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edinburgh castle tour viator

Edinburgh Castle

© Little Fish Tours

Edinburgh Castle: Skip The Line - Guided Tour

This engaging castle tour enables you to skip the line into Scotland's most iconic fortification. The 90-minute tour will cover the 3,000-year history of Edinburgh Castle and the significant role it has played in shaping Scotland.

This walking tour lets you skip the line and go straight into and through Edinburgh’s must see attraction and its 3000 years of history.

From the birth of King James VI to the many sieges it has withstood, Edinburgh’s fortress is full of history and surprises.

See the One o’clock Gun, Mons Meg and even The Crown Jewels in Edinburgh’s #1 attraction.

After the tour, guests will be allowed to wonder The Castle on their own time until it closes.

From £29 per adult

Departure days.

  • W Wednesday

January — December

Contact details

Tour information

  • Edinburgh - City Centre

Tour prices

From £29 Per Adult £22.20 Per Child £25.60 Concession

Prices are subject to change depending on season

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Tour gallery

Little Fish Tours

Tour company information

Little fish tours.

Little Fish Tours offers various walking tours of Edinburgh leaving daily. These include free tours on a tips only basis, Edinburgh Castle tours, Whisky and Folklore evenings and private tours. Our small, locally founded company works with only the best tour guides in order to offer Edinburgh in an informative yet entertaining way. We believe Edinburgh has an incredible history, so we present it with the flair and enthusiasm it deserves. We’re very proud of the excellent quality of our walking tours in Edinburgh. Don’t take our word for it, check out our near flawless TripAdvisor reviews.

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Opening times

Office Open: 9.30-5.30 daily Walking Tours Run: 10.30am, 1.30pm Castle Tour Runs: 1.30pm Whisky & Folklore Evening Runs: 5pm

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Two women at the castle listening to the new audio guide

Tours, guides and itineraries

There’s a new story to discover around every corner at Edinburgh Castle.

To make sure you don’t miss any, we offer some great ways to explore this Scottish icon, including some suggested itineraries you can follow if you prefer to explore at your own pace.

Itineraries

Exterior view of Edinburgh Castle on a sunny morning

  • Portcullis Gate
  • Argyle Battery
  • Lang Stairs
  • and much more...

General view of the recently refurbished Mons Meg

Just an hour

  • St Margaret's Chapel

Crown with bonnet on a cushion, part of the Honours of Scotland

Royal Route

  • Castle Timeline

Chained prison doors in the recreated prisons of war

Military March

  • Fight for the Castle - Argyle Tower

Exterior view of St Margaret's Chapel and the water tanks

  • Foog's Gate

Syrian refugees having a fun day out at the castle

Family Day Out

  • Children's Quiz
  • Lang Stair (family)
  • Dog Cemetery (family)

British Sign Language Tour

  • BSL Welcome
  • BSL - How old is the castle?
  • BSL - One o’ Clock Gun

Official Guided Tour

Be shown around the castle by those who know it best, our wonderful castle guides!

Castle guides will share stories from the most besieged place in Britain. Be entertained by tales of kings and queens past and discover the must-see spots around the castle. You will also be able to take in the spectacular views of Scotland’s capital along the way.

Our tours now include our brand-new audio tour guide system.

Official Guided Tour tickets include admission to the castle and a 30-minute guided tour. Please choose your tour time when booking.

29 March to 30 September: 9.45am, 10.15am, 10.45am, 11.15am, 11.45am, 12.15pm, 1.15pm, 1.45pm, 2.15pm, 2.45pm, 3.15pm and 3.45pm. 

Book tour tickets

Book partner organisation tour tickets, important information.

