The transport network of the United Kingdom is one of the oldest and most developed in Europe. For some might be even overwhelming. This is why we tested for you the Edinburgh Airport’s best transfers and we collected everything you need to reach the city center in the most convenient way.
Edinburgh Airport’s best transfer
Bus Airlink 100 ✪ Best choice £ 7,50 return, £ 4,50 single | 25-30 min. | Buy tickets |
Tram return £ 8, single £ 6. | 35-40 min. | Buy tickets |
Taxi £ 25-30, £ 5 off if you order a taxi on the way back to the airport. | 20-25 min. | Book ride |
Edinburgh Airport’s best transfer is the Airlink bus
Bus Airlink 100 ✪ Best choice
Bus Airlink 100 directions £ 7,50 return, £ 4,50 single | 25-30 min. ➤ Direct Line to Waverley Bridge (Central railway station) | Buy tickets |
At the bright blue ticket box right next to where the buses stop.
To get to the bus stop, just leave the doors of the airport, follow the signs, and look for a bright blue bus.
The price for the Airlink bus is £ 4,50 one way, £ 7,50 return, reductions for children.
Sterling pounds (GBP), credit and debit cards.
It takes about 25-30 minutes to get from Budapest Airport to the city center by bus.
To go directly to the city center – Waverley Bridge – or reach the west of the city.
It is the last stop – Waverley Bridge (Central railway station).
Getting from Edinburgh Airport to the city center by tram and taxi
Tram
Tram directions return £ 8, single £ 6. | 35-40 min. ➤ Direct line to York Place. | Buy tickets |
In the automated machines at the tram stop.
To find the tram stop, leave the airport and go left from the doors. Go straight for 2 minutes until you see the tram right after the big “Edinburgh” sign.
The price for a single ticket is £ 6, the open return is £ 8,50 with reductions for children.
Sterling pounds (GBP), credit and debit cards.
It takes approximately 35-40 minutes to reach your destination with the tram connection.
It stops slightly off the city center, at York Place, which is closer to the Edinburgh Bus terminal and makes more stops outside of Edinburgh.
It is the last stop at York Place.
Taxi
Taxi directions £ 25-30, £ 5 off if you order a taxi on the way back to the airport. | 20-25 min. ➤ Directly to your destination. | Book a ride |
Leave the airport doors, go left, follow through a roofed passage, like a corridor, till the end, where you will see parking to your right. If you prefer, you can order an Uber taxi using the company’s app.
It is £ 25-30, 5 pounds off if you order a taxi on the way back to the airport.
You can pay with Sterling pounds (GBP), credit, and debit cards.
It takes about 35-40 minutes to get from the Edinburgh Airport to the city center by car or taxi.
It is the fastest and most comfortable way to get to the city center.
Your journey from the Edinburgh Airport to the city center
In recent years the Scottish Government has invested £80m into building a new three-storey extension to the Edinburgh Airport. it provides several new gates and more space for shops, customs, and immigration. While the airport seems busy, it keeps up with providing a choice of connection transport to the city center. All of the options are efficient and are officially regulated, so current works on improving the airport won’t affect the accessibility of the city.
Terminal
Edinburgh airport consists of only 1 terminal. All the arrivals halls are located on the first floor and are accessible by foot. Departure gates and the security checkpoint are located on the second floor, accessible by an escalator and an elevator.
Edinburgh city center
The center of Edinburgh is only 14 km away from the airport. Bus 100 terminates at Waverly Bridge, which is right next to the entrance to Edinburgh’s main train station.
The tram terminates at York Square, which is about 7 minutes away from the Waverly train station and about 4 minutes away from the Edinburgh bus terminal.
Edinburgh Airport’s best transfer: Conclusion
The duration of your trip to the city center by all means of transport will be approximately the same. The most commonly used and convenient transport is the Airlink bus, which was our choice as Edinburgh Airport’s best transfer. It offers the best ratio of price to quality and terminates right in the heart of the city. Taxis cost a lot more and there is not much point using them, as they are not faster than the bus or the tram unless your destination is remote or you have a heavy suitcase with you, which is not convenient to carry around.