: Edinburgh Castle Guided History Tour with Tickets - Meeting on the Royal Mile, then walking uphill
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Edinburgh: Edinburgh Castle Guided History Tour with Tickets

2.Edinburgh Castle Guided History Tour with Tickets

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 9,933 reviews · 1.5 hours · from $49

Meet on the Royal Mile and walk with an English-speaking guide to Edinburgh Castle. In 80 minutes, hear stories of royals, rebels, battles, and prison life while seeing St Margaret’s Chapel, Mons Meg, Crown Square, and the One O’Clock Gun. Afterward, explore the castle museums at your own pace.

“We very much enjoyed our guided tour of Edinburgh castle with Ben. He had a lot of interesting stories to tell and the same amount of good jokes ! We had a great time despite the windy scottish weather and highly recommend this activity. Well deserved 5⭐️”

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Edinburgh Castle: Guided Walking Tour with Entry Ticket - Meeting at Advocates Close and walking toward the castle
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Edinburgh Castle: Guided Walking Tour with Entry Ticket

3.Edinburgh Castle: Guided Walking Tour with Entry Ticket

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

Join a 90-minute English tour of Edinburgh Castle with guides such as Joe, Raj, Sonia, or Valeria. Hear sharp Scottish stories, see the Great Hall and royal palace from outside, then explore the castle buildings on your own. Pre-booked entry is the main advantage, especially when direct tickets are gone.

“Ross was a great tour guide and gave us a great time on the tour of the castle. Believed lots of Scotland’s history that made the tour so memorable of the castle.”

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Edinburgh Castle Guided Walking Tour in English - Entering Edinburgh Castle with less waiting
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Edinburgh Castle Guided Walking Tour in English

4.Edinburgh Castle Guided Walking Tour in English

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

Meet Little Fish Tours near Adam Smith’s statue on the Royal Mile for a 90-minute English walking tour to Edinburgh Castle. Guides such as Koffe, Steph, Euan, Greg, Graeme, and Ben use stories, humor, and historical context to bring the fortress to life. Your guide leads you through the grounds, then leaves you free to explore the buildings.

“We booked the Old Town Walking Tour on our last visit to Edinburgh through the same company, Little Fish. It was such a good tour that this time we booked the Castle Walking Tour. Not only was the tour as good as the last but we also had the same excellent guide Euan. He was very informative and delivered his guide with a humorous twist. We would recommend both tours if you are visiting the city. They are really good value for money and a great way to find out about the history of Edinburgh. If you’re lucky you may get Euan as your guide as well!”

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Edinburgh Castle: 120-Minute In-Depth Tour with Expert Guide - Finding the guide by the David Hume statue
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Edinburgh Castle: 120-Minute In-Depth Tour with Expert Guide

5.Edinburgh Castle: 120-Minute In-Depth Tour with Expert Guide

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 2,969 reviews · 2 hours · from $49

Meet your English-speaking EDI Tours guide by the David Hume statue, then spend two hours exploring Edinburgh Castle’s outdoor complex. See the Crown Jewels, St Margaret’s Chapel, Mons Meg, the One O’Clock Gun, royal rooms, war memorials, and city views. Guides such as John, Sarah, and Charlotte bring the castle’s people and battles to life.

“Sarah loves Edinburgh and the Castle, and her enthusiasm was on full display throughout the tour! She made our visit and memories of Edinburgh Castle truly wonderful. With her great personality and sense of humor, Sarah brought history to life through her stories. She kept us both amused and informed, and we learned so much. I highly recommend EDI Tours and especially Sarah as your guide — she gave us memories to last a lifetime!”

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Edinburgh Castle: Guided Tour with Tickets Included - Meeting at St. Giles Cathedral
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Edinburgh Castle: Guided Tour with Tickets Included

6.Edinburgh Castle: Guided Tour with Tickets Included

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 2,615 reviews · 1.5 hours · from $49

Spend 1.5 hours inside Edinburgh Castle with an English-speaking guide such as Robert, David, James, or Laura. Hear stories of battles, rebels, royals, and Edinburgh’s beginnings, enjoy sweeping city views, then stay inside the castle to explore at your own pace until closing.

