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Please visit the Lothian Website for full details on our Airport services.

Departures from Edinburgh Airport:

Up to every 10 minutes (04:12 – 01:00)

Up to every 20 minutes (01:15 – 04:00)

Departures from Waverley Bridge:

Up to every 10 minutes (03:40 – 00:20)

Up to every 20 minutes (00:35 – 03:25)

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Towards City Centre: Stop A at Edinburgh Airport. Towards Airport: Waverley Bridge.

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Your ticket(s) will be scanned and validated by a member of our team. 

We also accept printed tickets. 

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How To Travel From Edinburgh Airport To The City

In this article we’ll be having a look at the different transport methods you can use to get from Edinburgh Airport to Edinburgh City Centre. We’ll be covering the cheap, the fast and the easy options.

Bus - The Cheap Option

Taxi or uber - the fast option, tram - the easy option.

Travelling from Edinburgh Airport to the city centre by bus is definitely the cheap option.

The Airlink 100, the green route on the map above, is the most popular express bus service from the airport to the city. You can pickup the bus from Stop D, just outside the airport terminal building.

The Airlink 100 leaves frequently (every 10 minutes) and the journey takes around 30 minutes to Waverly Bridge. There are 4 city centre stops through Edinburgh’s New Town (Haymarket, West End, Princes Street, terminating at Waverly Bridge).

You can buy your tickets online in advance or you can simply buy them at the bus stop from the driver. Tickets are priced at £4.50 for a single and £7.50 for a return. Children (age 2-11) cost £2 for a single and £3 for a return. Infants (0-2) travel free.

The Skylink 300, the orange route on the map, takes you through Edinburgh’s old town (Fountainbridge and Surgeons Hall). However, the service takes around an hour. So, if you’re staying in Old Town Edinburgh, it’s usually quicker just to take the Airlink 100 express and walk.

The Skylink 300 (stop F) also has a less frequent service (every 20 minutes Monday to Friday and every 30 minutes Saturday and Sunday) and it also costs the same as the Airlink 100.

The fastest way to get from Edinburgh Airport to Edinburgh city centre is via a taxi or Uber. You can pick up an official Edinburgh Airport taxi opposite the terminal building on the ground floor of the multi-storey car park.

The official metered black taxis seat up to 5 people, they are wheelchair accessible and there’s no booking required. Since they’re official licensed taxis, they can also use bus and taxi lanes meaning you’re less likely to be stuck in traffic. .

This airport transfer option will cost around £25-£30 and the travel time, although traffic dependent, is usually between 25-30 minutes.

Alternatively, UberX, Uber Exec and Uber XL are all available from Edinburgh Airport. Whilst pricing is dynamic so cost varies, at a quiet time of the day you’ll be looking £18-£24 for an UberX, £27-37 for an Uber Exec and £25-£34 for an UberXL.

If you’re new to Uber, you can also use my Uber Invite code: andrewy2730ue or signup using this link to get a discount off of your 1st ride.

If you’re looking for a reliable, frequent and hassle free travel option from Edinburgh Airport to the city centre, I’d suggest taking the tram.

Just follow signs for the tram stop, which you can find near the exit to the airport terminal building. The tram service is very frequent (usually every 3 minutes) and the journey takes around 35-40 minutes (depending on where you get off in Edinburgh city centre).

The price of the tram does spike from £1.70 (at Ingliston park and ride) to £6 for an adult single when travelling directly from the airport stop but you’re paying for the convenience. Just make sure you buy your ticket (from the vending machine at the tram stop) before you board or you’ll be charged a £10 on board fare.

If you want more information about the tram (prices, journey times, FAQs) take a look at our dedicated article here .

In this complete and comprehensive guide to the Edinburgh Tram network, we’ll be answering a list of FAQs and sharing our experience on board the service.

A comprehensive guide and review to the Hilton Edinburgh Carlton. Covering a stay in a King Junior Suite, the dining options and use of the Executive Lounge.

How to get from Edinburgh Airport to Edinburgh City Centre. We’ll be covering the cheap, the fast and the hassle free options.

