Palace of Holyroodhouse Entry Tickets, Edinburgh
Palace of Holyroodhouse Entry Tickets, Edinburgh
Duration: 1.5 hours (approx.)
1.5 hours (approx.)
Free cancellation up to 36 hours before the start of your experience
Free cancellation up to 36 hours before the start of your experience
100% refund up to 24 hours if you select a refundable option for a small fee.
100% refund up to 24 hours if you select a refundable option for a small fee.
Access to multilingual audio guide
Access to multilingual audio guide
Get your booking confirmed instantly
Get your booking confirmed instantly
Step inside Edinburgh's Palace of Holyroodhouse and explore royal history as you explore The King’s official residence in Scotland. Begin your journey with an entry ticket, presenting it at the entrance for direct access to centuries-old stories. This working palace, located at the end of Edinburgh’s historic Royal Mile, offers a glimpse into Scotland’s monarchy through its State Apartments and the haunting ruins of Holyrood Abbey.
Step inside Edinburgh's Palace of Holyroodhouse and explore royal history as you explore The King’s official residence in Scotland. Begin your journey with an entry ticket, presenting it at the entrance for direct access to centuries-old stories. This working palace, located at the end of Edinburgh’s historic Royal Mile, offers a glimpse into Scotland’s monarchy through its State Apartments and the haunting ruins of Holyrood Abbey.
Located at the end of Edinburgh’s famous Royal Mile, gain full access to the Palace of Holyroodhouse, which serves as the official Scottish home for the British monarch.
Explore the hauntingly beautiful ruins of 12th-century Holyrood Abbey and explore nearly nine centuries of religious and royal history.
Choose from options such as a digital palace guidebook, an Edinburgh city audio guide, guided tours, or enjoy 48 hours of hop-on hop-off bus travel along with entry to both Edinburgh Castle and The Royal Yacht Britannia.
Palace of Holyroodhouse entry
Multimedia guide available in English, Brazilian Portuguese, French, Gaelic, German, Italian, Japanese, Mandarin Chinese, Russian and Spanish
Digital guidebook provided
Audio tour for Edinburgh city included
2-hour exclusive guided experience offered
Guidance by an expert fluent in English
48 hours of access to 3 City Tours: Edinburgh Tour, Regal Tour, CitySightseeing Edinburgh (on the cruise)
Edinburgh Tour covered
Regal Tour accessed
CitySightseeing Edinburgh included
Live commentary available in English during the Edinburgh Tour
Audioguide service on the CitySightseeing bus and the Regal Tour, supporting 9 languages
Admission to Edinburgh Castle granted
Access to The Royal Yacht Britannia provided
Travel Expenses
Eating and Beverages
Palace of Holyroodhouse facade with central fountain, Edinburgh, Scotland.
Welcome to the Palace of Holyroodhouse, The King’s official residence in Scotland. Step into a realm where royal history unfolds before your eyes with an entry ticket that grants you direct access.
Getting Started
Kick off your journey by presenting your voucher at the entrance for smooth admittance to centuries of regal heritage.
What to Expect
Nestled at the end of Edinburgh’s historic Royal Mile, discover the Palace of Holyroodhouse. This working royal palace is steeped in history and played a pivotal role in Scotland's monarchy. Once home to Mary, Queen of Scots, it remains an active residence for today's royal family.
Features:
- Tour the State Apartments: Marvel at grand rooms adorned with elaborate plasterwork, historic furnishings, and elegant tapestries that continue to host official functions.
- Explore Holyrood Abbey: Walk through the atmospheric ruins of this 12th-century abbey, a significant religious center in medieval Scotland.
- Engage with a Multimedia Guide: Enjoy an included multimedia guide that vividly narrates the Palace’s long history and royal tales using engaging audio and visuals.
Extras (Optional)
- Digital Guidebook: Delve deeper into the Royal Collection with a high-quality digital guidebook for an engaging experience.
- Edinburgh Audio Guide: Start a self-guided audio tour of Edinburgh's landmarks, featuring expert city narration. Perfect for exploring Old Town’s secrets on your own schedule after visiting the Palace.
- Guided Tour: Join an English-speaking 2-hour guided tour with an expert to learn about the palace’s history in a less crowded setting.
- Royal Edinburgh Ticket (Upgrade): Extend your adventure for 48 hours and enjoy:
- Edinburgh Castle: Visit this hilltop fortress, home of the Crown Jewels and the Stone of Destiny.
- Royal Yacht Britannia: Step aboard this former floating palace docked in Leith to explore its State Apartments and royal quarters.
- Hop-on Hop-off Bus Pass: Enjoy unlimited travel for 48 hours on three major sightseeing tours—Edinburgh Tour, Regal Tour, and CitySightseeing Edinburgh—with onboard commentary and stops near key attractions.
Historic room with portraits and chandelier at Palace of Holyroodhouse, London.
Ornate room with a canopy bed and paintings at Palace of Holyroodhouse, Edinburgh.
Palace of Holyroodhouse facade with central fountain, Edinburgh, Scotland.
