Guided Tours

Edinburgh Castle and Royal Mile Guided Tour and Entry Ticket

Name: Edinburgh Castle and Royal Mile Guided Tour and Entry Ticket
Start: 2026-06-14T14:00:00
End: 2026-06-14T16:15:00
Location: Edinburgh

Edinburgh Castle stone facade with archway on guided walking tour.

Family exploring Edinburgh Castle courtyard, Scotland.

Visitors walking towards the Esplanade Entrance of Edinburgh Castle, Scotland.

Prisoner hammocks inside Edinburgh Castle's war room.

Duration

45 mins - 2 hrs 15 mins

Open today

9:30am - 6:00pm

Free cancellation

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

Book now, pay later

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

Audio guide

Enhance your experience with multilingual audio guide

Guided tour

4.8/5(340)

Jennifer S

Family

Verified booking

5 days ago

Our guide was Nick and he was great! He was personable and funny and had lots of information about the castle and its history. The castle was beautiful and had so many different buildings and museums to see. We were there for the shooting of the gun at 1:00 which was pretty cool. The prison was really interesting too. Overall it was definitely something to see. Go in the morning, slightly less people. We did spend probably 4 hours there, we ate in the cafe, and went through all the buildings.

Michelle G

Family

Verified booking

4 days ago

We loved the tour of the castle and although Vox Tours was a relatively new player in the market we found our guide to be incredibly informative and just an all round nice fella. As 6 other tourists didn't show for the alotted time, we ended up being the oly people on the tour, so everything was at our pace. We equally loved the dungeons, although a little disappointed that the 'ride' wasn't in operation.

Glenda N

Couple

Verified booking

May 2026

This is an amazing experience, it starts at the city with a small walking tour and stops at iconic places and stories told by our guide in an incredible way, after that, we went to the castle and the guide took care of everything, we entered and the guide told us some stories, shared information about the castle. After that, you have plenty time for checking the castle by yourself. Highly recommended experience indeed.

Margaret A

Couple

Verified booking

May 2026

Australian David made the castle come alive for us. He told us stories we could not pick up in a guide book. He spoke clearly and we could hear him above the other tours around us. He answered questions and gave us time to gather round. The buildings, cannons and breathtaking views were explained and the line for the Crown Jewels went very quickly.

Anna M

Couple

Verified booking

May 2026

ANDREW IS A NICE PERSON. HE TAKES PARTICULAR ATTENTION TO THE PEOPLE INVOLVED IN OUR TOUR AND HE HAS PERFORMED INTERESTING ALL PEOPLE INVOLVED. DUE TO POLICE CONTROL THE TOUR HAD A DELAY, BUT ANDREW WAS VERY NICE AND HE HAS TRANSFORMED THE DELAY IN A PEACEFUL HISTORY

Thomas L

Couple

Verified booking

May 2026

Disaster!! Had to wait 20 minutes for guide to go and get the tickets . He came back with 12 tickets for 13 people so I had to buy a ticket from a tout to get in to the castle. The guide promised that I would be reimbursed. Hope that I will get the US D 100 reward.

Explore Edinburgh Castle (exterior) with a local English-speaking guide and hear fascinating tales of royalty, sieges, and legendary events in just 45 mins.

See the Great Hall, St. Margaret’s Chapel, the oldest surviving building in Edinburgh, and marvel at Scotland’s Crown Jewels independently after the guided tour.

Stand atop Castle Rock to soak in sweeping views of the city and uncover hidden treasures with your included Edinburgh city audio tour on your own digital app.

Upgrade for a longer 1.5-hour guided tour, an expert Spanish, Italian, French or German guide, an express guided tour or a small-group Royal Mile guided walking tour.

Entry to Edinburgh Castle

Guided tour of the Castle

Expert local English-speaking guide

Edinburgh city audio tour (digital app) in English, French & German

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

Free time for independent exploration of Edinburgh Castle

15% discount on Edinburgh Gin Distillery experiences (subject to availability; see voucher for details)

Additional paid upgrades:

1.5-hour extended guided tour of Edinburgh Castle

Expert Spanish, French, Italian or German-speaking guide

2.15-hour guided tour of Edinburgh Castle and the Royal Mile

Small group of max. 20 guests

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.