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Home / Airlink 100 night services to return to Edinburgh

Airlink 100 night services to return to Edinburgh Night time services will be reintroduced along with more frequent day services

From Sunday 13 June, Lothian’s Airlink 100 timetable will be revised to reintroduce night time journeys between the city centre and Edinburgh Airport, with increased frequency on day time services.

Night time services will operate as follows:

• From Edinburgh Airport at 01:00, 01:30, 02:00, 02:30, 03:00, 03:30 and 04:00.
• From city centre at 00:30, 01:00, 01:30, 02:00, 02:30, 03:00 and 03:30.

Day time services will see frequency increased with A irlink 100 operating every 20 minutes instead of every 30 minutes. V iew the revised timetable here for full details.

Journey planning and travel updates

You can plan your journey through the dedicated journey planner or through the app which offers journey planning tools and real-time service updates, all integrated with Google Maps.

Check on the status of your service .

Use our  Journey Planner .

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Bus information: 0131 555 6363

Download the Protect Scotland app

The Protect Scotland app from NHS Scotland’s Test and Protect is now available to download. Completely free, the mobile phone app is designed to help us protect one another, reduce the spread of coronavirus and avoid further lockdowns.

Using the Protect Scotland app, along with sticking to current public health measures, will help us to stay safe when we meet up, socialise, work or travel. Download today from the App Store or Google Play.  Download today.

Recommended steps for safe travel

There are a number of measures we are asking customers to adhere to in order to keep their fellow passengers and our drivers as safe as possible.  Please read over this guidance  in full before travelling with us.

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Travelling to the airport by bus couldn’t be easier, with direct links to Edinburgh city and the rest of Scotland.

You can find all of our bus stops outside the terminal.

Where to/from

Details on bus travel between the airport and Glasgow, Fife, Dundee, Stirling and the city of Edinburgh can be found using the buttons below. Information on the coach park location and prices can also be found below.

City of Edinburgh

Connect to the city of Edinburgh using the Airlink 100, Skylink 200 and 400, and Airport Express services.

More information here.

You can travel to and from Glasgow using the Citylink AIR Glasgow Service 900 and the Citylink 902 Coach.

Stagecoach JET 747 connects onward journeys at Ferrytoll Park & Ride, Inverkeithing Rail Station and Halbeath Park & Ride with frequent and comfortable to travel to Fife every 20 minutes during peak times

You can travel to and from Dundee using the Xplore Dundee X90 service.

You can travel to and from Stirling using the Citylink 909 service with stops at Bo'ness, Stirling University and Dunblane.

You can travel to and from Aberdeen, via Perth and Kinross, using Citylink service M92.

You can travel between Edinburgh and Oban, with connections to Fort William, on the 978.

Our coach park can be found to the south of the multi-storey car park.

Find further information, and a breakdown of charges, on our webpage here.

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Lothian Airlink 100 from Edinburgh Airport to South St David Street (City Centre) by Airport Bus

Lothian airlink 100 airport bus from edinburgh airport to south st david street (city centre).

The Lothian Airlink 100 is the airport express bus linking Edinburgh Airport with St Andrew Square on South St David Street in the city centre of Edinburgh New Town. Having tried the Edinburgh Trams already, I decided to use the Airlink 100 this time to see how the bus compares with the tram.

Airport (Stop A)

The bus stop for the Airlink 100 is in front of the tram stop.

Bus Stop A at Edinburgh Airport is for the Airlink 100.

The route map and fare of the Airlink 100 as displayed at the bus stop.

There was an Airlink 100 bus boarding passengers already, but just days before my visit, the next stop ahead at Airport Hotel offered a cheaper boarding fare.

As such, I decided to walk to the Airport Hotel bus stop in the hopes of getting the cheaper fare.

There is a sheltered walkway continuing on from the Edinburgh Trams tram stop to the Edinburgh Airport Car Rental Centre.

Continuing along the unsheltered path after Edinburgh Airport Car Rental Centre to the airport hotels.

The control tower of Edinburgh Airport.

Following the road to the airport hotels.

