Holyrood Abbey — Attraction in City of Edinburgh

⛪ My Visit to Holyrood Abbey, Edinburgh

Visiting Holyrood Abbey was a fascinating glimpse into Scotland’s medieval history. Founded in 1128 by King David I, the abbey was originally a monastery and later became the site of royal ceremonies, coronations, and burials, including some Scottish kings and nobles. Though partially ruined, the abbey retains a majestic and haunting beauty with its gothic arches, stone walls, and historic gravestones.

Walking among the ruins, I felt the connection to centuries of Scottish history. The abbey is located adjacent to the Palace of Holyroodhouse, making it easy to combine both visits.

Visitor Tips: Visit during daylight for the best views and photographs. Wear comfortable shoes as the ground is uneven. Entry is included with the palace ticket or free if visiting separately.

How to Reach: Holyrood Abbey is on the Royal Mile, Edinburgh EH8 8DX, a short walk from Edinburgh Waverley Station and accessible by local buses.

Overall, Holyrood Abbey is a must-visit for history enthusiasts and photographers — a serene and atmospheric site steeped in...

It's a good place. Adult entry is £15 and they try to upsell you without couple of other things but i did not take it. We visited the palace and the abbey. Abbey is good. Garden is really not worth it. They provide free audio device which is really recommended as you will really get bored without it if you don't have much interest in Scottish history. The building was in renovstion when we went. Cafe is really good and reasonable. Recommended eating there. If you have limited time in Edinburgh i would recommend going to Edinburgh castle instead. Also the Scottish museum is really worth seeing. I will have this really low in my list. Depending on how much you plan to spend time in each room you will take more or less two hours to complete the visit of the palace. 20 minutes for the abbey and 5-10 minutes for the garden. The souveniour shop is really great and worth checking out the chocolate branded with Holyrood Palace branding. Overall i can say i liked it and its worth spending time...

As a member of English Heritage I could have got in free to see the Abbey but unfortunately I had to pay to see the Palace as well - at a whopping price of £14. You have to go through the Palace first, then eventually the Abbey and finally into the gardens where you get good views of the Palace, Abbey, Salisbury Crags and Arthur's Seat. Fairly crowded for the time of the...