Edinburgh Castle
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I visited this castle 20+ years ago and it was raining so didn't really see it in its fully glory. I was so happy that this time around, I visited on a sunny day! Place is simply magical and a visit not be missed when visiting Edinburgh. There is a lot to see and admire about this place. Although it was in the middle of February, it was super busy. I am glad that we had reserved tickets and that we were early on site. By the time we left, it was super crowded.
I'm embarrassed to say that we didn't get to see the castle the first time we were in Edinburgh. My mother was visiting us for the summer, and we did what she wanted to do thinking we would go back before leaving the UK. That never happened. I remember staring up at the castle longingly from Princes Street. There was no way we would miss this opportunity again 35 years later. It was so worth the long wait. We arrived at the castle close to 1:00 PM. It was just in time to see and hear the One O'Clock Gun on the Argyle Battery. What a cool experience! Our guide for this walking tour made it more special with his countdown to the last second. It was perfect. He gave us a brief overview of the castle and the exhibits. Then, we were on our own to explore everything it has to offer. There's even a whisky experience there. Honestly though, we were more thirsty for water at that point. We took the grand walk up the Royal Mile. There is a shorter route to get there from Grassmarket if you're staying in the West End of Edinburgh. We took that route on the way back down. The Royal Mile just has so many sights to see along the way. It's totally worth the longer walk. The castle is an experience. You could spend half a day there. We stayed for a couple of hours. I think people stay longer in August during the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo. We were there at the low end of the tourist season in November. It had its advantages being that it's not as crowded. It typically rains a lot, but fortunately it was a good weather day (just partly cloudy). It was great! We saw the Scottish National War Memorial (no pictures allowed inside) and gallery. It was a highlight along with St. Margaret's Chapel. There is a Prisons of War exhibit in the vaults under Crown Square. It's here where you can see the prisoners graffiti on the doors behind a glass display. There also is a model of the HMS St. George that French POWs made while imprisoned at Edinburgh Castle. It dates back to 1760. It's an interesting exhibit that gives a visual of how they lived in these prisons with audio recordings in the background. Another highlight worth mentioning is the Dog Cemetery and Mons Meg. If that's not enough, then you can also see the crown jewels (or not). There are just so many more interesting things to see in my opinion than the jewels, but why not? It's all included in the admission price. It's a must visit in Edinburgh. I regretted not seeing it all these years. It was great to finally experience it.
If you are in Edinburgh for the night, you need to ensure you have tickets for Edinburgh Castle. You can't go to Edinburgh without visiting the Castle if you have never been. The Castle is a venerable place overlooking Edinburgh and beyond. A glorious view surrounds you at all angles as you make your way through the grounds. There are many places to check out both inside and outside where you will take more than a few pictures. When you think of gloriously grand castles that impose over the surrounding landscape, it's Edinburgh Castle. God help any invader back in the day from trying to invade the castle, they would fail miserably. There is much to enjoy at the castle between The Great Hall, Margaret's Chapel, the castle jail, the Esplanade, as well as the views that will knock your socks off. Make sure to buy tickets in advance. For a few dollars more, you can do a flexible entrance at any time during the day, which allows you to go visit whenever you like on that day.
A must-do while in Edinburgh. You could spend hours roaming the castle and various museums included within. We spend about three hours and it wasn't even that crowded. You start on the main level which has some great views of the city. From there, you can head up, stopping off at various side points which have story boards and short videos speaking to the castle history. Once at the top, more views of the city, a little shop, and a prayer building. If I am remember correctly, you'll also find the Scottish crown jewels in this area as well Back down, you have a few museums which cover history both long ago and more recent. You'll learn of the Scottish involvement in the world wars and see plenty of artifacts to help you make your stay a bit education. Again, a must-do while here!
The Edinburgh Castle is by far the largest draw of tourists walking up a steep embankment to capture a glimps of Scottish history. There is a cost to enter the castle, although free to wander the exterior grounds and take amazing pictures and videos. The castle was worth the exhausting walk, and even for me as an anti-historian who does enjoy cool stuff, I was strangely impressed. Breathtaking views of the 15th century city of Edinburgh surrounding the beloved castle. Oddly, the massive castle structure was choppy and square instead of the traditional pointed sectionals.
