Edinburgh Castle: Guided Walking Tour with Entry Ticket
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BEST SELLER
Edinburgh Castle: Guided Walking Tour with Entry Ticket
By Scotland City Tours - Somos Escocia
About
Scotland’s second-most-popular tourist attraction as you learn about the bloody history including stories of the kings and queens who lived in this castle.
There is evidence of a fort here for almost 3000 years, and it has been a royal castle since at least King David I’s reign in the 12th century. The Scottish monarchs continued to use it until 1633, and even saw the birth of King James VI within its walls.
Your tour will begin on the Royal Mile, then take you to the castle, where you will hear your guide talking about the origins of the castle and its sieges.
Once inside the castle walls, the guide will take you through the different parts of the fortress and tell you its fascinating history. Inside the complex, you will find three museums, two prisons, a canine cemetery, the Chapel of Saint Margaret, the National Monument to the fallen of Scotland, the Great Hall, and a Royal Palace.(ENTIRE TOUR WILL REMAIN OUTDOORS; buildings are not accessible during the tour.)
from per adult
C$63.70
Lowest price guaranteeReserve now & pay laterFree cancellation
Ages 0-100, max of 30 per group
Duration: 1h 30m
Start time: Check availability
Mobile ticket
Live guide: German, English, Italian, Spanish
More
- Entrance ticket & Edinburgh Castle Guided Tour
- Entre fees
What's not included- Pet Not allowed. Only guide dog.
- Gratuities
- Start:
- 361 High St, Edinburgh EH1 1PW, UKMeet in front of the entrance to Advocates Close, opposite (St. Giles’ Cathedral) . Look for the black umbrella with the tour provider's yellow logo.
End:- Edinburgh Castle, Castlehill, Edinburgh EH1 2NG, UKTour end inside Edinburgh Castle
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Pushchair accessible
If you have questions about accessibility, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 310705P1- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Travellers should have a moderate physical fitness level
- Please note in poor weather conditions the tour will remain outdoors as access to the castle buildings is not available for tour groups
- Tour will be inside the castle walls, but outdoors, with free time after the tour to to explore the castle an to go inside every building (Museums, Royal Palace, prisons, and much more). We can not access those buildings during the tour, but the tour will still be carried out within the castle grounds.
- The castle is a complex of buildings, not a single building.
- On this tour you will be guided around Edinburgh castle, with specific stops assigned by the castle authorities.
- Bags over 30L in volume are not allawed inside the castle.
- This experience requires good weather. If it’s cancelled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund
- This experience requires a minimum number of travellers. If it’s cancelled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 30 travellers
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.
- If you have questions about this tour or need help making your booking, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 310705P1
Reserve your spot
Similar experiences
Itinerary
- 361 High St, Edinburgh EH1 1PW, UKMeet in front of the entrance to Advocates Close, opposite (St. Giles’ Cathedral) . Look for the black umbrella with the tour provider's yellow logo.
