This was the first real castle I've ever seen in real life and I'd have to say it was worth the wait. Edinburgh Castle is how I imagined a castle would look like as it sits high on a hill overlooking the town. The things that really amazed me about the castle were the following: - It's built on a extinct volcano, Castle Rock, and you can tell by looking at the black rocks below the castle. See my photos. - We drove into town from Glasgow and the castle is hard to miss at the top of the hill. I couldn't keep my eyes off it. - The view of the city once you are at the top of the castle near the cannons is pretty amazing too. - It has some pretty impressive cannons like the Mons Meg and the One O'clock Gun. It was last fired on October 14, 1681. Long ago it was taken to the Tower of London, a casualty of the Disarming Act, but returned to Edinburgh Castle 70 years later instead of being melted down. See my photo. - The Half-Moon Battery that served as the defense of the east front. The battery was the first home of the One o'clock Gun. I would highly recommend visiting Edinburgh Castle. read more

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I visited Edinburgh Castle on New Years Eve. It was a blustery, windy day. The walk up was a bit of a cardio kick but easily done. The castle itself has many different exhibitions. We saw the crown jewels, stone of destiny, Mary Queen of Scots chambers, and walked around the grounds. They even have a pet cemetery for dogs who died in service of Scotland. It is a proper medieval castle with a lot of history. The royal castle has been here since the 12th Century through many historical conflicts and was a royal stronghold up until the Jacobite Rising in 1745. It is Scotland's most visited paid attraction. They still shoot the Time gun at 1 o'clock and there is much to explore while here. Although I didn't go into the war museum, I did see a lot. We were also here for the NYE Hogmanay Street party where they shot fireworks from the castle every hour on the hour until the midnight finale. It was spectacular, even moreso than the fireworks at Disneyland. If you know me, then that's saying something. Edinburgh Castle is a must visit if you're ever in the city. read more

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There's almost 300 reviews already, I'll just say this is the Disneyland of all the castles I've seen in Europe...I think they should upgrade the mannequins with robotics, voice actors, and background music to enhance the overall experience. Don't make the same mistakes I did: 1) Buy your ticket online first...ticket line took us 15-20 minutes. I imagine its much worse in summer. 2) Go later in the day and skip the 1:00 Cannon shooting(its a blank). Its not that exciting and lots of people leave afterwards so it should be much less crowded. 3) Bring a water bottle, you're gonna be here for awhile and its overpriced to buy here. £16.50 isn't cheap, but I suppose it isn't cheap either maintaining place, and its cheaper than London. read more

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I just realized that you can review Castles on Yelp. Wow. This opens up a whole new can of worms for my various travels. It's been almost 8 years since my visit, but I remember it like it was yesterday. Edinburgh Castle is your classic storybook medieval castle on a cliff face, and the view of it from your first approach into Edinburgh proper is mind-blowing. There are no words to describe it. This was my second favorite castle after Stirling, also in Scotland. I definitely recommend the guided tour through the castle. Afterwards, there's plenty of time to explore. Everyone who works here was fabulous, and of course, since you're in Scotland, everyone is fabulous. My favorite interaction was the elderly gentleman who watched me stumble over an uneven surface (watch out for those on your adventurous tour), and helped me up, quipping, "Aye, did ye have a nice trip?" Beautiful people, the Scots. read more

For my first experience to Scotland we wanted to tour the castle. We purchased our tickets there and it seemed cheaper and there was not a line. However for a Wednesday it was crowded. It was cold and misty but it didn't rain on our parade. Staff was very nice and they had signs everywhere. Gift shops galore and there prices were reasonable. Definitely a must see if in Scotland. Full of history! read more

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The Edinburgh Castle is an epic monument to defense and history. It is simply something NOT to be missed when you visit Scotland. Do yourself the favor of joining the Historical society that way you can enjoy -ALL- the historical places for no additional cost. We arrived a bit after 1, so we missed the cannon fire, but by doing so, we didn't spend any time in line for the tickets, and were permitted to buy them inside the gift shop. For it being after 1 when we got there, it wasn't too busy but the streets were steep, and the wind was chilly as it whistled through the ancient streets. History rang thru every stone that was here, from foundation to the very top parapet, it was amazing. read more

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Absolutely stunning and a great experience. The castle is set up well and easy to get around. I learned so much!