  • Official Guided Tours are £3.50 per visitor. Availability is limited on tours and all visitors must pre-book in advance of arrival. Tours are free for Historic Scotland members
  • All visitors with pre-booked tour tickets must arrive at the Tour Meeting Point (just through the Main Gate and to the right. View a map ) 15 minutes before the pre-booked tour time start time stated on their ticket. Entry to the castle can be very busy so please allow additional time
  • If visitors miss the tour start time, they will not be able to join the tour, or any tours later that day
  • Upon arrival at the Tour Meeting Point, visitors will be issued a portable wireless receiver and headset
  • Tours may be adapted or cancelled in poor weather conditions. If cancelled, visitors will be emailed with as much notice as possible and will be automatically refunded for the price of their tour ticket.
  • Tours will take place outdoors, please dress accordingly including sensible footwear. The route requires visitors to walk on steep and cobbled walkways
  • Further information on accessibility at the castle can be found in the Access Guide .
  • Tours are given in English only

Audio guides

Our audio guide features the voices of four time Oscar nominee Saoirse Ronan, celebrated TV and movie actor Bill Paterson and Outlander’s Andrew Gower. Let them take you on a journey and learn about the castle and the people and events that stand out most in its fascinating past.

You can hire an audio guide device from the ticket office and audio booth, or pre-book online when you buy your tickets. 

Audio guides are available in English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Mandarin, Korean, Polish, Portuguese (Brazilian), Russian, Spanish and Ukrainian. Large Print is also available. 

You can also use our guide with your own mobile phone or tablet, instead of a headset. You'll need to bring your own fully charged mobile phone or tablet with internet, and we'll show you how to load it in an email before you arrive.

Audio guides are subject to availability.

20% discount

For Historic Scotland Members and Explorer Pass holders.

New 3D Model

This 3D model has been populated with information giving you an immersive digital tour of the Castle and gives the chance to explore hidden parts too.

View the 3D Model in Sketchfab

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COMMENTS

  1. Edinburgh Castle, Edinburgh

    Edinburgh Castle: Guided Walking Tour with Entry Ticket. 3,045. Scotland's second-most-popular tourist attraction as you learn about the bloody history including stories of the kings and queens who lived in this castle. There is evidence of a fort here for almost 3000 years, and it has been a royal castle since at least King David I's reign ...

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  4. Is a guided tour worth it or can i just do a...

    Edinburgh Castle, Edinburgh: "Is a guided tour worth it or can i just do a..." | Check out 22 answers, plus see 53,281 reviews, articles, and 37,904 photos of Edinburgh Castle, ranked No.9 on Tripadvisor among 2,124 attractions in Edinburgh. ... The guided tours offer a far more interactive experience and you can talk with the guide if you want ...

  5. 10 Best Edinburgh Castle Tours

    Loch Lomond, Kelpies & Stirling Castle Small-Group Day Tour from Edinburgh. Ticket Prices. A top attraction in Scotland, Stirling Castle hails from the 12th century and remains an intact piece of history, significant enough to warrant a day trip from Edinburgh. Preceding arrival to Stirling, your vehicle will go by the empty shell of Linlithgow ...

  6. Edinburgh Castle: Guided Tour with Entry Ticket

    Edinburgh Castle: Guided Tour with Entry Ticket. 4.6 / 5 961 reviews. Activity provider: Sandemans New Europe Tours. Add to wishlist. +3. 1.5-hour tour of Edinburgh Castle. Hear stories of one of the world's most heroic and bloody national histories. With panoramic views learn about kings, queens, and soldiers that lived in the castle.

  7. Edinburgh Castle: Skip The Line

    The 90-minute tour will cover the 3,000-year history of Edinburgh Castle and the significant role it has played in shaping Scotland. This walking tour lets you skip the line and go straight into and through Edinburgh's must see attraction and its 3000 years of history. From the birth of King James VI to the many sieges it has withstood ...

  8. Edinburgh Castle: Guided Walking Tour with Entry Ticket

    Likely to sell out. From $44.42 per person. Check availability. Reserve now & pay later to book your spot and pay nothing today. Give this as a gift. Explore one the most important fortresses in the history of Scotland with this ticket to Edinburgh Castle. Visit the Great hall and dive into the castle's action-packed past on a guided walking tour.

  9. Edinburgh Castle, Edinburgh

    Save money and explore Edinburgh at your own pace with a 3-route hop-on hop-off bus tour ticket. Pick from a ticket that lasts for 24 or 48 hours. Explore the city with stop options like Grassmarket, Edinburgh Castle, National Museum of Scotland, and the Royal Botanic Gardens.

