Combos

Combo (Save 8%): Edinburgh Castle Guided Tour & City Sightseeing Hop-on Hop-off Bus Experience

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

Family exploring Edinburgh Castle courtyard, Scotland.

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

Edinburgh Castle viewed from a hop-on hop-off tour bus with tourists.

Explore at your pace

Choose your entry time, stay as long as you like

Free cancellation

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

Audio guide

Enhance your experience with multilingual audio guide

4.4/5

(793)

George N

Couple

Verified booking

Feb 2026

Linda was brilliant at giving insight and making it a fun and memorable experience. She went above and beyond to answer questions and make the day enjoyable. The tour was done really well with it starting outside the castle and touring through the castle walls and Linda finding quiet locations to give information so we could all hear. Would definitely recommend.

Moses K

Couple

Verified booking

2 days ago

I was allowed to use your office bathroom by your friendly staff and the driver of the Red bus took a beautiful picture of my wife and I.....Ovarally we had a great time...Below is one of the pictures taken by the bus driver..he is really a cheerful man..

Breanna J

Family

Verified booking

Dec 2025

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!

Stephen B

Couple

Verified booking

Dec 2025

The ture guide was knowledgeable and accommodating. She made sure that everyone made it to the tour. Then she took is aside to set the seen and add to the mindset of the time period.she also involved the tourists in the story for the fun of it.

Christine J

Group

Verified booking

Nov 2025

Helpful staff, interesting stops and information throughout the tour. Great for the kids that there was a more "narrative" version of the information to listen to for them. Very convenient to have tickets valid for 24 hours! And great view from the front window upstairs!

Philip P

Solo

Verified booking

Oct 2025

Easy to get a ticket. Audio guide is good but not quite in sync. We missed some sights because the guide mentioned things AFTER the bus had passed them! Bus seats are hard but it fun to sit upstairs outside in the sun! Overall a great experience. Will do it again.

Combine a 45-minute guided tour of Edinburgh Castle’s exterior with a 24-hour hop-on hop-off bus pass for a flexible city adventure.

Walk the castle exterior with a local English-speaking guide and hear fascinating tales of royalty, sieges, and legendary events.

Explore the Great Hall, St. Margaret’s Chapel, and Scotland’s Crown Jewels at your own pace with the included city audio tour app.

Access the Red Route with 14 stops across the city, hopping on and off at your leisure as buses arrive every 20 minutes.

Learn Edinburgh’s history via a multilingual audio guide, enjoy 360-degree open-top bus views, and visit iconic stops including John Knox House, Grassmarket, and Holyrood.

Edinburgh Castle Guided Tour

Entry to Edinburgh Castle

45-min express guided tour of Edinburgh Castle (outside the castle)

Free time for independent exploration of Edinburgh Castle

Expert local English-speaking guide

Edinburgh city audio tour (digital app)

Edinburgh Hop-on Hop-off Bus Tour

24-hour unlimited hop-on hop-off pass

Access to Red Route

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

Horrible Histories' kid's commentary

Headphones

Free kids' tickets

Flexible validity for up to 12 months from your selected date

Edinburgh Castle Guided Tour

Headset and mobile device

Edinburgh Castle internal audio guide (£3.50)

Transportation

Gratuities

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

793 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, Germany, France and over 38 countries have loved this experience
What our guests say
Moses K
Couple
Verified booking
2 days ago
I was allowed to use your office bathroom by your friendly staff and the driver of the Red bus took a beautiful picture of my wife and I.....Ovarally we had a great time...Below is one of the pictures taken by the bus driver..he is really a cheerful man..
Ian J
Couple
Verified booking
Mar 2026
Our guide Linda was fantastic! So knowledgeable about the history of The Royal Mile and the castle. Really enjoyed the experience and would highly recommend.
Auxillia B
Solo
Verified booking
2 weeks ago
The staff in the bus was so helpful. The explanations of the historical buildings was so clear and interesting.
Grillier F
Couple
Verified booking
3 weeks ago
Linda is a very good guide. Very knowledgeable ands very enthusiastic. We truly enjoyed the tour with her
Susan C
Group
Verified booking
3 weeks ago
Bus was very easy to access and the audio commentary very helpful to decide where to visit

Enjoy a day of convenience with a guided tour of Edinburgh Castle paired with a 24-hour hop-on hop-off bus pass.

Getting started

Meet your castle guide at the location listed on your voucher for check-in. Walk to the entrance together, with security and entry handled as part of the group flow. For the bus, show your voucher to the driver to collect your ticket before boarding.

What to expect

Edinburgh Castle Guided Tour

Explore Edinburgh’s most famous fortress with a guided tour of the castle exterior, giving context and orientation before exploring the interiors independently.

Features

Guided walk: Discover key viewpoints and learn the castle’s role in Edinburgh’s royal and military history.

Independent exploration: After the tour, explore highlights such as the Great Hall, St. Margaret’s Chapel, and Scotland’s Crown Jewels at your own pace.

Audio tour: Extend your city exploration with the included Edinburgh audio tour app.

Edinburgh Hop-on Hop-off Bus Tour

Make the most of your day with a flexible 24-hour pass along the Red Route. Stay on for a full loop or hop off at any stop to explore landmarks and viewpoints, then rejoin when ready.

Features

Flexible sightseeing: Hop on and off at 14 stops across the city, including Grassmarket, Holyrood, and John Knox House.

Multilingual audio guide: Learn Edinburgh’s history and stories with commentary in multiple languages.

Panoramic views: Enjoy 360-degree perspectives from the open-top double-decker bus.

What to bring

Edinburgh Castle Guided Tour

Bring a valid photo ID, as it may be requested at the entrance.

Download the audio app before arrival to avoid network issues. Scan the QR code on your voucher to access the Vox City app and city map in your preferred language.

Carry earphones for the best audio guide experience.

What’s not allowed

Edinburgh Castle Guided Tour

Large luggage, bags over 30L, and suitcases are not permitted inside the castle.

Pets are not allowed.

Drones are prohibited.

Roof access may be restricted in poor weather conditions.

Accessibility

Edinburgh Castle Guided Tour

The castle is not fully wheelchair-accessible due to uneven terrain and steps around the grounds.

Edinburgh Hop-on Hop-off Tour

Edinburgh buses are fully wheelchair accessible.

Wheelchairs must not exceed 70cm wide, 120cm long, and 135cm high. Contact the provider if unsure.

Only one wheelchair can be accommodated per bus; if occupied, please wait for the next one.

Additional information

Edinburgh Castle Guided Tour

Guided tour takes place outdoors; interior buildings are not included.

Stops are determined by castle authorities and may vary.

Minors must be accompanied by an adult.

Arrive 10–15 minutes before your scheduled start time.

If the castle is unexpectedly closed, Holyrood Palace tickets may be offered if available.

Meeting points may vary; confirm in your booking.

The Honours of Scotland (Crown Jewels) will be closed from January 12 to Easter 2026.

Edinburgh Hop-on Hop-off Tour

Children aged 3 and under travel free, but child tickets must be added at checkout.

Well-behaved dogs are allowed onboard.

Your voucher will be emailed to you shortly.

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

Please check your final voucher for the starting point details & specific instructions.