The 15 Edinburgh Palace Tours We Would Buy a Ticket For

1.Palace of Holyroodhouse Entry Ticket

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 5,153 reviews · 1.5 hours · from $29Our pick

Visit Holyroodhouse at the end of Edinburgh’s Royal Mile with a self-guided multimedia tour. See the State Apartments, Throne Room, Great Gallery, Mary Queen of Scots’ chambers, Holyrood Abbey ruins, and palace gardens. The guide comes in 10 languages, including Scots Gaelic, and you can finish with food or tea at the palace café.

“Fabulous! The entrance was easy to locate, it wasn't crowded when I went, staff were super helpful and the Palace is gorgeous! The self-guided tour is a must, the devices are very easy to use and the entire tour was easy to follow/understand. So happy I decided to go.”

Check availability →Read our full review

2.Outlander, Palaces, and Jacobites Day Trip

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 937 reviews · 9 hours · from $83

Spend nine hours tracing Outlander locations with a Timberbush guide such as Paul Santa, Adam, Shafiq, or Linda. See Claire’s herb garden in Culross, Fort William at Blackness Castle, and Lallybroch at Midhope Castle. The tour also brings Scottish history, Jacobite stories, comfortable transport, and time for photos, though attraction fees are extra.

“We had a great time with our guide Marty. I really enjoyed the trip!”

Check availability →Read our full review

3.Palace of Holyroodhouse Admission Ticket

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 450 reviews · 1 hour (approx.) · from $30

Visit the King’s official Scottish residence at the foot of Edinburgh’s Royal Mile. Your ticket includes a multimedia guide covering the State Apartments, Mary Queen of Scots’ rooms, the ruined abbey, and palace grounds. Plan on 90 minutes or more, and remember that photography is not permitted inside.

“Beautiful grounds and interesting history with the audio guides. Ready to dig into more Scottish history! Easily accessible.”

Check availability →Read our full review

4.The Outlander, Palaces & Jacobites Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 444 reviews · 9 hours (approx.) · from $77Top rated

Spend about nine hours visiting Outlander locations near Edinburgh, including Culross, Blackness Castle, Linlithgow Palace, Doune Castle, and seasonal Midhope Castle. Your Timberbush driver-guide, such as Marty, Jamie, or Alistair, adds Scottish history, filming stories, music, and humor. Transport is included, but attraction tickets and meals cost extra.

“We spent a wonderful day touring the castles from the series Outlander. We saw a total of 4 castles featured in the show, but the highlight was definitely going to Midhope castle! It was emotional! Our tour guide, Jamie C. was super knowledgeable and funny and had a lot of great suggestions for after the tour, for dinner and sights to see! He was fantastic and I highly recommend him as a tour guide and all around great person!”

Check availability →Read our full review

5.Edinburgh Castle Guided Walking Tour & Holyrood Palace Ticket

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 50 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $108

Meet at 10 a.m. near Advocate’s Close for a guided walk through Edinburgh Castle, then return at 2 p.m. for your Holyrood Palace ticket. You’ll hear castle stories from a guide such as Ignes, then explore both landmarks at your own pace. Allow for outdoor walking, wind, rain, and a group of up to 30 people.

“Very informative and interesting facts and folklore. Very organized and promot with time and moving the crowd”

Check availability →Read our full review

6.Wallace monument, Stirling Castle, Linlithgow Palace Private Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 46 reviews · 8 hours (approx.)

Travel from Edinburgh in a private, air-conditioned vehicle with guide Ed Silinis, stopping at the Forth Bridges, Stirling Castle, the Wallace Monument, and Linlithgow Palace. The eight-hour day can be adjusted to your interests, pace, walking needs, and even extra stops when time allows. Admissions and meals cost extra.

“Great tour guides! We rented 2 vans for our large group of 11. They we were able to cater to our needs. Highly recommend!”

Check availability →Read our full review

7.St Andrews and Falkland Palace Tour from Edinburgh

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 27 reviews · 9 hours · from $74

Travel from Edinburgh to Falkland, St Andrews, and Anstruther on a nine-hour Fife tour. See Outlander locations, ancient cathedral ruins, the home of golf, coastal villages, and views toward the Isle of May. Guides such as Rob, Robin, Aaron, and JR have led recent departures.

“JR was a great guide. Very friendly and informative. What a great day!”

Check availability →Read our full review

8.Harry Potter Tour & Palace of Holyrood Entry

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 24 reviews · 3.5 hours · from $78

Follow an English-speaking Potter-head guide from Tron Kirk through Waverley Station, Old College, Greyfriars Kirkyard, Edinburgh Castle viewpoints, and Victoria Street, linked to Harry Potter locations and stories. Finish with 1.5 hours inside Holyrood Palace, where you explore independently. Guides may include Paul, Jackson, Benjamin, or others.

