Edinburgh Castle (#1), Edinburgh: Photos, Reviews & Location

An 11th-century castle and barracks housing the Crown Jewels and National War Museum of Scotland.

At a glance

#13 of 36 Historical landmarks in Edinburgh #35 of 99 Tourist attractions in Edinburgh

LocalGuideWorld score: 4.60

0.3 km from the center of Edinburgh

Rating breakdown

5 ★71%
4 ★21%
3 ★6%
2 ★1%
1 ★1%

What reviewers talk about

Share of 16 recent reviews that mention each topic.

Waiting & crowds38%
View31%
Price & value19%
Location6%
Service & staff6%
Atmosphere6%

Castlehill, Edinburgh EH1 2NG, United Kingdom

edinburghcastle.scot

+44 131 225 9846

Photos of Edinburgh Castle (1,025)

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Quick facts

What is the rating of Edinburgh Castle?: Edinburgh Castle is rated 4.6 out of 5 based on 173,124 reviews.
How does Edinburgh Castle rank in Edinburgh?: Edinburgh Castle is #13 of 36 Historical landmarks in Edinburgh by LocalGuideWorld score (rating weighted by number of reviews).
Where is Edinburgh Castle located?: Castlehill, Edinburgh EH1 2NG, United Kingdom — 0.3 km from the center of Edinburgh.
What do visitors mention most about Edinburgh Castle?: Most often: waiting & crowds, view, price & value (from 16 recent reviews).
How can I contact Edinburgh Castle?: Phone: +44 131 225 9846 · Website: edinburghcastle.scot

Reviews (16)

Hauwa Naomi Ajagbe 2023 Sep 25

I had an amazing time moving from one beautiful structure to the other in the castle and reliving the history that had taken place in the magnificent Edinburgh Castle. Lovely architecture, beautiful arts, sculptures, and tapestries. Alsohad a great view of the city from the castle. Loved it so much. It was a great experience.

Christopher Nee 2023 Sep 22

Beautiful castle. It has many sections for defense purposes. Now, it mainly is used as museums, Crown Jewel displays, etc. My favorite is the St Margaret Chapel. Of course there are many other great structures, so come find your favorite.

Marek Karácsony 2023 Sep 21

Absolutely, I wholeheartedly recommend visiting Edinburgh Castle if you have the chance. It's a true treasure that combines history, stunning architecture, and breathtaking views in one remarkable location.

Walking through the castle's gates is like stepping back in time. You'll get to explore centuries of Scottish history, from royal residences to military strongholds. Don't miss the Crown Jewels, housed in the Crown Room – they're a true highlight and a testament to Scotland's regal heritage.

And speaking of highlights, the panoramic views from the castle are simply spectacular! You'll be treated to sweeping vistas of Edinburgh and the surrounding landscape, making it an ideal spot for photos and taking in the city's beauty.

Whether you're a history buff, a fan of stunning architecture, or just looking for an unforgettable experience in Edinburgh, this castle has it all.

So, make sure to add Edinburgh Castle to your itinerary when you visit this charming city. It's a place where the past comes to life, and you'll create lasting memories against a backdrop of Scottish history and culture. Enjoy your visit :)

Paul Tooze (No Journey Too Small) 2023 Sep 21

I’ve been inside the castle before, and without doubt they put on a good show so make sure you make time to fit it in.
This time I wanted to walk all around the perimeter of the castle, and what a formidable presence it makes. I wouldn’t have wanted to be one of them attacking.
The steep rock side of the hill and then the stone walls on top make it look impossible.
It was a great walk around and finished again on Princess Street

Tony Novinska 2023 Sep 20

This was truly magical! My wife and I visited on a beautiful September day. We spent at least three hours there and could have spent the entire day! It's the most spectacularly and meticulously maintained castle site we have ever seen. This is a MUST SEE. And, stick around for the 1pm cannon shot!

