Palace

Dunfermline Palace (and Abbey)

Dunfermline, Fife
Directions
  • Open
  • Free entry
  • Dogs in the grounds
  • No car park on site
  • Historic Environment Scotland
Dunfermline Palace (and Abbey): The imposing south wall and gatehouse of Dunfermline Palace. The Abbey can be seen in the background.
Photo: Chiswick Chap · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source

Quick answer

Checked 14 Oct 2026

Dunfermline Palace (and Abbey) is a palace near Dunfermline, Fife, managed by Historic Environment Scotland. Dogs are welcome in the grounds but not inside. There is no car park on site.

Dunfermline Palace (and Abbey) opening times

Last checked 14 Oct 2026
  1. Mon 12 Closed
  2. Tue 13 10:0016:00
  3. Wed 14 10:0016:00
  4. Today Thu 15 10:0016:00
  5. Fri 16 10:0016:00
  6. Sat 17 10:0016:00
  7. Sun 18 Closed
Opening times by season
Season Dates Days Hours Last entry
1 April to 30 September 1 Apr to 30 Sep
Daily
10:00 to 16:30
 n/a
1 October to 31 March 1 Oct to 31 Mar
Tue to Sat
10:00 to 16:00
 n/a

Closed on 25 Dec, 26 Dec, 27 Dec, 28 Dec, 29 Dec, 30 Dec, 31 Dec, 1 Jan, 2 Jan, 3 Jan, 4 Jan.

Last entry 30 min before close in summer, 45 min in winter (field set null). Closed 25 Dec-4 Jan. Abbey Church is a working church; hours vary with services. No year printed.

Check current times on the official site

Getting to Dunfermline Palace (and Abbey) and parking

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Directions to Dunfermline Palace (and Abbey) View on a map
Address
KY12 7NA
Parking
No car park on site. No visitor car park; drop-off near entrance; on-street parking ~100m from nave entrance; no accessible bays About 100 m to the entrance.
By train
Dunfermline City is 0.4 miles away.
Public transport
About 0.2 miles from Dunfermline bus station; 0.5 miles from Dunfermline City railway station.

Dogs, accessibility and facilities

Dogs

Partly
  • Welcome: in the grounds.
  • Not allowed: inside the buildings.
  • Facilities list 'Dogs welcome in outdoor areas'; lead rule not stated.

Accessibility

Partly step-free
  • Step-free: in parts of the site.
  • Paths and surfaces: Tarmac graveyard paths; three steep stone steps at nave door (level access on request); nave level stone slabs, low light; abbey church mainly level, accessible north-east door
  • Accessible toilet: no.
  • Changing Places toilet: no.

Food and facilities

  • Shop Yes
  • Visitor centre Yes

What to see at Dunfermline Palace (and Abbey)

  • 01

    Gatehouse

    The fortified main entrance.

History of Dunfermline Palace (and Abbey)

  1. 1070 Margaret founds a Benedictine priory
  2. 1128 David I raises the priory to an abbey
  3. 1250 St Margaret's remains moved to a shrine
  4. 1303 Edward I badly damages the abbey
  5. 1329 Robert I buried before the high altar
  6. 1600 Future Charles I born in the palace
  7. 1603 James and Anna leave for London; palace declines
  8. 1818 New parish church begun on the choir site (to 1821)

Photos

Castles near Dunfermline Palace (and Abbey)

All 31 castles in Scotland

FAQs

When is Dunfermline Palace (and Abbey) open?

In the 1 april to 30 september season it opens every day from 10:00 to 16:30. Check the opening times above for the other seasons and closed dates.

Sources

Every fact on this page last verified 14 Oct 2026
Suggest a correction
  1. Page on api.postcodes.io · checked 15 Oct 2026
  2. Page on historicenvironment.scot · checked 14 Oct 2026
  3. Page on historicenvironment.scot · checked 15 Oct 2026
  4. Page on portal.historicenvironment.scot · checked 15 Oct 2026
  5. Page on historicenvironment.scot · checked 14 Oct 2026

We are independent and not affiliated with Historic Environment Scotland. Prices and times can change at short notice, so check the operator's site on the day. How we check our data