Scotland · CASTLE TOURS IN EDINBURGH

15 Castle Tours in Edinburgh Worth the Day

61 tours  ·  from $28

Good castle tours in Edinburgh fill up weeks ahead and the great ones go first. Below: the 15 to book early, what each includes and how they differ.

Edinburgh Castle: Guided Walking Tour with Entry Ticket - Mary, Queen of Scots and the Great Hall
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Edinburgh Castle: Guided Walking Tour with Entry Ticket

1.Edinburgh Castle: Guided Walking Tour with Entry Ticket

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 5,540 reviews · 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.) · from $51Our pick

Meet near St Giles’ Cathedral and walk to Edinburgh Castle with a guide such as Joe, Raj, Sonia, or Valeria. The 90-minute tour takes place outdoors within the castle walls, covering royal stories, the Great Hall, and major viewpoints. Afterward, explore the palace, museums, prisons, and other buildings at your own pace.

“The tour itself is all outdoors, so bundle up accordingly. After the official tour you are able to go inside the various buildings, which is very cool. Our tour guide was extremely informative and entertaining. We loved it!”

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Edinburgh Castle Guided Walking Tour in English - Entering the castle without waiting in the main line
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Edinburgh Castle Guided Walking Tour in English

2.Edinburgh Castle Guided Walking Tour in English

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 5,214 reviews · 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.) · from $52

Meet Little Fish Tours near Adam Smith’s statue on the Royal Mile, walk to Edinburgh Castle with an English-speaking guide, and hear stories about its rulers, dungeons, Crown Jewels, and unusual characters. Your guide leads you through the castle grounds for about 90 minutes, then you explore the buildings alone. Guides may include Koffe, Steph, Greg, Graeme, Euan, or Ben.

“Greg was a wonderful guide. He was very knowledgeable and had a great sense of humor. I would recommend this tour.”

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Royal Mile and Edinburgh Castle - Small Group Walking Tour - Parliament Square and John Knox House
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Royal Mile and Edinburgh Castle – Small Group Walking Tour

3.Royal Mile and Edinburgh Castle – Small Group Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,523 reviews · 2 hours 15 minutes (approx.) · from $70

Follow Edinburgh’s Royal Mile with guides such as Craig, Linda, Nicola, or Marina, hearing stories in closes, courtyards, and old tenements before entering Edinburgh Castle. The group can reach 18 people, and the tour includes a 45-minute castle introduction when the castle option is selected, followed by free time inside.

“Craig did an amazing job of explaining the history and context of the Royal Mile. Although we are both over 80, we were able to get to the castle because Craig set a pace that we could keep up. Craig is both personable and knowledgeable. We highly recommend him as a guide.”

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Loch Lomond, Kelpies & Stirling Castle Tour Including Admission - The Kelpies and The Helix in 30 minutes
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Loch Lomond, Kelpies & Stirling Castle Tour Including Admission

4.Loch Lomond, Kelpies & Stirling Castle Tour Including Admission

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 1,305 reviews · 9 hours (approx.) · from $72

Travel from Edinburgh in a 16-seat Mercedes mini-coach to the 30-meter Kelpies, Loch Lomond’s scenic eastern shore, and Stirling Castle. English-speaking guides such as Craig, Martin, Kieran, and Lizzie add history, music, and humor. Expect a full, active day with lunch at your own expense and limited time at each stop.

“We really enjoyed our tour. Jim Scott was our tour guide. He was not only knowledgeable about the places we saw but funny as well. We loved the itinerary and had a great time.”

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Edinburgh Skip-the-Ticket-Line Castle Walking Tour - Crown Square and Scotland’s royal treasures
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Edinburgh Skip-the-Ticket-Line Castle Walking Tour

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

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 1,283 reviews · from $51

Meet your guide on the Royal Mile at 2pm, bypass the main entry queue, and spend about 90 minutes hearing Edinburgh Castle stories. Guides such as Alasdair and Charles bring local color, while your ticket lets you continue independently until closing. Expect hills, uneven ground, and a guided visit focused mainly on the grounds rather than castle interiors.

“Charles was very informative on the history of the castle and Scotland itself. Great job Charles. The tour was held on the grounds of the castle but we did not enter anything inside as part of the tour.”

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Edinburgh Castle Guided Tour - Tickets Included - From St. Giles’ to the castle entrance
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Edinburgh Castle Guided Tour – Tickets Included

6.Edinburgh Castle Guided Tour – Tickets Included

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,211 reviews · 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.) · from $51

Meet near St. Giles’ Cathedral for a 90-minute guided walk to Edinburgh Castle. Guides such as James, David, and Laura bring the fortress to life with stories of monarchs, attacks, and Scottish politics. Your guide covers the outdoor grounds, then you explore the Crown Jewels, war memorial, chapel, museums, and other interiors at your own pace.