DoubleTree by Hilton Edinburgh Airport is just outside Edinburgh Airport. The bus stop is along the main road, crossing the entrance of the DoubleTree by Hilton Edinburgh Airport.

Continuing straight past DoubleTree by Hilton Edinburgh Airport to the bus stop.

Airport Hotel

The Airport Hotels bus stop, located after DoubleTree by Hilton Edinburgh Airport.

But alas, the special fare zone for the Airport Hotels bus stop had been eliminated when I returned to Edinburgh, and the normal airport fare of £4.50 is charged instead. Perhaps too many people have been doing this walk before me.

The single fare has since been increased to £5.50 . Check the official website for more information.

Airlink 100 Airport Bus

I didn’t have to wait long for the Airlink 100 as it was the same bus I saw waiting at Edinburgh Airport.

My single ticket for the Airlink 100 from Airport Hotels to South St David Street, indicated on the ticket as Waverley. Payment can be made by contactless Visa or Mastercard credit or debit card.

The interior of the Airlink 100 bus. The interior is bright with the sky roof on the upper deck letting in sunlight in the middle of the bus.

Seats are similar to other Lothian Buses buses, but with an additional side headrest to lean on.

The legroom available on board the Airlink 100.

There is a small advertising panel behind each seat.

USB power sockets are available at each seat.

The Airlink 100 uses Glasgow Road, St John’s Road, Corstorphine Road, Western Terrace, and Haymarket Terrace for a straight route into the city centre. However, on my trip, this route was prone to road works, resulting in delays.

Do note that the Airlink 100 is not a non-stop express bus, and still stops at major bus stops along the route, though it has lesser stops than a regular local bus, and not all stops will be stopped at, since only drop-offs are made out of the airport, and only pick-ups are done to the airport.

Haymarket Station (Stop HB)

Passing by Haymarket tram stop.

Passing by Haymarket Railway Station.

Getting overtaken by an Edinburgh Trams tram.

Passing by the Heart of Midlothian Memorial Clock in Haymarket.

Shandwick Place (Stop SC)

Passing by West End tram stop on Shandwick Place.

There was a bit of a public transport jam when entering Princes Street.

Getting overtaken by another Edinburgh Trams tram. I wonder how many trams have gone by when the road and tracks weren’t parallel.

Passing by St. John’s Scottish Episcopal Church.

Aside from airport buses and local buses, Lothian Buses also operate Edinburgh Bus Tours hop on-hop off buses around Edinburgh.

Princes Street (Stop PF)

Heading along Princes Street.

McGill’s Scotland East on the other hand operate the competing Bright Bus Tours offering similar hop-on hop-off tours with slight route differentiations.

The last stop is South St David Street, indicated as St Andrew Square.

Turning off Princes Street on to Frederick Street and George Street.

Looking back at the interior of the Airlink 100 bus on the upper deck.

There are some single seats near the front by the stairs to allow for more aisle space.

The stairs on board the Airlink 100 bus bears the Lothian branding.

Luggage racks are available at the lower deck of the Airlink 100 bus.

South St David Street (Stop YY)

My Airlink 100 bus journey from Edinburgh Airport Hotels to South St David Street St Andrew Square took 33 minutes. If departing from Edinburgh Airport, the trip may have taken 35 minutes. This is the same time taken as the Edinburgh Trams .

My Airlink 100 bus at St Andrew Square.

Airlink 100 buses from St Andrew Square to Edinburgh Airport depart from this same stop.

The Airlink 100 St Andrew Square bus stop is in front of the Scott Monument.

Edinburgh Waverley Railway Station is just ahead on the left of the Scott Monument.

The next parallel road, South St Andrew Street, is for the Edinburgh Trams tracks to St Andrew Square tram stop.

The Lothian Airlink 100 bus took the same travel time of 35 minutes* (*view caveat above again) as my previous airport-to-city trip on board Edinburgh Trams .