This imposing structure towers over the city and offers great views of the landscape. It is a working castle so some of the buildings are off limits. With that said, there is plenty to see. The history is very interesting and the castle is in great shape. The way one walks through history and the battles that occurred just capture the imagination and help one understand the history of a very lively country. read more

OK to start with two tips. 1. Buy your tickets online to avoid the queues. Go straight to the Visitors Information to exchange your voucher for tickets. 2. Get there early to avoid the tourist groups and the cruise ships. If you have followed those pointers then spend about 2 - 3 hours taking in the history of this magnificent building. There is so much to see and I won't even try to cover it. Just take your time as the hill is steep and it does get the backs of the legs. It is so much easier coming down. Remember, at 1 o'clock the canon is fired. Difficult to miss no matter where you are in Edinburgh but worth watching at source. I repeat, just wander and enjoy. read more

I'm not sure how you can give this incredible landmark anything less than 5 stars. The history of the castle is amazing, and it's a beautiful structure. The views of Edinburgh from the top of the castle are stunning. You'll feel like you're part of a Harry Potter novel. Plus there's a 12th-century church on the castle's grounds that is the oldest standing structure in Edinburgh. It's a must-see, not just in Scotland but in all of the United Kingdom. read more

It's a castle! In Edinburgh! Go!! Ok, fine, Yelp is saying this is too short. Be prepared for some lines and crowds as it is a castle (!) in Edinburgh (!) my new favorite city. Interesting note: I'm related to Malcolm III Longneck so for me, this place is awesome in terms of history and ancestry. After you see the castle, go buy a scarf on the Royal Mile. You literally can't miss the scarf stores. read more

Edinburgh Castle - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

There is a lot to see here, and that translates into a lot of walking. I mean, you have to scale a large hill to even get to the entrance, so you have to know that it's going to be a work-out from the get-go. The castle - the whole surrounding area - is stunningly beautiful. Situated on top of a hill, you get some really fantastic views, and they do a great job of detailing what it is you're seeing from your vantage point way up high. Of course they have an audio tour (not included with the cost of the ticket, but definitely worth the extra pounds), which has you stop at several different displays within the castle walls. One of my favorite displays was the one that depicted life for the prisoners that were once held there. I know that makes me sound callous, but it was interesting to finally see the living conditions, after hearing the guide talk about it for an hour or so. I had had a picture in my mind of stark, harsh conditions, but the reality was much different. I'm sure it wasn't easy for them, by any means, but they certainly had it better than the people who lived in the slums. I also rather enjoyed the display on the Scottish Crown Jewels (or the Honours of Scotland), and the history surrounding them. I'm not sure if the stories they relayed within the rooms were accurate, but they sure sounded good. And it's certainly true that someone took it upon themselves to smuggle and then hide the jewels in order to avoid destruction at the hands of Oliver Cromwell. And it's also true that the jewels were then discovered by Sir Walter Scott in 1818. Lots of good stories there, and they were presented in an interesting (if a bit long and meandering) way. My only regret about our long hours at the castle is that we just missed the firing of the one o'clock gun. How that happened, I'm still not sure, as we were in the building right next door, and it is a gun, after all. But, miss it we did - that and the ball dropping at Nelson's Monument. We missed it by ten minutes! I know that the castle can get crowded, but it never really felt that way. Maybe it's because all the exhibits are spread out over the grounds, but even the spaces within weren't too squished. It's a long, exhausting day - if you're doing it right, that is - but it's well worth the effort. There are several gift shops at different points on the grounds, as well, so you shouldn't have to walk very far to grab souvenirs, if you're so inclined. read more

