Edinburgh Castle is usually open on Mondays – but there’s one important thing to check before you turn up at the gate.
What makes Edinburgh Castle worth visiting?
The city views from the terrace outside Edinburgh Castle are tremendous, but inside it’s a glorious mixture of attractions that range from the dazzling to the grim. The castle was home to Scottish kings from the 11th century onwards and the treasures they collected are now displayed as the Honours of Scotland.
The castle vaults have been restored to look as they would have done in the 18th and 19th century when they were used to detain prisoners of war. The beamed 16th century Great Hall and the Royal Apartments are also good for open-jawed ogling.
Monday opening at Edinburgh Castle
The good news is that, unlike many UK tourist attractions and European castles, Edinburgh Castle is open on Mondays. Unless that Monday falls on December 25 or 26, when the castle is closed.
Five great things to do while you’re in Edinburgh
Discover the Old Town’s underground vaults on a walking tour.
- Follow the Da Vinci Code on a Rosslyn Chapel day tour.
- Learn dozens of stories on a guided walk of the Royal Mile and Old Town.
- Explore the best places to eat in Edinburgh on a food tour.
- Let an expert guide take you around Edinburgh’s Harry Potter locations.
Edinburgh Castle opening hours
For most of the year, Edinburgh Castle is open from 9.30am to 5pm, with the last entry at 4pm. However, between April 1 and September 30, Scotland’s top family attraction is open for an hour longer – closing at 6pm, with the last entry at 5pm.
Books set in Edinburgh
If you want to get a good feel for Edinburgh before visiting, it’s worth reading a book or two set there. Options include…
- Muriel Spark’s The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie – an inspirational teacher changes lives with equal parts comedy and tragedy.
- The Heart of Midlothian – arguably Sir Walter Scott’s finest work.
- Ian Rankin’s Rebus books – gripping, grouchy detective novels.
- Irvine Welsh’s Trainspotting series – for the city’s gritty side.
- David Nicholls’ One Day – an innovative and emotive romance, tracked by the same date each year.
The links above are to Amazon. You can probably get them all cheaper at World of Books, which is where I buy most of my books.
Booking your Edinburgh Castle visit
However, there is also bad news. Edinburgh Castle tickets often sell out. If your perfect day in Edinburgh involves a morning at the castle, then you need to book tickets in advance.
Rock up, hoping to buy tickets on the gate, and you’re likely to be disappointed. There are plenty of things to do near Edinburgh Castle, but that’s going to be scant consolation if you’re turned away.
If the tickets have sold out online, then you may still be able to get in on a guided Edinburgh Castle tour. The tours often have availability when general admission tickets have gone.
Check to see which tours have availability here.
More Scotland travel
Other Scotland travel articles on Planet Whitley include:
- National Museum of Scotland review: Which bit to visit first?
- The Dean Village: Edinburgh’s secret, scenic escape.
- Review of the Edinburgh Literary Pub Tour.
- Are there any direct flights from Edinburgh to Oslo?
- Guide to Glasgow’s West End for first time visitors.
Disclosure: This article includes affiliate links. Book through them, and I earn a small commission.