The fare of Airlink 100 is slightly cheaper than Edinburgh Trams , so it’s down to comfort on board and risk of getting stuck in a jam. The Airlink 100 bus offers more seats than the tram, and also has USB charging sockets. However, it is susceptible to be stuck in traffic jams. The Edinburgh Trams on the other hand offers no USB charging sockets but has a dedicated track for most of the route from Edinburgh Airport to Haymarket.

As such, both services are about equal.

With the demise of the Airport Hotel bus stop low fare zone, the only cheap way to leave Edinburgh Airport by public transport is by continuing to walk to Ingliston Park & Ride tram stop to avoid the airport zone, though this won’t be ideal if travelling with luggage.

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Edinburgh Airport: how to easily reach the city centre by Airlink 100 bus transfer. Purchase your ticket here.

Edinburgh Airport ( Turnhouse Airport ) is about 8 miles from city centre and there are many options available to reach it by public transport. Considering my previous experiences I would suggest taking Airlink 100 Bus Transfer , that connects the Airport to the city centre  in roughly 30 minutes. This is the cheapest and fastest way to get to the Scottish capital, exactly to Waverley Station , where you will have the opportunity to have a first sight of the imposing Edinburgh Castle.

Then, if your accomodation is located in Leith area the easiest way to get there is travelling with the new tram line from the airport .

Otherwise, if your final destination is Glasgow , you can take the Citilink Air with a daily service (5 am – 11:30 pm) between Edinburgh Airport and Buchanan Bus Station . The journey lasts one hour and you can buy your ticket in advance from Citylink website .

Edinburgh Airport: how to arrive to the city centre with Airlink 100 service

Airlink 100 are double-decker buses immediately recognizable for the blue colour of their bodies. Leaving from Edinburgh Airport, the bus stop is located just outside the domestical arrivals (see the map and the transport links ). Near the bus stop there is the kiosk where you can exchange your e-voucher for a ticket (I’ll explain this later).

Once on board, you can leave your luggage in the dedicated area (with CCTV security), use the free WiFi and the power points and USB charging available. The bus 100 may be the right choice even for those people that need to get off at other places like Edinburgh Zoo , Murrayfield or Haymarket train station (click here for the full itinerary).

Final stop is St Andrew Square , located few steps away from Waverley Bridge and the Edinburgh main railway station.

During my trip to Edinburgh in August to attend the Fringe Festival I got the chance to travel on new buses with different colors as well as more informations for the passengers… well done Lothian Buses !

Edinburgh Airport: Airlink 100 bus timetable

The bus service runs all the day and night:

• every 10 minutes from 4am to 12.00am;
• every 30 minutes from 12.30am to 3.30am;
• there are no Airlink Night services on 25-26 December and 1-2 January.

Edinburgh Airport: Airlink 100 fares

There are many options available for single and return tickets:

• adult (16+) £5,50, child (5-15) £2,75 – one way
• adult (16+) £8, child (5-15) £4 – return

In both cases, children aged 0-4 are free of charge.

As I wrote few lines above, you may exchange your e-voucher for a ticket at the Airport kiosk next to the bus stop. In case you don’t have time to do so, don’t worry and show your Pdf document directly to the bus driver.

Edinburgh Airport: buy Airlink 100 tickets in advance here

You can purchase your Airline 100 tickets in advance from GetYourGuide (click here) paying in your own currency .

How to get your Airlink 100 ticket

I explain you now how to purchase your ticket(s), the process is really easy and took me no more than 5 minutes:

• First of all, select a single or return ticket, the number of passengers ( adult or child ) and then click on Add to basket ;
• Choose  Checkout or  Add more in case you have more tickets to buy;
• Then you can create your personal account or simply finalise the purchase;
• Add all Your Details required and the billing address as well;
• Proceed to Payment by credit/debit card;
• You may print the Confirm page or wait just few minutes for the e-voucher by email.

The e-voucher is a Pdf Document that must be printed and shown at the kiosk at Edinburgh Airport or to the bus driver if travelling just from the city. The one-way ticket is valid for the date of purchase while the return ticket has no expiry date.

That’s it, enjoy your stay in Edinburgh 🙂

Are you looking for the nearest Hotel to Edinburgh Airport ? So just check out Booking.com website.

