Edinburgh Airport to city centre: all your options compared
What is the best way to get from Edinburgh Airport to the city centre?
The tram is the best option for most travellers: 30 minutes to Princes Street, £5.50 single, runs every 10-12 minutes. The Airlink bus is slightly cheaper (£4.50) but slower. Taxis cost £25-35 but are worth it for groups or late arrivals with luggage.
Getting from Edinburgh Airport into the city
Edinburgh Airport (IATA: EDI) is situated about 8 miles west of the city centre, off the A8 road between Edinburgh and the Forth Road Bridge. It is the main international gateway for the city and for much of central Scotland. The airport is served by regular connections to most major European cities, the major UK airports, and some transatlantic routes.
Getting from the airport to the city centre is straightforward and well-served. The main options are: tram, bus (Airlink 100), black taxi, and rideshare. Each has its context where it works best, and the honest comparison below covers costs, journey times, and practical limitations for 2026.
Option 1: The Edinburgh Tram — best for most travellers
The Edinburgh tram line connects the airport directly to York Place in the east of the city centre, via Haymarket and Princes Street/St Andrew Square. It is the most convenient option for most visitors arriving at the airport.
Key details:
- Journey time: approximately 30 minutes airport to Princes Street
- Cost: £5.50 single; £9 return (2026 prices; confirm on the tram operator website before travel)
- Frequency: every 8-10 minutes during peak hours; every 12 minutes off-peak
- Operating hours: from approximately 6:15am to 12:15am (first and last trams approximately)
- Baggage: luggage is accommodated on board; no bike racks on the trams
- Accessibility: fully low-floor and wheelchair accessible
Where it stops in the city centre:
- Edinburgh Gateway (connection to the Edinburgh-Glasgow line at Gogar — not useful for central Edinburgh)
- Haymarket: useful for West End hotels
- Princes Street: the main tourist stop; close to the eastern end of Princes Street, St Andrew Square, and the top of Leith Walk
- York Place: slightly east of St Andrew Square; useful for hotels on the east side of the New Town
For most visitors staying in the Old Town, New Town, or Princes Street area, alighting at Princes Street/St Andrew Square is correct. Waverley Station is about a 10-minute walk southeast from this stop.
Buying tickets: Tickets can be bought from the self-service machines at the tram stop platforms or on the Trams app. Contactless card payment works at the platform machines. You cannot buy a ticket from the tram driver on board.
The honest view: The tram is the right choice for most solo travellers and couples with a single or two pieces of luggage. It is fast, predictable, and comfortable. The main limitation is that it deposits you on Princes Street, not at Waverley Station or directly at your hotel — a short further walk or bus ride may be needed depending on where you are staying.
Option 2: Airlink 100 bus — slightly cheaper, less convenient
The Airlink express bus service (route 100) runs between Edinburgh Airport and Waverley Bridge in the city centre, via Haymarket and the West End.
Key details:
- Journey time: approximately 30-45 minutes depending on traffic
- Cost: £4.50 single; £7.50 return (2026 prices approximate)
- Frequency: every 10 minutes during peak hours; every 12-15 minutes off-peak
- Operating hours: 24 hours (reduced frequency overnight)
- Payment: contactless card only; no cash accepted on Lothian Buses services
Where it stops: The main terminus is Waverley Bridge, directly above Waverley Station — extremely convenient if you are continuing by train or if your hotel is near Waverley. Some services also stop at Haymarket.
The honest view: The bus is slightly cheaper than the tram (saving about £1), runs 24 hours (useful for very early or very late flights), and terminates at Waverley Bridge which is more centrally useful than York Place for most visitors. The downside is journey time variability in traffic: during morning or evening rush hours, particularly when there are roadworks on the A8 or in the West End, the bus can take 50-60 minutes rather than 35. The tram is immune to road traffic and therefore more reliable for time-sensitive arrivals.
Option 3: Black taxi — best for groups, heavy luggage, and late arrivals
Edinburgh’s black hackney cabs queue at the designated taxi rank outside the arrivals hall. They are metered and regulated.
Approximate costs:
- Airport to city centre hotels (New Town, Old Town): £25-35 depending on traffic and precise destination
- Airport to Leith: £28-38
- For groups of 3-4 people sharing: the per-person cost is comparable to or cheaper than the tram
When a taxi makes sense:
- You are travelling with multiple large suitcases
- You are arriving after midnight when the tram has stopped running
- You are in a group of three or more and can split the fare
- Your hotel is not near a tram stop and the total door-to-door journey time matters
- You have a young child, buggy, or other logistics that make getting on and off a tram with luggage complicated
The honest caveat: Always use the official taxi rank and the metered black cabs at the airport. Avoid any driver who approaches you in arrivals offering a fixed-price “transfer” — these informal services are not regulated and prices are often significantly higher than metered black cabs.
