Landmarks

Palace of Holyroodhouse Entry Tickets

Name: Palace of Holyroodhouse Entry Tickets
Start: 2026-02-26T09:30:00
End: 2026-02-26T15:15:00
Location: Palace of Holyroodhouse

Visitors entering Mary Queen of Scots Bedchamber at the Palace of Holyroodhouse.

Kings Bedchamber with ornate canopy bed and tapestries at the Palace of Holyroodhouse.

Mary Queen of Scots Bedchamber with ornate canopy bed and paintings at the Palace of Holyroodhouse.

Palace of Holyroodhouse exterior with stone towers and courtyard in Edinburgh, Scotland.

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Choose your entry time, stay as long as you like

Free cancellation

Free cancellation up to 36 hours before the start of your experience

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Book now without paying anything. Cancel for free if your plans change.

Audio guide

Enhance your experience with multilingual audio guide

4.5/5

(5,212)

Claudia

Dec 2025

Verified booking

A visit to the Palace of Holyroodhouse, Edinburgh's royal residence, was a deeply evocative experience. The complex is impeccably maintained and managed with great attention to detail. The tour remains rich and engaging, offering an authentic journey through centuries of Scottish history. The interiors, still used today by the Royal Family, are remarkably well preserved and restore a solemn and refined atmosphere. Each room tells stories of intrigue, power and destiny, linked in particular to the intense and tragic figure of Mary Stuart. Holyrood Palace is an essential stop for anyone visiting Edinburgh: a place where history, elegance and emotion are harmoniously and unforgettably interwoven.

Misti

Feb 2026

Verified booking

I loved the versatiliy of having three different tours to choose from depending on where in the city I wanted to go and also the easy of getting your entry tickets and times for three of the biggest tourist stops in town. It was also great having a live tour guide on the green line that was very charming, engaging and add lots of insightful information on locations we were passing as well as great recommendations for pubs, grub and local places to visit. The starting point at Waterloo is convenient for starting the days and the various hop on/off locations make it easy to get around the city. The initial Waterloo stop is also steps away from Calton Hill and directly in front of the Old Cemetary which should both be visited.

Stephen

Jan 2026

Verified booking

Thoroughly enjoyed our week, in Edinburgh. Using the hop on, hop off buses, was so easy. Being able to see, all the sights of Edinburgh during the tour. Also being provided, with headphones, which gave us commentary, of the historical facts, of the city as we travelled round. My wife visited Edinburgh, in March and used the hop on, hop off service, and that is why we booked it again. Would definitely recommend, to anyone, who wanted to tour Edinburgh. All the bus drivers, and reps, were very friendly and answered any queries, or questions we had. Thank-you.

Enjoy full access to the Palace of Holyroodhouse, the official Scottish home of the British monarch, located at the end of Edinburgh’s famous Royal Mile.

Wander through the hauntingly beautiful ruins of 12th-century Holyrood Abbey, steeped in almost 900 years of religious and royal history.

Enhance your visit with complimentary multimedia guides and printed guidebooks, available with select ticket options.

Opt for a digital palace guidebook, an Edinburgh city audio guide, or enjoy 48 hours of hop-on hop-off bus travel and admission to Edinburgh Castle and The Royal Yacht Britannia.

Entry to Palace of Holyroodhouse

Multimedia guide in English, Brazilian Portuguese, French, Gaelic, German, Italian, Japanese, Mandarin Chinese, Russian and Spanish

Additional paid upgrades:

Digital guidebook

Edinburgh city audio guide

48-hour access to 3 City Tours

Edinburgh Tour

Regal Tour

CitySightseeing Edinburgh

Live English commentary on the Edinburgh Tour

Audioguide on the CitySightseeing bus and the Regal Tour in 9 languages

Entry to Edinburgh Castle

Entry to The Royal Yacht Britannia

Transport

Food and drink

You can cancel these tickets up to 36 hours before the experience begins and get a full refund.

5,212 reviews
How do we collect reviews?
These ratings include verified reviews from both Headout guests and our trusted partners who operate this experience locally. All reviews come from real travelers who've taken this experience.
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What our guests say
Michaela
Feb 2026
Verified booking
We really enjoyed our visit with my daughters and friends, comparing the present with the past and what we know about Mary, Queen of Scots. The sweet endings was the green garden and authentic coffee in the courtyard.
Khelly
Feb 2026
Verified booking
İ had a great experience with this Hop-on Hop-off tour! The itinerary was well-planned and covered all the main sights. Both the driver and the guide were very friendly and professional. Highly recommended
Misti
Feb 2026
Verified booking
I loved the versatiliy of having three different tours to choose from depending on where in the city I wanted to go and also the easy of getting your entry tickets and times for three of the biggest tourist stops in town. It was also great having a live tour guide on the green line that was very charming, engaging and add lots of insightful information on locations we were passing as well as great recommendations for pubs, grub and local places to visit. The starting point at Waterloo is convenient for starting the days and the various hop on/off locations make it easy to get around the city. The initial Waterloo stop is also steps away from Calton Hill and directly in front of the Old Cemetary which should both be visited.
Philip
Feb 2026
Verified booking
The tour of Holyrood palace was very interesting , informative and enjoyable. Loved the short recorded interview with Anne and Edward. The walk around the abbey ruins and garden was good despite the time of year. The drawings exhibition is really for those with a true interest in the subject - appeared introspective to me.
Sara
Feb 2026
Verified booking
From the moment we arrived, we found the staff to be kind and friendly; the audio guide in different languages allowed us to follow the tour with ease and interest; the rooms, furnishings, and all the works of art on display are magnificent, as is the exterior. Everything is beautifully maintained and very interesting.

