Edinburgh Castle & Holyrood Palace Tour
About this activity
Highlights
- Explore Edinburgh Castle's rich history
- Visit the royal apartments at Holyrood Palace
- Stroll along the Royal Mile
- Learn about Scotland's royal heritage
- Enjoy panoramic city views from the castle
Full description
Included / Excluded
- Guided walking tour of Edinburgh Castle
- Admission ticket to Holyrood Palace
- Expert local guide
- Meals and beverages
Itinerary
Meet your guide at 10:00 a.m. at the designated meeting point, and make your way to Edinburgh Castle, which towers over the city from its dramatic perch on the ancient volcanic rock known as Castle Rock. Wander along the esplanade and uncover the history behind the castle’s construction and the numerous battles it has witnessed. You’ll also pass by the famous esplanade where the Royal Military Tattoo takes place each year. Let yourself be impressed by the splendor of the Great Hall and the Royal Apartments. Once the guided portion concludes, enjoy some free time to delve deeper into the castle’s many fascinating spaces at your own rhythm.
Then, at 2:00 p.m., head back to the meeting point, where one of our team members will accompany you to the Palace of Holyroodhouse — the official Scottish residence of the British monarch. Explore the Palace’s rich connections to some of Scotland’s most renowned historical figures, including Mary, Queen of Scots, and Bonnie Prince Charlie. You'll also gain insight into how the Palace continues to serve the King today during royal visits and official ceremonies in Scotland.
Meeting point
Start Location
Advocates Close, Edinburgh, UK
Important information
Know before you book
- Tour operates rain or shine; dress appropriately
- Children under 5 years old are free; please inform in advance
- Photography may be restricted in certain areas
Know before you go
- Wear comfortable walking shoes for cobblestone streets
- Dress in layers to adapt to changing weather
- Bring a camera to capture stunning views
Cancellation policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Accessibility
- Stroller Accessible
Traveler reviews
Wonderful Tour Guide
Excellent tour guide! Would highly recommend Ignus.
Raj fan
Very informative.Raj really did a great job showing us around the castle and giving us a bit of a history lesson at the same time
Excellent Edinburgh Castle experience
Brilliant tour guide by Ignas. Only concern was the meetup. Confused by the location of the meetup but everything else was perfect. Recommend to go and spend a few hours after to see everything
Great visit to the castle and palace
The meeting point is approximately midpoint between the two (closer to Edinburgh Castle). It’s a bit of a hike to Holyroodhouse (.7 miles) I agree with a previous poster: the tour read as 3 hours, yet we were told to meet for Holyroodhouse entrance tickets at 2, approximately 4 hours just for the castle. We had reserved a taxi for a return to South Queensferry (cruise port). We had padded our return trip, but it trimmed our time at the palace. Our guide, Sonia (sorry about the spelling), was our guide for part one and was absolutely amazing! She gave a well-informed tour of the castle. She was also funny! Our tour with her was ended at the castle and we easily made our way back to the meeting point. It was there that we were given entrance tix to the palace. We were informed that the guides were not allowed IN the palace. We were given included audio guides. We had to scramble, sans guide, to the palace. Although we enjoyed both tours and we were able to reschedule our taxi pickup point, we felt that this part of the tour was not fully explained. The tours, themselves, were excellent. The communication about time needed and the transition needs clarification in the description.
Great tour
Sonia was a great guide. Lots of interesting and entertaining information.