Just ok.. not worth spending too much money.. also no free or cheap parking... try to use public transport..

If you thought Jabba the Hutt was cute, you'll love this castle.(http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=jabba%20the%20hutt%20&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CDEQFjAA&url=https%3A%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FJabba_the_Hutt&ei=eoR9UfPSEej5igK8r4GwCw&usg=AFQjCNGD4ZiwivtPoGz74u5bi7KRcpibUA&sig2=hgptCUgTKUSYrpd-blowGw&bvm=bv.45645796,d.cGE) It's big and ugly and squats like a fattened toad on a hill. I imagine only a Highlander would love the looks (picturing a blue-faced, adrenaline-fueled Mel Gibson as William Wallace). It is the very antithesis of Germany's Neushwantstein (http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=neu%20shwantstein&source=web&cd=2&ved=0CD4QFjAB&url=http%3A%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FNeuschwanstein_Castle&ei=lZd8UaDiA-aniALDoICwBQ&usg=AFQjCNE9ywT1MNwjBMZDhX6rCxzjykpPRA&sig2=PWYj6cNmR-WHerxEQVKTOg&bvm=bv.45645796,d.cGE). If Walt Disney conjured a world of beautiful damsels dangling long, golden hair from ivory-white towers ala Neushwanstein, he'd make Edinburgh Castle the home of the Orcs. There is nothing pretty about it. It's truly formidable. It was made to intimidate and that it does. It's muy macho. It even has a big ole cannon down there with these huge balls that they whip out now and then, a cannon so big... so big ... that it sank into the road before it could get to the battle. It even has a name, the Mons Meg (http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=scottish%20cannon&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CDAQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FMons_Meg&ei=awSEUfOKNaa7igLIy4C4BA&usg=AFQjCNFrKxnPvFMFtPdZrWwoxYxFJRKJSQ&sig2=s0i1sGATtQrKvMmehe_bpw&bvm=bv.45960087,d.cGE). Oh well, it was a gift anyway, easy come-easy go. If you're in Edinburgh, you'll go see it, admire the views, envision English or Nordic invaders storming the walls, maybe catch the "Tattoo" http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=the%20military%20tattoo&source=web&cd=3&ved=0CEUQFjAC&url=http%3A%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FRoyal_Edinburgh_Military_Tattoo&ei=UAKEUfG7H4fYigKp1IGgAQ&usg=AFQjCNGVEJvFbP2WzSIoH9-P-0Ukko86zA&sig2=oZ8e9aUh3_3C1NrTW2jyNw&bvm=bv.45960087,d.cGE And just like their friends down south, they keep their Crown Jewels (their "Honours") buried behind bigass rock walls. Only these jewels are meh compared to the English. (I can't believe I used "meh" describing someone's crown jewels). I'm not meaning to demean these scepters and crowns and stuff, they are just less eye-popping than those in London. http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=scottish%20honours&source=web&cd=3&ved=0CEYQFjAC&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.royal-mile.com%2Fcastle%2Fcastle-crownjewels.html&ei=mwKEUZvPCcjxiQKqm4HYBw&usg=AFQjCNFBKfAOZgBDOPyU6-0jRUCDoBL4PQ&sig2=gfNON3lz37S2WH0KhkRVmw&bvm=bv.45960087,d.cGE We took the obligatory photos and walked the Royal Mile, Edinburgh's Rodeo Drive http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=royal%20mile&source=web&cd=2&ved=0CD0QFjAB&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.edinburgh-royalmile.com%2F&ei=LwCDUfXXMqLoigKI04CYCA&usg=AFQjCNFXSVxQzZMxfguHQuWDVfUaTOiTIA&sig2=zhpuSJfUxKmGfmp64hq0KQ&bvm=bv.45960087,d.cGE. where we shopped a bit, bought some tartan cloth for a skirt, a silver thistle brooch for me mum (I mean "my mom", sorry) and headed out for some pub fare and a wee dram or two. (Another review will describe the Tower of London (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crown_Jewels_of_the_United_Kingdom). This is where the Beefeater guard pointed his spear-thingie at me and told me to step away from the display. I felt so dirty, ha ha. read more

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If you go to Edinburgh you must see the Castle. It's the highest point in town but well worth the walk.