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Buy Your Tickets

Return journey to and from Edinburgh Airport on Airlink Up to 3 children under 5 years old travel free with a fare-paying adult.

Please note: Single tickets can be bought on board or via the m-ticket app. One QR code will be issued per booking. If paying for multiple tickets that will not be used together, please make separate bookings. For groups of 15 or more please contact us at  [email protected]

Choose Your Ticket This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page

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Finding Your Bus

Using Your Ticket

Show your ticket(s) on your device to one of our Airlink Assistants or your Airlink driver when boarding.  Your ticket(s) will be scanned and validated by a member of our team.  We also accept printed tickets.

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Airlink | Taking the Bus from/to Edinburgh Airport

Do you typically avoid public transportation at home or when traveling?  There’s no easier or more affordable way to get around and you might even have some fun.  Yes, you might get lost, but isn’t that half of the adventure? Granted, sometimes it’s just a huge pain with having to switch several trains and buses and what not and when you’re lugging your luggage around, you might not want the hassle.

When we went downstairs inside the terminal at Edinburgh Airport after landing from London Heathrow to grab our baggage, we immediately noticed how much smaller the airport is compared to most other airports. Just opposite the baggage claim area was this Costa coffee shop and that’s about it.  The information that printed with my ticket said to exchange my ticket at the Airlink kiosk outside UK arrivals prior to boarding. There was a kiosk just to the right of this sitting area specifically for Airlink as well as one for rail tickets, but the Airlink machine was broken and there wasn’t any other signage indicating where to go.

Rich suggested that we walk outside and sure enough, there was a ticket booth right there where we could turn in our ticket and get the new physical ticket to take with us.  Don’t worry if you haven’t prepaid for your tickets ahead of time as you can buy them when you arrive.  From there we boarded the  Airlink  100 bus  immediately as it is directly outside Domestic Arrivals at stand 19 just to the side of the ticket booth.  The ride from the airport into the city of Edinburgh is a mere 30 minutes and along the way there are only a few stops, including the Edinburgh Zoo.

The bus is as you might expect with a luggage rack to one side and it is clean and well maintained.  At the front is a monitor so you can keep track of the stations, but since we were getting off at Waverley, the last stop on this trip, I wasn’t terribly concerned.  This bus is also used by locals to get around the city and many of them move up to the upper deck. As our hotel was ridiculously close, we walked only a few minutes from Waverley station in the only rain that we encountered in Scotland during our entire trip.  A cab from the airport to the city center could run you anywhere from £20-£35 each way, depending on your final destination.

For our trip back to the airport, we simply walked over to where the buses line up outside of Waverley to board.  Specifically, the buses stand on Waverley Bridge road off of Princes Street.  Just look for the long line of double decker buses and you won’t miss the bright blue  Airlink  bus.  Our return trip to the airport was after we had come in on the train back to Edinburgh.  Had I planned our train arrival to be closer to the time we wanted to arrive at the airport, I might have gotten our train tickets to Haymarket station instead of Waverley as  Airlink  picks up at Haymarket.  However, we had a few things to take care of in Edinburgh and a few hours to kill so we didn’t mind getting off at Waverley.  In fact, there is a  Left Luggage   office where you can leave your bags at a cost of only £9 per bag for up to 24 hours.  Simply run your baggage through their scanner similar to the ones at the airport, grab your receipt, and you can wander about without your heavy bags.

Once you are ready to board the bus, have your ticket handy and if you can’t find it, expect to pay the fare again.  I was behind a young American woman who looked like she was dressed to go to the gym, cell phone in hand, and a bag that was twice as big as she was.  She didn’t have her ticket, tossed a £5 note at the driver and walked away.  He was nice enough to call to her and tell her she had change.  She could hardly manage her oversized bag and did the unthinkable — she just dropped it in the middle of the aisle to curl up in a seat so she could start playing on her phone.  No one could maneuver around her bag so I, master of the dead lift, picked her bag up and swung it in one fell swoop onto the lower rack.  If you can’t handle your own bag and you’re traveling alone, please don’t make the rest of us females look like damsels in distress and set us back years by acting like you can’t take care of yourself.  That’s called female manipulation and it’s not terribly attractive. <End of rant!>

I highly recommend Airlink for travel to and from Edinburgh airport because it’s affordable, safe, and best of all, ultra convenient.  You can talk to others on the bus or relax and the money you saved can go for more important things like loads of shopping!  Who knows — you might decide to make public transportation part of your regular life, even upon your return home.