- 1Explore one the most important fortresses in the history of Scotland. Walk inside the castle for 1 hour and 10 minutes to enjoy the wonderful royal palace, where Mary Queen of Scots once lived, and admire the Great Hall of the 16th century where parties and feast took place. After the exploration with a guide, you can spend a free time inside the castle until closing time
- Castlehill, Edinburgh EH1 2NG, UKTour end inside Edinburgh Castle
About the operator
Don’t take it from us – here’s what people have to say about this operator:
- camilafL247XP0 contributionsGreat tour!Ignas was a wondetful tourguide. Super funny, informative, dynamic. The story of Scotland is amazing and we got the historic aspect as well as info on what is going on today. Ignas thank you so much!Written July 20, 2024
- vbee20200 contributionsGreat city tourIgnas did a wonderful job, we learned loads and enjoyed fun stories. Totally recommend to get to know the city! Loved it!Written July 20, 2024
- dannycI7893RN0 contributionsScary fun tour!Really enjoyed the tour. Niamh was a fantastic guide! We had a great time listening to all the ghost stories and leant lots! We also had a ton of laughs!Written July 19, 2024
- lorrainehG7791OQ0 contributionsDark historic tour with awesome guide!Niamh was an awesome guide who told the dark history of Edinburgh in such an engaging way. We had a few people drop out before the tour before hand, but she still kept the energy levels at 100! Definitely recommend attending ☺️Written July 19, 2024
- Kristina R0 contributionsGreat tour!!!Niamh was a great tour guide. She made the tour fun and I really liked listening to her stories. Thank you we had a great timeWritten July 19, 2024
- RichP6850 contributionsHighlight of Edinburgh!!!Old Town tour. Niamh did a great job! Absolutely wonderful tour! She was super enthusiastic and extremely knowledgeable. She mixed humor and facts in an entertaining and informative presentation making our first day here a highlight. She also offered great recommendations. Well done! I highly recommend her as a tour guide!Written July 19, 2024
- 514taitep0 contributionsQuirky, special tour of Old Town EdinburghThis was the perfect tour of Edinburgh, truly my favorite part of my trip. Niamh was a fabulous guide: her knowledge, enthusiasm for the city, stories, Scottish accent, and the extra treat of her singing made this tour extra special. Highly recommend!!Written July 19, 2024
- 477manonc0 contributionsFree Edinburgh tour in French w/ ThaïsThaïs is an excellent guide! This French tour was amazing, with historical, cultural and fun facts. She guided us through the old town, showed us the difference between the old and the new town, among many other things (Cathedral St Gilles, Greyfriars Kirkyard, and so on...) If you want to know Edinburgh a wee better, do not hesitate! Thanks to her for her kindness and her joy! Cheers!Written July 19, 2024
- 942gretak0 contributionsGreat Tour!It was great! Very interesting insights and entertaining stories. Many facts about witchcraft and some history about Edinburgh.Written July 16, 2024
- mapsandstuff0 contributionsExcellent historical tour - worth bookingI've done quite a lot of these types of tours around the UK and found Ignus to be one of the best tour guides I've had. He had excellent historical knowledge and kept everything fun and interesting. He is obviously very passionate about Edinburgh.Written July 15, 2024
- 322friedad0 contributionsreview for ignasit was a very interesting tour full of great stories. ignas was a very good tour guide. enjoyed the experience very much!Written July 15, 2024
- lorenzodO539KH0 contributionsBest tour!A great tour made unforgettable by our guide, Nick, who took us on the most engaging journey through his beautiful storytelling. He's a fantastic and knowledgeable guide, but also a very lovely person able to paint the most amazing stories right before our eyes. If you get the chance, Id highly recommend taking a tour with him!Written July 15, 2024
- Alexander Z0 contributionsInformative and fun, lots of information and trivia, excellent way to get to learn a city. Do it alone or with a familyNiamh have a really informative and entertaining tour; do it ! The kids loved it too, very family friendly. Great to have this with a local.Written July 15, 2024
- natp7040 contributionsInformative storytelling experience!Niamh was amazing, informative, and energetic! Her storytelling skills made the tour exciting, and the views were fantastic. Definitely would recommend.Written July 15, 2024
- 987tusharc0 contributionsAmazingNiamh was very enthusiastic and energetic throughout the tour and we enjoyed a lot.. Will recommend to take her as a guideWritten July 15, 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinions of Tripadvisor members and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
5.0
1,730 reviews
Excellent
1,575
Very good
97
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29
Poor
11
Terrible
18
kwilk67
Houston, TX146 contributions
Our guide, Tommy was interesting and had good stories, but the rest of the tour was rubbish! First, the meeting place should be in the esplanade of the castle, not near St. Giles. Walking 29ppl through the chaos of the Fringe crowds was terrible.