“David was our guide and he was so knowledgeable and did a great job explaining everything about the castle.”

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From Edinburgh: Loch Lomond, Stirling Castle & Kelpies Tour - The Kelpies: a powerful start beside the canal
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From Edinburgh: Loch Lomond, Stirling Castle & Kelpies Tour

7.Loch Lomond, Stirling Castle & Kelpies Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 2,360 reviews · 9 hours · from $61

Travel from Edinburgh with an English-speaking driver-guide to the Kelpies, Loch Lomond, the Trossachs, Aberfoyle, and Stirling Castle. You can add the one-hour loch cruise and castle entry for extra cost. Guides such as Ash, Adam, Stuart, Mark, and John are known for lively stories, music, and practical help throughout the day.

“we had a fab day from start to the end. Gream ( our driver, tour guide and entertainer). was brilliant 👏. will do it again”

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Royal Mile and Edinburgh Castle - Small Group Walking Tour - From Mercat Cross into Edinburgh’s Old Town
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Royal Mile and Edinburgh Castle – Small Group Walking Tour

8.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 along Edinburgh’s Royal Mile with a guide such as Craig, Linda, Nicola, or Marina, hearing stories of St. Giles Cathedral, John Knox House, hidden closes, and Castlehill. With the castle option, you receive skip-the-line entry, a 45-minute introduction, and free time to explore Edinburgh Castle.

“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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From Edinburgh: Holy Island, Alnwick Castle & Northumbria - Starting from Castle Terrace in Edinburgh
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From Edinburgh: Holy Island, Alnwick Castle & Northumbria

9.Holy Island, Alnwick Castle & Northumbria

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 1,313 reviews · 9 hours · from $85

This 9-hour Timberbush day trip takes you from Edinburgh to Lindisfarne and Alnwick in a comfortable air-conditioned coach. Expect a tidal causeway, priory ruins, mead tasting, castle and garden time, lively commentary, and a possible stop at Flodden Field or Coldstream. Guides such as Adam, Linda, Ewan, and Paul Santa are known for warm storytelling.

“Our guide Adam is helpful, funny everything i can ask for a tour guide. It was nice talking to him about the city, as a local he recommended so many attractions. The tour was amazing, you find innerpeace all over again in the first destination point. My husband and I fell in love with the place. Alnwick Castle is huge, as a Harry Potter fan I attended to broomstick course which was quite fun. I do really recommend this tour company and especially Adam.”

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Loch Lomond, Kelpies & Stirling Castle Tour Including Admission - Loch Lomond and the Trossachs: the scenic heart of the day
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Loch Lomond, Kelpies & Stirling Castle Tour Including Admission

10.Loch Lomond, Kelpies & Stirling Castle Tour Including Admission

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 1,305 reviews · 9 hours (approx.) · from $72

Travel from Edinburgh in a 16-seat Mercedes mini-coach with an English-speaking guide such as Craig, Martin, or Kieran. See the 30-meter Kelpies, stop along Loch Lomond, and tour Stirling Castle with admission included. Expect a full, active day, winding roads, weather changes, and lunch at your own expense.

“Excellent experience with our tour guide Kieran. His knowledge and fun vibe made this tour very good even with our teenagers.”

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Edinburgh Skip-the-Ticket-Line Castle Walking Tour - The Crown Jewels and Stone of Destiny
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Edinburgh Skip-the-Ticket-Line Castle Walking Tour

11.Edinburgh Skip-the-Ticket-Line Castle Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 1,283 reviews · from $51

Meet your guide at 130 High Street, bypass the main entry queue, and spend about 90 minutes hearing Edinburgh Castle stories, seeing Crown Square, St. Margaret’s Chapel, and the dog cemetery. Guides such as Alasdair and Charles are praised for humor and local detail. The guided walk mainly covers the grounds, so plan to visit interior rooms independently.