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It might go without saying, but if you're in Edinburgh, even just for a day, you must visit Edinburgh Castle. The City of Edinburgh is gorgeous as a whole, but Edinburgh Castle is truly a sight to see. The walk up to the castle is interesting in and of itself. Yes, there are a lot of touristy shops, but they are mixed into a setting that looks as old as it is. Then once you get to the top, you get the additional delight of beautiful views of Edinburgh. My partner and I didn't have enough time to do any tours, but I'm sure these provide an even more interesting experience into the castle's history. But again, just taking it in up close and personal is worthwhile in its own right. read more

It was neat. It took about an hour to see everything. It might take two if you read through everything. It is basically like going into a museum. Not a lot of the castle is open to the public, so it feels much smaller than I expected. It is a great thing to do if you have a long stay. It is okay to skip if you might have to bump something else. read more

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Admission for Edinburgh Castle is about £17 (least when I went). It's not cheap, but it's definitely worth a visit. Edinburgh Castle is probably the top tourist attraction in Edinburgh. Chances are you won't be the only person here. If you want to avoid the crowds come early in the day during the week. If you're here in August (like I was) it'll just be busy no matter what. That's okay. Despite the fact it was busy there is a lot too see, aside from just the castle itself. A big draw is to see the Crown Jewels of Scotland. The queues for this can be long, so I'd head here first thing. Unfortunately no pictures are allowed. There are also several museums on the castle grounds like the National War Museum and the Regimental Museum. The castle is also home to St. Margaret's Chapel, the oldest building in Edinburgh. The Scottish National War Memorial is quite sobering to see, but worth checking out (like the Crown Jewels no pictures are allowed here). Another highlight was seeing replica of embroideries that Mary Queen of Scots made while she was in exile. Edinburgh Castle has a team room where I had some eggs benedict and tea for lunch. There are a couple of gift shops. I picked up some tablets (a type of candy). It was really good. I spent about 4 hours here, and I feel like I'd gotten my money's worth. I only wish it hadn't rained, but not much you can do about the weather. Make sure you got an umbrella and waterproof jacket boots/shoes with you. I'd recommend purchasing your tickets online in advance so you can skip the long queue to buy the tickets at the castle. read more

By far the #1 attraction in Beautiful historic Edinburgh.....this castle is absolutely breathtaking and exactly what you visualize a castle to be like! The tour is pricey but be sure to pay the extra for the audio tour, so you can get the true experience and understand what you are looking at! This castle is a must see if you visit historic Edinburgh! read more

My gods, I love this place and cannot wait to return to Edinburgh just to visit this Castle all over again. It feels like I'm walking right into Hogwarts or Game of Thrones only it's very real and impressive with history of significance. My best advice is this: Go early, purchase tickets for the first viewing. Get there at least 15min before the gates open. Beat the crowds to see the Crown Jewels first! When you walk in and pass through the castle gates, turn left and walk up the Laing Stairs. Walk past the Scottish National War Memorial and follow the signs to the Crown Jewels. Once inside, you just might have the tiny exhibit room all to yourself. We learned this tip from an Earth Trekkers article and it was AWESOME! We even had the royal apartments to ourselves. Read up on the castle. It's so fun to wander on your own. You won't regret it. read more

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Definitely worth a visit! So many great things to see. Exhibit spaces are spread throughout the large property. I'm partial to the jewels and the chapel. The views are great. Be prepared to take lots of pictures! The gift shops are pretty good too. read more

Great cafe with very nice workers. A great spot to bring kids but there isn't a whole days worth of sight seeing. The view is great and it is beautiful. read more

Cleaning up my bookmarked list of places I've been to and have to still write reviews for.... The day that I arrived in Edinburgh from London, a very apologetic man accidentally dropped his 87-lb suitcase on my foot at the airport carousel. Kind of a problem since I was here for a few days for a meeting of international adventure travel experts and we were scheduled to go on all sorts of adventures. Kinda hard to do it with a half broken foot. Luckily, I GOT PEOPLE, and my people notified the right people at Edinburgh Castle to arrange for me to have a private transport from the main parking lot here to the very top of the castle, complete with my own private guide. She was very jolly and also offered to drive me around in her little electric cart to tour the castle for the next few hours. What fun! We had a gorgeous day and I loved hearing about the history and background of this beautiful icon of Edinburgh. She even hustled me to the front of a little restaurant here where I had the best chips I've ever had in my life (and I lived in the UK for a few years back in my hazy youth). Great staff, great day, great fun. read more

