Edinburgh Airport

Edinburgh Airport (EDI) is Scotland's busiest airport, located approximately 8 miles west of Edinburgh city center in Ingliston. The airport handles over 14 million passengers annually and serves as a major base for Ryanair and easyJet, with significant operations from British Airways, Jet2, and several European carriers.

The airport has a single terminal building with one main departures hall. The terminal is organized into distinct zones:

• Domestic gates (1-12): UK flights including London shuttles
• International gates (13-23): European and some long-haul destinations
• West Pier gates (24-36): Additional international gates, furthest from security

All gates are connected airside, making connections straightforward compared to multi-terminal airports. The compact layout means most gates are within a 10-15 minute walk from security.

Edinburgh Airport is the primary gateway to Scotland, offering convenient access to Edinburgh's historic Old Town and Royal Mile, as well as the Scottish Highlands.

Edinburgh Airport is located 8 miles west of Edinburgh city center. The airport has excellent public transport links, with no rail connection but frequent bus and tram services.

Typical travel times to Edinburgh city center:

• Tram: 30-35 minutes to Princes Street/city center
• Airlink 100 bus: 25-30 minutes to Waverley Bridge
• Taxi/Uber: 20-35 minutes (traffic dependent)

The tram is the most reliable option as it avoids road traffic. The Airlink 100 bus is slightly faster in good traffic and cheaper. Rush hour traffic (07:30-09:00, 16:30-18:30) can significantly impact road journey times.

Uber is available at Edinburgh Airport. Request your ride via the app and meet at the designated pickup point outside the arrivals hall.

Bolt also operates in Edinburgh with competitive fares.

Fares to Edinburgh City Center

Destination	Taxi/Uber Fare	Notes
Princes Street/Old Town	£25-35	Central Edinburgh
Leith	£25-35	Waterfront area
Haymarket	£20-30	West End
Edinburgh Waverley Station	£25-35	Main train station
Royal Mile	£25-35	Historic center
Glasgow	£60-80	45 min-1 hour journey

Taxi rank: Located directly outside the arrivals hall. Black cabs and private hire vehicles queue here. Fares are metered.

Tip: Pre-book a taxi for early morning departures or late arrivals to avoid wait times.

Edinburgh Trams (Recommended)

The tram is the most reliable way to reach central Edinburgh, running on dedicated tracks away from traffic.

Route: Edinburgh Airport to York Place (via Haymarket, Princes Street)

Key stops:

1. Edinburgh Airport
2. Ingliston Park and Ride
3. Edinburgh Park (interchange with trains)
4. Haymarket (West End, close to Murrayfield)
5. Princes Street (city center, shops)
6. St Andrew Square (George Street area)
7. York Place (terminus, near Leith Walk)

Journey time: 30-35 minutes to Princes Street

Fares (2025):

• Single to city center: £7.50
• Return: £10.50
• Day ticket (unlimited tram): £11
• Children (5-15): £3 single

Frequency: Every 7-10 minutes (peak), every 10-15 minutes (off-peak)

Hours: First tram approximately 06:00, last tram approximately 23:00 (check current timetable)

How to buy: Contactless payment on board, ticket machines at stops, or Edinburgh Trams app.

Airlink 100 Bus

Direct express bus service to central Edinburgh. Often faster than the tram in light traffic.

Route: Airport to Waverley Bridge (city center), via Haymarket

Key stops:

1. Edinburgh Airport
2. Haymarket Station
3. West End (Shandwick Place)
4. Waverley Bridge (opposite main train station)

Journey time: 25-30 minutes (traffic dependent)

Fares (2025):

• Single: £5.50
• Return (valid 28 days): £9.50
• Night/early morning single: £6

Frequency: Every 10 minutes during peak, every 15-20 minutes off-peak

Hours: 24-hour service (less frequent overnight)

How to buy: Contactless on bus, Lothian Buses app, or from driver (exact change not required)

Skylink 200/300/400

Additional bus routes serving areas beyond the city center:

• Skylink 200: Ocean Terminal, Leith, Fort Kinnaird
• Skylink 300: Fife (Halbeath, Dunfermline, Ferrytoll)
• Skylink 400: Gyle, Edinburgh Park

Fare: £5.50 single (same as Airlink)

Getting to Glasgow

For travel to Glasgow from Edinburgh Airport:

1. Take tram to Edinburgh Park (15 min)
2. Take ScotRail train to Glasgow Queen Street (45 min)
3. Total journey approximately 75-90 minutes, £15-20

Alternatively, Citylink coaches run directly from the airport to Glasgow (approximately 60-75 min, from £10).

