Tours & activities in Edinburgh

Edinburgh Castle Walking Tour

Our top-rated walking tour of the iconic Edinburgh Castle includes skip-the-line entrance

ABOUT THE Edinburgh Castle Walking Tour

Join an expert local guide for a 1.5-hour skip-the-line tour of the iconic Edinburgh Castle! Visit the must-see sites inside the castle walls, hear the extraordinary tales of defense and conquest, and enjoy the spectacular views across Edinburgh and South East Scotland.

 

Your Edinburgh Castle Tour meets meets on 130 High Street (The Royal Mile) and finishes inside the castle grounds. We never cancel; tours run rain, hail or shine.

 

A Scottish national treasure

Your expert local guide will begin by walking you up the Royal Mile, the only way to access the otherwise impenetrable Edinburgh Castle. No trip to Scotland is complete without visiting the castle, but its popularity has grown so much in recent years that getting tickets has become much harder. Luckily, your ticket for the SANDEMANs NEW Edinburgh Castle Tour not only includes a ticket, but also skip-the-line entrance!

A proud and bloody history

Perched on top of the extinct volcano Castle Rock, this dramatic setting means the Edinburgh Castle has seemingly impenetrable cliffs on three sides. Yet this castle, one of the oldest continuously habited castles in the world, has been conquered several times throughout history, and parts of it have even been destroyed. Your tour guide will bring all of these incredible stories to life, while showing you the must-see sites like Mons Meg Cannon and the National War Museum and War Memorial.

Find the must-see sites, or stay a little longer

With your Edinburgh Castle tour, your expert guide will ensure that you don’t miss any of the crucial elements of the castle, however, your ticket for the castle allows you to stay right through to closing time, so if you want to continue to explore the many memorials and museums that exist within Scotland’s number one tourist attraction, you’re more than welcome to do so!

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TOUR HIGHLIGHTS
Image for meeting point

The Edinburgh Castle Walking Tour starts on 130 High Street (The Royal Mile), on the corner with Stevenlaw's Close

  • Discover the National War Museum and War Memorial
  • Visit St Margaret’s Chapel, the oldest building in Edinburgh
  • Hear the incredible true story of the Stone of Destiny
  • Learn about the bloody battles with the English, and Scottish Independence
  • See the still-working Mons Meg Cannon

TOUR SCHEDULES

Today

This tour doesn‘t run today

PHOTOS
Inclusions & exclusions
What’s included
  • Local English-speaking guide
  • Skip-the-line entrance to the castle
Additional Information
  • Please note that this tour is nonrefundable and cannot be rescheduled. Sorry for any inconvenience
  • All minors must be accompanied by an adult in order to join the tour
  • Children between the ages of 5 and 15 pay £25, children under the age of 5 join free
  • Please be aware that Edinburgh Castle stays open until 5pm and your Castle ticket is only valid on the day of purchase
  • Unfortunately, the steep hills and uneven ground mean that this tour is not suitable for pushchairs or those unable to walk unassisted
  • No bags or backpacks over 30L are permitted for security reasons
  • Our business is connecting great guides and smart travelers, and we're proud that so many local guides employ us to welcome travelers like you on their journey through some of the world's best cities. No two tours are alike, and the sites, stories, and length of the tour will vary depending on what your freelance guide decides is best. That's why the tours we promote never get stale or feel scripted, and why both independent guides and savvy travelers prefer SANDEMANs
MAP
The Edinburgh Castle Tour meets on 130 High Street (The Royal Mile). Open in Google Maps
Tour start Tour starts here
End start Tour usually ends here
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What is a Select Tour?

 

Select Tours focus on a particular area or district of a city, a certain aspect of its history or culture, or take you outside the city on a day trip. Select Tours are perfect for those who have enjoyed an introduction to the city and wish to delve deeper into the stories the city has to offer. These tours often venture further afield and make use of local public transport.

As with the Free Tour, Select Tours are provided by local freelance guides in partnership with SANDEMANs NEW Europe, who bring their personal flair and expert knowledge to these specifically themed tours. Select tours have a fixed ticket price - we recommend purchasing your ticket in advance, either during a Free Tour or online.

Delve deeper with themed select tours

  • Expert local guides
  • Theme specific tours
  • Location specific tours
  • Full-day and half-day tours on offer
  • Affordable prices

WALKING TOURS & ACTIVITIES IN EDINBURGH

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Participation in tours promoted by SANDEMANs NEW Europe is strictly on a voluntary basis. Neither SANDEMANs NEW Europe, nor the self-employed freelance guides who are the providers of the tours promoted by SANDEMANs NEW Europe, will be held responsible in any way for injuries to body or property incurred during tours. The tour guides reserve the right to deny participation in any tour, to any person, for any reason. Thank you for your understanding.

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