Edinburgh Airport (EDI) sits 17 km west of the centre and has no railway station of its own. The Airlink 100 bus and the tram both stop right outside the terminal.
Short answer: the Airlink 100 bus is the cheapest direct option: about 30 minutes to Waverley Bridge, beside Waverley station, for £6.00, up to every 10 minutes and around the clock. The tram takes about 30 minutes to the city centre and costs £7.50 bought in advance (usually £7.90). By car it is 17 km, about 27 minutes without traffic. Our private transfer costs €80 per car (1–3 passengers) and €110 per van (4–8).
| Option | Travel time | Price | Changes | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Airlink 100 bus to Waverley Bridge | about 30 min | £6.00 single, £8.50 open return | 0 | Most travellers, Old Town and Waverley |
| Tram to the city centre | about 30 min | £7.50 in advance (usually £7.90) | 0 | New Town, West End, Haymarket |
| Taxi from the official rank (metered) | about 27 min without traffic | Council meter tariff | 0 | Door to door without booking |
| ShuttleHero private transfer | about 27 min (longer at rush hour) | €80 per car (1–3), €110 per van (4–8) | 0 | Families, groups, luggage, festival dates |
Airlink 100, run by Lothian Buses, is a 24/7 express service from the airport to Waverley Bridge, next to Waverley station and below the Old Town. The journey takes about 30 minutes. Buses leave the airport up to every 10 minutes from 04:12 to 01:00, then up to every 20 minutes through the small hours. An adult single costs £6.00, a child single £3.00 and an open return £8.50; a family return for up to two adults and three children is £22.00. You can tap a contactless card on board and pay the same £6.00.
The tram stop is right outside the main terminal, next to the plaza and the large Edinburgh sign. Edinburgh Airport gives about 30 minutes to the city centre, and the line continues to St Andrew Square, Leith and Newhaven. Trams leave every 7 minutes between 06:30 and 19:00 and every 10 minutes after that; the last tram leaves the airport at 22:52. The Airport Single costs £7.50 when bought before you travel (usually £7.90), from the Edinburgh Trams website or the machines at the stop. Check the Edinburgh Trams service updates before you fly: city-centre works have cut the line short at times in 2026.
The official taxi rank is at the East Terminus, a short walk from arrivals: go out through the plaza and follow the taxi signs. Fares run on the meter at the rates set by the City of Edinburgh Council, whose current tariff table took effect on 25 July 2026. The airport says the centre is about a 20-minute drive away in light traffic.
The road route is about 17 km east via the A8 and takes about 27 minutes without traffic; the western approaches are slow at rush hour. The Royal Mile and much of the Old Town are pedestrian or tightly restricted, and the August festivals and Hogmanay bring more road closures, so the car stops at the nearest open street.
A private transfer Edinburgh Airport → city centre costs €80 per car for 1–3 passengers and €110 per van for 4–8 passengers. The price is per vehicle, fixed and paid by card when you book, and luggage is included. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before pickup. A child seat costs +€10. The driver takes you to your hotel, or to the nearest street a car may use near the Royal Mile.
Edinburgh Airport → city centre
Car, 1–3 passengers: €80 · Van, 4–8 passengers: €110
Edinburgh Airport has one terminal building. Your driver waits in the arrivals hall, after baggage reclaim and the customs exit, holding a sign with your name. We track your flight and you get 60 minutes of free waiting after landing.
On your own or as a couple, the Airlink 100 at £6.00 is the cheapest way in and runs all night. Staying in the New Town or the West End: the tram stops closer, for £7.50 in advance. The Airlink stop at Waverley Bridge is at the bottom of a steep climb to most Old Town hotels, which is hard work with big cases. With children, heavy luggage or a group of four to eight (one van at €110 in total), a car to the door is the easier choice.
The Airlink 100 costs £6.00 for an adult single and £8.50 for an open return. It runs 24 hours a day to Waverley Bridge in about 30 minutes.
An adult Airport Single costs £7.50 when bought in advance, usually £7.90. The tram takes about 30 minutes to the city centre.
No. The airport has no railway station. The Airlink 100 bus to Waverley Bridge stops beside Waverley station.
Taxis from the official rank use the meter at the rates set by the City of Edinburgh Council. The airport puts the drive at about 20 minutes in light traffic.
Our transfer costs €80 per car for 1–3 passengers and €110 per van for 4–8 passengers, fixed when you book, luggage included.
Public transport times and fares were checked on 25 October 2026 on the operators' websites. Timetables and fares change, so check the operator before you travel.
We are reachable around the clock, 7 days a week — before, during and after your trip.