Getting from the Airport to Edinburgh

How to Get from the Airport to Edinburgh City Centre

Bus 100 airlink.

You can travel from the airport easily, by using the Airlink 100 Express Bus, the most direct route to the city centre , terminating at Waverley Bridge. Your journey will take about 25 minutes, as it is an express route, only stopping at limited locations, including Princes Street and Haymarket.

Airlink Bus 100 tariffs:

Adult: £4.50 single/ £7.50 open return

Child (5-15 years): £2 single/ £3 open return

You can purchase tickets at the airport from a counter next to the bus stop, or on board from the driver at any other stop. Unlike the other Lothian Buses, drivers are able to give back change if required. You also have the option of purchasing an open return ticket for this service, valid for use on different days .

This bus runs 24 hours a day , but is less frequent through the night (0.00-4.30am)

Other airport bus services

You can also use the two other airport bus services, the Skylink 200 and Skylink 300, which connect the airport to other areas of Edinburgh ; the 200 covers North Edinburgh, and the 300 covers West Edinburgh, both terminating in Leith. You will pay the same fare as the Airlink 100, but these routes operate only during the day, from 6am until midnight.

At night, you can take the N22 bus from the airport to the city centre, and to Leith , operating between 0.00-4.15am. As this is not a designated airport bus, you will pay the same as the other night buses (£3.50), and it is not an express route, so your journey will take longer than the other services.

You can travel around in Edinburgh by using the tram line, which connects the airport to the city centre, with stops along Princes Street before its terminus on York Place.

The first tram leaves the city centre at 5.30am every day, and the first departing from the airport leaves at 6.15am.

You can catch the tram every ten minutes before 7am, every seven minutes between 7am and 7pm, and every ten minutes again after 7pm.

The last tram of the day from the city centre is at 11.30 pm, and the last leaving from the airport is at 10.48pm. You will still find services leaving the airport after this time, however they terminate at Edinburgh Gateway, which is still quite far from the city centre, so you are advised to use alternative transportation if you are arriving late at night.

Buying tickets

All tram stops in Edinburgh have ticket machines in the platform, where you can buy single, return or day tickets.

Edinburgh Tram Tariffs

Adult: £6.50

Child (5-15 years): £3.30

Child (5-15 years): £4.80

*Also valid on Lothian Bus services

Child (5-15 years): £5

You should pay with the exact fare if possible , as the machines don’t give back change, and they accept 5p, 10p, 20p, 50p, £1 and £2 coins. Transactions of more than £3 can be paid by card.

You can also purchase tickets in advance online or using the Transport for Edinburgh mobile app .

You must use your tickets within 30 minutes of purchase , validation of a smartcard pass, or activation on the app.

If you board the tram without a ticket, you can still buy one from the conductor, but you will have to pay the £10 on-board fee , so it’s best to remember to pre-purchase your tickets.

You can travel from Edinburgh city centre to the airport by taxi in around 30 minutes , and it costs £20 each way, but some companies will offer a discount for a return trip.

Related Activities

Related Posts

• The Unofficial Edinburgh Guide

• Stockbridge & Dean Village
• South Queensferry
• Dunbar, East Lothian
• Food & Drink
• Edinburgh Activities
• Where to Stay

Edinburgh to Edinburgh Airport: Bus, Train, Tram, Taxi, Transfer & Car Rental

This article has links to products and services we love, which we may make commission from.

Planning on flying into Edinburgh Airport or have you just enjoyed a wonderful holiday in Scotland and you are due to depart from Edinburgh Airport?

