Combos

Combo (Save 5%): Edinburgh Castle Guided Tour + Palace of Holyroodhouse Tickets

Edinburgh Castle Esplanade with historic stone buildings and equestrian statue.

Visitors walking near the Ross Fountain with Edinburgh Castle in the background.

Holyrood Abbey ruins at the Palace of Holyroodhouse, Edinburgh, with Arthur's Seat in the background.

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

Duration

1 hr 15 min - 1 hr 30 min

Free cancellation

Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start of your experience

Guided tour

4.7/5

(146)

Veera

Oct 2025

Verified booking

4/5

The guide Nina was superb, we got a full 1.5 hours experience and more at the castle, she did not cut corners and explained and answered all our questions. It has been the first time I have thoroughly enjoyed touring a castle, the abbey and the gardens with Nina. It was cold outside but the cold did not bother us as Nina made her way to explaimed the grounds until she saw us off at the gates.

Sebnem

Oct 2025

Verified booking

5/5

The Guide was English really clear to understand. He gave clear instructions about the tour and what was coming up. The story of the castle was great. Raj, explained all about the 7 mile and the castle at the bottom. Best of all he was humorous and tactful. I would recommend this tour to everyone who goes to Edinburgh Castle.

Ann

Oct 2025

Verified booking

5/5

Jen was interesting and an enthusiastic touring guide. Her knowledge of history was extraordinary and added to the richness of our experience. We were so impressed that I recommended your company to another group of tourists and told them to ask for Jen. Thank you for a great day! Ann Martinson & Mary Grimes Illinois USA

Visit Scotland's two most important royal residences in a single day: go on a guided tour of Edinburgh Castle, followed by access to the Palace of Holyroodhouse.

Save money by bundling your tickets. Located at opposite ends of the Royal Mile, this combo allows you to stroll the historic path in one logical, time-saving itinerary.

Skip lines and step inside Edinburgh Castle on your guided experience and see the essential highlights, including the Great Hall, St. Margaret's Chapel, and the Crown Jewels.

Enter the Palace of Holyroodhouse, where you can discover the historic State Apartments and the ruins of Holyrood Abbey, with a multimedia guide.

Upgrade to the Palace of Holyroodhouse Christmas guided tour with small-group access, an English-speaking guide, and a complimentary guidebook.

Edinburgh Castle

Skip-the-line entry to Edinburgh Castle

Guided tour of Edinburgh Castle

Expert local English-speaking guide

Palace of Holyroodhouse

Entry to Palace of Holyroodhouse

Multimedia guide in 9 languages

Additional paid upgrades:

Palace of Holyroodhouse

2-hour private Christmas tour of the Palace of Holyroodhouse State Apartments

Expert English-speaking guide

Complimentary guidebook

Small group of max. 25 guests

Edinburgh Castle + Palace of Holyroodhouse

Transport

Food and drink

You can cancel these tickets up to 24 hours before the experience begins and get a full refund.

4.7
146 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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Guests from United States, Canada, Australia and over 10 countries have loved this experience
What our guests say
James
Nov 2025
Verified booking
5/5
Sonia was the perfect guide. Incredibly knowledgeable about the history of the castle. Also the right mix of macabre when talking about the history. Was an absolute pleasure to be part of her tour
Carlos
Nov 2025
Verified booking
5/5
The castle doenst need more inputs! It is amazing! But to know all history and details by Jen, our tour guide, made total diference! She was very precise and efficent! And very funny as well!
Steven
Nov 2025
Verified booking
5/5
The walking tour was amazing and Sonia our guide wad extrememly informative and also funny .... we would highly recommend it .
Vanessa
Nov 2025
Verified booking
5/5
We had a fot of fun with Jen showing US around the castle.
Veera
Oct 2025
Verified booking
4/5
The guide Nina was superb, we got a full 1.5 hours experience and more at the castle, she did not cut corners and explained and answered all our questions. It has been the first time I have thoroughly enjoyed touring a castle, the abbey and the gardens with Nina. It was cold outside but the cold did not bother us as Nina made her way to explaimed the grounds until she saw us off at the gates.

Explore Edinburgh's royal and historic landmarks with this cost-saving combo, including a guided tour of Edinburgh Castle and access to the Palace of Holyroodhouse—Edinburgh’s official royal residence.

Getting started

Start your experience at either Edinburgh Castle or the Palace of Holyroodhouse on this flexible combo tour. Wander a stretch of the famous street that connects Scotland’s two royal powerhouses—Edinburgh Castle and Holyrood Palace after exploring the first royal residence.

What to expect

Edinburgh Castle

Edinburgh Castle stands atop Castle Rock, a symbol of Scottish heritage and royal power for centuries. Your guided tour reveals the fortress’s pivotal role in Scotland’s history and its enduring legacy.

Features:

The Great Hall: Step into the grand space once adorned for royal banquets and historic ceremonies.

The Royal Palace: Explore the former royal residence and discover its significance in the lives of Scotland’s kings and queens

St. Margaret’s Chapel: Visit Edinburgh’s oldest surviving structure, an intimate and historic place of worship from the 12th century.

Guided tour: Be led by a knowledgeable guide who brings the castle’s dramatic history and architecture to life.

Palace of Holyroodhouse

The Palace of Holyroodhouse, Edinburgh’s official royal residence, sits at the opposite end of the Royal Mile and has hosted monarchs and state occasions for centuries.

Features:

Self-guided access: Enjoy entry to the State Apartments, Throne Room, and Abbey ruins at your own pace. Walk through grand corridors and discover the monarchy’s history in Scotland.

Audioguide: Explore the palace on your own with insights from a complimentary multimedia guide.

Extras

Palace of Holyroodhouse Christmas tour: Enjoy all of the above, plus an intimate Christmas tour of the Palace of Holyroodhouse, offered only during the holiday season. Admire the palace’s festive décor without the usual crowds, enjoy a personalised experience with no more than 25 guests, follow a Palace expert who shares stories of royal Christmas traditions, and take home a keepsake guide filled with insights into the Palace’s festive highlights.

What's not allowed

Edinburgh Castle

Luggage, large bags, and bags over 30L in volume are not permitted inside Edinburgh Castle.

Pets are not allowed, except for registered service animals.

Drones are strictly prohibited on the premises.

Access to the roof is not permitted in poor weather conditions.

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

Edinburgh Castle

The experience is not fully wheelchair-accessible due to uneven terrain and steps within the castle grounds and surrounding areas.

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.

Additional information

Edinburgh Castle

The guided tour takes place outdoors around Edinburgh Castle. Entry to interior buildings is not included during the guided portion, but you may explore them independently after the tour.

Specific stops during the tour are assigned by castle authorities and may vary.

Minors must be accompanied by an adult to join the tour.

Please arrive at the meeting point at least 10 mins before your scheduled start time.

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.

The tour is only available when the Palace is closed to other visitors.

Please arrive at least 15 mins before your scheduled tour time.