Is the Royal Edinburgh Ticket Worth It? An Honest Verdict and How to Get the Most Out of It
Is it worth it?
- Worth itYes if you want all three royal sights, Edinburgh Castle, Holyroodhouse and Britannia, in 48 hours, using the buses between them.
- Skip itNo if you'll skip Britannia. Two tickets bought directly may be cheaper.
- Skip itNo if you'll walk everywhere.
- 48 hours
- Castle, Palace, Britannia
- Hop-on hop-off buses
What is The Royal Edinburgh Ticket?
The Royal Edinburgh Ticket bundles Edinburgh Castle, the Palace of Holyroodhouse and the Royal Yacht Britannia with 48 hours on three hop-on hop-off bus tours.
Edinburgh's royal sights span the Royal Mile and Leith, and the buses link them in one loop.
The seller advertises savings of up to 25% (£27 per adult) compared with buying each ticket separately. Realistic if you visit all three and use the buses.
- Length
- 48 hours
- Attractions
- 3 royal sights
- Buses
- 3 hop-on hop-off tours
- Price
- £81 adult
How to get the most value out of The Royal Edinburgh Ticket
Visiting all three royal sights inside the 48 hours is what makes the ticket pay.
| Don't | Do this instead |
|---|---|
| Turn up at the castle without a slot | The ticket seller reserves your Edinburgh Castle time slot. Make sure you have it before you go. |
| Visit during a palace closure | Holyroodhouse closes some weeks in summer for royal events. Check dates; ticket holders get The King's Gallery instead. |
| Walk to Britannia | It's in Leith, out of the centre. Use the bus. |
| Plan Holyroodhouse for a winter Tuesday | From November to March the palace opens Thursday to Monday only. Go at 9:30-10 am, the quietest slot in our data. |
| Throw away your Holyroodhouse ticket | Convert it to a free year pass at the desk, in case you're back in Edinburgh. |
| Visit the castle at midday | Book the first slot; the Esplanade is packed by late morning. |
| Walk the Royal Mile both ways | Walk down from the castle to Holyroodhouse, then take the bus to Britannia. |
| Head to Edinburgh Castle without checking how busy it is | Check Edinburgh Castle's live crowd level on beatthecrowd.co first. If it's busy, do another Edinburgh sight on your pass and come back later. |
Before you set off for Edinburgh Castle, check how busy it is right now on beatthecrowd.co. An hour in a queue is an hour of your pass gone.
Check live crowds in Edinburgh →Who The Royal Edinburgh Ticket is for
Good fit
- First-time visitors on a 2-day trip
- You want all three royal sights
- You'll use the buses
Skip it if
- You'll skip Britannia
- You'll walk everywhere
- 48 hours
- Castle, Palace, Britannia
- Hop-on hop-off buses
What the pass covers
The ticket covers three royal attractions and 48 hours of hop-on hop-off buses.
The big sights
- Edinburgh CastleBook a slotTime slot reserved by the seller.
- Palace of HolyroodhouseIncluded£22 booked ahead on its own.
- The Royal Yacht BritanniaIncluded
- The Real Mary King's CloseNot includedFrom £28.50.
- Camera Obscura and World of IllusionsNot includedNext to the castle on the Royal Mile; £24.95 for adults, booked separately.
- St Giles' CathedralNot includedOn the Royal Mile between the castle and the palace. £12 for adults; under-16s free.
Also on the pass
- 48 hours on three hop-on hop-off bus tours
- 48 hours
- Castle, Palace, Britannia
- Hop-on hop-off buses
Pass vs individual tickets
Add the three attraction tickets plus a bus ticket. If you'll visit all three and ride the bus, the bundle usually wins.
- 48 hours
- Castle, Palace, Britannia
- Hop-on hop-off buses
Fine print
- Validity
- 48 hours from first scan.
- Castle
- Time slot reserved at purchase.
- Closures
- Holyroodhouse closes some weeks; you get The King's Gallery instead.
- Refunds
- No refund if you skip one of the royal attractions. If Holyroodhouse is closed, you get The King's Gallery and a guidebook instead.
Is it safe? Where people lose money
- Reassuring: The Royal Edinburgh Ticket is sold by Edinburgh Bus Tours.
- Reassuring: Refunds: No refund if you skip one of the royal attractions. If Holyroodhouse is closed, you get The King's Gallery and a guidebook instead.
- Watch out: Holyroodhouse closes some weeks for royal events.
Where people lose money
| Don't | Do this instead |
|---|---|
| Skip Britannia | Then two tickets bought directly are usually cheaper. |
| Visit during a palace closure without checking | You'll get The King's Gallery instead; check dates. |
| Queue at Edinburgh Castle at peak time | Check beatthecrowd.co for Edinburgh Castle's quiet hours before you go. |
Queuing is the easiest way to lose value in Edinburgh. Check which sights are quiet right now on beatthecrowd.co, starting with Edinburgh Castle.
Check live crowds in Edinburgh →- 48 hours
- Castle, Palace, Britannia
- Hop-on hop-off buses
Planning your order and avoiding queues is the simplest way to get full value: see how busy Edinburgh’s attractions are right now →
- 48 hours
- Castle, Palace, Britannia
- Hop-on hop-off buses
FAQs
Is the Royal Edinburgh Ticket worth it?
+
Yes if you'll visit all three royal sights and use the buses within 48 hours.
What does it include?
+
Edinburgh Castle, the Palace of Holyroodhouse, the Royal Yacht Britannia and 48 hours of hop-on hop-off buses.
What if Holyroodhouse is closed?
+
During closures, ticket holders get entry to The King's Gallery and a guidebook instead.
Does it include The Real Mary King's Close?
+
No. The standard tour is from £28.50 for adults and £21 for children 5-15, booked separately. Under-5s aren't allowed.