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Skip-the-Line Edinburgh Castle Walking Tour

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Edinburgh, United Kingdom
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Skip-the-Line Edinburgh Castle Walking Tour
Visitors explore Edinburgh Castle's military prison.
Visitors congregate in Edinburgh Castle's iconic main courtyard.
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Free Cancellation
up to 24 hours in advance
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icon1 hour 30 minutes  (Approx.)
Mobile ticket
iconOffered in: English and 2 more
Good for avoiding crowds
Keeping you safe during COVID-19
What you can expect during your visit
Face masks required for guides in public areas
Hand sanitizer available to travelers and staff
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Safety precautions are provided by the tour operator and are not checked by Viator for accuracy
More questions?
(888) 651-9785
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More questions?
(888) 651-9785

Overview

Save valuable vacation time with skip-the-line access to Edinburgh Castle on this walking tour. Avoid hours of waiting in line and breeze right inside with your priority admission ticket. Then, listen to your guide's commentary about the Scottish landmark's history as you walk through one of Scotland's most famous landmarks.
  • Edinburgh Castle tour with skip-the-line access
  • Learn the history and the secrets of the castle
  • See the National War Museum and the National Monument
  • Continue to explore the castle independently after the tour

Why Travelers Choose This Tour

Skip-the-line entrance means more time inside and you can stay as long as you like after the tour ends.
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Skip-the-line entrance to the Castle
Local guide
Hotel pickup and drop-off
Food and drinks

Departure Point

130 High St, Edinburgh EH1 1QS, UK

Departure Time

10:00 AM

Return Details

Castle Terrace, Edinburgh, UK
Meet your guide in central Edinburgh to begin your tour. Skip the often long entry line and proceed directly into the castle for your walking tour.

During the walking tour, learn the secrets of this famous castle, including seeing one of the world’s few official dog cemeteries and the smallest shrine in the world. Walk through Crown Square, the main courtyard of the castle. See the Crown Jewels of Scotland, including the Stone of Destiny, used in the coronation of Scottish monarchs. Visit the National War Museum, which enables you to learn more about battles that have shaped Scottish history. 

After the conclusion of your walking tour, you are free to stay and explore the castle independently for as long as you like.
Itinerary
Stop At:  
Edinburgh
Meet your guide in front of Frankie & Benny's on 130 High Street by Tron Kirk
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Admission Ticket Free
Stop At:  
Royal Mile
Make your way to the castle and experience one immediate advantage to this 2-hour walking tour: you get to bypass the usually long line and go right into the castle. No waiting.
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Duration: 15 minutes
Admission Ticket Free
Stop At:  
National War Museum of Scotland
Visit the National War Museum to get an up close view of the battles that have shaped Scotland and Edinburgh. Walk through Crown Square, the main courtyard of the castle. See the Crown Jewels of Scotland, including the Stone of Destiny, an oblong block of red sandstone that was used in the coronation of Scottish monarchs.
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Duration: 15 hours 
Admission Ticket Included
Stop At:  
St. Margaret's Chapel
Visit St Margaret’s Chapel, the oldest building in Edinburgh. You’ll also see the dog cemetery, the final resting place for canine companions of regimental officers and one of the few cemeteries dedicated to dog in the world. At the end of the tour, you can stay on and explore more of the castle on your own.
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Duration: 15 minutes
Admission Ticket Free
Stop At:  
Edinburgh Castle
Listen as your guide shares the insider’s view and secrets of this ancient spot. Learn, for example, about the bloody battles and invasions that have taken place here over the centuries. Your ticket to enter the Castle allows you to stay right through to closing time. Feel free to continue exploring the Castle at your own pace, once the tour is finished.
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Duration: 45 minutes
Admission Ticket Free
  • Confirmation will be received at time of booking
  • Please be aware that Edinburgh Castle stays open until 5pm and your Castle Ticket is only valid on the day of purchase.
  • Children (4 or under) can join the Edinburgh Castle Tour for free. We reserve the right to ask for a valid ID for children joining our tours.
  • Not wheelchair accessible
  • Near public transportation
  • Our tour starts at 130 High Street, in front of Frankie and Benny's restaurant. We don't allow guests to join after the start time, and we don't allow guests to join the tour if they don't show up in our current start point at 130 High Street, in front of Frankie and Benny's restaurant.
  • The independent guides who employ us to market their tours have your best interests in mind; while the tour usually includes the sites & stories mentioned and lasts about 1.5 hours, your tour may vary depending on what your guide thinks is best for your group
  • No bags or backpacks over 30L are permitted for security reasons
  • Unfortunately, the steep hills and uneven ground mean that this tour is not suitable for pushchairs or those unable to walk unassisted
  • Most travelers can participate
  • Children under 18 years old must be accompanied by an adult.
  • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 15 travelers
  • OPERATED BY Sandemans New Europe Ltd - Corporate Account