“Fantastic with David, we explored a lot, through a blend of knowledge and humour. Great fun, enjoyed thoroughly”

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Edinburgh: Loch Lomond, Stirling Castle and the Kelpies Day Tour - The Kelpies and the Helix: a strong opening stop
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Edinburgh: Loch Lomond, Stirling Castle and the Kelpies Day Tour

7.Loch Lomond, Stirling Castle and the Kelpies Day Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 1,198 reviews · 9 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $63

Travel from Edinburgh with a driver-guide to the 30-meter Kelpies, Loch Lomond, the Trossachs, Stirling Castle, and South Queensferry. You can add a Loch Lomond cruise and Stirling Castle entry for extra fees. Guides such as Ash, John, Adam, and Morag are praised for lively stories, humor, and Scottish history.

“Our guide was Shug and he did an awesome job with our tour! He was lively and full of Scottish humor, kept the bus rides enjoyable with some Scottish history too! Plenty of time provided at each stop and each stop was worthwhile. 10/10 would recommend!”

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West Highlands, Lochs and Castles Day Tour Including Admission - Luss and the first look at Loch Lomond
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West Highlands, Lochs and Castles Day Tour Including Admission

8.West Highlands, Lochs and Castles Day Tour Including Admission

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 1,122 reviews · 10 hours (approx.) · from $68

Travel from Edinburgh into the West Highlands in a 16-seat Mercedes mini-coach with an English-speaking driver-guide. You’ll see Loch Lomond, Luss, Rest and Be Thankful, Kilchurn Castle, Inveraray, and Doune Castle, with admission to Doune included. Guides such as Rose, Kieran, Russell, and Ali are praised for lively stories, Scottish music, and careful driving.

“Scotland‘s West Highlands are beautiful! Ester was our guide and she was a font of knowledge. Loved visiting Doune Castle, especially if you’re a Monty Pythons fan! Delicious lunch in Inverary at Ocho. Great Whisky shopping there and nice shoppes. Visited Luss on the shores of Loch Lomand. Beautiful scenery. Highly recommend this tour.”

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Edinburgh Castle & Royal Mile Walking Tour - Ticket Included - St. Giles’ Cathedral and Scotland’s religious divide
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Edinburgh Castle & Royal Mile Walking Tour – Ticket Included

9.Edinburgh Castle & Royal Mile Walking Tour – Ticket Included

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 894 reviews · 2 hours 15 minutes (approx.) · from $65

Start beneath the blue umbrella on the Royal Mile for a guided walk through closes, St. Giles’ Cathedral, Victoria Street, and the Grassmarket. Guides such as Paul, Mark, James, Zenon, and Alistair bring Scottish history to life before leading you into Edinburgh Castle. The tour ends inside the castle, where you can explore on your own.

“This is an informative moderately paced walk highlighting key sites along the Royal Mile. The guide was very knowledgeably and overall we enjoyed the tour. At times it was hard to hear because of the noise and congestion on the Mile but this is to be expected. We had a few challenges that could improve the experience. Ensuring that everyone had castle tickets as we entered the castle area and started hearing about the history instead of at the time we were ready to enter the ticketed area would have saved a significant delay. Also, the guide should be more attentive to make sure the group is together at a…”

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1 Day Castles, West Highlands and Loch Lomond Tour from Edinburgh - Tyndrum and the long road toward Rannoch Moor
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1 Day Castles, West Highlands and Loch Lomond Tour from Edinburgh

10.1 Day Castles, West Highlands and Loch Lomond Tour from Edinburgh

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 850 reviews · 10 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $88

Travel from Edinburgh into the West Highlands with an English-speaking guide such as Steve, Cara, Charlie, or Dusty. Visit Doune Castle, photograph Kilchurn Castle, stop in Tyndrum and Inveraray, admire Rest and Be Thankful, and finish in Luss. Expect a long day, narrow roads, changing weather, and plenty of scenery.