Edinburgh Airport offers several parking options.

Type	Daily Rate (Online)	Walk to Terminal	Notes
Mid Stay	From £10/day	5 min walk	Best value for short trips
Long Stay	From £7/day	Shuttle bus	Ideal for week+ trips
Short Stay	£5/hour, £40/day	2 min walk	Directly adjacent to terminal
Premium Parking	From £15/day	3 min walk	Covered, closest available

Pre-booking: Save up to 60% by booking online at edinburghairport.com. Walk-up rates are significantly higher.

Drop-off zone: Free for 10 minutes in the designated area. A paid premium zone allows closer access for a fee.

Off-site parking: Several private operators (APH, Purple Parking) offer competitive rates with shuttle services.

Edinburgh Airport has a reasonable selection of food options, mostly located after security.

After Security

• Wetherspoon (The Booking Office): Pub food and drinks, good value
• Starbucks: Multiple locations
• Giraffe: Family-friendly world cuisine
• Yo! Sushi: Conveyor belt sushi
• Pret A Manger: Sandwiches and coffee
• Upper Crust: Baguettes and quick bites
• Burger King: Fast food
• The Bookshop Bar: Coffee, drinks, light bites by the bookshop

Before Security

• Costa Coffee: Coffee and pastries
• Burger King: Fast food

Scottish Options

For a taste of Scotland before departure:

• World Duty Free: Scottish shortbread, whisky, and souvenirs
• Jenners: Scottish gifts and foods

Tip: Food options are limited before security. Eat after passing through screening where there's more choice.

Free WiFi is available throughout Edinburgh Airport.

• Network name: _Free Airport WiFi
• Duration: Unlimited
• Speed: Adequate for browsing, email, and light video streaming
• How to connect: Select network, enter email address to register

For faster, more reliable connectivity, use lounge WiFi or your mobile data connection.

UK SIM cards are available at the airport.

Where to Buy

• WHSmith (after security): Prepaid SIMs from major UK networks
• Dixons Travel (after security): Electronics and SIMs
• Vodafone: Prepaid options

Pricing

• Basic prepaid SIM with data: £10-20
• 30-day unlimited plans: £20-30

Better value: Order a SIM before travel (GiffGaff posts free SIMs internationally) or purchase in Edinburgh city center where more options are available.

EU visitors: UK left the EU, so EU roaming no longer applies. EU SIMs will incur roaming charges in the UK.

ATMs are located throughout the terminal in both arrivals and departures areas.

Currency: British Pound Sterling (£)

Banks represented:

• Bank of Scotland
• RBS (Royal Bank of Scotland)
• ATM networks (Link, Visa, Mastercard)

Currency exchange: Travelex and ICE have counters at the airport but offer poor rates. Use ATMs or a travel card (Wise, Revolut) for better value.

Tip: Scotland is largely cashless-friendly. Contactless payment is widely accepted, though some smaller establishments and markets prefer cash.

Edinburgh Airport has a good selection of shops, particularly for Scottish goods.

Duty-Free

World Duty Free is the main retailer with a large store after security featuring:

• Scottish whisky (excellent selection including Scotch single malts)
• Perfumes and cosmetics
• Alcohol and tobacco
• Confectionery

Scottish Souvenirs

• Edinburgh Airport Shop: Tartans, cashmere, and Scottish gifts
• Johnstons of Elgin: Premium Scottish cashmere and woolens
• Thistle Gifts: Scottish souvenirs and shortbread

General Retail

• WHSmith: Books, magazines, travel essentials
• Boots: Pharmacy and toiletries
• Accessorize: Fashion accessories
• Dixons Travel: Electronics, chargers, headphones

Tip: The whisky selection at World Duty Free is excellent for Scottish single malts. Prices are competitive with high street shops.