I can't believe we played ROCKS, PAPER, SCISSORS to see if we should pay the admission fee and explore the castle. STUPID AMERICANS. When presented with a castle... You explore REGARDLESS of the price. Thankfully EVEN THOUGH I WON the R,P,S competition (meaning we wouldn't go in), an executive decision was made that we would in fact go! The admission price is a tiny bit high but.... After exploring and not even hitting all the books and crannies that this castle had to offer (we were the last couple to leave the castle when it closed at 5pm), you certainly get QUITE THE BANG FOR YOUR BUCK!! We were there 2.5 hours and easily could have spent another hour in there... It's 100% worth going, even if you're brutally frozen/on the brink of frost bitten toes, like I was! Suck it up... Pay the admission fee... And LEARN SOMETHING NEW! PS: the Afghan/Turkish restaurant outside the walls of the castle HOLDS the BEST FOOD on the face of the planet.... Refuel there for sure!! read more

Okay so every yelper and their dog has written a review about Edinburgh Castle. But I still feel the urge to express my opinion- that same urge that has got me into trouble many a time. Let me begin by saying that Edinburgh Castle, as a landmark, is truly beautiful. I could not wish for any other entity to sit, like a crown, at the centre of the city I live. No matter the view, if you can see Edinburgh Castle, it always remains impressive. It LOOKS spectacular. However my feelings on the rest of the Castle experience are rather a mixed bunch. I'll get it out now and agree with the others who complain about the price. Some days you will be met with half hour+ queues only find out you have to pay half your travellers checks to get in. But that isn't my main complaint, my main complaint is that I can't get over the fact that I feel Edinburgh Castle is a little phony. I feel like its presented as some symbol of Scottishness, and at the very least, a paradigm example of a Scottish castle. It's at least not the latter of these. Only part of the Great Hall and St Margaret's Chapel date from the 16th century or before, everything else is later, a large part Victorian. The Great Hall interior is Victorian (bar the ceiling which is genuine medieval and very impressive). It LOOKS medieval but its actually a Victorian romantic interpretation of a medieval hall. Of course the Hall did need repairing after Cromwell ruined it, but the fact its really a romanticised version of a castle is the feeling I feel pervades the whole site, not just the building, but also its presentation. When I was in the Castle courtyard once, a tourist came up to me and said, "excuse me, could you tell me where the castle is?". "Madam, this IS the castle". I think there are two common responses from tourists after visiting, the first is that they love it in all its glory then expect all Scottish castles to resemble its grand facade, its completeness, its ideal castleness. Or they are perplexed "why doesn't it look anything the other castles we have seen around Scotland?" There is, of course, so much history surrounding the castle. There has been a Royal Castle here since the 12th century. It has seen many wars, through the "Lang Siege" and the Jacobite Rebellions and all. I actually find the war museum, separate but based in the castle grounds, to be one of the more interesting parts, as I actually feel I learn something from it. The rest of the castle just feels, to be honest, a bit boring. A large part of it feels like a series of New Town villas (a residue of the castle's use as a military barracks). The castle also lets down in its use for several over priced restaurants and tourist gifts shops. How many does it need? With every other shop down the Royal Mile selling whisky and books about genuine Scottish ghosts, does our premier historical site have to too? Having said it all this, Edinburgh castle is worth a visit. It has moments when it does impress and even if only for the sake of its vital role (note, in the past) of Scottish history, you can still feel the nostalgia. I too have good memories of visiting as a child, and I wouldn't want to ignore those. Just remain open minded and do a bit of reading around the side. And expect to pay for the privilege. Lots. read more

Literally more busy than the tour of London. It's crazy busy and the line takes 45 minutes. Honestly there is not much to see here. read more

This is one of my favorite castles in Scotland. It's neat when they fire the cannons. The tour guides are friendly, helpful, and fun! There is so much fun history to see here. read more

