Getting There and Away

A stunning view of Edinburgh's skyline featuring the iconic Balmoral Clock Tower during fall.
Laura Meinhardt, Pexels

Edinburgh is served by Edinburgh Airport (EDI) for air travel, while Edinburgh Waverley and Haymarket are the primary railway stations. For coach and bus services, the central Edinburgh Bus Station at St Andrew Square is the main hub. Additionally, the port of Leith accommodates cruise ships, and Rosyth, nearby, may soon offer a direct ferry link to mainland Europe.

By Air:

Edinburgh Airport (EDI) provides extensive connections to domestic, European, and international destinations, with airlines such as British Airways, easyJet, Ryanair, Air Canada, and United Airlines. From the airport, tram or bus services (Airlink 100, Skylink 200/400) connect to the city centre in approximately 25 to 45 minutes.

By Train:

Frequent train services operate to and from Edinburgh Waverley, the city's main station. Direct routes from London King's Cross, operated by LNER and Lumo, can take as little as 4 hours 6 minutes, with tickets starting from around £35.90 - £44.50. Overnight services via the Caledonian Sleeper from London Euston typically take about 7 hours 45 minutes. ScotRail offers connections across Scotland, and TransPennine Express links Edinburgh with cities like Manchester and Newcastle.

By Bus/Coach:

The Edinburgh Bus Station at St Andrew Square is a central point for national and regional coach services. Operators like National Express, Megabus, and FlixBus provide routes from London, with journey times ranging from approximately 7 hours 50 minutes to 9 hours 19 minutes and tickets starting from around £18.13 - £25.99. Services also connect Edinburgh to other major Scottish cities and locations across England and Wales.

By Car:

Edinburgh is accessible via an extensive road network, including the M8 motorway from Glasgow. Car rental services are readily available at Edinburgh Airport from various companies, with daily rates often starting from £18.26 - £26. The car rental centre is a short walk from the terminal building.

By Ferry:

While direct passenger ferries to mainland Europe are limited, a new service connecting Rosyth (near Edinburgh) with Dunkirk, France, by DFDS is anticipated to launch in late 2025, offering three weekly trips with a journey time of approximately 20 hours. For those arriving from Northern Ireland or Scottish islands, ferries connect to other Scottish ports, requiring onward travel to Edinburgh.