I booked our guided tour tickets online to secure our spot for the tour. When we arrived we informed the staff that we had the Historic Scotland membership and we were brought to a separate and much shorter entrance line! The tour ran about 45 minutes and our guide was friendly and informative throughout. The tour brought us outside the main walls and then back inside. We later explored many of the buildings that the tour could not cover like St Margaret's chapel, Crown Jewels, War Memorial, prison and museums. We were surprised that we spent almost three hours here but there were just so many places to see along with the panoramic views of Edinburgh.
As far as tourist attractions go, you can rarely go wrong with a good old castle. Scotland may be rife with them, but this one is the closest to the rest of the hot spots in the city, so it's your best-bet for a family-friendly afternoon; that is, if the 20-odd pounds it takes to get in isn't a deterrent. I wish I could say it was super authentic, and while it IS an actual castle, it feels more like a museum than anything. There is plenty to see and do inside, but it's not the most riveting experience I've had here. The gift shops are surprisingly affordable, as far as souvenirs go, and I found a bit of everything I could possibly want to take home with me. They also have two cafés, one of which is a tea room, and the other more of an eating hall. The food does get a bit pricey, though. A sweet treat I discovered during my wanderings was a old-fashioned apothecary presentation in the Great Hall, featuring a darn-good actor willing to improvise and play with the crowd. The best part is probably the views - which are amazing - so bring those cameras, and take those Instagram-worthy winners.
Walked all the way to the top of the hill where the castle sat unobstructed. The Scottish castle is not lived in by a family although is occupied by the Scottish military. The view surrounding the castle is amazing which is evident by the pics. It's free to roam the front of the castle but will cost you a few bucks if you want a limited tour of the inside.
Edinburgh Castle is deservedly the most popular paid tourist attraction in all of Scotland. It's an imposing and impressive site and is a historic castle/fortress that sits atop volcanic Castle Rock. It's naturally at the center of Edinburgh and at the top of the Royal Mile and at the west end of Edinburgh's Old Town. Just some of the main features here include the housing of the Scottish crown jewels in the Royal Palace, the National War Museum, the Half Moon Battery of cannons, the gigantic Mons Meg cannon, the Great Hall, the Crown Square or courtyard, the military quarters, the historic 12th century St Margaret's chapel (and Edinburgh's oldest building), and the great vantage point of panoramic city views. We were very lucky to get our morning visit in as well as enjoy the scenic city views from up here before the remnants of Tropical Storm Amy hit the area after our visit. Rain or shine, Edinburgh Castle is a must-see 5 star attraction.
Edinburgh Castle, one of the city's most iconic structures, can be seen from a distance perched atop Castle Hill. Once a fortress & royal residence, the Castle is an active military base today. It is also home to the nation's Crown Jewels, the National War Museum of Scotland, St. Margaret's Chapel, & the Great Hall which displays armors and swords. The long lines to enter these rooms moved at a decent clip. Not to be missed is the the firing of the One O' Clock Gun (at, you guessed it, 1pm.) It's a practice that started in 1861 to signal the time to surrounding ships. Before leaving Edinburgh Castle, we stopped by their cafe (which boasts mind-blowing views) & tried Irn-Bru for the first time. Considered Scotland's "other national drink," Irn-Bru is a bright orange fizzy drink whose flavor is the subject of heated debates. It tasted like bubblegum to me but I've heard cream soda, banana, orange, & mixed fruit! Scandalous! Seeing the 900-year old castle on the hill where kings & queens once lived is priority #1 for most visitors; purchase timed-entry tickets online in advance (£19.50 per person) to avoid the disappointment of sold-out time slots.