Step into royal history with entry to the Palace of Holyroodhouse, The King’s official residence in Scotland.

Getting started

Begin with your entry ticket to the Palace of Holyroodhouse. Just present your voucher at the entrance and enjoy direct access to centuries of royal history.

What to expect

Palace of Holyroodhouse

Discover this working royal palace nestled at the end of Edinburgh’s historic Royal Mile. From State Apartments to the haunting ruins of Holyrood Abbey, explore the historic site that played a central role in Scotland’s monarchy, once home to Mary, Queen of Scots and still used by the royal family today.

Features:

State Apartments: Tour grand rooms with elaborate plasterwork, historic furnishings, and elegant tapestries still used for official functions today.

Holyrood Abbey: Stroll through the atmospheric ruins of this 12th-century abbey, once a major religious centre in medieval Scotland.

Multimedia guide: Enjoy an included multimedia guide that brings the Palace’s rich history and royal stories to life through engaging audio and visuals.

Extras

Digital guidebook: Get a high-quality digital guidebook for a more immersive dive into the Royal Collection.

Edinburgh audio guide: Get a self-guided Edinburgh city audio tour to explore the capital’s landmarks after your visit with expert city narration, perfect for those who want to discover the secrets of the Old Town on foot at their own pace.

Royal Edinburgh Ticket: Upgrade to a 48-hour sightseeing experience including:

Edinburgh Castle: Visit the hilltop fortress home to the Crown Jewels and the Stone of Destiny.

Royal Yacht Britannia: Step aboard this former floating palace, now docked in Leith, and explore its State Apartments and royal quarters.

Hop-on Hop-off bus pass: Enjoy unlimited travel for 48 hours on three major sightseeing tours—Edinburgh Tour, Regal Tour, and CitySightseeing Edinburgh—with onboard commentary and stops near major attractions.

Edinburgh Castle

Monday	9:30am - 5:00pm	last entry 4:00pm
Tuesday	9:30am - 5:00pm	last entry 4:00pm
Wednesday	9:30am - 5:00pm	last entry 4:00pm
Thursday	9:30am - 5:00pm	last entry 4:00pm
Friday	9:30am - 5:00pm	last entry 4:00pm
Saturday	9:30am - 5:00pm	last entry 4:00pm
Sunday	9:30am - 5:00pm	last entry 4:00pm

Palace of Holyroodhouse

Monday	9:30am - 4:30pm	last entry 3:15pm
Tuesday	Closed
Wednesday	Closed
Thursday	9:30am - 4:30pm	last entry 3:15pm
Friday	9:30am - 4:30pm	last entry 3:15pm
Saturday	9:30am - 4:30pm	last entry 3:15pm
Sunday	9:30am - 4:30pm	last entry 3:15pm

What's not allowed

Palace of Holyroodhouse

Bags larger than 45cm × 20cm × 30cm are not allowed in this experience.

Due to venue restrictions, pets cannot tag along for this experience.

Photography is strictly not allowed inside the State Apartments.

Smoking, including e-cigarettes, is not permitted in the Palace of Holyroodhouse.

In consideration of other visitors, mobile phones must be switched off inside the Palace of Holyroodhouse.

Accessibility

Palace of Holyroodhouse

This experience is wheelchair and pram/stroller accessible, except in some parts of Mary, Queen of Scots' rooms.

Your guide dogs are welcome at the venue.

Concessionary rates for disabled visitors and a complimentary companion ticket are only available to book directly with Royal Collection Trust.

Royal Edinburgh Ticket

Only parts of Edinburgh Castle are wheelchair accessible. The Royal Yacht Britannia experience and the Hop-on Hop-off buses are wheelchair accessible.

Mobility scooters are allowed if they can be folded and stored as luggage.

Your guide dogs and pet dogs are welcome aboard.

Additional information

Palace of Holyroodhouse

As the Palace of Holyroodhouse is a working royal palace, security and opening arrangements may be subject to change at short notice.

You may be subject to security checks. Some items may have to be checked in and reclaimed at the end of your visit.

For safety and security reasons, a one-way route operates inside the Palace of Holyroodhouse.

The palace is closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

Last admission time is 3:15pm.

Under 5s must be booked with a paid ticket.

Mary, Queen of Scots' chambers will be closed from January 15, 2026 to February 9, 2026.

Royal Edinburgh Ticket

This ticket guarantees entry to the Castle during the 48-hour validity of the tour; it does NOT guarantee entry on the day that the ticket is purchased. The last entry slot for the Castle is 2:30pm.

Children aged 15 and under must be accompanied by an adult or senior citizen during their visit.

You can board your Hop-on Hop-off bus anytime between 9am to 6pm and visit the Palace of Holyroodhouse, Edinburgh Castle, and the Royal Yacht Britannia within 48 hours.

First departure from Stop 1 at 8:45am and last departure from Stop 1 at 6pm. Please click here for detailed route maps and boarding points.

Kids go free! Up to 3 kids can travel for free per adult ticket. Child tickets must be added to the basket when purchasing tickets.

Your voucher will be emailed to you instantly.

Display the voucher on your mobile phone with a valid photo ID at the meeting point.

Redemption Point

Show your ticket at Palace of Holyroodhouse.

Address: Canongate, Edinburgh EH8 8DX, United Kingdom..

Get Directions to the Meeting Point