You can't go to Edinburgh and not visit Edinburgh Castle. There should be a law about this. Anyway, I went to the castle and spent a couple hours here. I love castles, I want one. But then again, I'm not Nicholas Cage and I can't buy a bunch of them prior to declaring bankruptcy. This castle did not disappoint. It's huge and there is lots to see. The best part though is the views. Since the castle is up on a hill you get spectacular views of the entire city. The castle also has the crown jewels but you can't get anywhere near them with a camera. The good news is they really weren't all that impressive so I didn't feel bad that I didn't get a picture. The castle is worth a visit if for no other reason than it's a castle, and castles are always cool. read more

I would give the castle 1000 stars if I could. In the future when I leave Edinburgh, I will never ever forget living in a city that has a giant castle right in the middle of it. It is one of the coolest places I've ever visited in my entire life, and I even joined Historic Scotland so I could go all the time without paying the entry fee every single time. I have explored every inch of this place numerous times in the past year, but I would go back every single day if I had to because it is just that cool. Honestly if someone isn't impressed by this place it makes me angry. If you visit Edinburgh for only one day-GO TO THE CASTLE- and look at all of the museums and all of the rooms (the jail is probably my favorite), see the crown jewels, have some tea in the cute cafe, go into the oldest church in Scotland...you will not regret it. read more

I was looking forward to seeing the castle but was disappointed with the overcrowded conditions. It was not enjoyable. We stood in line to see the Crown Jewels - which took probably 30 minutes to get to the jewels and with the overcrowding you got less than 30 seconds to look at the display as the line needed to keep moving. Unfortunate day as I took the train from Glasgow to specifically see the Edinburgh Castle - glad I was able to see a few other castles during my trip that were very impressive. The Dunvegan and Eilean Donan Castle - both spectacular to see. read more

This is a wonderful place to stop if ever you are in Edinburgh. This castle is really the centerpiece of Edinburgh in my opinion, as it anchors the Royal Mile and has been kept up very well over the centuries. You may be tempted to turn back once you see the admission fee: £16. Keep in mind that you are not just paying admission for the castle, but also several other attractions: - National War Museum - Crown Jewels - Scottish National War Memorial - Regimental Museum This is in addition to all the castley bits like the Great Hall, Mons Meg, the One O'Clock Gun, St. Margaret's Chapel, and the Palace. And let's not forget the spectacular views of the city! When you've hit your threshold for Scottish history, there's a pleasant tearoom located right next to the Great Hall where you can eat lunch or have tea and a bite. The only downside is the ticket line! We went a few days after Christmas and it took nearly 30 minutes to snake to the front of the line. I can't imagine what it's like during the summer. Try to get tickets in advance if possible. read more

An excellent castle. We wandered around the castle for hours and had an amazing time. We were surprised when they shot a cannon at 1PM, and apparently they do that every day. We went back the next day to discover that there was an admission fee. I don't know how we missed that the day before. Oops. If you've never seen a real castle, this is the place to lose your castle virginity. read more

This was a fantastic castle and I was happy to have been able to wander it's walls. My son thoroughly enjoyed the military museum. The view of Arthur's Seat and the Royal Mile was amazing to see from the entrance! read more

From what I could see from the visitor's giftshop, Edinburgh Castle looked really nice! However, by them charging a huge fee of £16 without a student discount, this was the best view I got. Yes, they let you walk through into part of the castle so you can use the toilets and giftshop, but they stop you just a stones throw away from that and ask to see your tickets. A part of me seemed sad, but then I thought about the dozens of History Channel Documentaries I've already seen regarding this castle and how I could re-watch them again for free. I would love to help old castles and donate to them, but I cannot at a price this steep and I will not when places like these are extremely commercialized, like St. Patrick's Cathedral in Dublin (Half of the Cathedral WAS the giftshop). read more