During the 1.5hr tour, you make three stops inside the castle walls where the guide points out, and talks about different building, but you don’t go in. Once the tour is done, you are free to explore on your own, but by then, I don’t remember half of what was talked about.
To be a Guided tour, the guide should take you inside the buildings they are talking about and tell you the history while you’re inside.
I would NEVER do this tour again! You are much better off booking through the castle directly and paying the small price for the audio tour.
During the 1.5hr tour, you make three stops inside the castle walls where the guide points out, and talks about different building, but you don’t go in. Once the tour is done, you are free to explore on your own, but by then, I don’t remember half of what was talked about.
To be a Guided tour, the guide should take you inside the buildings they are talking about and tell you the history while you’re inside.
I would NEVER do this tour again! You are much better off booking through the castle directly and paying the small price for the audio tour.
Written August 7, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
AbsGirdhar
New Delhi, India2 contributions
Jul 2023 • Family
My recent visit to Edinburgh Castle left me feeling extremely disappointed due to the behavior of the coordinators. Their conduct was characterized by rudeness and a clear intention to deceive unsuspecting tourists.
One of the major issues I encountered during my visit was the charging of children's tickets, despite them supposedly being free. The coordinators shamelessly took advantage of this situation, demanding payment for child tickets without providing any valid justification. This practice not only breached visitors' trust but also tarnished the reputation of Edinburgh Castle.
The coordinators' rudeness was apparent in their dismissive and condescending attitude when I raised the issue of the supposedly free tickets. They showed no empathy or willingness to rectify the situation, choosing instead to brush off my complaint with disdain. This further contributed to my frustration and disappointment.
Transparency and honesty should be top priorities for any tourist attraction, ensuring visitors have a positive experience. Unfortunately, the coordinators at Edinburgh Castle failed to uphold these fundamental principles. Their actions demonstrate a lack of integrity and a disregard for customer satisfaction.
To prevent other travelers from falling victim to such unethical practices, it is imperative for Edinburgh Castle to promptly address these issues. A thorough investigation should be conducted to rectify the situation, and the coordinators involved should be held accountable for their actions.
Overall, my experience at Edinburgh Castle was marred by the rude behavior of the coordinators and the deceptive practice of charging for children's tickets. I hope that this review serves as a cautionary tale for other tourists, emphasizing the importance of transparency and fair treatment in the tourism industry.
One of the major issues I encountered during my visit was the charging of children's tickets, despite them supposedly being free. The coordinators shamelessly took advantage of this situation, demanding payment for child tickets without providing any valid justification. This practice not only breached visitors' trust but also tarnished the reputation of Edinburgh Castle.
The coordinators' rudeness was apparent in their dismissive and condescending attitude when I raised the issue of the supposedly free tickets. They showed no empathy or willingness to rectify the situation, choosing instead to brush off my complaint with disdain. This further contributed to my frustration and disappointment.
Transparency and honesty should be top priorities for any tourist attraction, ensuring visitors have a positive experience. Unfortunately, the coordinators at Edinburgh Castle failed to uphold these fundamental principles. Their actions demonstrate a lack of integrity and a disregard for customer satisfaction.
To prevent other travelers from falling victim to such unethical practices, it is imperative for Edinburgh Castle to promptly address these issues. A thorough investigation should be conducted to rectify the situation, and the coordinators involved should be held accountable for their actions.
Overall, my experience at Edinburgh Castle was marred by the rude behavior of the coordinators and the deceptive practice of charging for children's tickets. I hope that this review serves as a cautionary tale for other tourists, emphasizing the importance of transparency and fair treatment in the tourism industry.
Written July 16, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dear Customer,
Thank you for joining our Edinburgh Castle Guided Walking Tour as well as for sharing your experience with us. We appreciate every review received because it helps us keep making improvements to our service.
We were very concerned to learn about your experience. Firstly, I wish to apologize, we were saddened to learn that the tour did not meet your expectations.