“Cancelled the night before an 8am all day tour. We can’t cancel within 24 hours but they can apparently. Created a wasted day in Edinburgh, I’d avoid this company in the future. We found out when we turned up at the office for our tour because their email system didn’t contact us. They were apologetic and showed us the email other people received and we showed them we didn’t get any alerts through email or Viator app so fair play. However we were told there were no options for other tours for the day when we asked and were told they’re not a tourist information center but we could walk…”

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Edinburgh Full Day Walking Tour with Castle Included -Small Group - Charlotte Square and the Georgian House
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Edinburgh Full Day Walking Tour with Castle Included -Small Group

11.Edinburgh Full Day Walking Tour with Castle Included -Small Group

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 676 reviews · 5 hours (approx.) · from $112

Start at Charlotte Square at 10:00 am and walk through Edinburgh’s New Town, Princes Street Gardens, the Royal Mile, Greyfriars, Grassmarket, and Victoria Street before entering Edinburgh Castle. A guide such as Ben, James, or Mark leads the history and stories. Expect hills, weather, a 30-minute lunch break, and a group capped at 15.

“This tour is NOT recommended for a cruise ship excursion with only one day in port. You will NOT have any reasonable time to visit Edinburgh Castle (which is the highlight of the tour). The walk around the city’s highlights, although interesting, took up too much time. You may have only 30 minutes to souvenir shop. The guide was knowledge and friendly, and the walking points along the walk were interesting. However, having to be time conscious to return to the bus to get back to the water shuttle to make it back to the cruise ship, makes this a poor excursion choice. I recommend just finding an Edinburgh Castle…”

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Rosslyn Chapel, Dunfermline Abbey and Stirling Castle Day Tour - Two hours inside Stirling Castle
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Rosslyn Chapel, Dunfermline Abbey and Stirling Castle Day Tour

12.Rosslyn Chapel, Dunfermline Abbey and Stirling Castle Day Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 649 reviews · 9 hours (approx.) · from $77

Travel from Edinburgh to three major Scottish sights in about nine hours with an English-speaking driver-guide. Explore Robert the Bruce’s burial place at Dunfermline Abbey, spend two hours at Stirling Castle, and examine Rosslyn Chapel’s carvings and mysteries. Admissions are extra, and guides such as Steven B, Graham, Chris, and Paul are known for strong storytelling.

“The whole day was amazing. Hugh was an outstanding guide. Made the day even better. Every stop was incredible in it's own way. Definitely recommend.”

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Day Trip to Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park with Optional Stirling Castle Tour from Edinburgh - Balmaha and Loch Lomond: beautiful, but not a long hike
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Day Trip to Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park with Optional Stirling Castle Tour from Edinburgh

13.Day Trip to Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park with Optional Stirling Castle Tour from Edinburgh

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 626 reviews · 9 hours (approx.)

Travel from Edinburgh by air-conditioned coach to the Kelpies, Loch Lomond, and Stirling. You get live commentary, a short lochside walk, and about two and a half hours in Stirling. The castle visit costs £17.50 extra, but adding it gives the day its strongest historical stop. Guides such as Sophie, Connor, Cara, and Thomas have been praised for lively storytelling.

“A wee bit of everything. Colossal Kelpies sculpture park, a delicious honeysuckle vanilla malt shop, a stroll along Loch Lomond, Brave Heart offerings, a castle featuring a wedding, Scottish tunes, a hip bus driver/guide. Great value!”

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Edinburgh: West Highland Lochs, Mountains & Castles - Doune Castle brings Scotland’s screen history to life
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Edinburgh: West Highland Lochs, Mountains & Castles

14.West Highland Lochs, Mountains & Castles

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 556 reviews · 10 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $87

Travel from Edinburgh into the West Highlands with Timberbush Tours, stopping at Doune Castle, Loch Lomond, Inveraray, Kilchurn Castle, and Rest and Be Thankful. Your driver-guide provides history, stories, music, and local color in English, with digital translations available on request.

“Sam was very informative a great tour guide and drove the van with ease. He knows those roads like the back of his hand gave us lots of details going to the sites that we went to and he was very informative very friendly and very nice a great guy.!”

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Edinburgh: Holy Island, Alnwick Castle & Kingdom of Northumbria - Lindisfarne, where tides control the visit
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Edinburgh: Holy Island, Alnwick Castle & Kingdom of Northumbria

15.Holy Island, Alnwick Castle & Kingdom of Northumbria

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 480 reviews · 9 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $87

Travel from Edinburgh across the English border to Lindisfarne, where priory ruins, sea views, and optional mead await. Explore Alnwick Castle and its gardens, see a possible Flodden Battlefield stop, and return by air-conditioned coach with live commentary. Guides such as Neil, Mary, John, and Shug are often praised for lively local stories.

“The Holy Island is amazing and inspirational. The scenery is breathtaking. The castle has activities for all ages and should not not just be associated with Harry Potter, because it is so much more. The interior is full of treasures of untold wealth, yet show the signs a real loving family live there. Our tour guide/ driver Mark was informative in a fun way instead of just telling dry facts. He increased the enjoyment of the day.”

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