Top 15 Castle & Palace Tours in Edinburgh

1.Holy Island, Alnwick Castle & Northumbria

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 1,313 reviews · 9 hours · from $85Our pick

A guided Edinburgh day trip to Holy Island and Alnwick Castle, with Lindisfarne mead, poison gardens, and Downton and Harry Potter film spots.

“Thoroughly enjoyed this day trip in the English countryside (in case you missed it like we did, this isn't a Highlands tour) 😊 Adam was a generous, knowledgeable and entertaining guide. The drive to Alnwick castle is so beautiful- rolling hillsides, lots of sheep and wonderful vistas! Definitely a trip that relies on good weather due to the stop at Lindisfarne where the sights are all uncovered and outside. But the castle would be great regardless, definitely worth doing both the castle and gardens!”

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2.Stirling Castle, Kelpies and Loch Lomond

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 1,051 reviews · 10 hours · from $61

Scottish Highlands day trip from Edinburgh: Stirling Castle history, 30-foot Kelpies, Loch Lomond scenery and optional boat cruise, hairy coos.

“We were so lucky to have Louise as our driver-guide. Such an amazing and funny woman. She made the experience unique with her explanations, the driving was perfect and all the stops very precise. All the places we visited (Kelpies, Hairy Coo, Stirling Castle, Loch Lomond) were of extraordinary beauty. The true Scottish experience. We highly recommend this tour”

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3.Loch Lomond, Kelpies & Stirling Castle Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 1,043 reviews · 9 hours · from $57

9-hour small group tour from Edinburgh to Stirling Castle, Loch Lomond, and the Kelpies, with guided history and a lochside walk.

“Highly recommend this tour. It gives you a nice sampling of the Scottish countryside and a well-timed visit to Stirling Castle.”

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4.West Highland Lochs and Castles Day Trip

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 623 reviews · 10 hours · from $85

Scottish Highlands in one long day: Doune, Inveraray, lochs and castles, Stirling views, Rest and Be Thankful, plus guided bus comfort.

“Sam was absolutely fantastic. Perfect balance of information and also letting us enjoy the views.”

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5.West Highlands, Lochs, and Castles Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 608 reviews · 10 hours · from $54Best value

Doune Castle, Loch Lomond, Inveraray, and more on a 10-hour West Highlands tour from Edinburgh, with folklore and photo stops.

“We loved Pete and his music and so many stops. Thanks”

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6.Rosslyn Chapel, Stirling Castle & Dunfermline Abbey Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 375 reviews · 9 hours · from $87

9-hour guided day trip from Edinburgh to Dunfermline Abbey, Stirling Castle, Bannockburn and Rosslyn Chapel, with scenic stops.

“Driver was knowledgeable, informative, good humoured and patient. Transport was very comfortable and safe . We kept to time and had plenty of time to explore at each place.”

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7.Day Trip to Bamburgh and Alnwick Castle

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 212 reviews · 8.5 hours · from $68

Guided day trip from Edinburgh to Bamburgh and Alnwick, two castles plus broomstick lessons, with audio guides and coach comfort.

“Dave was a wonderful and friendly guide Top class !!!”

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8.Stirling Castle, Highland Lochs & Whisky Tour from Edinburgh

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 204 reviews · 10 hours · from $94

Stirling Castle, Loch Lomond, and Glengoyne whisky on a small-group day trip from Edinburgh, with options for loch time and hikes.

“our guide, Iain was absolutely fabulous! so much information about the history and geology....with songs and fun facts. highly recommend this tour....it's exceptional!”

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9.Viking Coast & Alnwick Castle Day Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 190 reviews · 9 hours · from $93

Viking coast views, Holy Island, and Alnwick Castle in one 9-hour Edinburgh day tour with live guide commentary and storybook history.

“The organisation was great and the driver/guide was exceptionially good. Andy C worked so hard keep us entertained and informed. He even made a point of learning all of our names and making us part of his stories and explanations. Holy Island is a very special place and guided by Andy some of us took a walk to a viewpoint. It was a very windy day but crossing the causeway I felt completely safe with him as the driver. Alnwick Castle was also wonderful and everyone on the bus got a 25% discount. We had 3 hours there and I chose to visit just the garden. There were two free…”

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10.St Andrews, Dunnottar Castle & Falkland Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 181 reviews · 11 hours · from $87

A full-day Edinburgh trip to St Andrews, Dunnottar Castle, Falkland, and the UNESCO Forth Bridge, with cliff walks and Outlander vibes.

“Una excursión muy buena, nada cansada y maravillosa en paisajes, nuestro guía era buenísimo explicando e hizo el viaje muy ameno.”

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11.Alnwick Castle and Scottish Borders Tour from Edinburgh

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 172 reviews · 9.5 hours · from $68

Tour Alnwick Castle and Bamburgh from Edinburgh. See Hogwarts filming sites, border town Coldstream, and coastal views in one full day.

“The trip was wonderful and we so enjoyed our day. Our guide, Cara, was an excellent storyteller. She was knowledgeable about Scotland’s history and folklore. The coach was comfortable and we felt well taken care of and given options for how to spend our time. The castles were lovely and intriguing and we really enjoyed the scenery on the drive. I would definitely recommend this tour. It was a beautiful experience.”

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12.Glamis and Dunnottar Castles Tour in Italian

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 156 reviews · 10 hours · from $74

Italian-guided day trip from Edinburgh to Glamis and Dunnottar Castles, with North Sea cliff views, castle legends, and scenic coastal stops.

“Il castello di dunnotar ma dato che era brutto tempo lo abbiamo solo visto dall alto per la neve e non abbiamo visto più nulla nel tornare se non alla sera un paese piccolo sul mare con poca pausa. Per la cifra pagata si poteva fare meglio Ma Mm”

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13.Scottish Castles Tour in Spanish

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 57 reviews · 10 hours · from $70

Spanish day trip from Edinburgh to Dunnottar Castle and Glamis, with east-coast stops like Stonehaven and Dundee, plus winter options.

“la estrella de la excursión es el Castilllo de Dunnottar, podría ser más tiempo ahí para disfrutarlo mas”

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14.Bamburgh Castle, Northumberland and Alnwick Trip

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 56 reviews · 10.5 hours · from $61

One day from Edinburgh to Holy Island, Alnwick, and Bamburgh Castle, with winter gardens, film spots, and live guide commentary.

“Lorna was the best Guide we could have wished for. We had a great time on the bus. She told us so much about her country, the city, the places we went to and answered each and every question. She assured we got the most out of our time and all of this with a great sense of humor. Thanks Lorna!”

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15.West Highlands, Castles & Lochs Day Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 37 reviews · 10 hours · from $78

Edinburgh day trip to Loch Lomond, Kilchurn Castle ruins, Inveraray, and Luss, with a live guide and audio languages.

“The trip was great!! We had a change to the trip, we were unable to visit one of the sites (not the fault of the tour company). Additional stops were added to make up for this change, and it probably made for a better experience!! The vehicle was comfortable, the sites were amazing and the tour guide and driver, Ry was fantastic. Ry was friendly, knowledgeable and open to all questions!! He even stopped at a couple of unexpected locations, making the trip very enjoyable!!!! I would definitely recommend this tour!!”

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