“Paul was a great and friendly guide Easy to talk to 5 stars 🌟”

Check availability →Read our full review

9.The King’s Gallery, Palace of Holyroodhouse

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 23 reviews · 1 hour (approx.) · from $15Best value

Visit The King’s Gallery at the Palace of Holyroodhouse for a Royal Collection exhibition and multimedia tour. See Leonardo, Michelangelo, Raphael, and Titian drawings in Drawing the Italian Renaissance, or explore Edwardian royal style and photography in the later exhibition. Allow about an hour and note that photography is not permitted.

“Great palace, many things to learn about it, there are still royal dinners and weddings happening there, beautiful gallery as well, highly recommend to see the palace”

Check availability →Read our full review

10.Balmoral Castle and Scone Palace Royal Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 11 reviews · 10 hours

Join Scott of Tartan Thistle Tours for a private, small-group day from Edinburgh to Scone Palace and Balmoral Castle. You’ll cross the Forth bridges, drive through Glenshee and Braemar, and hear Scottish history along the way. The $814 price covers up to six people, but attraction tickets are extra.

“Scott is an excellent , professional and knowledgeable guide. We had an enjoyable trip to Balmoral and Scone Palace.”

Check availability →Read our full review

11.St. Andrews and Falkland Palace Day Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 8 reviews · 9 hours · from $75

Travel from Edinburgh in a 16-seat mini coach to Anstruther, St Andrews, and Falkland. You’ll see the Forth Bridge, walk medieval streets, visit golf landmarks, and explore Falkland Palace when open. Guides such as Fion and Kyle have led recent tours, adding local stories to a well-paced day.

“Of all the tours I have booked, today was out of this world🥳. Not only because of the sites (which were inspirational and beautiful), but also because of our guide. We travelled with Kyle. He had the most amazing general knowledge, brilliant stories, and he made an effort with each passenger individually. Very few guides are that incredible, which added to a tour we will always remember. Thank you Kyle!!! From South Africa🇿🇦”

Check availability →Read our full review

12.Private Outlander, Palaces & Jacobite Experience

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 8 reviews · 8 hours (approx.)

Travel from Edinburgh in a private Mercedes vehicle with a chauffeur-guide to Midhope Castle, Blackness Castle, Linlithgow, Callander, Hopetoun House, and South Queensferry. Guides such as Linda, Adam, John, and Cliff bring the Outlander connections and Scottish stories to life. Entry fees and meals cost extra.

Check availability →Read our full review

13.Harry Potter Edinburgh Top Sights Tour with Holyrood Palace

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 6 reviews · 3 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $79

Follow a guide through Edinburgh’s Royal Mile, Waverley Station, Old Town, Greyfriars Kirkyard, Victoria Street, and other Harry Potter touchpoints. Guides such as Benjamin and Paul add Potter lore, jokes, and local history. The two-hour walk ends with a self-guided visit to Holyrood Palace, included in the $79.10 price.

“If you are a fan of Harry Potter, this is the tour for you! JK Rowling lived and was inspired from the locations we visited. We saw the coffee shop where she wrote and the streets and cemetery names familiar to all that know Potter. Benjamin was a fantastic guide who took us into the Edinburgh museum and the University of Edinburgh where more inspiration came. Finally we were handed tickets to the Palace of Holyrood House to explore on our own.”

Check availability →Read our full review

14.Scone Palace, Nature, Pitlochry, Whisky Experience from Edinburgh

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 5 reviews · 8 hours (approx.)

Travel by private car from Edinburgh with a local guide such as Simon, Shak, or Taiymur. Visit Scone Palace, The Hermitage, Pitlochry, Highland cows, and Tullibardine Distillery, with views of Doune Castle, Stirling, Wallace Monument, and the Kelpies. The small car suits up to four, but four adults may find it tight.

“Our tour guide Shak was fantastic. He was so knowledgeable, friendly and entertaining. He knew so much about the history of the places we visited and drove through. We had some extra time so he made a bonus stop to see some Highland cows. The views were unforgettable and it was lovely to sit back and enjoy the ride rather than try to drive ourselves.”

Check availability →Read our full review

15.Crowning Jewels: Scone Palace, Glamis Castle, & St Andrews

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 3 reviews · 8 hours (approx.) · from $533

Spend about eight hours touring three Scottish landmarks from Edinburgh in a private, air-conditioned vehicle with hotel pickup, WiFi, bottled water, and live commentary. Visit Scone Palace, Glamis Castle, and St Andrews. Ray, one guide associated with the tour, is praised for warm storytelling suitable for families. Admission fees and lunch cost extra.

Check availability →Read our full review