Compared to some of the other "castles" I saw in the UK, this is a much larger fortress or medieval campus. There's a group of buildings. This is a very exciting tourist destination. There's a lot of surprise and anticipation for what exhibits you might find here. I didn't even get to visit all the exhibits with the time we had. We saw the crown jewels exhibit, jail, and military personnel exhibit. It was very crowded though and there were some annoying school children. There's many good picture spots. There's views of Edinburgh. This is very well kept. It's presented in a professional manner like a museum. But it's not a home. read more

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Worth every penny -- this is certainly #1 of all the things we did in Edinburgh. Imagine a huge 1000 year old castle in the middle of a city that can be seen from so many places. So many great picture spots from up here -- and don't miss seeing the old jails / dungeon where they kept prisoners. Wasn't crowded and shocking to see the conditions those poor souls had to endure. The room with the Crown Jewels was nice but if you've seen one Crown Jewel... read more

Pros: -Views of the city and the Crown Jewels are breathtaking sights! Cons: -Gets cold/windy on the mountaintop. Bundle up! -I wish the tour took you through the entire castle but it seemed like most was self-guided. Must see while in Edinburgh! read more

This castle is breathtaking, all throughout Edinburgh you can see bits of the castle. Our hostel was located right next to the castle and as soon as you get off the train into the city you look to your right and there it is. I cried, I was definitely in awe of it. My husband is Scottish and his great-great-grandfather was in the militia and he was honored in one of the books within the castle. You can take a guided tour or walk about the castle on your own! I just kept thinking about the kings and queens who have walked the steps we were taking along the grounds. It was definitely a really great experience. read more

We booked our tickets online so we didn't have to wait. They quickly sold out at the castle. Rich history, amazing architecture, and stunning views of Edinburgh. read more

This castle is huge with lots of buildings inside it, and most of them are now museums. The information teaches you the castle's roll in Scotland's military history. You can get tickets online or stand in the queue which keeps moving. All tours include a guide with introduces you to the castle for 30 minutes, then you're on your own. Plan for a three-hour visit. All the guides wear hiking boots, and I wished I had brought mine. The different cobblestones are killers under your feet as you walk up and down the slopes inside the walls. If anyone has difficulty walking or is in a push wheelchair I would not recommend this castle. Motorized chairs may work, but it's a bumpy ride. If interested check the website for how to get around the castle. Many of the hallways are narrow and the buildings have steps. There is a cafe with quick foods and coffee. The bathrooms are in the lower level, and I did not see an elevator. Shops are located at the castle outside the main entrance. Whiskey gifts are very popular. The views are spectacular of Edinburgh. read more

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I came here in September and thought it was great. Now coming back in June its terrible, worse lines than Disney World! Hours of being lined up waiting ti get into rooms. The blame squarely falls on the management. They should be open longer hours in summer to spread out the visitors. They're happy to take nearly 20£ off you just to visit. Complete rip off for the time wasted! read more

Wow! Such history! My wife and I where blown away with the rich culture and scenic views. We did not take any of the guided tours and we felt like we where able to see it all. Do not be afraid to skip the fee and go with out a guide. The castle isn't terribly large and is easy to manage. read more

Edinburgh Castle is very interesting. It's a must when visiting Scotland. There is a lot of history here. Be sure to get the audio tour so you see it in depth. The Scottish crown jewels are here as well. Get in line early. read more

What a beautiful location, full of information. Do not forget to visit the 1100s chapel and the gift shop.

