Combos

Combo (Save 5%): Edinburgh Hop-on Hop-off Bus Tour + Palace of Holyroodhouse Tickets

Family enjoying City Sightseeing Hop-On Hop-Off bus tour in Edinburgh.

Red double-decker bus on Edinburgh Hop-On Hop-Off Tour near historic stone building.

Palace of Holyroodhouse facade with central fountain, Edinburgh, Scotland.

Dining room inside Palace of Holyroodhouse, Edinburgh, with ornate decor and portraits.

Open today

09:30am - 04:30pm

Explore at your pace

Choose your entry time, stay as long as you like

Free cancellation

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

Audio guide

Enhance your experience with multilingual audio guide

4.5/5

(5,717)

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.

Breanna

Dec 2025

Verified booking

We had a great time and would recommend this tour to anyone visiting Edinburgh! It really helped us get a layout of the city and decide what attractions we wanted to visit. We loved that we could get off and explore and then come back to the bus to go to our next stop. It really cut down on transportation costs, and we weren't walking across the city all day. My boys loved sitting upstairs and looking out and listening to all of the history. It is great for all ages!

Luis

Jan 2026

Verified booking

At first, I was surprised that the email didn't contain a QR code or barcode ticket like other apps, but when I arrived at the entrance, I went to the ticket counter and showed them my reservation number and company name, and they gave me the tickets. As a suggestion, it would be nice if they enabled virtual tickets so you don't have to queue to get your ticket, but other than that, it's great. I recommend it.

Snap up this smart combo to save money! Hit Edinburgh’s top sights on a bus tour and enjoy a Holyrood Palace visit with a drop off right at its doorstep!

Zip around Edinburgh on a 24-hour hop-on hop-off bus adventure with 15 stops near all the big hits like Edinburgh Castle, with a bus every ten minutes.

Kids ride for free and listen to hilarious audio tales, while you enjoy the sights with audio guides in your language; it's a win for everyone.

Get dropped off a stone's throw from the magnificent Palace of Holyroodhouse for your chance to wander the King's stunning Scottish home.

Tread the very same floors as Mary, Queen of Scots, and the eclectic State Apartments, while listening to the palace's thrilling, centuries-old secrets.

24-hour unlimited hop-on hop-off pass by City Sightseeing

Access to Red Route

Audio guide in English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Chinese, Portuguese, and Russian

Kids' commentary on Horrible Histories'

Headphones

Free kids' tickets

Entry to the Palace of Holyroodhouse (near Stop #7 Holyrood on Red route)

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

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

5,717 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.
4K
1.1K
114
57
290
Guests from United States, France, Spain and over 10 countries have loved this experience
What our guests say
Kirsty
Jan 2026
Verified booking
A must-do attraction in Edinburgh that is great for kids too!! The audio guide is very helpful and I love that it has a child version as this kept my daughter entertained for the whole visit- she loved learning about the history of this place!! Thank you to the polite helpful staff here, you make this a wonderful attraction!
Anna
Jan 2026
Verified booking
I found it exciting to find myself right "in history," entering places that characters who marked eras frequented. For a couple of hours I lost myself completely in that wonderful atmosphere. The audio guide was absolutely perfect in his explanations. I would never leave even from the gardens again.
Gelly
Jan 2026
Verified booking
The tour is very well organized, with a digital guide on a smartphone that you are given at the entrance, which has a very intuitive interface. The palace is magnificent and definitely worth a visit. It is not huge, so it is easy to find time to see it even on a short stay in Edinburgh.
Dominic
Jan 2026
Verified booking
The rooms were beautifully displayed with good and concise historical information. The entire experience from booking to viewing the property was easy, and the staff were exceptional.
Argenio
Jan 2026
Verified booking
The visit to Holyrood Palace was an extremely pleasant and enriching experience. The palace itself is truly magnificent, rich in history and architectural beauty, and it stands as one of the most impressive royal residences in Scotland. A special mention must be given to the staff, who were exceptionally kind, highly professional, and consistently helpful throughout the visit. Their courtesy and willingness to assist greatly enhanced the overall experience and made visitors feel genuinely welcome. The tour was particularly enjoyable thanks to the audioguides, which included visual support that significantly improved understanding and engagement. The explanations provided were clear, informative, and well-balanced—interesting without ever becoming overly long or tedious. Overall, Holyrood Palace offers a well-organized, insightful, and memorable visit, made even more remarkable by the outstanding quality of its staff and visitor services.

Double the delight for less! Enjoy a money-saving deal on a hop-on hop-off sightseeing bus tour through Edinburgh’s top attractions and a regal day out at the Holyrood Palace.

Edinburgh Hop-on Hop-off Bus Tour

This hop-on hop-off route whisks you through Edinburgh’s best bits, blending grand Georgian streets with quirky old-town vibes and royal showstoppers. Kick off at Waterloo Place and St. Andrew Square, roll down lively Lothian Road, soak up the buzz of Grassmarket, wander past storybook closes on Lawnmarket and John Knox House, then end big at Holyrood’s palaces and the space-age Our Dynamic Earth.

Schedule

First bus: 8:45am from stop #1 Waterloo Place

Last bus: 6pm from stop #1 Waterloo Place

Frequency: Every 10 minutes

Popular stops: Waterloo Place, St. Andrew Square, Holyrood, Our Dynamic Earth

Please click here for the detailed route map and boarding points.

You can join a tour at any stop and hop on and off for the duration of your ticket.

Palace of Holyroodhouse

At the foot of Edinburgh’s Royal Mile rises the majestic Palace of Holyroodhouse, Scotland’s royal residence for over five centuries and still the setting for important state occasions. Inside, you’ll uncover Mary, Queen of Scots’ dramatic chambers, the opulent State Rooms, and the grand Great Gallery where Bonnie Prince Charlie once danced. Step outside to explore the romantic ruins of Holyrood Abbey and wander gardens framed by Arthur’s Seat; a picture-perfect royal escape. A visit here beautifully blends history, grandeur, and scenery; leaving you with a true taste of Scotland’s royal heart.

Palace of Holyroodhouse

Monday	09:30am - 04:30pm	last entry 03:15pm
Tuesday	Closed
Wednesday	Closed
Thursday	09:30am - 04:30pm	last entry 03:15pm
Friday	09:30am - 04:30pm	last entry 03:15pm
Saturday	09:30am - 04:30pm	last entry 03:15pm
Sunday	09:30am - 04:30pm	last entry 03:15pm

What's not allowed

Palace of Holyroodhouse

Large bags, rucksacks, and suitcases (30L or over) are not allowed inside for security reasons.

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

Keep your camera tucked away – photography is strictly not allowed inside the State Apartments.

Accessibility

Edinburgh Hop-on Hop-off Bus Tour

This experience is wheelchair accessible.

Wheelchairs must be no larger than 70cm wide, 120cm long, and 135cm high to board the bus. If unsure, contact the service provider.

Just a heads up, each bus can only accommodate 1 wheelchair at a time. If there is already a passenger in a wheelchair, please wait for the next one.

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.

Additional information

Edinburgh Hop-on Hop-off Bus Tour

Children aged 3 and under travel for free. Child tickets must be added to the cart at the final stage of booking.

Small and well-behaved dogs are allowed on board.

Palace of Holyroodhouse

The Palace of Holyroodhouse will be open on Tuesday, December 23, 2025. However, it will be closed on Christmas Day.

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

The palace is closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

Your voucher will be emailed to you instantly.

Please display the same on your mobile phone with a valid photo ID at the time of redemption.

Ticket redemption point

Please check your final voucher for redemption point details and specifics.