The best time to visit Holyrood Palace — and the days it shuts
The Tuesday–Wednesday trap
This catches more visitors than the prices do. Outside the summer season the palace runs Thursday to Monday only, 9:30 to 16:30 with last admission at 15:15. I meet people at the gates most winters who have built their whole Edinburgh day around a palace that is not opening. If your trip falls Tuesday or Wednesday between September and May, rearrange the day or read my castle comparison for the alternative.
The 2026 royal closures
The palace is a working royal residence, and in 2026 it closes to visitors completely from 16 to 25 May and from 27 June to 5 July — the second is Holyrood Week, when the King is in residence. Book either window and you will be refunded, not admitted. One useful wrinkle: the bundle tickets on my combo page substitute a King’s Gallery entry on closure dates rather than leaving you empty-handed.
Season by season
Summer, 21 May to 7 September, means daily opening and long hours — 9:30 to 18:00, last admission 16:30 — but also festival crowds along the Royal Mile in August. Even then, Holyrood itself rarely feels crushed; the coaches go to the castle. Autumn through spring gives you the palace at its emptiest, shorter hours, and the Tuesday–Wednesday closures to plan around. There is no bad season inside the building; there are only wrong days.
The quiet hours
Take the 9:30 opening slot and you will walk the state apartments ahead of every coach group in the city. In summer, arriving after 15:00 works nearly as well — last admission is 16:30 and the route takes about ninety minutes, so the timing is snug but honest. The classic same-day plan — castle in the morning, palace after 14:00 — drops you into that quiet window naturally.
Advance tickets are £22 against £26 at the gate, and booking ahead is also your closure insurance — a dated ticket forces the open-day check that walk-up visitors skip. Prices are broken down on the cost page.
Book an open day
The availability calendar below only offers dates the palace actually opens, which quietly solves the Tuesday problem for you.
Frequently asked questions
Is Holyrood Palace closed on Tuesdays?
Tuesdays and Wednesdays both, for most of the year. It opens daily only from 21 May to 7 September 2026; the rest of the year runs Thursday to Monday, 9:30–16:30. Whether the visit is worth rearranging a day for is answered honestly at is it worth it.
When is Holyrood Palace closed in 2026?
Fully closed 16–25 May and 27 June–5 July 2026 for royal events, the second being Holyrood Week when the King stays at the palace, plus every Tuesday and Wednesday outside the 21 May–7 September season.
What is the quietest time to visit Holyrood Palace?
The 9:30 opening, any open day — or after 15:00 in summer, when last admission is 16:30 and the visit takes about ninety minutes. Even at busy times the palace is far calmer than the castle, which is half the argument on my comparison page.
What happens to bundle tickets when the palace is closed?
The Royal Edinburgh Ticket substitutes an entry to the King’s Gallery on palace closure dates, so the bundle still delivers three attractions — details on the combo tickets page.