Sights · Our pick in Edinburgh
Edinburgh Castle
Historic Environment Scotland
Photo Credit
Image courtesy of © Saffron Blaze · CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Photo Credit
Image courtesy of © Osama Shukir Muhammed Amin FRCP(Glasg) · CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons1 / 2
About Edinburgh Castle
Edinburgh Castle is part of the Old and New Towns of Edinburgh World Heritage Site, and home to the Honours of Scotland, the medieval gun Mons Meg and the One o’Clock Gun, in its own words. It is run by Historic Environment Scotland; book a timed ticket online.
Why it's on our list
- Honours of Scotland
- One o’Clock Gun
- Book a timed ticket
Opening hours, prices and seasonal openings change, so please check with Edinburgh Castle before you go.
Hotels nearby
The closest hotels in our guide to Edinburgh Castle, as the crow flies.
- The Witchery by the Castle300 m4 min walk
- The Caledonian, Curio Collection by Hilton450 m6 min walk
- Kimpton Charlotte Square450 m6 min walk
- Hotel du Vin Edinburgh700 m9 min walk
- Market Street Hotel750 m9 min walk
What’s nearby
Distances from Edinburgh Castle are approximate, measured in a straight line (as the crow flies). Times are approximate too: walking at about 80 metres a minute, cycling at about 14 km/h and driving at typical city-traffic speeds. Traffic and routes vary.
Nearest tram stops and railway stations
- Princes StreetTram400 m5 min walk
- West EndTram650 m8 min walk
- Edinburgh WaverleyRail700 m9 min walk
Key sights
- St Giles’ Cathedral600 mWalk 8 minCycle 3 minCar or taxi 7 min
- National Museum700 mWalk 9 minCycle 3 minCar or taxi 7 min
- Holyroodhouse1.8 kmWalk 23 minCycle 8 minCar or taxi 10 min
- Royal Botanic Garden1.9 kmWalk 24 minCycle 8 minCar or taxi 10 min
- Arthur’s Seat2.5 kmWalk 31 minCycle 11 minCar or taxi 12 min
- Britannia4.0 kmCycle 17 minCar or taxi 16 min
- Edinburgh Airport9.9 kmCycle 42 minCar or taxi 32 min
Main railway stations
- Edinburgh Waverley700 mWalk 9 minCycle 3 minCar or taxi 7 min
- Haymarket1.2 kmWalk 15 minCycle 5 minCar or taxi 8 min