Edinburgh Castle & Holyrood Palace: Guided Tour with Audio Guide

Two Royal Palaces, One Day in Edinburgh

You meet your guide at 10am and walk to Edinburgh Castle, exploring the Great Hall and Royal Apartments with expert commentary before free time to roam the rest. At 2pm, a staff member escorts you to Holyrood Palace, where you use an audio guide to learn about Mary, Queen of Scots and the palace's role in modern royal life. Both entry tickets are included, and the day wraps by late afternoon.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. Edinburgh Castle1h 30m · entry included
2. Palace of Holyroodhouse1h · entry included

Edinburgh Castle and Holyrood Palace visit

• Meet guide at 10:00 a.m.
• Walk to Edinburgh Castle
• Explore castle esplanade and history
• Visit Great Hall and Royal Apartments
• Free time inside Edinburgh Castle
• Return to meeting point at 2:00 p.m.
• Escort to Palace of Holyroodhouse
• Explore Palace with audio guide

The experience

"You'll want comfortable shoes," the guide said as we gathered at the meeting point, and that's the first thing that stuck with me. At 10:00 a.m., the group heads straight toward Castle Rock. That volcanic plug that rises out of the city like something from a different era. The walk itself is part of the story: you pass the esplanade where the Royal Military Tattoo happens every August, and the guide fills in the layers as you go. The ancient battles, the sieges, the way the castle has sat there watching Edinburgh change below it for centuries. Inside, there's the Great Hall with its hammer-beam roof, St. Margaret's Chapel (the oldest building on the rock), and the Royal Apartments where you can almost feel the weight of who slept there. After the guided portion wraps, you get free time to wander the rest of the castle at your own pace: no rushing through, no "move along" feeling.

Then at 2:00 p.m., you head back to meet a staff member who walks you to the Palace of Holyroodhouse. This is where it shifts from fortress to residence: Mary, Queen of Scots lived here, Bonnie Prince Charlie passed through, and the King still uses it for official ceremonies when he's in Scotland. You explore with an audio guide, which means you're not tethered to a group anymore. You can linger in the rooms that interest you, skip ahead, rewind. The palace is at the bottom of the Royal Mile, so the geography makes sense: castle at the top, palace at the bottom, the whole spine of royal Edinburgh laid out in a single day.

The timing is deliberate: four hours at the castle (guided tour plus free exploration), a break back at the meeting point, then the palace in the afternoon. It's not rushed, but it's also not a slow meander. You're covering real ground and real history. The moderate fitness level they mention is honest. There's climbing involved at the castle, and the walk between sites isn't flat, but it's not a fell race either. If you've got young kids, strollers work on the main paths, though the castle's cobbles and slopes mean you'll be pushing uphill in places.

What’s included

• Guided walking tour of Edinburgh Castle starting at 10:00 a.m., including the esplanade, Great Hall, Royal Apartments, and St.
• Margaret's Chapel, followed by free exploration time within the castle.
• Entry ticket to Edinburgh Castle is included.
• At 2:00 p.m., a staff member escorts you to the Palace of Holyroodhouse, where you explore independently with an audio guide covering Mary, Queen of Scots and the palace's modern royal role.
• Entry ticket to Holyrood Palace is included.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day except Tuesday and WednesdayDeparts at 10:00

Book up toStart time

AgesAdult (25 and older) · Youth (18 to 24 years) · Child (6 to 15 years) · Infant (under 6)

GroupUp to 30

Live guideEnglish

Audio guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends at a different place from where it starts.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Moderate physical levelStroller friendly

Operated by Scotland City Tours - Somos Escocia

Is this one for you?A good fit if you want both Edinburgh's royal landmarks in one day without arranging separate tickets or navigating between them alone. The guided morning gives you context and history, while the audio guide afternoon lets you explore at your own speed. The mix is what makes a full day of discovery possible without feeling rushed or tethered to a group.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (18 to 24 years); Child (6 to 15 years); Infant (under 6).

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What time does the tour start and end?

The guided portion of Edinburgh Castle starts at 10:00 a.m. You return to the meeting point at 2:00 p.m. to head to Holyrood Palace. The full experience concludes in the late afternoon.

Are both castle and palace entry tickets included?

Yes. The package includes guided entry to Edinburgh Castle and an entry ticket to the Palace of Holyroodhouse. You explore the palace with an audio guide.

Is there a guide at Holyrood Palace?

No. At Holyrood Palace, you explore independently using an audio guide, which lets you move at your own pace through the rooms.

How much walking is involved?

There is moderate walking and climbing, particularly at Edinburgh Castle on cobbled paths and slopes. The walk between the castle and the meeting point, and then to Holyrood Palace, is manageable but not flat.

Can I bring a stroller or pram?

Yes, infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller. However, the castle's cobbles and inclines mean you'll be pushing uphill in places, and some areas may be difficult to navigate with a stroller.

How long is the guided portion at the castle?

The guided walking tour covers the highlights: the esplanade, Great Hall, Royal Apartments, and St. Margaret's Chapel. After the guide finishes, you have free time to explore the rest of the castle at your own pace.

What's the difference between the morning and afternoon parts?

The morning is a guided walking tour of Edinburgh Castle with a group. The afternoon is self-guided exploration of Holyrood Palace using an audio guide, allowing you to move independently through the rooms.

Is lunch included?

No. Lunch is not included. There is a break between the castle (ending around 2:00 p.m.) and the palace visit, which gives time to eat in the city.