Whether you're a tourist or a resident, the absolute must-see is the Edinburgh Castle. The Castle sits high atop a hill overlooking the City of Edinburgh at the end of the Royal Mile. According to their website, there has been human settlement on the site since 900BC. But it's more than just an old castle. There are several museums within the grounds. Once you pass through the entrance, the first thing you'll notice is, besides the ticket machines, the gift shop. I guess they want to get you coming and going, but it is the largest one on site. Besides the usual T-Shirts, you can get clan histories and whiskey collections. Once past this commercialism, you pass through Portcullus Gate. Being a castle, war plays an important part in its history. There are not one, but two war museums here. The National War Museum looks at four centuries of Scots at war. The Scottish National War Memorial is dedicated to the Scots who died in both World Wars. The Prisoners of War Exhibit shows how the castle was used for POWs imprisoned and executed there. I think my favorite exhibits were the Royal Palace, the Great Hall, and the Crown Room. The Royal Palace was is where Scotland's royalty lived when they were in Edinburgh. Believe me, it wasn't quite as "palatial" as the name implies. They preferred staying at Holyrood Abbey. The Great Hall dates from the 1500s and was used for state functions. When Oliver Cromwell invaded Scotland, he had the hall converted into a barracks. It wasn't restored until the 1880s. My favorite though was the Crown Room. Here you see Scotland's crown jewels. I fell into a hush marvelling at the quiet beauty of it all. Americans tend to think of anything made before 1990 as old. Here we have the crown, sceptre and sword date from the late 15th and early 16th centuries. They had to be buried a few times. Twice to hide them from Oliver Cromwell and once to hide them from the Nazis. They remain in ceremonial use today with the crown being present at the opening of Scottish Parliament. You can easily spend almost an entire day here. A few tips. It's steep here--wear your walking shoes. And I mean good, sturdy, ugly, comfortable walking shoes. Be sure to watch the 1pm firing of the guns. Also it's a good idea to buy your tickets on line like Rick and I did. Finally, take the guided tour. The guides here are very knowledgeable and the tour is included with your admission. read more

We only had one full day to spend in Edinburgh, so of course we allotted a couple of hours to see its most famous attraction. Arriving at about 11, we had to wait in line for about half an hour to get tickets. Although there are those who maintain that standing in line is akin to being forced to attend a Nickelback concert, we didn't mind too much, primarily because it was a great people watching scene, the weather was cool, and let's be frank, we wanted to spite those obnoxious people who were trying to get us to check in via a phone. A word or two about technology: Yes, it's the 21st century, and yeah, people have rights to bring whatever they want into whatever place they're going, yada yada yada. But good gosh, selfie sticks have got to be the most obnoxious, self-indulgent crap ever invented. The worst sort of "Hey! Look At Me!" device known to humankind. I'll just say that Edinburgh Castle had more than its share of these people, including one individual I observed who appeared to be by themselves, videotaping their blank stare in front of the castle's many points of interest. I'd nominate that as the most boring video ever made. Seriously... worse than the many oversized strollers trying to be wedged into tiny spaces. So, yeah, it's sort of Scotland's Disneyland in its worst aspects (well, actually Loch Ness is probably worse). But enough of the negative - certainly the Castle has enough for the person who really goes for the history - many exhibits with respect to war, defense of the hill, and of course, Scotch. The prisoner room gives the observer a sense as to what war was like hundreds of years ago - certainly there was no texting involved! In summary, if you're willing to put up with the crowds, the Castle is well worth it. Otherwise, you'd be better off going to less-advertised points of interest, of which Edinburgh has many. read more

A world-class experience. I would recommend doing a guided tour during your visit. It's free (once you've paid admission), lasts only around 30 minutes, and gives you a lot of good background information. If you're visiting Edinburgh, the Castle should be on your 'must-do' list. read more

This review is disappointing to write. It kills me that I'm giving this such a low review. I really wanted to love Edinburgh Castle, but I didn't. First off the history is incredible! The fact that a castle of some form has existed there since the 12th Century is just wonderful. I love experiencing history this way. However, most of the current structures are newer and while impressive it takes away some of the romance of the history. The other thing that put me off was that half of the buildings are restricted due to still being used. One of the best parts about exploring castles is exploring! With so many restrictions I felt cheated and I am glad that I got my money's worth out of the Explorer Pass I purchased before coming to Edinburgh. To be honest, I felt that Stirling Castle is better presented and was more interesting. Doune and Campbell Castles were also more exciting. Sorry Edinburgh, while I am a Scot by blood and I hold the history close to my heart, I just didn't enjoy the castle. read more

Overpriced attraction. Too many tourists around, and I visited in winter. I wouldn't bother standing in line waiting and paying that much money as it's a nice castle but certainly not nicer than 50 others I've seen in Germany, Spain, and the Czech republic. I would recommend walking there via the old town and taking tons of pictured of the view from near the castle. This way you can experience it without the costs and won't lose precious time read more

