Edinburgh Airport to City Center: The Ultimate Guide

You’ve arrived at Edinburgh Airport and are so excited to begin venturing around the beautiful city. But you’re left with the question: “How do I actually get to Edinburgh?”

In this guide, I will give you a full rundown of how you can get from Edinburgh Airport to the city center, considering all the different options available – because trust me, you have a lot of options to choose from.

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Airlink 100 Bus
The best (and fastest way) to get to the city center is by bus. It takes around 30 minutes to reach the center of Edinburgh, with other stops along the way. 

Click Here to Book Your Airlink 100 Ticket in Advance!

Buses are the most frequent transport option from the airport and also the cheapest, so if you’re on a budget, it’s definitely the option for you.

But, if you’re like me and would like to consider all of the options, then make sure to read on. 

How to Get from the Edinburgh Airport to City Center

There are plenty of transport options for getting between Edinburgh Airport and the city center. Much of your decision will likely come down to cost and speed.

Let’s take a look at all of the options:

1. Edinburgh Airport Buses to City Center

There are a number of buses that run between the airport and Edinburgh’s city center, including the Airlink 100, Skylink 200, and the Bright Bus Airport Express.

If you’re set on getting the bus, then take a look at your accommodation address to see which one would best suit you for drop-off.

Airlink 100

The Airlink 100 takes approximately 30 minutes to get to Waverly Place, which is very close to Princes Street in Edinburgh city center.

This is the route I generally take in order to get from the airport to Edinburgh pretty quickly.

The Airlink 100 buses depart the airport every 10 minutes during the day and every 15-20 minutes during the night, meaning you won’t have to stand around long at all at the terminal.

A single ticket costs £8 ($10). There is plenty of signage in the airport, so you should have no trouble finding where to purchase an Airlink ticket and where to board the bus. You can Check out the timetable here.

Book Your Airlink 100 Bus Ticket in Advance Here!

Skylink 200

The Skylink 200 bus to and from Ocean Terminal is also great for getting between the airport and the city center. Along the way, it stops at Clermiston, Blackhall, Drylaw, Muirhouse and Newhaven. It runs from the airport every 30 minutes starting at 04:10 until midnight. Check out the timetable here.

If you’re traveling the whole way to Ocean Terminal, then the journey time averages around 50 minutes. Single ticket prices start from £2 ($4).

Bright Bus Airport Express

The Bright Bus Airport Express is another good option if you’d like to take the bus. It departs the airport for Waterloo Place, stopping at Corstorphine, Murrayfield, Haymarket Station, Shandwick Place, and Princes Street along the way. 

The service runs between 3 am and midnight, running every 10-15 minutes and then at half an hour intervals after 9 pm. The journey time is approximately 25-30 minutes. Fares start from £5 per person ($7).

You’ll also find that there are several buses between other Scottish cities and the airport including Glasgow, Fife and Dundee,  if you’re thinking of changing your travel plans!

2. Edinburgh Airport Tram

The tram between Edinburgh Airport and the city center is a very convenient option, transporting you quickly and cheaply into to the main attractions of the city or the whole way to Newhaven at the end of the line.

Trams depart the airport every 7 minutes during the day and every 10 minutes during evening hours. They don’t run throughout the night, as there are very few flights arriving.

You’ll find the tram stop right outside the main plaza and exit of the terminal, facing the huge Edinburgh sign that stands to welcome you to the city.

There are several stops in the city center, but the most common for tourists to get off at include Haymarket, West End – Princes Street, Princes Street, and St. Andrew’s Square. The journey time to these stops is approximately 30 minutes. Take a look at the map of the stops here.

If you’re traveling onwards from Edinburgh, then the St. Andrew’s Square stop is just a short walk from the main rail station- Waverley.

Tickets for the tram can be bought at the ticket vending machine, at the airport stop, or online, and it is a requirement to buy your ticket before getting on the tram. Inspectors along the route are pretty common, so make sure to follow the rules!

One great thing about the tram is that you can get an open-ended return ticket for the airport, allowing you to travel back on the tram at the end of your trip whenever you’d like – this costs £9.50 ($11).

You can also buy consecutive-day tickets to allow you to continue using the tram system during your stay in Edinburgh.

3. Taxi

If you’re traveling with lots of luggage or would prefer the choice of where to be dropped off, then taxis are another way of getting from Edinburgh Airport to the city center quickly. 

Depending on the time of day, the number of passengers, and the traffic conditions, you can expect to pay around £25-40 ($30-50 USD) for the journey.

Taking a taxi could be a bit quicker than public transport, seeing as you can cut out the stops. Most journeys take around 20-25 minutes, depending on where you’d like to be dropped off.

There are usually plenty of taxis waiting outside of the airport, so you can be quite sure you’ll be taken care of door to door. You’ll find the taxi rank just facing the main door of arrivals. It is owned by Capital Cars, but you may also see other taxi companies using it too.

Uber is another option in Edinburgh, with trips often being slightly cheaper than what is available from the usual taxis.

4. Private Airport Transfer

Ever touched down for a long flight and are just too exhausted to handle public transport? I know the feeling…

Private airport transfers may seem a bit excessive to some people, but the price may not be anywhere near as high as you might think!

Private transfer companies will ensure that you are picked up right from the arrival hall by a professional driver who will escort you and your bags to a luxury vehicle. Often, you’ll be provided with a snack or a drink for the ride, helping you shake off your grogginess from flying.

While the journey may be pretty short in comparison to other cities, ridding yourself of the stress of public transport or hailing a cab will ensure you start your trip on a high, leaving you with some time to relax and refresh before you begin exploring the city.

Edinburgh Airport to City Center: The Wrap-Up

Overall, getting from Edinburgh Airport to the city center is pretty simple, with plenty of great options to get you there quickly and affordably. 

While most people will opt for the cheaper bus options, I would recommend you make sure to consider whether you could get a better deal with a multi-day tram ticket, which you can use while exploring the city. 

Don’t rule taxis and private transfers out too quickly either, as when you divide the costs up among your travel group, they may be cheaper than you initially thought!

No matter what way you choose to travel, I hope you have an amazing time in Edinburgh and love the city as much as I do!