A fortress on an extinct volcano at the top of the Royal Mile, holding Scotland’s crown jewels and nine centuries of history. Tickets are sold by time slot, and the popular ones go well before the day.
Castle Rock is the plug of an extinct volcano, and people have used its natural defences since the Iron Age. The castle has been besieged more times than almost any other in Britain. The oldest surviving building, the small St Margaret’s Chapel, dates from the 12th century and is the oldest building in Edinburgh.
The Crown Room holds the Honours of Scotland — the crown, sceptre and sword of state, the oldest crown jewels in the British Isles — alongside the Stone of Destiny, on which Scottish and later British monarchs were crowned. Beyond them are the Great Hall, the Royal Palace, the National War Memorial, the prison vaults and the medieval siege gun Mons Meg, with views over the whole city from the ramparts.
Allow two to three hours. Go to the Crown Jewels first, before the queue builds, then work down through the rest of the castle. The entrance is at the top of the Royal Mile via the Esplanade, a steep walk up from Waverley station. Bring layers: the rock is exposed and the wind can be strong even in summer.
Walk down the Royal Mile to Holyrood, climb Arthur’s Seat and explore the Old Town closes with our complete Edinburgh guide — or let the AI build your day-by-day itinerary.
Edinburgh City Guide