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.

  • This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.

Learn more about cancellations.

The answers provided below are based on answers previously given by the tour provider to customers’ questions.
Q:
What is the policy on face masks and attendee health during Skip-the-Line Edinburgh Castle Walking Tour?
A:
The policy on face masks and attendee health is:

  • Face masks required for guides in public areas
See all safety measures taken by Skip-the-Line Edinburgh Castle Walking Tour.
Q:
What is the policy on sanitization during Skip-the-Line Edinburgh Castle Walking Tour?
A:
The policy on sanitization is:

  • Hand sanitizer available to travelers and staff
See all safety measures taken by Skip-the-Line Edinburgh Castle Walking Tour.

Traveler Photos

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Traveler Tips

  • "Get there as early as possible because even on a weekday it is very crowded." See review
  • "The walking part can be a very real challenge to those with limited mobility." See review
  • "The walking is for young and middle adults and those with comfortable shoes." See review

Reviews

5.0
star-5
1,112 Reviews
5 stars
950
4 stars
106
3 stars
23
2 stars
15
1 star
18
Reviews by Viator travelers
Showing 1-10 of 1,112 reviews
star-1
Disappointment
Graeme_C
, Oct 2020
This tour was cancelled by the company but they still advertise it and take your money and yet no refund
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star-5
Edinburgh Castle - Great Tour
Jonathan_R
, Mar 2020
Dave was a fantastic story teller in true Scottish fashion!!! He was very knowledgeable and we especially appreciated his breakdown of the different buildings!
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star-5
Highlights of the Castle
MRB
, Mar 2020
Excellent and entertaining guide. Melanie is enthusiastic and knowledgeable. We enjoyed the tour thoroughly.
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star-5
Melanie is a Star...It’s like she lived at the Castle!
CBerenstern
, Feb 2020
Melanie was FANTASTIC!! She was knowledgable, personable and super energetic. She really set the group up with and understanding of the castle and made my time alone after the tour that much better with my understanding from the tour.
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star-5
Great experience- highly recommend
Gabe
, Feb 2020
Greg was an absolutely incredible tour guide. Not only did he provide some really interesting background, he did it in different voices/character like an actor which captivated the entire tour group.
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star-1
Unfortunate Misunderstanding
craighturner1
, Jan 2020
The tour met almost 3/4km away from the castle. I did not notice the meetup instructions and headed to the castle with time to spare before the tour started. My wife and I (this was our honeymoon) missed the tour due to missing this information and could not reschedule or join the tour at the castle per the confirmation email. We are out £65 with nothing to show but our disappointment.
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star-5
It Was All That It Said It Was!
Bev W
, Jan 2020
Our time spent with Alan was a fantastic way to see the best that Edinburgh Castle has to offer. From the checkin point to the short walk to the Castle Alan shared wonderful information about the history of Edinburgh.
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star-5
Beautiful walk n enriching history
luping19
, Dec 2019
Special shout out to our guide Alan who kept us engaged with the war history of the castle. Our boys absolutely love it.
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star-5
Excellent
fudz2019
, Dec 2019
"Australian David" was a good laugh and a great story teller, only improvement was that it could be slightly longer if we were to go into individual buildings once in the castle but I dont know about any restrictions or constraints.
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star-5
Excellent guide to Edinburgh Castle
LynfromSanDiego
, Nov 2019
Our guide made this one of the best tours we took in Scotland. She was dynamic, informative and funny, all of the traits of an excellent guide!
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