340 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, Brazil and over 44 countries have loved this experience
What our guests say
Jennifer S
Family
Verified booking
5 days ago
Our guide was Nick and he was great! He was personable and funny and had lots of information about the castle and its history. The castle was beautiful and had so many different buildings and museums to see. We were there for the shooting of the gun at 1:00 which was pretty cool. The prison was really interesting too. Overall it was definitely something to see. Go in the morning, slightly less people. We did spend probably 4 hours there, we ate in the cafe, and went through all the buildings.
Michelle G
Family
Verified booking
4 days ago
We loved the tour of the castle and although Vox Tours was a relatively new player in the market we found our guide to be incredibly informative and just an all round nice fella. As 6 other tourists didn't show for the alotted time, we ended up being the oly people on the tour, so everything was at our pace. We equally loved the dungeons, although a little disappointed that the 'ride' wasn't in operation.
Carsten N
Couple
Verified booking
Last week
The guide (David from Australia) shared lots of interesting information about the history of the castle.
Giles B
Couple
Verified booking
Last week
Raj was a wonderful guide who was knowledgeable and a very pleasant person.
Luc B
Couple
Verified booking
Last week
Great tour guide. Passionate and funny

Walk back in time with a 45-min express guided tour of Edinburgh Castle, the fortress where Scotland’s royalty once lived.

Getting started

Meet your guide at the meeting point indicated on your booking voucher. After check-in, join your group for the walk to the castle entrance, where your guide will introduce the route and key highlights.

What to expect

Edinburgh Castle

Edinburgh Castle crowns Castle Rock as a powerful symbol of Scottish heritage. For centuries, it has stood witness to pivotal moments in the nation’s history. Today, it offers visitors a vivid window into Scotland’s storied past.

Features:

The Great Hall: Step inside the grand hall where monarchs, including Mary, Queen of Scots, once hosted feasts and gatherings.

Royal Palace: Visit the former royal residence and discover its role in the lives of Scotland’s kings and queens.

St. Margaret’s Chapel: See Edinburgh’s oldest surviving building, dating back to the 12th century.

Royal Mile: Walk the Royal Mile, the historic street linking Edinburgh Castle to the Palace of Holyroodhouse, lined with centuries-old buildings, shops, and landmarks.

English-speaking guide: Gain insights, get personalised attention, and clarify your doubts from your expert guide.

Audio tour: After your guided tour and independent exploration of the castle, learn more about the city with an insightful audio tour, available on a digital app.

Extras

Extended tour: Want more insights on a longer tour? Choose the extended 1.5-hour tour for a more comprehensive experience.

Royal Mile walking tour: Go on a guided walking tour of the most famous street in Edinburgh.

Small-group: In a small-group setting of just 20 guests, you get a better chance to learn in-depth about the castle and get your questions answered in more detail.

Expert guides: Opt for an expert Spanish, Italian, French or German speaking guide for better insights in the language of your choice.

What to bring

Bring a valid photo ID if requested at the entrance.

Download the audio app before reaching the meeting point to dodge any network glitches at the location. Simply scan the QR code on your voucher and follow the instructions to download the Vox City app and the city map in your preferred language. If you encounter any problems, contact customer@voxcity.com or contact customer support live 24/7 through the website.

Carry your earphones for an immersive audio guide experience.

What’s not allowed

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

Due to venue restrictions, your pets are not permitted.

Drones are strictly prohibited on the premises.

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

Accessibility

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

Additional information

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.

Some areas may be temporarily unavailable for visit.

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 10-15 mins before your scheduled start time.

If Edinburgh Castle is unexpectedly closed on the day of your visit, tickets to Holyrood Palace will be provided instead if available.

Meeting points may vary by tour. Ensure you check your booking confirmation for details.

Please note the Honours of Scotland (Crown Jewels) will be closed from January 12 to Easter in 2026.

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.