Edinburgh is the main gateway to Scotland and the easiest city in the country to arrive in without a car. The airport, two main railway stations and the bus station are all linked to the centre by tram or a short walk.
Routes at a glance
| From | How | Time | Rough cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Edinburgh Airport | Tram to Princes Street / St Andrew Square | about 35 min | around £8 single |
| Edinburgh Airport | Airlink 100 express bus to Waverley Bridge | about 30 min | around £6 single |
| Glasgow | ScotRail train, Queen Street to Waverley | 50 min | around £15–20 |
| Glasgow | Citylink 900 coach | about 1 hr 20 min | around £10 |
| London | Train from King’s Cross | about 4½ hours | from around £40–60 booked ahead |
| Inverness | ScotRail train | about 3½ hours | from around £20 booked ahead |
Times and prices are approximate and change with season and booking date — check operators for current timetables and fares.
By air
Edinburgh Airport (EDI) is 13 km west of the centre. Trams leave every few minutes from outside the terminal and run through Haymarket and Princes Street to St Andrew Square, continuing to Leith and Newhaven. The Airlink 100 bus runs around the clock to Waverley Bridge beside the main station. A taxi takes about 25 minutes outside rush hour. An airport bus transfer can also be pre-booked on GetYourGuide.
By train and coach
Waverley, in the valley between the Old and New Towns, is the main station; Haymarket, in the West End, is closer to many hotels and the tram. Direct trains run from London King’s Cross about every half hour, from Glasgow every 15 minutes, and from Stirling, Dundee, Aberdeen, Perth and Inverness. The Caledonian Sleeper arrives from London each morning except Sunday. Long-distance coaches use the bus station on St Andrew Square.
By car
You do not want a car in Edinburgh. Streets are narrow, parking is scarce and expensive, and a Low Emission Zone covers the city centre: older petrol and diesel vehicles that do not meet the standard are fined. If you are driving, use one of the park-and-ride sites on the edge of the city — Ingliston, by the airport, is on the tram line — and collect any hire car on the day you leave.
Getting around
The centre is compact and best seen on foot, hills and cobbles included. Lothian Buses cover the whole city; pay by contactless card and fares are capped by the day. The single tram line links the airport, Murrayfield, the centre, Leith and Newhaven. Black cabs and app-based taxis are plentiful. Hop-on hop-off buses are a painless way to cope with the gradients on a first day.
