Edinburgh Castle
ENTRY
from £14
WHERE
Edinburgh
What it’s like
Crown Jewels, the Great Hall and the castle vaults up on the hilltop, with at least two hours of walking to see it all.
The main business up here is the Crown Jewels, the Great Hall, the Royal Apartments and the vaults underneath, and the site reckons on at least two hours to get round the main bits properly. That's a realistic figure rather than a soft one, given how much ground there is between the esplanade and the top, so a toddler who tires of walking by lunchtime is going to need carrying for a fair chunk of it.
Ticket prices are where it stings a bit. Booking online is the way to go: an adult is £23.50 online against £26 if you just turn up, and a child (7 to 15) is £14 online versus £15.50 walk-up. There are family tickets too, one adult and two children comes to £48.50 online, two adults and two children £67.50, and a three-child version at £80. Under-16s have to be with an adult, so this isn't one you can send the older ones off to do alone while you queue for coffee.
Booking matters more than the price gap suggests. Tickets often sell out well ahead in summer, and once the online allocation for the day is gone there's nothing left to buy at the gate, full stop. There's also a flexi ticket if your dates are wobbly, which lets you pick any day within a week of your chosen start date rather than locking you to a timeslot.
There's no public parking at the castle itself, the nearest is Castle Terrace NCP, so factor that into your morning if you're driving in. An audio guide is £4 to hire on arrival, or you can buy the downloadable version when you book, and it comes in large print and Open Dyslexic versions too. Bike racks are only there from November to April, since the Tattoo stands take over the spot for the rest of the year.
What’s on here
- FRI16
Whispers of the past: Dark history of the castle
16 more dates
- SAT31
Halloween Shenanigans at Edin-boo! Castle
A Halloween-themed event at Edinburgh Castle on 31 October 2026.
- TUE1
Christmas Afternoon Tea at Edinburgh Castle
33 more dates
- MON25
Celebrating Burns
A Burns Night celebration at Edinburgh Castle marking the poet's life with a themed event on the day.
Edinburgh Castle Careers Fair
A careers fair held at Edinburgh Castle on Tuesday 6 October 2026.
Facilities
Need to know
- Last entry
- Varies by season: 5pm (April-September), 4pm (October-December and 2 Jan-31 March), 3pm (24 December)
- Booking
- Book online in advance for best price and guaranteed entry
- Parking
- No public parking at castle. Nearest is Castle Terrace NCP
- How long to allow
- At least 2 hours to see main attractions
- Getting there by bus or train
- Trams from airport every 7 mins (30 mins to Princes Street)
- Book only through the official website, there are lookalike sites selling fake tickets
- Last entry shifts with the season, as early as 3pm on Christmas Eve
- Young Scot card holders get in for £1 with a valid card on arrival
- British Armed Forces members get free entry with a MOD 90 card, though it only covers the serving member
- Coaches can't reach Johnstone Terrace, there's a temporary drop-off in Castle Terrace instead
Plan your visit
How much are tickets?
£23.50 for an adult online, £14 for a child aged 7 to 15. Walk-up prices are a couple of pounds more across the board, so book ahead if you can.
Do we need to book in advance?
Booking online guarantees entry and gets you the better price. Tickets often sell out well ahead in summer, and once the day's online allocation is gone there's nothing left at the gate.
How long should we plan for?
At least two hours to see the main attractions, and that's a fair estimate given the amount of walking involved.
Is there parking at the castle?
No public parking on site. Castle Terrace NCP is the nearest car park, though there are a few accessible spaces on the esplanade for ticket holders who need them.
What if under-16s want to visit without an adult?
They can't. Children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult throughout.
Is there an audio guide?
£4 to hire a device on arrival, or you can buy a downloadable version when you book online. Large print and Open Dyslexic versions are available too.
What happens if the weather is bad?
Adverse weather can cause the castle to close, so it's worth keeping an eye on the forecast before you set off.
Can we cycle there?
Bike racks are only available from November to April. From May to October they're removed to make way for the Tattoo stands.
What's a flexi ticket?
It gives you one entry any day within a 7-day window starting from your chosen date, so you don't have to commit to a fixed timeslot.
Do concessions or carers get a discount?
Concession pricing applies to over-65s and unemployed visitors with proof, and carers accompanying a disabled visitor get in free, though it's best to book online to guarantee entry.
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