Edinburgh Castle is the most visited attraction in Scotland, welcoming over 1.3 million visitors each year who come in search of views, royal history, and a glimpse at the 'Honours of Scotland' - Britain's oldest crown jewels. Edinburgh Castle is not only the dominant feature of the city's skyline, visible from miles around, it's also the feature which gives the city its name -- the old Gaelic name translates roughly as 'the fort on the hill'. trust me, you might underestimate this castle, and even i have kept 2 hrs for this, but it needs more time. With several museums, a large war memorial, a royal palace, a Great Hall & several other little stops/activities, if you want to actually see all of Edinburgh Castle's sights and attractions, you'll need much more than two hours... especially considering the line to see the Honours of Scotland (AKA the Crown Jewels) can last 20+ minutes. * Three regimental military museums * The National War Museum * The Scottish National War Memorial * The Honours of Scotland, featuring the Scottish crown jewels and Stone of Destiny * St Margaret's Chapel, the oldest surviving building in Edinburgh * Optional 30-minute introductory tours available throughout the day * Prisons of War exhibition * The Great Hall where banquets were held * The One O'Clock Gun, fired every day (except Sunday) at 1pm * Visit the small antechamber where Mary Queen of Scots gave birth to her son, James VI of Scotland * Three gift shops and two cafes The oldest surviving structure at the castle (and the oldest in the city) dates back to the 12th century. It is of course St Margaret's Chapel, built by King David I in honour of his mother. This same king is the one credited with turning Edinburgh Castle into a royal residence. As the years rolled on, royals came and went, with new additions being made to the castle, creating the complex we see today. The Renaissance of the 1400s for instance brought us the Royal Palace that now houses various royal paintings and displays (including THE closet where Mary, Queen of Scots gave birth to King James VI of Scotland, AKA King James I of England). The 1500s brought us the Great Hall, which was needed of course for fancy banquets. The 1600s brought new defences and barracks as the castle eased into its role of a military outpost more than swanky royal digs Tickets to Edinburgh Castle should be booked online before you arrive. Tip: these spots across the city offers great view of the castle- Calton Hill, The Grassmarket, Salisbury Crags, Castle Esplanade, Ross Fountain, St Cuthbert's Churchyard, The Vennel read more
Must-visit if you're in Edinburgh. We had reserved tickets to get in, and got lucky as it was a beautiful day, sandwiched between dreary rainy ones which are more common in this part of Great Britain. We enjoyed the history, the magnificent views of old and new town sprawled below us and the Firth of Forth beyond, the museum, and the One-O-Clock gun! Pro-tip: Book a late morning entry time so you can be there at 1 pm for the gun, duck indoors into the museum or gift shop if it rains, and dress in layers, as the weather can change in minutes. read more
5 months ago
Edinburgh Castle is absolutely worth the visit. The atmosphere is eerie and powerful, and you can feel how much history is buried there. I did a guided tour with Marcus and he was my favorite part of the experience! He was incredibly knowledgeable, funny, and genuinely excited to share history beyond castle walls. We talked about Scottish and English rulers, Scottish clan warfare, conflicts with England, and the castle's role in our world wars. Crazy! If you're traveling to Scotland, this is a must-see, and a guided tour is 100% worth it--definitely book it! read more
I visited this castle 20+ years ago and it was raining so didn't really see it in its fully glory. I was so happy that this time around, I visited on a sunny day! Place is simply magical and a visit not be missed when visiting Edinburgh. There is a lot to see and admire about this place. Although it was in the middle of February, it was super busy. I am glad that we had reserved tickets and that we were early on site. By the time we left, it was super crowded. read more
I'm embarrassed to say that we didn't get to see the castle the first time we were in Edinburgh. My mother was visiting us for the summer, and we did what she wanted to do thinking we would go back before leaving the UK. That never happened. I remember staring up at the castle longingly from Princes Street. There was no way we would miss this opportunity again 35 years later. It was so worth the long wait. We arrived at the castle close to 1:00 PM. It was just in time to see and hear the One O'Clock Gun on the Argyle Battery. What a cool experience! Our guide for this walking tour made it more special with his countdown to the last second. It was perfect. He gave us a brief overview of the castle and the exhibits. Then, we were on our own to explore everything it has to offer. There's even a whisky experience there. Honestly though, we were more thirsty for water at that point. We took the grand walk up the Royal Mile. There is a shorter route to get there from Grassmarket if you're staying in the West End of Edinburgh. We took that route on the way back down. The Royal Mile just has so many sights to see along the way. It's totally worth the longer walk. The castle is an experience. You could spend half a day there. We stayed for a couple of hours. I think people stay