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

Romantic and beautiful with sweeping views of the city. Well worth a visit but here's some free advice BUY YOUR ADMISSION ONLINE BEFORE YOU GO OR YOU WILL END UP WAITING IN A 2 HOUR QUEUE TO GET IN. During high tourist season the crowd is intense. Buy your ticket online and get there early! read more

The castle is probably one of the best views of Edinburgh entirely - better than Arthur's seat even. It's just lovely. The only thing is, the entire inside of the castle is simply stone walls and plaques telling you what happened in each one. Simple, classy, but don't come expecting to see the rooms decorated as they were when Mary lived there. The Crown Jewels are lovely, but once you've seen them, you've see them, you know? There are free tours happening at all times once you've purchased your ticket, and the gift shop is quite nice. Obviously a lot history to be seen. I would also just say to anyone struggling with walking, there are so so many steps to get up to the castle, and no lifts from what I could see. You may want to just look at the castle towering above the city on an extinct volcano and call it a day (: read more

The history and the views from the castle are stunning, so are the 'free' museums once you get inside. They should have a student price, but they don't. Unless you can prove you are unemployed don't even bother trying to get the concession price. That to me is BS, how do you do that? "Um, excuse me boss that I don't have, can you validate that I do not work for you?" Anyway, the one o'clock gun was great, the audio guide is informative (they have a student price for that!?!?!?!) and each part of the castle was amazing to look through and experience. We had no problem with the queues because we bought our tickets online. The gift shop underneath St. Margaret's chapel has free whisky tasting that is single malt made in the Scottish Highlands and has a floral and honey hint. Check it out and maybe get a bottle or two. read more

An absolute must see of Scotland. Take your time and enjoy everything the castle has to offer. You can take a local tour or use an audio device tour. The history of this Castle defines the struggles The Scottish people have been through. A truly fascinating place to visit. Gift shop has decent (non-killer tourist) price items and food is plentiful in the area. Family friendly but not very handicapped accessible due to obvious reasons. read more

When I finally got to the Castle I had decided 2 things: 1. I was never going smoke again, because after the walk I just did, made me feel like an old man, and thus, I probably would've have been able to enjoy the castle a bit more 2. Scots are people to! only joking, I love Scotland, my Gran is from these parts. The Castle was an excellent place to visit. All the staff a helpful and love working there, which I find rare in this industry. So many stories and the history of the place is great to hear as well. When your in London you don't realise how much of the UK you miss. Edinburgh is a Beautiful city and the Jewel in this crown is the Castle. You can feel the energy. I wish I could harness that. When we walked around the different parts of the Castle, I felt that everything wanted to be there, I mean it can't run on much money, the Crown Jewels are actually in this one small room, And they manage to drag that section out, so you learn who made everything and where they all came from, which if your a little like me, you'd like. There are two Cafes where the food was nice but a little pricey for quality and quantity. Still, that doesn't spoil it and I didn't want to leave when it was time to go home. Alex read more

When I accidentally relieved myself in this castle, no one chastised me! So I did it again. This place is the best.

14 GBP to see this castle that has nothing to show, other than itself I guess. The main attraction here is the crown jewel, hidden in a labyrinth within a tower. The narrow path going to the crown jewels can take anywhere up to an hour to get through due to the sheer number of people walking through them. During this hour long wait, you are being haunted by scary wax figures attempting to tell the story of the history of the crown jewel. You can't even give up and NOT see the jewel if you wanted to, because there's no way out of this narrow tower. You may want to invest a couple more pounds and pay for an audio guide, since the girls next to us in line waiting to see the crown jewels seemed like they rather enjoyed themselves and was upset that other people didn't seem to be enjoying being enclosed in tiny rooms you can't get out of as much as they did. What's also disappointing is the fact that the inside of all the castle rooms have been modernized. It looks like a medieval castle from the outside, but the new paint and drywalls on the insides tell another story. The most interesting site is the prisons, but even those are gimmicky. They were playing soundtracks of prisoners being stuck in the prisons and their conversations. The question now remains, even though the attraction itself is a waste of money, can you really come to Edinburgh and not go into the castle? read more