As mentioned at the meeting point, children do have to pay for admission to the castle. The entrance of children is not free. This information is detailed both on our website and on the official website of Edinburgh Castle. The only ones who have free admission are infants. We are very sorry for the confusion.
Thank you once again for taking the time to review us, we hope to see you again soon on other tours, so we may demonstrate that this experience does not reflect our usual standard of service.
Kind regards,
Written July 28, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Herman7500
London, UK34 contributions
Dec 2022
We purchased “Skip-the-Line” Guided Tour Tickets for a family of four on the 22nd Dec 2022. Our guide was were knowledgeable, however he talked for almost 2 hours. We started at 13:30 and finished just before 15:30. He never told us that the Castle actually closed at 16:00. We found this out from the toilet assistant. We therefore only had less than 30min to tour the whole Castle, but only managed to get into two places, as the staff stopped people entering some places from 15:45. Very disappointed in the tour.
Written January 4, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dear Customer,
Thank you for joining our Edinburgh Castle Guided Walking Tour as well as for sharing your experience with us. We appreciate every review received because it helps us keep making improvements to our service.
We were very concerned to learn about your experience. Firstly, I wish to apologize, we were saddened to learn that the tour did not meet your expectations. As the castle closes at 5pm guests usually have time to explore the castle after the tour, on that day they may have had a special event that we weren’t informed about.
Thank you once again for taking the time to review us, we hope to see you again soon on other tours, so we may demonstrate that this experience does not reflect our usual standard of service.
Kind regards,
Carlos
Written February 8, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Sherry B
1 contribution
Sept 2023 • Family
Raj our tour guide was very knowledgeable and engaging. Told lots of interesting stories that brought the castle to life. The only negative thing I have to say is that this tour is not “skip the line”. When you get inside the castle walls there is a long line for the palace. That is the line that needs to be skipped and this tour does not do that. While we enjoyed the tour immensely I recommend checking out the official castle tour itinerary and cost. I saw a group that seemed to be skipping the line into the palace.
Written September 27, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for joining our Edinburgh Castle Guided Walking Tour as well as for sharing your experience with us. We appreciate every review received because it helps us keep making improvements to our service.
Thank you once again for taking the time to review us, we hope to see you again soon on other tours, so we may demonstrate that this experience does not reflect our usual standard of service.
Kind regards,
Written October 3, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Alex Pirtoaca
11 contributions
Apr 2024 • Couples
The trip is a must do in the first days of your stay in Edinburgh or Scotland. Niamh the tour guide knows or I should say loves Edinburgh and it's surroundings so she does this tour with a passion you cannot imagine. She tells stories, she sings, she's funny, she recommends where to eat, what to visit and tells you things you don't find on Wikipedia.
I highly recommend this tour on your first days here because it guides you on what to visit the next days if you haven't an itinerary already in mind.
I highly recommend this tour on your first days here because it guides you on what to visit the next days if you haven't an itinerary already in mind.
Written April 30, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
HonestReviewPx
Chicago, IL154 contributions
Jul 2023 • Solo
This tour was definitely one of the highlights of my visit to Edinburgh and I highly recommend it. We met near St Giles cathedral, where groups are formed and assigned to a guide. Here we also received our entry tickets for the castle. Make sure you arrive on time, because the tour is very popular, with lots of people attending, so the groups form and leave for the castle quickly. We had Adam as our guide and to say that we were in for a treat is an understatement. Adam is an amazing story teller, so entertaining and engaging. He is very talented not only in presenting the tumultuous history of the city and the castle in a very exciting way, but also in engaging the whole group with his energy, jokes and interactions. Thank you Adam, this made our tour an unforgettable experience. At the end of the tour you can visit all the museums inside on your own. The highlights from the tour helped a lot to navigate the castle grounds. I can definitely say that I left this tour with a better understanding and appreciation for this amazing city, its fascinating history and its wonderful people.
