Edinburgh · EDINBURGH CASTLE & ROYAL MILE
28 reviewed
The castle and the mile of street below it hold a thousand years of the city in a single walk. Ranked here are the best Edinburgh Castle and Royal Mile tours: which include skip-the-queue entry, which guides know the back stairs and the quiet closes, how long each takes, and what you pay to have it all explained rather than guessed at.
Guided Edinburgh Castle walking tour with entry ticket. Great Hall, royal rooms, Castle Rock views, then explore on your own.
“Valeria was sooo knowledgeable and full of amazing energy! She taught us so much and makes it a lot of fun. She did. Brilliant job!!”
Guided intro to Edinburgh Castle with tickets included: stories from royals to rebels, plus views and time to explore museums.
“Easy pace, even with my 83 yrs old mother. Jules was friendly and informative. Very enjoyable”
A guided walking tour with guaranteed entry to Edinburgh Castle, plus time to explore the Royal Palace, Great Hall, and more.
“Jen was very knowledgeable about Edinburgh Castle and the history of the area. We found her to be incredibly engaging and passionate about the culture and history. Highly recommend Jen as a historian and storyteller in equal measure. Best wishes from Gareth and Rebecca Belfast”
A guided Royal Mile walk to Edinburgh Castle with skip-the-line entry, story-rich context, then time to explore at your own pace.
“Graeme was awesome! We learned so much! He answered all our questions and gave us a lot of insight about the history of Edinburgh!”
120-minute guided walk through Edinburgh Castle with ticket included. Crown Jewels, St Margaret’s Chapel, and sweeping rampart views.
“We’ve had a great experience with my husband thanks to our tour guide John. He has a great knowledge of history and the area and his communication skills are really great!”
A 90-minute guided walking tour of Edinburgh Castle with entry ticket included, led in English and designed for great views and easy pacing.
“Robert our tour guide was so informative and very entertaining”
A small-group 3-hour walk through Edinburgh Old Town and the Royal Mile, with story-rich stops from Usher Hall to Scott Monument.
“Stuart was very knowledgeable and had a good sense of humor. Good walking tour that wasn't too strenuous for an older family member.”
Small-group Royal Mile and Edinburgh Castle walk with skip-the-line entry, guided Old Town closes, and views from Castlehill in about 2.5 hours.
“What a fantastic tour! We were so lucky to get Craig as our guide. His level of historical knowledge was amazing, and he had so many tales to relate as we meandered the streets and "closes" of the city. This was an excellent way to experience Edinburgh, whether you're a new visitor or have been there before.”
Full-day small-group tour from Edinburgh to The Kelpies, Loch Lomond, and Stirling Castle with included admission and scenic countryside views.
“The pace of this trip was great. There were never long periods of riding on the bus: 20-40 min ride, then stop for an activity. Loved the short hike at Loch Lomond. Stirling Castle was fabulous. So glad we had a guided tour. Lizzie kept us entertained with history, stories, legends and music. I would definitely recommend.”
Skip the line at Edinburgh Castle on a 90-minute guided walk with priority entry, dog cemetery sights, Stone of Destiny, then explore till closing.
“Alasdair was awesome! Not only knowledgeable but funny! Very courteous to make sure everyone could hear, answer questions and make sure we were going too fast for older people on the hills.”
Skip the lines at Edinburgh Castle with included tickets, a 90-minute guided tour of the grounds, then time to explore at your pace.
“Our guide James was very informative and had some amusing stories to tell, he definitely knows his history”
See Stirling Castle, Loch Lomond and The Kelpies on a small-group day tour from Edinburgh with a live guide and guided walks.
“Our guide James was very knowledgable and provided an easy going day for us. Thanks James!”
A 4-hour Harry Potter walk through Edinburgh’s real filming-and-story spots, topped with Edinburgh Castle entry for two more hours.
“Our guide was very friendly and accommodating, bringing lots of energy and trivia to the tour. A great experience for any Harry Potter fan. The castle tour at the end finished the day perfectly. Would definitely recommend!”
Royal Mile highlights and Edinburgh Castle entry in one 2-hour walk. See St Giles, Grassmarket, and the one o’clock gun view.
“While our guide was knowledgeable and the tour itself interesting, this provider was not as well organised as we expected. We were late starting and we waited in the cold for 15 minutes at Edinburgh Castle for tickets to be sorted out. We felt like the provider was going through the motions with a captive audience due to high numbers of tourists.”
Air-conditioned coach to the Kelpies, Loch Lomond walks, and Stirling Castle from Edinburgh, with live guide stories and optional castle entry.
“Enjoyed spending our last day in Scotland, taking a break from walking, being guided around some of the lowlands by Sophie, our driver and guide. The Kelpies are a fun photo stop, but something you can easily skip to spend time somewhere else if sculpture or art isn’t your jam. Not that you can skip it on this tour, but can consider in stops in other day trips available. Highly recommend adding ticket for Stirling Castle and taking the guided tour, worth it. And Loch Lomond was such a beautiful walk and yet another opportunity to take in the immense beauty Scotland has to offer.”