This is a must if you visit Edinburgh. Built on an extinct volcano, you walk up the lovely Royal Mile to reach it. Inside the castle are a number of museums and areas to explore, including old prison cells, the crown jewels and Mons Meg (a huuuuuuuge, old canon!) The oldest chapel in Edinburgh is up here as well as a dog's cemetery for the soldiers' dogs, which is really sweet. The view from the top is also pretty awesome. Try and be in the castle for 1pm so you can hear them shoot the 1pm canon. We learnt some cool facts about the canon from the audio guide so I would recommend that you buy that too. Sometimes the guy droned on for a little longer but the best thing about the audio guide is that you can listen to as much or as little as you want. The price for the audio guide was acceptable (4 pound I think). But the price for the castle was a little too much in my opinion - 16 pound per person is a little steep. But we did have a good day out and spent around 3 hours there. There is a lot to see and a lot of walking - so be prepared! read more

Amazing castle to explore. Fee isn't too crazy, but if you buy online first you won't have to wait in the ridiculous line to buy the entrance ticket! At 1:00pm they fire the canon, which is a pretty awesome sight to see. We started standing around that area around 12:45pm and we were in the front row when it actually happened. Very cool! The crown and jewel room was really great, as were the prisons below. Be sure to take an audio tour so you can learn everything about the castle! There's some real historical gems of knowledge there. Unlike some other sites, their audio tour comes with headphones so you don't have to bring your own earbuds or hold the machine up to your ear. The great hall was pretty majestic as well. Loved all the large paintings and the carvings in the beams. I believe Queen Mary also gave birth to King James in this castle, and that room/area was pretty great to explore as well. Seems like a good place for couples, families, kids, and all kinds of tourists alike! read more

Looks magical from afar, fantastic set up of the tour as well. It can get cold and windy in March, so definitely bring a scarf! read more

I've been coming to Edinburgh for 4 years and spent this year as a student here but I never found a chance to visit the castle. Fortunately I got a special student offer and managed to visit the castle for free. The views it offers are definitely worth the price (if you have to pay!), but I suggest visitors not to follow the flock of tourists who inevitably will be in the way. If you managed to be among the first who visit the castle in the morning, you should notice that on the way in there's a staircase on the left leading to the upper part: if you go that way you'll make sure you can take pictures without annoying people in the way, and once you move down to the lower part the flock will be moving up just where you were! The only draw-backs are the expensive ticket and tthe annoying guard preventing you from taking picture of the Scottish crown jewels. read more

We've been here a few times before and have always enjoyed it. You get a feeling of danger and foreboding as you approach and wonder how brave / stupid you'd need to be being a bad guy attacking. The steep approach and massive walls do not give the attacker any confidence I'm sure. The various parts of the castle with their exhibits are all fairly well laid out; only occasionally did it get a bit tight due to the amount of tourists but it's no surprise. We didn't manage to see everything due to the 5hr drive up to Edinburgh; we went straight to the castle rather than a hotel or have a rest first. For me the best parts were the history/ lineage and the treasures, and the prison (even if the 'real' commentary was cheesy). I found it fascinating to read about both and would happily go back. Finally, the cafe was good value and the food tasty. A shame it was so disorganised though. A great visit. read more

Edinburgh Castle - Can't believe I'm saying this but fab pasta salad here at Benugo (Edinburgh Castle)! - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

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If your in Edinburgh Scotland this is a must see castle. With all it's history still in tagged. There's information all over the castle telling what it used to be used for it showing of artefacts of the era. It is a little bit of a walk all the way to the top but it's worth it. It's defiantly multiple hours event maybe if all day. read more

The Castle is like a gem nestled on the scepter of the town. It was my first day in Edinburgh and, after a quick visit to the Princes Street Tourist Office to collect some useful infos, I walked straight to the Castle. I knew that it was a little pricey, but it's such a relevant part of the history of Edinburgh and of Scotland that I never considered the idea to complaint about it. Moreover, I would have restored the budget a few hours later, visiting the beautiful (and free) National Gallery. This place looks like a miracle of architecture and willingness. Every single stone had to be posed challenging the volcanic rocks rising everywhere. Sometimes it is almost impossible to see where the nature of the place ends and the buildings start. It's by far smaller than other castles I've visited in the last years, but its witchery is by no means less than the castles of Prague or Budapest, to name a couple of largest "brothers". The wee Chapel, the honours of Scotland, the uneven path leading to the main buildings keep the whole place alive under your feet and your eyes. The wind adds an epic flavour to the experience and the wonderful views over the town and towards the Forth Bridge, are unforgettable. Yes. I payed 16 pounds to get in, but after this visit I felt by far richer :) read more