longer in August during the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo. We were there at the low end of the tourist season in November. It had its advantages being that it's not as crowded. It typically rains a lot, but fortunately it was a good weather day (just partly cloudy). It was great! We saw the Scottish National War Memorial (no pictures allowed inside) and gallery. It was a highlight along with St. Margaret's Chapel. There is a Prisons of War exhibit in the vaults under Crown Square. It's here where you can see the prisoners graffiti on the doors behind a glass display. There also is a model of the HMS St. George that French POWs made while imprisoned at Edinburgh Castle. It dates back to 1760. It's an interesting exhibit that gives a visual of how they lived in these prisons with audio recordings in the background. Another highlight worth mentioning is the Dog Cemetery and Mons Meg. If that's not enough, then you can also see the crown jewels (or not). There are just so many more interesting things to see in my opinion than the jewels, but why not? It's all included in the admission price. It's a must visit in Edinburgh. I regretted not seeing it all these years. It was great to finally experience it. read more
27 days ago
If you are in Edinburgh for the night, you need to ensure you have tickets for Edinburgh Castle. You can't go to Edinburgh without visiting the Castle if you have never been. The Castle is a venerable place overlooking Edinburgh and beyond. A glorious view surrounds you at all angles as you make your way through the grounds. There are many places to check out both inside and outside where you will take more than a few pictures. When you think of gloriously grand castles that impose over the surrounding landscape, it's Edinburgh Castle. God help any invader back in the day from trying to invade the castle, they would fail miserably. There is much to enjoy at the castle between The Great Hall, Margaret's Chapel, the castle jail, the Esplanade, as well as the views that will knock your socks off. Make sure to buy tickets in advance. For a few dollars more, you can do a flexible entrance at any time during the day, which allows you to go visit whenever you like on that day. read more
10 months ago
A must-do while in Edinburgh. You could spend hours roaming the castle and various museums included within. We spend about three hours and it wasn't even that crowded. You start on the main level which has some great views of the city. From there, you can head up, stopping off at various side points which have story boards and short videos speaking to the castle history. Once at the top, more views of the city, a little shop, and a prayer building. If I am remember correctly, you'll also find the Scottish crown jewels in this area as well Back down, you have a few museums which cover history both long ago and more recent. You'll learn of the Scottish involvement in the world wars and see plenty of artifacts to help you make your stay a bit education. Again, a must-do while here! read more
The Edinburgh Castle is by far the largest draw of tourists walking up a steep embankment to capture a glimps of Scottish history. There is a cost to enter the castle, although free to wander the exterior grounds and take amazing pictures and videos. The castle was worth the exhausting walk, and even for me as an anti-historian who does enjoy cool stuff, I was strangely impressed. Breathtaking views of the 15th century city of Edinburgh surrounding the beloved castle. Oddly, the massive castle structure was choppy and square instead of the traditional pointed sectionals. read more
I booked our guided tour tickets online to secure our spot for the tour. When we arrived we informed the staff that we had the Historic Scotland membership and we were brought to a separate and much shorter entrance line! The tour ran about 45 minutes and our guide was friendly and informative throughout. The tour brought us outside the main walls and then back inside. We later explored many of the buildings that the tour could not cover like St Margaret's chapel, Crown Jewels, War Memorial, prison and museums. We were surprised that we spent almost three hours here but there were just so many places to see along with the panoramic views of Edinburgh. read more
As far as tourist attractions go, you can rarely go wrong with a good old castle. Scotland may be rife with them, but this one is the closest to the rest of the hot spots in the city, so it's your best-bet for a family-friendly afternoon; that is, if the 20-odd pounds it takes to get in isn't a deterrent. I wish I could say it was super authentic, and while it IS an actual castle, it feels more like a museum than anything. There is plenty to see and do inside, but it's not the most riveting experience I've had here. The gift shops are surprisingly affordable, as far as souvenirs go, and I found a bit of everything I could possibly want to take home with me. They also have two cafés, one of which is a tea room, and the other more of an eating hall. The food does get a bit pricey, though. A sweet treat I discovered during my wanderings was a old-fashioned apothecary presentation in the Great Hall, featuring a darn-good actor willing to improvise and play with the crowd. The best part is probably the views - which are amazing - so bring those cameras, and take those Instagram-worthy winners. read more
9 months ago
8 months ago