“An extremely detailed and educational tour. Our guide had an iPad and family relatives that were helpful and fun. Would certainly recommend this to anyone going to Edinburgh.”

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Edinburgh Castle Guided Tour - Tickets Included - Starting on the Royal Mile
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Edinburgh Castle Guided Tour – Tickets Included

12.Edinburgh Castle Guided Tour – Tickets Included

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

Join guides such as James, David, Laura, or Edgar for a 90-minute outdoor tour from the Royal Mile into Edinburgh Castle. You’ll hear stories about Scottish history, see St. Margaret’s Chapel, Mons Meg, the Great Hall, crown jewels, and the dog cemetery, then explore the castle interiors on your own.

“Excellent tour start to finish. We live in Edinburgh and had family visit; we have never heard any of the facts about the castle and Edinburgh even as locals.”

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Edinburgh: Loch Lomond, Stirling Castle and the Kelpies Day Tour - The Kelpies: a powerful 15-minute opening stop
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Edinburgh: Loch Lomond, Stirling Castle and the Kelpies Day Tour

13.Loch Lomond, Stirling Castle and the Kelpies Day Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 1,198 reviews · 9 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $63

Spend about 9.5 hours with a Timberbush driver-guide visiting the Kelpies, Loch Lomond, the Trossachs, Stirling Castle, and South Queensferry. The day mixes scenic stops, Scottish folklore, castle history, and optional Loch Lomond and Stirling Castle tickets. Guides such as Ash, John, Adam, Graham, and Morag are praised for humor and lively commentary.

“Had a fantastic experience on today’s tour! Ash was an excellent guide—friendly, professional, and genuinely engaging throughout the day. He kept us entertained and made sure to highlight all the important sites, along with some hidden gems along the way. Would happily join another tour with Ash if I get the chance!”

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West Highlands, Lochs and Castles Day Tour Including Admission - Luss and the first view of Loch Lomond
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West Highlands, Lochs and Castles Day Tour Including Admission

14.West Highlands, Lochs and Castles Day Tour Including Admission

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 1,122 reviews · 10 hours (approx.) · from $68

Travel from Edinburgh in a 16-seat Mercedes mini-coach through the West Highlands, stopping at Luss, Rest and Be Thankful, Inveraray, Kilchurn Castle, and Doune Castle. An English-speaking driver-guide such as Rose, Kieran, or Russell fills the long drives with Scottish history, folklore, music, and practical tips.

“Mina was a wonderful tour guide. She shared informative, interesting, and historical stories on each of the places we visited. Would definitely book another Rabbies tour. Our favorite part was visiting Doune Castle. If you are looking for a taste of the highlands but are short on time, this one day tour is perfect.”

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From Edinburgh: Stirling Castle, Kelpies and Loch Lomond - Meeting the Kelpies at the first stop
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From Edinburgh: Stirling Castle, Kelpies and Loch Lomond

15.Stirling Castle, Kelpies and Loch Lomond

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 1,051 reviews · 10 hours · from $61

This 10-hour trip from Edinburgh combines the Kelpies, Loch Lomond, the Trossachs, Highland cattle, Stirling, and an optional castle visit. Your English-speaking driver-guide, such as Paul, Louise, Peter, or Ross, handles the driving and adds Scottish history, music, humor, and local tips. The boat cruise and Stirling Castle cost extra.

“Annie, our bus was very comfortable and Ross our driver and guide was funny and friendly with good knowledge of the region and history. We opted to do both the boat tour- beautiful day, nice way to see more of the lake, and the Stirling Castle, which offers great views and had some nice exhibits about the Scottish regiments. Had a chance to feed some Hairy Coos! And had a fab lunch at a bakery along the way- great reco from Ross!”

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