Courtney K 2023 Sep 19

Such a great time exploring the history of Edinburgh! Although there was a lot of walking (and stairs), nothing was too strenuous. This is a good family activity.
There were lines to access a few of the buildings, but overall it wasn’t too crowded.

Recommended to purchase tickets in advance! We did the tea experience, which was well worth it and a wonderful break from all of the walking.

Rosa Vasquez (iamamiwhoami) 2023 Aug 15

A sight to behold, it was my first time here and I enjoyed learning the history of this castle while visiting. I loved that they had audio guides which were very helpful while getting around. The cafe had great food selection, it was so crowded there for lunch, I had to wait a long while before I could get food and a table.

Pravda Pupkina 2023 Aug 13

It was a great experience! Regardless of the rain we walked all over the grounds listening to our guide telling stories. After the tour we looked at all the buildings again, cannons, chapel, even little graveyard for dogs. Overall happy we visited it.

David Rosenman 2023 Aug 11

Stunning views an insightful audio guide. Beautiful castle grounds highly recommend to anyone visiting. Be sure to book ahead as it's fully booked today and seems like it is everyday. My parents were on a British isles cruise few months ago and came the day of hoping to visit but were turned away due to being booked to capacity.

SheSings 2023 Aug 08

This is an absolutely beautiful castle! It has so much history behind it so I suggest getting a tour guide or getting one of the headphone ones. There was no wait getting in and the crowds were manageable. The castle will give you a beautiful view of Edinburgh so if you are wanting some rich history and great views, this is definitely the spot!

Michael Lees 2023 Aug 07

One of the best castles I've ever visited. It's like a labyrinth with hidden secrets around every corner. It's easy to spend several hours here in order to see everything on offer.
Halls, museums, an excellent guided tour, dungeons, prison cell reconstructions, the list goes on.
I would strongly advise booking up in advance as it was sold out when I visited and there were long queues with hundreds of visitors.

Vicky Dunbar 2023 Jul 28

Book tickets in advance as you're not guaranteed entry if you just turn up. The website is easy to use, there are many time slots to choose from and you get a long window to arrive within. This place is truly spectacular and there is so much to see on site that you could spend much longer here than you'll plan for. St Margarets Chapel is small but the stained glass is beautiful. The Crown Jewels are well worth the queue and were the highlight for me until I entered the Scottish National War Memorial building. Absolutely amazing! The Regimental museums and National War museum are glorious, so much information and memorabilia. Be sure to be on time for the one o'clock gun! The Great Hall is fabulous, the ceiling alone! The replicas of Mary Queen of Scots embroideries are exquisite so don't miss those. You'll really appreciate the amount of work that's went into them. There are plenty of toilets around and cafes to stop for coffee and a snack. We spent a good 3 hours here and probably still missed things

Bearded Dad Gamer Edinburgh 2023 Jul 25

An absolutely great day out. You can easily spend the whole day here. You definitely need to book in advance to avoid disappointment. We signed up for Historic Scotland Memberships and it's made visiting the Castle, so much more worthwhile. The value for money with the membership is great, as you get discounts on food and gift shops.

Chace Guild 2023 May 28

Excellent venue for the annual Royal Military Tattoo as part of the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

I’ve attended the Tattoo twice now, several years apart, and it has yet to disappoint as a spectacle of military bands and marching prowess. The coordination involved is incredible, especially at the culmination of the show with the massed pipes and drums.

The castle itself sits ominously over the city centre, being visible for miles around and at several points around city. Several nice walks are available around the grounds and up to the front gates, affording plenty of opportunities for photographers.

Cole Clark 2022 Jul 10

I loved every second of this place, due to our flight we booked the last ticket of the day and we didn't get to see everything we wanted to see so I suggest booking an earlier ticket of the day, I know at 1 o'clock they fire guns which would be cool to see. Also there was a lot of people being turned away because they sell out of tickets so be sure to book them in advance. The Scotland crown jewels were impressive and the war memorials were moving.