  10. Edinburgh Castle: Guided Walking Tour with Entry Ticket

    Scotland's second-most-popular tourist attraction as you learn about the bloody history including stories of the kings and queens who lived in this castle. There is evidence of a fort here for almost 3000 years, and it has been a royal castle since at least King David I's reign in the 12th century. The Scottish monarchs continued to use it until 1633, and even saw the birth of King James ...

  11. Official Edinburgh Castle Website

    Plan your visit. Book your tickets online in advance for the best price and to guarantee entry. Tickets. Open from 9.30am daily. Opening times. The castle is in Edinburgh City Centre, reachable by bus, tram and train. Getting here.

  12. Edinburgh Castle: Guided Walking Tour with Entry Ticket

    1. Edinburgh Castle. Stop: 60 minutes. Explore one the most important fortresses in the history of Scotland. Walk inside the castle for 1 hour and 10 minutes to enjoy the wonderful royal palace, where Mary Queen of Scots once lived, and admire the Great Hall of the 16th century where parties and feast took place.

  13. Edinburgh Castle Tour: Guided Tour In English

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  14. Edinburgh Castle: Highlights Tour with Tickets, Map, and Guide

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  15. Edinburgh Castle: Important Things to Know Before You Go

    A Brief History of Edinburgh Castle. Edinburgh Castle sits upon Castle Rock, the end result of a volcano that erupted here many millennia ago. There is evidence of people living on top of Castle Rock since the Bronze Age, almost 3000 years ago. The castle, as we know it now, was constructed in the early 12 th century.

  16. Edinburgh Castle: Guided Tour with Tickets Included

    From $43.61 per person. Check availability. Reserve now & pay later to book your spot and pay nothing today. Give this as a gift. Sort by: GetYourGuide traveler - United States August 14, 2024 - Verified booking. The tour was worth it! Our tour guide Callum was very informative, funny, and knowledgeable.

  17. Itineraries, tours and audio guides

    Be entertained by tales of kings and queens past and discover the must-see spots around the castle. You will also be able to take in the spectacular views of Scotland's capital along the way. Our tours now include our brand-new audio tour guide system. Official Guided Tour tickets include admission to the castle and a 30-minute guided tour.

  18. Edinburgh Walking Tour, Skip-the-Line Edinburgh Castle Access 2024

    See the best of medieval yet modern Edinburgh on this walking tour with optional skip-the-line access to Edinburgh Castle. As you walk, listen as your guide shares the history of this formidable city with ancient Roman roots and UNESCO-listed pockets. Explore atmospheric cobbled walkways along the Royal Mile, breeze into Edinburgh Castle to witness royal opulence (if option selected), and pass ...

  19. Skip-the-Ticket-Line Edinburgh Castle Walking Tour

    Your tour of Edinburgh Castle begins at a central Edinburgh location, where you greet your guide and sail past long lines with a skip-the-line admission ticket. ... *Likely to sell out: Based on Viator's booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a ...

  20. Is Edinburgh Castle Skip the Line Worth It?

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  21. Edinburgh Castle Skip-the-Line Walking Tour 2024

    Underground Vaults Walking Tour in Edinburgh Old Town. 6,155. from $26.14. Special Offer. Edinburgh, Scotland. Highlands Coos, Glencoe and Castles Private Tour from Edinburgh. from $755.50. $888.82 $133.32 savings. Per group.

  22. Edinburgh Castle: Highlights Tour with Tickets, Map, and Guide

    Visit the iconic Edinburgh Castle with an expert guide. Admire the castle's treasures such as the Scottish Crown Jewels, St Margaret's Chapel, Mary, Queen of Scots Birthing Chamber, and more on our guided tour. With your map in hand, your guide will lead you along the ancient cobblestone paths of this national monument. During the tour you will get to discover areas of the castle such as ...

  23. Edinburgh Castle official 30 min tour worth it

    4 helpful votes. Edinburgh Castle official 30 min tour worth it. Dec 23, 2023, 2:40 PM. Hello, We'll be in Edinburgh on a Tuesday late afternoon (driving from Oban and stopping along the way) and we have 2 full days on Wednesday and Thursday in late June. I am thinking I should buy my Edinburgh castle tickets soon as we'd like to go at 9:30.

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