PALACE TOURS · EDINBURGH PALACE TOURS
The best edinburgh palace tours sell their good hours weeks ahead. Below: the 15 to book early, what each one includes and where they differ.
Visit Edinburgh’s Palace of Holyroodhouse at your own pace with a multimedia guide in several languages. See the State Apartments, Throne Room, Great Gallery, Mary Queen of Scots’ chambers, Holyrood Abbey ruins, and palace gardens. Allow about 90 minutes, plus time for the café.
“Audio tour was included with ticket price. Informative and relaxed tour through palace, abbey ruins, and the grounds. Enjoyable!”
Visit Holyrood Distillery, ten minutes from the Royal Mile, for a one-hour English-language tour led by guides such as Courtney, Dave, Neil, or Thais. See gin and whisky production, taste both spirits and a welcome cocktail, then learn how unusual yeasts and oak shape modern Scotch.
“The tour guide was very informative and interesting to listen to. Enjoyed it very much!”
Travel from Edinburgh with an English-speaking guide such as Jamie, Linda, Neil, or Shafiq to Outlander sites including Culross, Doune Castle, Linlithgow Palace, Blackness Castle, and Midhope Castle. Expect a comfortable coach, Scottish history, filming stories, and extra entry fees at most attractions.
“Great experience! Shafiq gave us a lot of interesting information, not only about Outlander but also about Scotland. Definitely worth it!”
Spend about an hour at Holyrood Distillery with a guide such as Diego, Brice, Courtney, or Neil, learning how its experimental whisky and gin are made. You’ll see the working distillery, sample several drinks, and finish near the tasting bar and shop.
“It was interesting to see the process. The goods were creative in the way that the distillery made so many variations with the base product. David was a friendly and informative guide.”
Visit the Palace of Holyroodhouse at the foot of Edinburgh’s Royal Mile. Your ticket includes a multimedia guide through the State Apartments and Mary, Queen of Scots’ rooms, plus access to the abbey ruins and gardens. Allow 90 minutes to two hours if you want to take your time.
“One of the best self guided walking tour with headset. Very well organized by palace room or area. Very clear to understand. Can do at your own pace and repeat the information as needed.”
Spend about nine hours with a Timberbush driver-guide visiting Outlander sites near Edinburgh, including Culross, Blackness Castle, Linlithgow Palace, Doune Castle, and seasonal Midhope Castle. Expect live history and filming stories, free time at stops, optional entry fees, and a comfortable ride for up to 32 people.
“Real wonderful experience! I would recommend this tour to anybody that is an outlander fan or is not an outlander fan”
Tour Holyrood Distillery in central Edinburgh with guides such as Brice, Dave, Henry, or Finn. See how new make spirit changes with time, learn about the building’s brewing past, and taste four samples. The focus is whisky-making rather than a broad flight of finished bottles.
“Henry gave a really good indepth tour, balanced perfectly for his audience. Even though I have done other distillery tours I learnt so many new things. The tour was well paced and the tasting samples were well tutored.”
Walk from the King’s Gallery through Holyrood Park, then climb Arthur’s Seat at 251 metres. Guides including David, Dave, Sabine, and Marcus share local history, geology, plants, and wildlife while choosing quieter paths and adjusting the pace to the group.
“lovely hike in nature, David our guide chose the quiet path with birds singing”
Start with a guided walk through Edinburgh Castle, including the esplanade, Great Hall, and Royal Apartments. Later, visit Holyrood Palace, linked to Mary, Queen of Scots and Bonnie Prince Charlie. The castle talk is live, while the palace visit is largely self-guided.
“Our guide Ignes was amazing! A bit of walking and rain (bring an umbrella to prepare FYI) but definitely worth it!”
Travel from Edinburgh with guide Ed Silinis in a private, air-conditioned vehicle for a tailored day at the Forth Bridges, Stirling Castle, the Wallace Monument, and Linlithgow Palace. You get more time and flexibility than on a bus tour, with entry fees paid separately.
“Ed knows his Scottish history. He tailored the tour to our desires by asking lots of questions about what we had seen on previous tours and what we wanted to see. His walking tour through Stirling Castle helped us integrate the castle’s history into the larger historical timeline. He was invaluable at Linlithgow castle. His descriptions brought the ruins to life. I would not have appreciated the former grandeur of this structure without his help.”
Travel from Edinburgh to Falkland, St Andrews, and Anstruther with an English-speaking guide. You’ll see Falkland Palace, the home of golf, ancient ruins, university streets, fishing villages, and views toward the Isle of May. Recent guides include Rob, Robin, Aaron, and JR.
“Our guide was very lovely. He made the day fun and interesting!”
Follow an English-speaking Potter-head guide from Tron Kirk through Waverley Station, Old College, Greyfriars Kirkyard, Victoria Street, and other story-linked sights. Then use your included ticket to explore Holyrood Palace independently for about 1.5 hours.
“This tour did not feel worth the time/money. We were told that many of the sites were not accessible at the time of the tour and ended up having to go to them on our own the next day. The guide tried to fill the time with other facts to make up for it, but we were really hoping for the Harry Potter experience.”
Visit The King’s Gallery at the Palace of Holyroodhouse with an exhibition ticket and English multimedia guide. See Leonardo, Michelangelo, Raphael, and Titian drawings in Drawing the Italian Renaissance, or royal portraits and photography in The Edwardians. Allow about one hour.
“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”
Travel in a small group of up to 16 with an English-speaking guide from Edinburgh to Dundee, Dunnottar Castle, Aberdeen, Crathes Castle, Balmoral, and Perth. Guides such as Martin, Mark, and Lorna have led recent departures. Castle entry, meals, and accommodation choice cost extra.
“Top Destinationen. Leider an beiden Tagen zu wenig Zeit zum Mittagessen.”
Travel from Edinburgh with Scott of Tartan Thistle Tours on a private, English-language day trip for up to six people. Visit Scone Palace and Balmoral, cross the Forth bridges, pass Loch Leven, and drive through Glenshee and Braemar. Attraction tickets are paid separately.
“Excellent tour. Scott was so knowledgeable and so very friendly. Answered all of our questions and gave us so much historical information...even thru in some fun facts. Thank you Scott for a wonderful adventure...hope you enjoyed your scone!!”
A named palace, a kind of ticket, or a whole country of them.