Written July 16, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
RandyBeach
San Diego, CA74 contributions
Jun 2023 • Couples
The Castle is a must see in Edinburgh, and our guide was friendly and informative. Prepaying for tickets and having someone who can move you through the queues quickly makes the tour worthwhile, and the guide provided tons of historical info we wouldn’t have gotten on our own. If you have limited time you might opt to buy your tickets ahead of time and then grab an audio guide on the way in for a few pounds, but if you have three or four hours, enjoy the tour then wander on your own. Time your trip to stick around till one for the cannon blast and secure a vantage point by St Margaret’s Chapel to watch or fight the crowd for a spot along the battery. Enjoy!
Written June 20, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Miriam C
1 contribution
Jun 2023 • Family
This tour was a lifesaver. We didn’t book any excursions from our cruise. And I ended up booking this tour on the bus into Edinburgh after finding out that online tickets were sold out to get in to the castle on the Edinburgh castle website. These tickets were available a at a slight premium above castle entry price, but we booked the tour in Spanish for our Spanish speaking parents and ended up with red-headed Mary, who was a great story teller and was very accommodating to my mom on a walker. We are a family of 5, my parents and 3 adult children and it was the highlight of our trip to Scotland! ¡Gracias Mary, disfrutamos much tu charla!
Written June 29, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
AlanB
Birmingham, AL2 contributions
I would have gotten more bang for my buck paying for the audio guide inside the castle. I’ve been on other guided tours that were worth twice what I paid, and I’m sure this company has guides that are equally as good. The guide we had was more of a theatre performer with an interest in history than a real history buff. I understand he was trying hard to keep the group engaged but he seemed to lose the interest of half the group, and my fiancé and I actually left to roam the castle on our own.
Written October 19, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for taking the time to review us in Edinburgh. We really appreciate your feedback as it helps us to continue making improvements tours.
We were saddened to learn that the tour did not meet your expectations. All the guides we work with are very passionate and enthusiastic individuals but, unfortunately, their personal tour style does not always match every individual guest’s tastes. It is regrettable to hear that in this instance you felt that the guide’s style was not in line with your preferences for a city tour.
Thank you once again for taking the time to share your thoughts with us. We hope this experience will not prevent you from joining us again in the future.
Kind regards,
Written November 13, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
saraemily01
Rugby, UK4 contributions
I booked under the impression we would visit all at the castle, however the tour guide took us to parts outside and left us to visit inside alone. The guide was hard to hear, I would recommend book a standard castle ticket and get a audio pack at the castles entrance. Feel was not worth the additional cost
Written September 28, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dear Sara,
Thank you for joining our Edinburgh Castle Guided Walking Tour as well as for sharing your experience with us. We appreciate every review received because it helps us keep making improvements to our service.
As we mentioned in the description of the tour “It is worth to note that we can not take you inside any of the Caste Buildings(no tour operator can)”. Thank you once again for taking the time to review us, we hope to see you again soon on other tours, so we may demonstrate that this experience does not reflect our usual standard of service.
Kind regards,
Written October 3, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Conchi delafont
Les Franqueses del Valles, Spain1 contribution
Pueden entrar perritos pequeños?
zahra q
1 contribution
I'm interested in a tour of the Castle but I don't know if I should go for this tour or the official Castle tour. This one is 1.5hours and outside but doesn't include going inside the Castle. The Official one is 30 mins outside.
I know I get tired so I'm a bit concerned a 1.5 hours tour would tire me out with no energy to visit inside the Castle. How many buildings are there to go inside? How big is the inside the Castle. Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Jody H
9 contributions
Our tour guide added much interesting information as we approached the castle on the Royal Mile. There are frequent stops as you head uphill. I had hurt my knee in London at the airport and my walking was somewhat compromised but was able to do the tour and then go through several of the buildings included in the castle gate. Enjoy!
I have 14 people, do you offer pick up from the cruise ship terminal located at Newhaven places. if not , any public transportation take me to the pick up location?
