Travel information: getting to Edinburgh

Getting there by air

Edinburgh Airport
0870 040 0007/www.edinburghairport.com.
Edinburgh airport is about ten miles west of the city centre, and around 25 minutes' drive from Princes Street.

Major airlines

The airport is served by all major UK airlines:

• British Airways and BA Connect 0870 850 9580/www.ba.com.
• BMI 0870 607 0555/www.flybmi.com.
• BMI Baby 0871 224 0224/www.bmibaby.com.
• ScotAirways 0870 606 070/www.scotairways.co.uk.
• Air Scotland 0870 850 0958/www.air-scotland.com.
• Easyjet 0905 821 0905 (65p/min)/www.easyjet.com.
• Ryanair 0871 246 0000/www.ryanair.com.

The only direct flights to and from the US are run by Continental (UK: 0845 607 6760, US: 1-800 231 0856/www.continental.com), to and from New York Newark. The airport's website contains a full list of airlines and destinations.

Getting from the airport

By Airlink bus

The best way to and from the airport is via the Airlink 100 bus service (555 6363/www.lothianbuses.co.uk), which stops at Maybury, Drum Brae, Edinburgh Zoo, Murrayfield, the Haymarket, the West End and Waverley Bridge. Buses leave the airport every 20mins from 4.50am to 6.50am (every 30mins between 5am and 8am on Sun), then every 10mins until 9.40pm, then every 15mins until 1.45am, with an hourly service all night.

To the airport, buses leave Waverley Bridge every 20mins from 4am until 6.20am, then every 10mins until 9pm, then every 15mins until around 11.45pm, with an hourly service through the night. The journey takes around 25mins and costs £3 for a single or £5 return.

By taxi

Taxis run from a rank outside the UK Arrivals hall. The journey to central Edinburgh usually takes around 20-25 minutes (more during peak times) and costs around £20.

Getting there by bus/coach

St Andrew Square Bus Station
Elder Street, New Town. Princes Street buses. Open 6am-midnight daily.

National Express (0870 580 8080/www.nationalexpress.com) operates coach services between Edinburgh and destinations in England and Wales. Buses run by Scottish Citylink (0870 550 5050, www.citylink.co.uk) serve a variety of towns around Scotland, while Megabus (www.megabus.com) runs budget bus services from Edinburgh to half a dozen Scottish destinations (including Glasgow) and a few in England. All buses and coaches arrive and depart from St Andrew Square Bus Station.

Getting there by rail

Waverley Station
Waverley Bridge, New Town (0845 748 4950/www.nationalrail.co.uk). Princes Street buses.
Edinburgh's central station serves the East Coast main line to London and Aberdeen. GNER and Virgin run cross-border services, while First Scotrail run trains to destinations around Scotland, including a shuttle service (every 15mins) to Glasgow (which also stops at Haymarket Station). Local services go to East and West Lothian and into Fife.

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While every effort and care has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained in this guide, the publisher cannot accept responsibility for any errors it may contain. Before you go out of your way, we strongly advise you to phone ahead and check the particulars.

More travel information

Getting around Edinburgh
Fast facts A-Z
When to go to Edinburgh