Such an experience! See how the town started and was defended. Great history and the tour is worth your money. read more
Walked all the way to the top of the hill where the castle sat unobstructed. The Scottish castle is not lived in by a family although is occupied by the Scottish military. The view surrounding the castle is amazing which is evident by the pics. It's free to roam the front of the castle but will cost you a few bucks if you want a limited tour of the inside. read more
Edinburgh Castle is deservedly the most popular paid tourist attraction in all of Scotland. It's an imposing and impressive site and is a historic castle/fortress that sits atop volcanic Castle Rock. It's naturally at the center of Edinburgh and at the top of the Royal Mile and at the west end of Edinburgh's Old Town. Just some of the main features here include the housing of the Scottish crown jewels in the Royal Palace, the National War Museum, the Half Moon Battery of cannons, the gigantic Mons Meg cannon, the Great Hall, the Crown Square or courtyard, the military quarters, the historic 12th century St Margaret's chapel (and Edinburgh's oldest building), and the great vantage point of panoramic city views. We were very lucky to get our morning visit in as well as enjoy the scenic city views from up here before the remnants of Tropical Storm Amy hit the area after our visit. Rain or shine, Edinburgh Castle is a must-see 5 star attraction. read more
1 year ago
Edinburgh Castle, one of the city's most iconic structures, can be seen from a distance perched atop Castle Hill. Once a fortress & royal residence, the Castle is an active military base today. It is also home to the nation's Crown Jewels, the National War Museum of Scotland, St. Margaret's Chapel, & the Great Hall which displays armors and swords. The long lines to enter these rooms moved at a decent clip. Not to be missed is the the firing of the One O' Clock Gun (at, you guessed it, 1pm.) It's a practice that started in 1861 to signal the time to surrounding ships. Before leaving Edinburgh Castle, we stopped by their cafe (which boasts mind-blowing views) & tried Irn-Bru for the first time. Considered Scotland's "other national drink," Irn-Bru is a bright orange fizzy drink whose flavor is the subject of heated debates. It tasted like bubblegum to me but I've heard cream soda, banana, orange, & mixed fruit! Scandalous! Seeing the 900-year old castle on the hill where kings & queens once lived is priority #1 for most visitors; purchase timed-entry tickets online in advance (£19.50 per person) to avoid the disappointment of sold-out time slots. read more
2 years ago
Incredible, one of the highlights of our trip to Scotland! This is an absolutely beautiful castle in a beautiful setting. We paid extra for the guided tour, which was completely worth it. We enjoyed everything about the tour, from the incredible history to the views. read more
6 months ago
Another amazing Scottish castle overlooking Edinburgh. Parts of it date from the 1100s. God bless 'em they provided motorized transport and a wheelchair for my mobility challenged sister. Centuries of Scottish history and amazing views. One of the highlights of the trip. read more
8 months ago
2 years ago
Such a cool place to explore! There are a couple of museums on the premises with suggested donations as well as a tea room, which my friends and I made a reservation for. We booked our tickets online in advance for 9am and even then, it was busy. We spent about 3 and a half hours at the castle and by the time we left, it was even busier. There are public restrooms available on premise. It's a good spot for kids and you can explore the dungeon as well. The view is really pretty as you can see the city skyline. read more
10 months ago
To be in a castle with 3000 years of history behind it was amazing. Lots to see so make some time to stick around. Uphill climb but not so bad as I thought. read more
2 years ago
One of the most iconic landmarks in Scotland. This is not to be missed. Purchase tickets online and avoid the crowds. Timed tickets are around $22 US and worth every penny. The historic fortress is located on Castle Rock, in the heart of Edinburgh. The castle features the Crown Jewels of Scotland, the Stone of Destiny (a symbol of Scottish kingship), St. Margaret's Chapel, the oldest surviving building in Edinburgh, and the Great Hall. At 1:00, every day except Sunday, the One O'clock gun is fired. A tradition since 1861. So rich in history, the beautiful architecture and breathtaking views make for a perfect day and memory making photos. read more
We purchased timed tickets in advance on line it was 65 lbs per person. Edinburgh castle is from the 12th century with Margaret's chapel, the crown room, Ramparts, The great hall, Half Moon Battery, Esplanade and Parade grounds were not to be missed. This is the world famous icon of Scotland, and part of the old and new towns of Edinburgh's World Heritage Site. It is considered the most famous Scottish castle. This castle houses, that Crown Jewels of Scotland, the stone of destiny, the 1 o'clock gun, the National War Museum of Scotland, and the famous 15th century gun Mos Meg. read more
