Edinburgh Castle
Guaranteed timed entry — even when the official Castle website is sold out. Home to the Crown Jewels of Scotland, the Stone of Destiny and the daily One O'Clock Gun.
Official · booked via Tiqets
Royal Edinburgh Ticket 2026
Edinburgh Castle, Palace of Holyroodhouse and Royal Yacht Britannia — plus 48 hours of hop-on hop-off bus.
What is included
One ticket, four experiences — save at least £17.50 versus separate entry.
Palace of Holyroodhouse
The King's official residence in Scotland at the end of the Royal Mile. State Apartments, Mary Queen of Scots' chambers and the 12th-century Abbey ruins.
Royal Yacht Britannia
Tripadvisor's #1 UK attraction 2025/26. Follow in the Royal Family's footsteps aboard their former floating palace in Leith.
48h Hop-on Hop-off Bus
Unlimited travel on all three routes — CitySightseeing, Edinburgh Tour and Regal Tour. 41 stops across the Old Town, New Town and the shore at Leith.
The three royal attractions
Everything you need to know before you go — opening hours, highlights, how much time to plan.
Edinburgh Castle
The nation's icon — guaranteed timed entry
Perched on an extinct volcanic plug high above Princes Street, Edinburgh Castle has been a royal residence, a military fortress, and a prison of state. It is the most visited paid attraction in Scotland — and, for most of the year, entry slots sell out days in advance on the official site. The Royal Edinburgh Ticket bypasses that. When you exchange your voucher at the TourHub on Waterloo Place, the Edinburgh Bus Tours staff reserve your Castle entry slot in the same booking system used by the Castle itself, guaranteeing you a time — even on days when the online store shows sold out.
What to see inside
The Honours of Scotland (Crown, Sceptre and Sword of State — the oldest crown jewels in Britain), the Stone of Destiny used at Scottish coronations for centuries, the tiny 12th-century St Margaret's Chapel (Edinburgh's oldest surviving building), the medieval Great Hall, and the National War Museum. On the Argyle Battery, don't miss the One O'Clock Gun — fired Monday to Saturday at exactly 1pm since 1861 (there is no gun on Sundays, Good Friday, or Christmas Day).
Opening hours 2026
1 April to 30 September: 9:30am – 6pm (last entry 5pm). 1 October to 31 March: 9:30am – 5pm (last entry 4pm). Closed 25 and 26 December. Plan around 2 to 3 hours for a full visit; add another 30 minutes if you want to include the National War Museum.
Getting there
CitySightseeing (red) stops 6 or 7; The Edinburgh Tour (green) stop 9. Both leave you a short uphill walk from the Esplanade.
Palace of Holyroodhouse
The King's official residence in Scotland
At the eastern end of the Royal Mile, opposite Edinburgh Castle at the western end, stands the Palace of Holyroodhouse — the official residence of His Majesty The King in Scotland. Built around a medieval abbey founded in 1128, it has been home to some of the most consequential figures in Scottish history: Mary, Queen of Scots lived here from 1561 to 1567, and it was where her Italian secretary David Rizzio was murdered in front of her by conspirators led by her jealous husband, Lord Darnley. Queen Victoria loved the palace; Queen Elizabeth II held her annual Holyrood Week here every summer, hosting garden parties on the lawns.
What to see inside
The State Apartments — Throne Room, Great Gallery lined with portraits of Scottish monarchs by Jacob de Wet the Younger, Royal Dining Room. Mary, Queen of Scots' historic chambers on the second floor, still bearing the reputed blood-stain from Rizzio's murder. The romantic 12th-century ruins of Holyrood Abbey behind the palace. And the Royal Gardens with the Queen Mother's Memorial Garden.
Opening hours 2026 (verified)
April to October: 9:30am – 6pm (last entry 4:30pm). November to March: 9:30am – 4:30pm (last entry 3:15pm). Normally closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays — with one crucial exception: from 21 May to 14 September the Palace opens seven days a week. Additional 2026 closures: Palace closed 26 June – 3 July (King's Gallery entry offered instead), Holyrood Abbey closed 6 July only, and the Palace closes 24 – 26 December. Allow 90 minutes to 2 hours for a full visit.