Historic room with portraits and chandelier at Palace of Holyroodhouse, London.
Ornate room with a canopy bed and paintings at Palace of Holyroodhouse, Edinburgh.
Dining room inside Palace of Holyroodhouse, Edinburgh, with ornate decor and portraits.
What's not allowed at Palace of Holyroodhouse
- Bags exceeding dimensions of 45cm × 20cm × 30cm are prohibited.
- Pets cannot accompany visitors due to venue restrictions.
- No photography is permitted inside the State Apartments.
- Smoking, including e-cigarettes, is not allowed within the Palace grounds.
To ensure a pleasant experience for all guests, mobile phones must be turned off in the palace.
Accessibility at Palace of Holyroodhouse and Royal Edinburgh Ticket venues
- The tour is wheelchair accessible except certain areas within Mary, Queen of Scots' rooms. Prams/strollers are also accommodated here.
- Guide dogs are permitted on the premises.
- Discounts for disabled visitors and a free companion ticket require direct booking with Royal Collection Trust.
- While only parts of Edinburgh Castle have wheelchair access, both the Royal Yacht Britannia experience and Hop-on Hop-off buses are accessible. Mobility scooters must be foldable to fit in luggage storage.
Pet dogs along with guide dogs can join you on your tour.
Additional information for Palace of Holyroodhouse and Royal Edinburgh Ticket experiences
- The operational schedule at the working royal palace may change unexpectedly. Security measures are in place, which might involve checks where some items need to be checked in temporarily.
- A one-way route is enforced inside the Palace for safety reasons.
Visits must occur between Thursday and Sunday as the palace remains closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. The final entry time each day is at 3:15 pm, with tickets required even for children under five years old.
- The Royal Edinburgh Ticket allows Castle access during its 48-hour validity period but does not guarantee same-day admission upon purchase. Entry closes at the castle by 2:30pm.
- Visitors aged 15 and below must be accompanied by an adult or senior citizen.
- Hop-on Hop-off buses operate from 9 am to 6 pm, allowing visits to Palace of Holyroodhouse, Edinburgh Castle, and Royal Yacht Britannia within the validity period. The first bus departs Stop 1 at 8:45am with the last one leaving by 6pm; detailed route maps can be accessed here.
Children under a certain age can travel free of charge, with up to three children per adult ticket. Remember to add child tickets when purchasing.
Ornate bedroom with red canopy bed and tapestries at Palace of Holyroodhouse, Edinburgh.
Visitors viewing portraits in the gallery of the Palace of Holyroodhouse, London.
Dining room inside Palace of Holyroodhouse, Edinburgh, with ornate decor and portraits.
Ornate bedroom with red canopy bed and tapestries at Palace of Holyroodhouse, Edinburgh.
Visitors viewing portraits in the gallery of the Palace of Holyroodhouse, London.
Start at Palace of Holyroodhouse early in your visit as it's located at the end of Edinburgh’s Royal Mile to make efficient use of your time.
If you're planning a full day exploring Edinburgh, consider combining this visit with entry to Edinburgh Castle and The Royal Yacht Britannia using hop-on hop-off bus travel for an enriching experience.
Enhance your tour by taking advantage of the complimentary multimedia guides available in multiple languages or opt for digital guidebooks if you prefer a self-guided exploration.
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Operating hours
Palace of Holyroodhouse
- Timings are displayed in the venue's time zone.
- Closed on 5th Jan 2026, 12th Jan 2026, 19th Jan 2026, 26th Jan 2026, 2nd Feb 2026, 9th Feb 2026, 16th Feb 2026, 23rd Feb 2026, 2nd Mar 2026, 9th Mar 2026, 16th Mar 2026, 23rd Mar 2026, 30th Mar 2026, 6th Apr 2026, 13th Apr 2026, 20th Apr 2026, 27th Apr 2026, 4th May 2026, 11th May 2026, 18th May 2026, 25th May 2026, 1st Jun 2026, 8th Jun 2026, 15th Jun 2026, 22nd Jun 2026, 26th Jun 2026, 27th Jun 2026, 28th Jun 2026, 29th Jun 2026, 30th Jun 2026, 1st Jul 2026, 2nd Jul 2026, 3rd Jul 2026, 6th Jul 2026, 13th Jul 2026, 20th Jul 2026, 27th Jul 2026, 3rd Aug 2026, 10th Aug 2026, 17th Aug 2026, 24th Aug 2026, 31st Aug 2026, 7th Sep 2026, 14th Sep 2026, 21st Sep 2026, 28th Sep 2026, 5th Oct 2026, 12th Oct 2026, 19th Oct 2026, 26th Oct 2026, 2nd Nov 2026, 9th Nov 2026, 16th Nov 2026, 23rd Nov 2026, 30th Nov 2026, 7th Dec 2026, 14th Dec 2026, 21st Dec 2026 and 28th Dec 2026.
Edinburgh Castle
- Timings are displayed in the venue's time zone.
- Closed on 13th Jan 2026, 14th Jan 2026, 15th Jan 2026, 25th Dec 2026 and 26th Dec 2026.
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