Although a history buff, of sorts, for me the best part (photographically) of Edinburgh Castle was the exterior. Sitting atop a stone mountain, this fortress has an incredible history. The double-deckers that go around the city provide some great vantage points for capturing the immense size of the whole compound. The walk into it sheds light on some of the history, as do the interior buildings. You can spend a lot of time here going through each and every spot inside the fortress and, if you are lucky as we were with a very nice day, imagine what it was like hundreds of years ago to battle not only the elements on a year-round basis, but also your enemies. Wonderful, maintained history of a very proud people. read more

Edinburgh Castle - Edinburgh Castle - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

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Absolutely breathtaking! Not only is the structure magnificent, but it has some of the best views in all of Edinburgh. We were so happy to finally cross this off of our list of dream destinations, but will most certainly return given the chance. The site is ripe with history and leaves the visitor with an overwhelming sense of awe. Do yourself a favor, and if you have the opportunity to visit Edinburgh Castle, do not pass it up. read more

I'm a history nut, so I might be a bit biased in this review but hear me out. This castle has everything. Plenty of space, things to read, look at, take pictures of and plenty of walking to make even a runners feet hurt. Be wary, tickets are $17 (not dollars though I don't have the British pound symbol) but it is well worth it. You can spend easily 2 hours there. There is plenty of stuff to read as well. The history of the military in Scotland is incredible and you can see the pride in all the monuments and exhibits. It can be crowded (like it was today; tourist season) but it is still well worth the $17. It is something you will never forget. read more

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Set aside at least 2-3 hours to see this property. Great views over the city and a fantastic audio guide to give you a real sense of the stories within the walls. read more

This was easily my favorite tourist spot in Edinburgh and the Old City. There were lots of beautiful sections that showed what happened in each area. The views were also incredible. I climbed the equivalent of 80 flights of stairs to get to the castle. You can see the entire city from all directions. It's just stunning. read more

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So much to see and do here. It is a little expensive, it cost us £33 for two adults but we literally spent 5+ hours here so give yourself plenty of time. They have a tourist information centre so you can pick up useful information on other attractions while on site. We had to queue about 10 minutes to get our tickets so perhaps it's better to buy online. I think you get an online discount too. No student discount here though. The castle has a national war museum, a whiskey shop, a dog cemetery, a chapel, a church, a tower housing the crown jewels, gift shops, two restaurants although the one we visited (Redhouse café) was a 1 star joint as well as plenty of ancient nooks and crannies to explore. It was fantastic learning about the history of the place, and to stand in buildings built as far back as the 14th century. If you visit before 1pm you get to experience the canon going off, at 1pm every day. Great views across the city too. The approach up to the castle is full of fun attractions and shops too. Camera Obscura looked like fun, they have huge mirrors outside that are fun to play around with but we didn't have time to go inside. There are various buskers outside, my favourite was the guy playing bag pipes. Great vibe. read more

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Beautiful castle. The city view from the castle is spectacular. One of my favorite places I've been to so far

GO! Do not miss this historic castle nor the history lesson you get when you visit! Look for St. Margaret's Chapel, the oldest standing structure which is dedicated to Queen Margaret who lived in the Castle in the late 1000. If you are planning a small wedding, you can get married here and if your name is Margaret, it's free. Learn about the world's most famous medieval gun (cannon) that was considered "cutting edge" technology. This cannon was pulled by horses on a cart and could only move a max of 9 miles a day. Witness Mons Meg damage from her final firing. Check out the cemetery for military dogs, a prison built in 1842 and why prison was not considered punishment in the Middle Ages. The Scottish National War Memorial very moving. Marvel at the crown jewels. Learn the history about the "ugly" stone of destiny and it's purpose and journey it will take upon HRH Queen Elizabeth passing. So much to see. Plan 2-3 hours. read more

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Spend half a day there... Easy and convenient. Not much to say, just go and see it while you're there. Buy your tickets in advance at the visitor center to reduce the wait. They have a 30-minute tour included when you go in that's really good (i.e. don't feel like you need to pay for a separate one). So easy to spend 3-4 hours there. read more

I loved this place. Such an amazing complex. It was incredible. We got the see the Scottish Crown jewels and the different building where they housed different things. I didn't know that they had American prisoners from the revolutionary war housed here, very interesting. The property is beautiful and you can see the city from the top, breathtaking. read more

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