Getting there
The Edinburgh Tour (green) stops 5 or 6, The Regal Tour (blue) stops 14 or 15, CitySightseeing (red) stops 12 or 13 — all drop you within a two-minute walk of the palace gates.
Royal Yacht Britannia
Tripadvisor's #1 UK attraction 2025/26
For 44 years, from 1954 to 1997, the Royal Yacht Britannia was the seagoing home of the British royal family. She sailed over a million nautical miles under Britannia's Royal Standard on official state visits from Cape Town to Sydney. Charles and Diana honeymooned aboard her in the Mediterranean in 1981. Since 1998 she has been permanently berthed at Ocean Terminal in Leith and turned into one of the most authentic royal experiences you can have anywhere in the UK.
What to see aboard
You walk the actual decks the royal family used. The State Dining Room where dignitaries were entertained on state visits. The State Drawing Room. Queen Elizabeth II's and the Duke of Edinburgh's original bedrooms with their period-piece furniture. The Sun Lounge. The Engine Room, gleaming with polished brass. Finish in the Royal Deck Tea Room for tea and cake with waiter service, on the deck once used for royal cocktail receptions.
Opening hours
Open 7 days a week, all year except 1 January and 25 December. April to October: 10am – 5:30pm (last entry 4pm). November to March: 10am – 5pm (last entry 3pm). Plan on 2 to 3 hours including a stop at the Royal Deck Tea Room.
Getting there
The Regal Tour (blue) is the only bus route that goes to Britannia — get off at stop 10 (Ocean Terminal). The onboard commentary along the shore route (Newhaven, the Waters of Leith) is worth the ride alone.
Save at least £17.50 per adult
- Edinburgh Castle (online)£23.50
- Palace of Holyroodhouse (online)£22.00
- Royal Yacht Britannia£22.00 – £25.00
- 48h Hop-on Hop-off Bus£31.00
Separate tickets
£98.50 – £101.50
Royal Edinburgh Ticket
£81.00
You save
£17.50 – £20.50
The 48-hour bus, explained
Three routes, 41 stops, one ticket. Here is how they connect.
Your ticket covers unlimited hop-on hop-off travel on all three Edinburgh Bus Tours routes for 48 consecutive hours from the moment you first board — not from midnight, not from the moment you buy. That gives you two full sightseeing days plus the overnight in between. All three routes start and finish at Stop ZG on Waterloo Place, a two-minute walk from Waverley Station. All are wheelchair-accessible with two spaces per bus and welcome mobility scooters up to Class 2. All have free wifi and USB charging. You can hop between routes at shared stops as often as you like — a single ticket, not three.
CitySightseeing Edinburgh (red route)
Every 7–10 minutes · 08:45 first departure · 18:00 last departure
The classic loop through the historic centre with multi-language on-board audio commentary and a dedicated Horrible Histories channel for kids. Runs every 7 to 10 minutes from 8:45am until 6pm (summer timetable). One full lap takes about 70 minutes. Key stops: Grassmarket, George IV Bridge (best access to the Castle), John Knox House on the Royal Mile, Holyrood, and Dynamic Earth.
Stops on this route
- Waterloo Place
- Lothian Road
- Grassmarket
- George IV Bridge (for the Castle)
- St. Andrew Square (North Side)
- John Knox House
- Holyrood (for the Palace)
- Dynamic Earth
- Waterloo Place
The Edinburgh Tour (green route)
Every 15 minutes · 08:50 first departure · 17:50 last departure
The premium experience: a live English-speaking guide on every bus, not a recorded audio track. Runs every 15 minutes from 8:50am until 5:50pm, one lap around 65 minutes. Same core route as the red bus through the Old Town and the Georgian New Town, but with a real person telling the story of Edinburgh — perfect for questions and local recommendations. If your English is good enough to enjoy a chatty guide, this is the route to take at least once.
Stops on this route
- Waterloo Place
- St. Andrew Square (North Side)
- Holyrood (for the Palace)
- Museum of Childhood
- Chambers Street (for the Castle)
- Grassmarket
- Charlotte Square
- Frederick Street
- Waterloo Place
The Regal Tour (blue route)
Every 15 minutes · 08:40 first departure · 17:25 last departure
The maritime route — and the only bus that goes down to Leith and Ocean Terminal for the Royal Yacht Britannia. Runs every 15 minutes from 8:40am until 5:25pm, one lap around 80 minutes (the longest of the three). Same multi-language on-board audio as the red route. Beyond Britannia, the Regal Tour also stops at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh (free entry), the Palace of Holyroodhouse, and the historic port of Newhaven.