Getting to Edinburgh city centre from the airport or vice versa has never been easier. The choice of travel is down to you and your budget. This guide will help you with the most frequently asked questions on how to get from Edinburgh to Edinburgh Airport or from Edinburgh Airport to Edinburgh.  

You may like my free Scotland Facebook group ; ask questions about your trip to Scotland!

How to get to  Edinburgh Airport

Getting to Edinburgh Airport by car is not difficult. The airport is easily accessible by most modes of transport.

It is situated in the Ingliston area of Edinburgh and is just five minutes from the M9, one of Scotland’s motorways.

To find the address of Edinburgh airport, you should use the postcode of EH12 9DN for your sat nav.

The distance from Edinburgh Airport to city centre is only eight miles, or around 20 minutes if travelling by car.

Edinburgh Bus from Airport

Edinburgh Airport buses to the city centre are frequent and cheap.

The Airlink 100 Edinburgh Airport bus or the Edinburgh Airport shuttle bus takes you straight to the city centre and means that getting from Edinburgh Airport to Princes Street will only take you about 30 minutes.

You pay on the bus by exact cash of £5.50 or contactless payments. You can also prebook this service by using the following link .

There are several places you can get a bus from Edinburgh to Edinburgh Airport for your return journey allowing you to make the most of your exploring before you head back to the airport for your return journey.

However, the main pick up point is St Andrews Square bus station.

If you have travelled by train and need to get to the airport, you can get the 100 bus at either the top of the Waverley Steps or outside Haymarket station. 

If you have opted for a park and ride at the two areas in Fife, you can get to the airport by using the 747 bus to Edinburgh Airport.

The journey takes around 36 minutes as it uses the old Forth Road Bridge rather than the new Queensferry Crossing. You can purchase an open return to use with a month of first travelling.

Read next | A quick guide to Edinburgh Bus Station

One of the newest ways to get from Edinburgh Airport to Edinburgh is by tram.

There is no train station at the airport, so if you are coming from Edinburgh Waverley or Haymarket stations to Edinburgh Airport, you will have to use the tram.

A journey time of around 40 minutes, the tram takes you straight to the airport.

The cost of this is around £7.50 for a single ticket. If you plan on using the tram several times through your stay, you should purchase a multi-use ticket starting from £18 for a three-day ticket.  

Edinburgh Airport Private Transport

If you are looking for something a little more exclusive, then it is worth getting private transport .

Allowing you to skip the long line for taxis and buses, you can sit back and enjoy the luxury of being taken straight to the city centre or your hotel – whatever you decide to do first.

From £30 per person, it is worth splurging out a little.

Pick Up/Drop Off

With thoughts of the final scenes of ‘Love Actually’ as you are being welcomed by your friends or family at the airport, it is wise to note that they will need somewhere to park.

Not every person picking you up is aware of the car parking at Edinburgh Airport. There are several to choose from, each with a varying cost amount. 

There is a dedicated multi story carpark at the airport.

Situated only 10 minutes walking time from the terminal, it is one of the most popular places to be picked up or dropped off.

If you know your way to this area, and your friends or family also know where to park, then this can be one of the quickest ways into or out of the airport. 

The dedicated drop off/pick up zone is on the ground floor of the multi story car park. You will need to know your timings of flights landing.

Getting through security, passport control and baggage collection can take some time and this will all add to the cost of this parking area.

Be aware that you cannot simply pass through this area as it is barrier controlled and even five minutes here will cost you £5.

Free Pick up/Drop off

There is a free drop off and pick up zone, at the long stay car park. You will find shuttle buses from here to take you to the main terminals. 

The rest of the multi story car parking is available for those of you who have friends or family travelling a distance to pick you up.

You can park here, with easy access to the airport, the minimum charge is for a three hour period at £20 for non booked visits. If you book in advance, you will get a more competitive rate. 

Edinburgh Airport Parking

You won’t be surprised to hear that it is cheaper to book parking at the airport in advance.

There are a variety of options, depending on how far you are willing to walk (1-12 minutes) with luggage.

The cheapest option requires a 10 minute shuttle.

