NorahEdinburgh is my favorite European city, and I knew I would love this beautiful place from the second I stepped off the plane. Picture it-fog rolling through, quaint countrysides, and friendly, kind people. In addition to all of this, Edinburgh has an easy system for transporting travelers to and from the airport. This simplicity makes it so easy to fall in love with a place like Edinburgh. There are multiple different options for traveling to and from the airport to the city center, and in this guide I will break down the multiple ways to travel as well as my recommendation for how to get to and from the airport.
How far is the airport from the city center?
By private car, the airport is about 20 minutes from the city center. By bus, the route is about 30 minutes.
What is the weather like in Edinburgh?
Edinburgh in general has very temperate weather. The temperatures can get quite cold in the winter, and quite mild during the summer. I was in Edinburgh at the end of July, and the weather was perfect. It was in the 70s, and there was a slight cloud cover the whole time I was in the city.
One note about the weather: Edinburgh is closer to the poles than other European cities, and in the winter there is very little sunlight. From November-March, the sun sets at around 3pm each day. If you are traveling alone and/or you do not want to take public transportation after dark, this is something to keep in mind.
Ok, now onto the options!
Option 1: A Private vehicle.
There are multiple private vehicle options in Edinburgh, and the area has both Uber and Bolt. There are also a variety of taxi services available as well. The average price of a ride share is 20 euros.
I personally do not recommend a ride share in Edinburgh unless it is absolutely necessary! There is nothing wrong with the ride share options in the city, and they feel very safe. However, there are so many ways to easily get to the city for much cheaper.
Option 2: The Tram.
The tram offers multiple different routes and can take you many different places around Edinburgh, depending on where you want to go. The tram arrives frequently and is a good way to navigate around the city; however, it is not my ultimate recommendation for exploring the area.
Option 3: Buses.
My recommendation for traveling to and from the Edinburgh airport is to take the direct bus into the city center. This option is incredibly cheap while still being very efficient.
Here is how it works: From the baggage claim, follow the general flow of traffic outside the building. Once you are outside, you will see multiple signs pointing to the bus area. The buses run quite frequently, so if you do not see one, just wait!
The cool thing about the bus system at the airport is the fact that you do not need a ticket; you can pay straight from your phone or Apple Pay. As you walk onto the bus, there will be a small machine guiding you to pay. Bus tickets are six euros.
Once you are on the bus, you are set! Enjoy beautiful views of the city as you creep closer and closer to the center. You can admire the castle and feel like you are on the set of Harry Potter!
Interested in more Scotland? I have a whole guide that describes my ultimate recommendations for an epic six day road trip, as well as a list of everything I wish I had known before visiting Isle of Skye.