Stops on this route
- Waterloo Place
- North St David Street
- Royal Botanics
- Newhaven
- Ocean Terminal (for the Royal Yacht Britannia)
- Leopold Place
- Holyrood (for the Palace)
- Waterloo Place
Frequency and first/last departures are shown for the summer 2026 timetable (29 March – 31 October). Winter frequency is reduced — check edinburghtour.com for the current timetable.
Redeeming your voucher
Your first stop must be the TourHub at 19 Waterloo Place (opposite Stop ZG). Present your Tiqets voucher and the staff will issue your physical Royal Edinburgh Ticket, reserve your Castle entry slot at a time of your choosing, and give you a printed map. TourHub is open 8:45am to 6pm in summer (April – October) and 8:50am to 4:20pm in winter (November – March). After that, you can board any of the three routes at any of the 41 stops.
Suggested 2-day itinerary
Day 1 morning: exchange voucher, take the Regal Tour (blue) down to Leith for the Royal Yacht Britannia (allow 3 hours including the tea room). Afternoon: red or green bus back to Waterloo Place and up to the Castle at your reserved time slot (2–3 hours). Evening: dinner in the Grassmarket or Old Town. Day 2 morning: green bus with live guide to Holyrood for the Palace (2 hours). Afternoon: hop-on hop-off at your leisure — Royal Botanic Garden, Grassmarket, the Georgian New Town, or Camera Obscura next to the Castle. The bus ticket is still valid until 48 hours after you first boarded.
What travellers say
Verified reviews from Tiqets customers.
“Everything worked out perfectly. The buses were easy to use and the commentary during the trip was a great addition to the sightseeing.”
Verified purchase“Excellent value for money. We needed the full 48 hours to explore all three attractions in peace and enjoy the bus tours. Take your time — it's worth it.”
Verified purchase“Really friendly staff at the office. Great that you can book a time slot for Edinburgh Castle directly. The bus drivers were extremely helpful and knew a lot about the city.”
Verified purchaseFrequently asked questions
How does the Royal Edinburgh Ticket work?
Book online and receive a digital voucher by email. On your first day, exchange the voucher at the TourHub opposite the Waterloo Place bus stop (19 Waterloo Place, EH1 3EG). The staff issues your physical ticket and reserves your Edinburgh Castle time slot. You then have 48 consecutive hours of unlimited bus travel and can visit the Palace of Holyroodhouse and Royal Yacht Britannia whenever they are open.
Do I need to pre-book the attractions?
No. Edinburgh Bus Tours staff will reserve your Edinburgh Castle time slot on the spot when you exchange the voucher. At the Palace of Holyroodhouse and Royal Yacht Britannia you simply walk in during opening hours.
What if the Palace of Holyroodhouse is closed?
Royal Edinburgh Ticket holders are offered entry to The King's Gallery plus a Palace guidebook instead. This does not apply on regular Tuesday and Wednesday closures outside the summer 7-day-opening window (21 May – 14 September). Confirmed 2026 Palace closures: 26 June – 3 July and 24–26 December.
Can I cancel or change my booking?
No. The Royal Edinburgh Ticket is non-refundable and cannot be rescheduled. Only book once your travel dates are confirmed.
How much money will I save?
At least £17.50 per adult versus the cheapest online prices for each attraction plus a 48-hour Grand Bus ticket bought separately. Savings can reach £24.50 if you would otherwise pay the walk-up rate at the Palace of Holyroodhouse.
Is the ticket worth it with children?
Children under 5 travel free (max. 2 per paying adult). Children aged 5–15 pay £43 — that's a saving of roughly £11 versus separate tickets and the entire logistics of getting to Leith and back are covered by the bus.
Where does the tour start?
All three bus routes start at Stop ZG on Waterloo Place (EH1 3BG) — a two-minute walk from Waverley Station. Voucher exchange happens at the TourHub across the street (19 Waterloo Place, EH1 3EG).
Ready to explore royal Edinburgh?
One ticket. Three royal attractions. 48 hours on the bus. From £43.
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