Edinburgh Airport NCP

If you are looking to park your car at the airport for your holiday or business trip, there is an NCP parking area at the airport, just a short four-minute bus ride from the car park.

They provide a free bus from here. For a week’s parking here, you will pay around £55. 

Car Hire at Edinburgh Airport

Edinburgh Airport offers a variety of car hire companies to suit your budget where you can collect your vehicle or drop one off if it is your return journey.

If you are collecting a car, you need to head out of the terminal to the car hire area, which is a short 10-minute walk under a covered area next to the multi-story car park.

Dropping off your car is in the same area with the short walk over to the terminal.

Another popular way to get to and from Edinburgh Airport is by taxi.

The Edinburgh Airport taxi company is able to drop you off or collect you from the dedicated area on the ground floor of the multistory car park.

The cost of a taxi from Edinburgh Airport to the city centre is around £30. It is advisable to prebook a taxi, particularly if your group is over five people.

Most taxi companies have a pre-arranged price for this journey. It is wise to ask about this before you book. 

Don’t miss our guide on the best area to stay in Edinburgh.

Final Words

This guide has given you some of the options available to you for your travel to and from Edinburgh Airport.

Check out the Edinburgh Airport app for details on your flight and lines at check out.

Enjoy your time in Edinburgh and Céad Míle Fáilte! 

Essential Edinburgh Information 

Food & drink in Edinburgh Best time to visit Edinburgh Things to do in Edinburgh How much does Edinburgh cost? Free 7-day Scotland itinerary

Plan Your Trip To Edinburgh 

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About The Author

Hi, I am Ruth. A Highlander living in Fife longing for the mountains of home but I can’t give up the delights of the big city!

Any questions or comments? Let us know below .

Everything Edinburgh

Everything Edinburgh is a friendly Edinburgh guide for visitors and locals. From food to festivals, itineraries to interests.

8 thoughts on “ Edinburgh to Edinburgh Airport: Bus, Train, Tram, Taxi, Transfer & Car Rental ”

HI EXCITED to attend festival .Have attended many in South Africa. If I find accomodation around Bristo or George square do I need to hire a car. Thanks Arthur Butterfield

Yay! The great news is, you won’t need a car! Have fantastic time.

Is my buss pass valid in Scotland?

What bus pass would that be Ian? Thanks

My son and I are flying into EDI and will need to get to St Andrews and back for golf. How often is transportation available by train or bus. Is it better to rent a car? Thank you R

Hi Richard. I’ve heard with the golf that you can’t drive into St Andrews, so you’d need to check with Stagecoach, which is the bus company that runs from Edinburgh to St Andrews.

Hi, Ruth – I will be returning a Budget/Avis rental car to Edinburgh airport and need transportation from there to Waverly train station. I am traveling with two elderly mobility-challenged seniors, not in wheelchairs but very slow with canes. Can you share any details about the required walking from the point of delivery of the car to the nearest taxi queue?

Hi Patrice, it’s Gemma. I actually used to work for Avis at the airport and at that time there was a mini bus drop off as the check in isn’t directly at the check out desk.

Avis will be able to help you with the best advice of how they can help at the airport.

As for the trip between the airport and Waverley, you may want to consider a taxi for a direct option.

There’s elevators and escalators at Waverley for getting down to the platform.

Have a great trip!

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Tips, Help & Resources

iFly.com strives to make your travel experience as smooth and stress-free as possible, from booking your flights to navigating airport security and beyond. Here are some things you may need to know that can help you on your journey specific to Edinburgh, Scotland's EDI airport:

• Want to know the best way to get to your destination when leaving the airport? There are Edinburgh, Scotland taxi services curbside, or you can use airport shuttle buses & vans , or you can even pick up a rental car from EDI outside baggage claim areas, perhaps as a one-way rental and drop it off in town.
• Edinburgh, Scotland airport is equipped to handle special-needs persons, and also small medical emergencies that may arise.
• To find which baggage carousel your flight is assigned to, look up your flights' arrival status into EDI airport .
• If you have lost something while in the terminal area, please find the contact info for Edinburgh lost & found here .

Find more help here for your journey through the airport