Another must visit when in the area. Sorry all, I guess that most of my Scotland pictures did NOT get uploaded. I was able to recover a few, so if you have checked out my pictures previously, there are a few more now. Quality/Quantity - Another venue that SELLS out quickly, I recommend ordering in advance! We got so lucky and were able to buy our tickets from our hop on hop off bus. So, FYI, if you are unorganized like me, there can be other options. And on top of that, the tour company gave us a DISCOUNT! So LUCKY. Huge castle, I wish I was able to recover more pictures to share. Anyways, the pictures do not do it justice, a highly recommended visit. Plan for a minimum of 2 hours, if you plan to read, you will need a full day. Whisky tastings. Afternoon tea experience - They would not even let us inside to check out without a reservation, so if you enjoy or want to experience afternoon tea at the castle, MAKE reservations. Atmosphere - Huge castle. Very organized and prepared for us tourists. Cafe - If you get hungry or thirsty. Too many exhibitions to name, see the few pictures I recovered. Very beautiful and scenic. Crazy busy but organized. The team did a good job managing the traffic. Started with the limited # of visitors, so again, book your tickets in advance. Events held here and right outside the castle. Look forward to planning my next visit on the same day as an event. Open 7 days a week from 9:30am to 5pm or 6pm depending on the season. See Yelp or website. Service - 5 stars, great job managing the tourists. Price - 22 pounds for the general public, I think I paid 18.50 pounds through the hop on hop off bus. Online, a prepaid discount for 19.50 pounds, see website. Audio guides from 3.50 pounds each. Membership or explorer pass prices, see website. Owner Comment - Congrats on all your success since pre 1314... read more
1 year ago
Beautiful castle with a full war museum and an exhibit of the Royal Jewels. The castle is massive with many view points and photo opportunities. Quite amazing really. You can rent headsets to follow along with the historical information if you would like. We are so glad we were able to tour the castle and take in the sights. There is so much to see behind the entrance of the castle walls. This is a must see in Edinburgh read more
2 years ago
We had a blast visiting the Edinburgh Castle which is one of the oldest fortified places in Europe. With a long rich history as a royal residence, military garrison, prison and fortress, it is alive and well with many exciting tales. The Governor of the castle and resides on site. The Scottish royal jewels are exhibited in one of the main building. You can also visit the war museum and the royal Scotts guards regiment museum. read more
I think if we went in a warmer day we would have enjoyed it more. It's a mediaeval castle so I guess nothing fancy inside it. They did transfer some of the building into gift shop and cafes. The tour is a historical landmark with lots of history to know. The view from the top of you get clear sky is stunning but be prepared to a weather change in seconds. We went up and it was 72 degrees and within a min it went down to 50 degrees with very cold wind. And nope none of us was ready. This tour isn't good for little kids as there is nothing to do for them. In our tour we had few elementary school kids who weren't interested in anything our tour guide was saying. They do have afternoon tea you can book it straight from their website and it gets sold out so book it early enough. We did go to the afternoon restaurant without reservations and they weren't serving it anymore. Anyway we got their hot chocolate and it's the best I have ever had in my life I took it with coconut milk So overall if you don't mind the sudden wind and rain and a history lesson then this place is a must for you to visit. I think for me it's a once in a life time place as yes I love history but the sudden weather change which isn't their fault was a nightmare. As well not being able to go inside the army hospital or any building that isn't transferred to be a cafe or a gift shop isn't fun for me. As I love knowing the history yet I want to see inside the buildings! read more
She's Olllldddddd!!!! They started building Edinburgh Castle in the 11th century and I'm not certain they are done building her. Home of Scotland's Crown Jewels. She's been a prison, a royal residence, a fortress, and a military garrison. Even though she's up on the most strategic hill, she's been the most besieged place in Britain. Queen Margaret (who was later made a saint) died here in 1093. The chapel built in her honor by her son, King David I, is Edinburgh's oldest building. read more
Edinburgh Castle rises above the rest of the Edinburgh landscape, except for some of the volcanic remains protruding high as well. It is a very aesthetic castle and useful for navigating in terms of serving as a landmark for finding one's way in the streets of Edinburgh below. Interestingly, it is not the highest point in the city and can be viewed from higher elevation in Holyrood Park. Noticed it when I zoomed in on one of my pictures in the park to see it beyond some grassy and sloped rocks. I was on my way up to the summit of Arthur's Seat and realized that was part of why the volcanic rocks were called Arthur's Seat... highest point in Edinburgh. The grounds are on the larger side and is composed less of ruins than most of the castles I visited on my Scotland heritage travel trip in July 2019. Beautiful place, though can be very crowded even early in the day on a weekday in the summer. read more
3 years ago