Edinburgh Airport has several lounge options for travelers.

Priority Pass Lounges

Aspire Lounge:

• Location: After security, upper level
• Access: Priority Pass, Lounge Key, £35-40 walk-up
• Amenities: Hot and cold food, bar, WiFi, newspapers, runway views
• Hours: 04:00-21:00

Airline Lounges

British Airways Lounge:

• Location: After security
• Access: BA Club/First Class, oneworld Emerald/Sapphire on BA flights
• Amenities: Hot food, drinks, WiFi, work space

KLM Crown Lounge:

• Location: After security
• Access: KLM/Air France Business Class, SkyTeam Elite Plus

Pay-Per-Visit

The Aspire Lounge accepts walk-up guests for approximately £35-40. Pre-book online for discounted rates around £30.

Fast Track Security

Fast Track security access can be purchased separately (approximately £6) or is included with some lounge bookings. Worth considering during peak morning hours.

At the Airport

• Hampton by Hilton Edinburgh Airport: On-site hotel with covered walkway to terminal. 3-minute walk. Modern rooms, restaurant. From £90/night
• Moxy Edinburgh Airport: Adjacent to airport, very short walk. Budget-friendly, modern design. From £70/night

With Shuttle/Transfer

• DoubleTree by Hilton Edinburgh Airport: 5-minute shuttle, full-service hotel. From £100/night
• Holiday Inn Edinburgh Airport: Free shuttle, pool and fitness. From £85/night
• Leonardo Hotel Edinburgh Airport: Budget option with shuttle. From £65/night
• Travelodge Edinburgh Airport: Good value, short taxi ride. From £55/night

Tip: The Hampton by Hilton's walkway connection makes it ideal for early morning flights. The Moxy offers good value and is almost as convenient.

Edinburgh is one of Europe's most beautiful and historic cities, with the airport providing easy access to Scotland's highlights.

Getting to Key Attractions

Destination	Travel Time	Route
Edinburgh Castle	35-40 min	Tram to Princes Street + 10 min walk uphill
Royal Mile	35-40 min	Airlink 100 to Waverley + 5 min walk
Arthur's Seat	45-50 min	Tram to city center + bus/walk
Holyrood Palace	40-45 min	Airlink 100 to Waverley + 15 min walk
Princes Street (shopping)	30-35 min	Tram direct
Leith (waterfront, dining)	45-50 min	Tram to York Place + 15 min walk

Travel Tips

• Day tickets: Buy an all-day tram ticket (£11) if making multiple trips
• Edinburgh Pass: Includes attractions and transport, good value for sightseeing
• Weather: Edinburgh is windy and can be cold year-round. Pack layers even in summer
• Festival season (August): Book accommodation and transport well in advance
• Hogmanay (New Year): Major celebration, but extremely busy - plan ahead

Day Trip Ideas

• Scottish Highlands: Tours depart from Edinburgh to Loch Ness, Glencoe, and the Highlands (full day)
• St Andrews: 90 minutes by car or bus, home of golf, beautiful university town
• Stirling Castle: 50 minutes by train, historic castle and Wallace Monument
• Rosslyn Chapel: 30 minutes by bus, famous from The Da Vinci Code
• Glasgow: 50 minutes by train, Scotland's largest city with excellent museums and music scene
• Loch Lomond: 90 minutes by car, stunning scenery and outdoor activities

Best Neighborhoods to Explore

• Old Town: Historic Royal Mile, Edinburgh Castle, cobbled streets and closes
• New Town: Georgian architecture, Princes Street shopping, George Street bars
• Stockbridge: Village feel, independent shops, Sunday market
• Leith: Waterfront dining, trendy bars, Michelin-starred restaurants
• Grassmarket: Lively pubs, historic square below the castle
• Dean Village: Picturesque former mill village, beautiful walks along Water of Leith