Option 4: Rideshare (Uber and others)
Uber and other rideshare services operate in Edinburgh. Pick-up at the airport follows the standard designated rideshare collection area (signposted in the terminal).
Costs: Typically similar to or marginally cheaper than black cabs for solo travellers; the surge pricing during busy periods can make rideshare more expensive than a black taxi on some occasions.
The honest view: Rideshare is a reasonable option if you are already comfortable with the app and your journey involves complex final-mile navigation to a less obvious address. The convenience of being met at the address is the main advantage over tram or bus. For most straightforward arrivals, the tram or Airlink is simpler.
Option 5: Car hire — not recommended
Edinburgh Airport has the full range of major car hire companies. If your trip involves driving to the Highlands after Edinburgh, picking up a hire car at the airport is logical.
However, if you are spending any time in Edinburgh city before driving onward, taking the tram into the city without a hire car, then collecting the car at the end of your city days, is strongly recommended. Driving and parking in Edinburgh is expensive (city centre car parks run £25-35 per day), the Old Town street layout is complex one-way system, and a car adds no value within the city. See do you need a car in Edinburgh.
Night arrivals
The Airlink 100 bus runs 24 hours, making it the only public transport option for very early morning arrivals (before 6am) or late-night arrivals after the tram stops (after approximately midnight). Frequency overnight is lower — check the timetable in advance.
The alternative for late arrivals is a black taxi, which operates 24 hours from the airport taxi rank.
Arriving at Edinburgh Airport from multiple destinations
Most UK domestic connections (from London Gatwick, Heathrow, Stansted, Manchester, Birmingham, Bristol, Belfast, etc.) arrive into Edinburgh Airport. International arrivals from Europe and beyond also arrive here.
From London by plane vs train: Edinburgh is connected to London by five daily train services from Kings Cross to Waverley (Avanti West Coast and LNER), taking 4.5 hours. Booking 8-12 weeks ahead, London-Edinburgh trains can be purchased for £30-50 single. This is often cheaper than flying when baggage fees and airport transit are included, more comfortable, and avoids the airport-to-city journey altogether — you arrive directly into Waverley. See the London to Edinburgh trains guide for the comparison.
Leaving Edinburgh for the airport
The same options apply in reverse. The main timing consideration: the tram takes 30 minutes and runs every 8-12 minutes, but Edinburgh city centre traffic near the tram stops can cause delays getting to the platform. Allow at least 2 hours before departure for check-in and security. Edinburgh Airport security can be slow during morning peaks.
If you have an early morning flight (6am-7am), consider staying in an airport hotel the night before. Premier Inn and Travelodge both have properties close to the airport and offer free shuttle services.
Frequently asked questions about Edinburgh Airport transfers
How long does it take to get from Edinburgh Airport to the city centre?
The tram takes approximately 30 minutes to Princes Street. The Airlink 100 bus takes 30-45 minutes to Waverley Bridge (variable with traffic). A taxi takes 20-30 minutes in clear traffic; potentially 40-50 minutes in rush hour.
How much does the Edinburgh tram cost from the airport?
In 2026, a single airport-to-city centre fare is £5.50. A return is £9. Prices are set by Edinburgh Trams; check the current fares on the Edinburgh Trams website before travel as they are reviewed periodically.
Can I use my Lothian bus day ticket on the airport tram?
No. The Edinburgh trams are operated by a separate company (Edinburgh Trams Ltd) and not covered by Lothian Buses day tickets or Ridacard. You need a separate tram ticket for the airport connection.
Does the Edinburgh tram go to Waverley Station?
The tram does not have a stop at Waverley Station. The nearest tram stop to Waverley is Princes Street/St Andrew Square, about a 10-minute walk. The Airlink bus terminates at Waverley Bridge directly above the station and is better for connections to onward trains.
Is the airport tram reliable?
Yes. The tram is not affected by road traffic and runs to a fixed timetable with high reliability. Delays are rare and usually short. For time-sensitive connections, the tram is more dependable than the bus.
Are there direct buses from the airport to Leith?
The Airlink 100 bus goes to Waverley Bridge in the city centre; from there, buses to Leith (routes 22, 16) are available. Alternatively, the tram to York Place and then a bus or taxi to Leith is the standard route. There is no single direct bus from the airport to Leith, but the total journey time is typically 45-60 minutes.