I would highly recommend coming to Edinburgh Castle and taking in the rich history that this place has to offer. However, I would HIGHLY recommend buying your tickets ahead of time. I didn't think it would be an issue, but it was sold out for the day when we came up on a Wednesday around 11am. We looked online for the next day and it was sold out too. Luckily, I was able to score tickets for the following Monday. At first, I wanted to skip seeing the castle, given we couldn't get tickets the first 3 days we had in Edinburgh and I had plans for the second half of our trip. But this was my mans first time in Europe, first time outside of the US, and he had never seen a castle. We had to do this activity and honestly, I'm glad we did. Well worth the ticket price to be able to see all the interesting things this castle has to offer. It's quite a climb once you're inside but even our bums were able to walk up and down a few times without getting to tired so it's not that taxing. We saw St Margaret's Chapel, gorgeous, and came back down for the 1 o'clock gun. They aren't lying when they say this fills up quickly. Thankfully, there is a slope that you can stand on and see the whole thing without being up front. We were about 3 people deep from the front but I decided to move when people started putting their kids on their shoulders. I'm glad I did as we were able to see if very well from about halfway up the hill. Another super interesting spot here is the prisons. They have one of the earliest depictions of the Stars and Stripes and it was really interesting to see another side to something we as Americans know fairly well, the Revolutionary War. The line to the Crown Jewels and the Stone of Scone was long but moved fairly fast. You don't really get to linger but the person in there will answer any questions for you. We joked about how lucky we were to be able to see it as it just got back from holiday in England (the king's coronation, lol!) The Great Hall shows a replica of the stone as it would have been in the past and they used it in place of the real one while it was gone. Super interesting! The views from this castle are breathtaking as well. Overall, a great place to spend some time in Edinburgh. read more
Edinburgh Castle has incredible history and geography. What could be more intimidating than a castle fortress built on top of a 350 million year old extinct volcano?! The castle dominates the city skyline and provides a point of reference for navigating the city. read more
I really enjoyed touring Edinburgh Castle. There is so much rich history to see and learn about here. I really think I could've spent 1/2 a day exploring and reading up on everything. Unfortunately for me, my visit was extremely crowded and some areas of the Castle were so uncomfortably over-populated that people were squeezing in like sardines. My favorites are the Great Hall (where the Armor and Swords are housed), as well as The Honours (where the Scottish Crown Jewels are displayed). I really would've loved to look at the Crown Jewels longer than I was allowed to (about 30-Seconds), but it was so crowded that we were ushered in/out like cattle, so I only got a glimpse of them. Parking for the Castle is an absolute nightmare and Castle Staff was no help in offering parking suggestions. There is street parking within a 5-minute walk of the Castle, however, those spots fill up very fast and you have to be very careful that you are parking in the right areas or you will receive a citation. I saw several cars parked in wrong areas with citation cards on them. I ended up driving around for about 45-minutes until I finally found a pay-per-use parking garage within a 15-20 minute walk to the castle. To avoid the parking frustration and confusion, I highly suggest you Taxi from your hotel/area directly to the Royal Mile and just walk to the Castle. It's just much easier and cost efficient that way. Lastly, I highly suggest that you purchase your tickets online before your visit, this way you can just scan them at the gate and walk on in. Tickets are on a timed entry and can sell out quickly. This way you guarantee your spot. Overall, I highly recommend a visit to Edinburgh Castle. The Artifacts on display are pretty awesome to see and learn about. I'll definitely come back again during off-season so I can take my time seeing all the things I missed. read more
2 years ago
3 years ago
To say that this castle embodies the pride of the Scots in their history and people would be as simply put as could be. This magnificent structure is well-preserved and serves as an active military barracks, a castle, and a location for impressive museums and the awe-inspiring National War Monument. We thought we would only spend a couple of hours here, but we ended up putting in a full day. We moved quickly, too, because of the cold and icy weather - so on a nice day, we would have meandered even more. The views of the area from here are magnificent, and the views of the castle from below are just as impressive. Try to get here as soon as it opens and prepare yourself for a full day of history, taking in some unforgettable sights and being blown over by tales of Scottish military bravery and honor. read more
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More info about Edinburgh Castle
Castle Hill
Edinburgh EH1 2HG
United Kingdom
Old Town, Royal Mile
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0131 225 9846
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http://www.edinburghcastle.gov.uk/
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Edinburgh Castle - landmarks - Updated May 2026
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