Attraction · Edinburgh
Edinburgh Castle: free entry days, tickets & hours
Independent guide, not the official Edinburgh Castle website. Official links are under Sources.
Edinburgh Castle is free for some visitors, not for everyone.
- Free for: Children under 7 free (add a free ticket to your booking); Carers accompanying disabled visitors enter free; Serving members of the British Armed Forces enter free.
- Otherwise: adult 16-64, online — £23.50.
- Book online to guarantee entry; show valid membership/pass.
Before you go
How to actually get in for free
- Children under 7 free (add a free ticket to your booking): Add a £0 'Child Under 7' ticket to the online booking.
- Historic Scotland members and Explorer Pass holders enter free: Book online to guarantee entry; show valid membership/pass.
- Carers accompanying disabled visitors enter free: Book online; maximum two carers per transaction.
- Serving members of the British Armed Forces enter free: Book the HM Forces ticket type and bring a valid MOD 90 card.
- Young Scot card holders pay just £1 (cheap, not free).
- Online is cheaper than walk-up, and walk-up may not be available once sold out.
- Pick up the free orientation map on arrival.
All free options
Who gets in free, and when
| Free option | Who | Conditions | Book? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free forChildren under 7 free (add a free ticket to your booking) | children under 7 | Under-16s must be accompanied by an adult. | Yes |
| Free with passHistoric Scotland members and Explorer Pass holders enter free | members | Membership and Explorer Pass are paid. English Heritage, Cadw and Manx members: free only on renewal/life membership (half price in the first year). | Yes |
| Free forCarers accompanying disabled visitors enter free | carers of visitors with disabilities | — | Yes |
| Free forServing members of the British Armed Forces enter free | uk armed forces | Free entry applies to the serving member only. | Yes |
Official prices
Edinburgh Castle ticket prices
| Adult 16-64, online — Walk-up £26. Concession (65+, unemployed) £19/£21; child 7-15 £11.50/£13. Flexi ticket adult £38. Online tickets can sell out with no walk-up sales left. | £23.50 |
| Audio guide — 20% off for members and Explorer Pass holders. | £4 |
| Flexi ticket, adult (any day within 7 days, no timeslot) | £38 |
Prices from the official website, checked Oct 2026. Free options are listed above.
Worth timing your visit?
What a free day saves
Based on the official price (adult 16-64, online). Free days are busier — if your dates don't line up, a timed ticket is the trade-off.
Tickets & tours
Best-rated tickets and tours: Edinburgh Castle
Guided tourEdinburgh Castle: Guided Walking Tour with Entry Ticket★★★★★ 4.7 · 15k reviews1.5 hoursfrom £41
Guided tourEdinburgh: Edinburgh Castle Guided History Tour with Tickets★★★★★ 4.8 · 13k reviews1.5 hoursfrom £39
Guided tourEdinburgh Castle: Guided Tour with Tickets Included★★★★★ 4.8 · 3.5k reviews1.5 hoursfrom £39
Guided tourEdinburgh: Edinburgh Castle Tickets & Tour with Kilted Guide★★★★★ 4.8 · 1.4k reviews1.5 hoursfrom £39
Guided tourEdinburgh: Royal Attractions Tickets + Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour★★★★★ 4.7 · 938 reviewsfrom £81
Guided tourEdinburgh Castle Guided Tour with Entry Tickets★★★★★ 4.8 · 544 reviewsfrom £38.95
Ratings and prices from the booking partners; prices may change.
Practical
Opening hours & how to get there
1 Apr-30 Sep 9:30-18:00 (last entry 17:00); 1 Oct-23 Dec and 27 Dec-31 Mar 9:30-17:00 (last entry 16:00); 24 Dec 9:30-16:00; closed 25-26 Dec. Subject to change and weather closures.
Castlehill, Edinburgh EH1 2NG, United Kingdom
Also free nearby
Make a free afternoon of it
Worth paying for nearby
Paid highlights within walking distance
- The NationalCatherine Opie: To Be Seen, full price incl. donation (until 1 Nov 2026)from £14 · 0.4 km
- St Giles' CathedralVisitor Ticket (16+, non-residents of Scotland)from £12 · 0.6 km
- National Museum of ScotlandRoman Scotland: Life on the Edge of Empire, adult advance (14 Nov 2026 - 18 Apr 2027)from £13.50 · 0.7 km
FAQ
Edinburgh Castle: common questions
Is Edinburgh Castle free?
Edinburgh Castle has no free entry for everyone. Also free: Children under 7 free (add a free ticket to your booking); Carers accompanying disabled visitors enter free; Serving members of the British Armed Forces enter free. Otherwise the official ticket costs £23.50.
Who gets free entry to Edinburgh Castle?
Children under 7 — under-16s must be accompanied by an adult.. Carers of visitors with disabilities. Uk armed forces — free entry applies to the serving member only..
Do I need to book for free entry to Edinburgh Castle?
Add a £0 'Child Under 7' ticket to the online booking.
How much is a ticket to Edinburgh Castle?
Adult 16-64, online costs £23.50 on the official site.
Visitor reviews
What visitors say about Edinburgh Castle
No reviews yet. Been here? Tell others how it went — especially on a free day.
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Sources
Where this comes from
- historicenvironment.scot/visit/visitor-faqs/ · checked Saturday, 24 October 2026
- edinburghcastle.scot/plan-your-visit/tickets/ · checked Saturday, 24 October 2026
- edinburghcastle.scot/plan-your-visit/opening-times/
Every free rule is checked against the official source and re-checked on a schedule. Spotted a change? Tell us.