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
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.
Taxi or Uber - The Fast Option
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.
Tram - The Easy Option
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.