Great place to visit if your interested in history. My family (ages 29-60) all really enjoyed it! We found that a half-day, self-guided tour was perfect. I definitely recommend buying your tickets in advance online and getting there early to beat the crowds. read more

I knew I had to see Edinburgh Castle. We could see it from our hotel room window, gleaming under floodlights in the chilly Scottish night. I also knew I would share my visit with a throng of tourists, complete with loud children and slow senior citizens. So we trekked here on a foggy day, ready to brave the crowds. The admission price is VERY steep for what you get to see. Walking in, we were almost run off the road by an SUV (very authentic looking, though). Every time we turned a corner, what appeared to be an exhibit turned out to be either a restaurant or a gift shop. Some areas of the castle are very interesting, like the Scottish Crown Jewels and the old prison, but I enjoyed simply walking the streets of Edinburgh more than spending a few hours at this castle. read more

First of all, who am I, a Californian with no sense of history whatsoever, to judge a thousand year old castle on a spot inhabited for the last 2,000 years? Nonetheless, I'll do my best: 1. Take a cab to the entrance if any in your party are "infirm" as they say here. I've got arthritic hip and knees, but handled the grades and cobblestones just fine, starting fairly fresh from the cab. If you don't get caught in traffic, it's under 10 pounds from New Town. And wear layers. Wind whips up the hill, but many of the interior spaces are heated. 2. Pay for the Souvenir Guide. There's so much here that you're bound to miss some of it, or forget the details. The guide is chock-full of valuable info and clear crisp photos. 3. Right after the entrance, take a minute to climb up on the parapet and look down at the gorgeous town of Edinburgh. 4. Check out the sword, armor, and halberds in the Great Hall, even if you aren't into war or combat. The colors will only be on display another week or two, they're too fragile to leave out any longer (also in the great hall). 5. Don't snicker at the diaramas you must walk past to get a viewing of the Royal Jewels. They're using the same great crowd control techniques as Disneyland. Plus check out the body language between Duncan and MacBeth! 6. If you're history-deficient like me, go slow, take time to imagine what life was like, how the hell they got food in and waste out, until it becomes real. 7. Don't miss viewing the very oldest building at the top of the hill, a wee building that's been gorgeously restored. (St. Margaret's chapel). You'll be into different things than I was, I hope you'll post your favorite here. Mine was the chatty cashiers in the gift shop, laughing at the card readers that kept failing on them and making do/making the best of it, a skill the Scots all seem to have in abundance, along with good humor and great storytelling skills. Stroll down the Royal Mile after, and if you are a Harry Potter fan, duck down George IV Bridge, to the Elephant House, where JK Rowling wrote parts of the first Harry Potter. You'll see young and old customers there who remind you of characters from the book, or JK herself. And don't forget the graffiti in the restrooms, it's all Harry Potter themed! read more

good but not great, it was interesting historically speaking. would have liked more I guess I was expecting more from what people were telling me. Do try the wines delicious I purchased a fruity one wow. read more

The castle it's self was nice and well decorated but definitely not worth the 16 pound entry fee.. Tourists worthy-not at all. 16 pounds could be used to experience so much more than what was offered in the castle. read more

My favourite stop of my visit to Edinburgh, the amount of history that has taken place in Edinburgh Castle is amazing. I definitely recommend taking one of the free guided tours which leave every 15 minutes in the Castel courtyard. It's only 25 minutes but you really get an detailed look into the history and current uses of the Castle complex. The war memorial building is breath-taking and very moving. read more

I don't see how anyone can NOT like this castle. It is the most fabulous structure sitting on top of a volcano overlooking the entire city. You can see it overshadowing the buildings from almost every vantage point around. It's truly spectacular. I love it! read more