Guide for Visiting Edinburgh Castle in Scotland
Visiting Edinburgh Castle is like stepping back into Scotland’s royal past. Perched high atop Castle Rock, Edinburgh Castle dominates the city’s skyline and stands as one of Scotland’s most iconic landmarks. With over a thousand years of history, this fortress has witnessed battles, coronations, and royal intrigue, making it a must-visit for anyone exploring Edinburgh. Explore this guide on visiting this incredible castle!
Guide for Getting to Edinburgh Castle
How to get there
You can arrive to Edinburgh via bus, train or by car. If you are driving to Edinburgh be aware that parking in the city can be a bit challenging. The Waverly train station is within walking distance to the castle about a 9 minute walk.
Where to Park
If you are driving, you will have to find parking. The castle does NOT has a parking lot. The closest paid parking is the Castle Terrace NCP. It is open 24/7. If you are walking around the backside of the castle it gives great views as well!
Guide for buying tickets to enter Edinburgh Castle
Buying tickets
You must purchase tickets to enter the castle. This can be done in person at the counter or online. Of note the online tickets did offer a discount. It is highly encouraged to buy the tickets online especially during the summer months. It guarantees entry as it can sell out and it helps you avoid long lines waiting to purchase your ticket. We bought tickets online but the day of. Of note, several of the timeslots were already full. Since we were traveling with the baby we went after his nap in the afternoon. Most guides recommend going in the morning to avoid crowds but by the time we bought tickets the morning slots were already full. Buy tickets HERE!
Cost to Enter
We went in 2025 and this was the cost at that time. Please make sure to check online. Adult £21.50, Senior (65+) £17.00, Children (7-15) £13.00 and Children (0-6) free. There is also family passes. There are also guided tour options which include the ticket to entry and a 30 minute guided tour in English which is a little more expensive. The walk up price is between £1.50-£2.50 more per person depending on age.
When to visit Edinburgh Castle in scotland
Hours of Operation
Between high season of April- September it is open daily from 9:30 AM- 6PM with the last entry at 5 PM. During the low season (October-March) it is open 9:30-5PM with the last entry at 4 PM. December 24 and January 1 have shortened hours and it is closed on December 25-26th.
When to visit
The best times to visit to avoid crowds is early in the morning. It is a great place to watch sunset given the sweeping views. If you are visiting during peak season and during midday it is recommended to pre-purchase your tickets. When we visited it was in the afternoon. We had pre-purchased our tickets. It was busy but not overwhelmingly so.
Must see things at Edinburgh Castle
The Crown Jewels and Stone of Destiny
Discover the dazzling symbols of Scottish royalty used in the historic coronations. During our visit this was the only place we had to wait in line. There is a roped area right in front. Once inside you cannot take any pictures but is definitely amazing to see.
The Great Hall
The Great Hall constructed in the 16rh century is where kings held feasts and councils beneath the magnificent timber roof.
The Royal Palace
In the Royal Palace you can walk through rooms where Mary, Queen of Scots, gave birth to King James VI.
St. Margaret’s Chapel
The Chapel is the oldest surviving building in Edinburgh, dating back to the 12th century. It is very small but definitely worth popping in!
National War Museum
The National War Museum is free with entry to the castle. Here you can explore military history and artifacts.
Military Prison
Take a peek at the conditions of the prisons at Edinburgh Castle. You can see how the rooms were and what it might have been like to be a prisoner.
Mons Meg
Marvel at this massive medieval cannon, once one of Europe’s most powerful weapons. This is the biggest cannon at the castle. However along the edges there are so many more cannons to check out and get incredible vistas of Scotland. It was pretty crowded around Mons Meg.
One O’clock Gun
At 1 PM every day except Sundays, a traditional firing takes place. It is a not to be missed especially if this is when you are visiting. We went with the baby after his nap in the afternoon so we missed this.
Take in the views
Since Stirling Castle on the top of Edinburgh, you are going to get some great views of the surroundings Seeing the surrounding city from above is incredible!
Explore Around the Castle
Edinburgh Castle is incredible to visit but it is also great to walk around and get great views from below. A great place to do that is from the Princess Street Gardens.
Plan your trip to Edinburgh Castle
If you haven’t made it to Scotland yet, consider this your inspiration to go. It is beyond beautiful and you will not be disappointed. Edinburgh Castle was just a part of our epic itinerary but definitely a place to visit. It was the beginning of our itinerary and we had a blast! Check out more about Edinburgh in this Ultimate Guide. I hope this guide helps you when you are visiting the Edinburgh Castle in Scotland!
