Edinburgh Airport is located 8 miles West of central Edinburgh. It is well connected by tram and bus. Both offer similar journey times and cost, so the best option may depend on which stops closest to where you need to go, or your personal preference of vehicle type. Read on for all the details.
Tram
Price: £7.90
Duration: 30 minutes
Frequency: Every 7 minutes
Trams start at Edinburgh Airport and serve a number of destinations throughout the city, including:
- Edinburgh Gateway rail station
- Edinburgh Park rail station
- Murrayfield Stadium
- Haymarket
- Princes Street
- St Andrew Square (for Waverley rail station)
- Picardy Place
- Leith
- Ocean Terminal
To take the tram, turn left after arrivals and follow signs for trams. They are only a few minutes’ walk.
To buy tickets, you can use the machines that surround the tram platforms. Simply select the destination you wish to travel to and the number of adults and children. You can pay with card or cash. Keep your tickets with you throughout the whole journey as they will be inspected on the tram.
Once you’ve got your tickets, board the tram. There are two platforms, screens will show which tram is leaving first. Onboard the tram, there are very large racks for luggage, so it shouldn’t be a problem finding space.
Bus
Price: £6
Duration: 30 minutes
Frequency: Every 10 minutes
The buses run a fairly similar route to the trams, calling at stops including:
- Edinburgh Zoo
- Murrayfield
- Haymarket
- Princes Street
- Waverley Station
The buses to central Edinburgh actually leave very near the tram stop, so follow the signs for trams even if you wish to take the bus.
You can buy tickets from the bus driver using cash or card, and there are often other members of staff selling tickets by the bus stop. Alternatively you can buy on the website or app.
The buses are double decker and have a very large amount of luggage storage on the lower deck, so there should be plenty of space to store bags.
Taxi
If you don’t want to use public transport, or are travelling with lots of luggage, the other option is to get a taxi. The trip takes around 20 minutes and should cost £30-40. Follow signs to the taxi rank where the taxis will be waiting.