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Edinburgh Castle: Entry Ticket + Guided Tour
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Book tickets and tours →Edinburgh Castle opening times and last entry
Edinburgh Castle opens at 9:30 every day except 25 and 26 December. Last entry is 17:00 from April to September and 16:00 from October to March.
Today
Opening hours for every month are on the Opening hours page.
Checked against the official website on 31 October 2026 · Official source
| Period | Last entry | Closing |
|---|---|---|
| 1 April to 30 September: opens at 9:30 | 17:00 | 18:00 |
| 1 October to 23 December: opens at 9:30 | 16:00 | 17:00 |
| 24 December: opens at 9:30 | 15:00 | 16:00 |
| 25 and 26 December | Closed | – |
| 27 to 31 December: opens at 9:30 | 16:00 | 17:00 |
| 1 January: opens at 11:00 | 16:00 | 17:00 |
| 2 January to 31 March: opens at 9:30 | 16:00 | 17:00 |
The castle is closed on 25 and 26 December. It can also close in severe weather.
Checked against the official website on 31 October 2026 · Official source: Historic Environment Scotland
What time is the One O'Clock Gun?
The gun fires at 13:00 every day except Sundays, Good Friday and Christmas Day. It is fired from the Mills Mount Battery, on the north side of the castle.
It has been fired since 1861, when it gave the time to ships at Leith and in the Firth of Forth. Today the bang is loud and sudden, so tell children what is coming. The shuttle that carries visitors with reduced mobility up to Crown Square does not run from 12:15 to 13:15.
Plan to be inside the castle before 13:00.
How long does a visit take?
Plan on at least two hours for the main sights. A quick visit can be done in about an hour, and a family day out can easily fill three. Each tour on the tickets page lists its own length.
Is the castle open at Christmas and New Year?
On 24 December it closes at 16:00 and last entry is 15:00. It is closed on 25 and 26 December. From 27 to 31 December the usual winter hours apply, and on 1 January it opens late, at 11:00.
Each winter the castle is decorated for Christmas. In 2026 the decorations run from 18 November to 31 December.
Are the museums inside open at the same hours?
The National War Museum opens a little later, at 9:45. From April to September last entry is 17:30 and it closes at 17:45. From October to March last entry is 16:30 and it closes at 16:45. It is also closed on 25 and 26 December.
The Redcoat Café is open from 9:30 to 16:00 and the Tea Rooms from 10:30 to 16:00, every day except 25 and 26 December.
What if the tickets are sold out?
In summer the castle often sells out far in advance. When tickets are sold out online, none are sold at the castle gate, so book your date before you travel.
Edinburgh Castle: frequently asked questions
What time does Edinburgh Castle open and close?
It opens at 9:30. From April to September last entry is 17:00 and it closes at 18:00. From October to March last entry is 16:00 and it closes at 17:00. It is closed on 25 and 26 December.
What time is the One O'Clock Gun?
At 13:00 every day except Sundays, Good Friday and Christmas Day.
Is Edinburgh Castle open on Christmas Day?
No. It is closed on 25 and 26 December. On 24 December it closes at 16:00, and on 1 January it opens at 11:00.
How long does a visit to Edinburgh Castle take?
Plan on at least two hours for the main sights. A quick visit takes about an hour, and a family day out about three hours.