Edinburgh Airport to the City Centre: Tram, Airlink Bus or Taxi?

Edinburgh Airport is small, easy and quick, but the first ten minutes after landing still decide whether you reach your hotel relaxed or cross. The city centre is a short hop away, and you have three sensible ways to make it: the tram, the Airlink 100 bus and a taxi or ride-hail car. Here is how they compare, using the current fares and timetables rather than my memory of them.

I filmed the whole route from the arrivals door. In the film I said of the terminal: “You can't get lost.” That is still true. Watch it first, then read on for the up-to-date figures.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tvUfbzwG7s0

Out of arrivals, and which way to turn

Domestic and international arrivals share the same hall, so there is nothing to decode. Walk out, follow the signs, and you will find the tram, the buses, the taxi rank and the car hire all gathered close together. The airport itself describes the tram stop as beside the terminal, linked by a covered walkway to the tram plaza.

My advice in the film was to take public transport, and I still think that is right for most people. Both public options run to the same part of town, so the choice comes down to price, luggage and what you plan to do next.

By tram

The tram is my favourite, mainly because it never sits in traffic. According to Edinburgh Airport, trams leave every 7 minutes between 06:30 and 19:00, and every 10 minutes early in the morning and later in the evening. The first tram of the day leaves the airport at 06:30 and the last at 22:52. The journey to the city centre takes about 30 minutes, and the route runs on through Haymarket, West End, Princes Street and St Andrew Square to Leith and Newhaven.

Waverley station and the bus station are a short walk from St Andrew Square, and you can change to the train at Edinburgh Gateway, Edinburgh Park and Haymarket. There is no railway station at the airport itself.

On price, Edinburgh Trams lists an Adult Airport Single at £7.90 and an Adult Airport Open Return at £9.50, with a Child Airport Single at £4.00. Buy before you board, either from the machines on the platform, in the Bus & Tram app or online, because the on-board penalty fare is £10. Machine tickets must be used within 30 minutes of purchase. The airport stop is in its own fare zone, so a city-zone ticket will not do. Full tram timetables are published by the operator.

The film was shot in 2025 and I quoted £7.50 for the single. Fares have moved since, which is why I have gone back to the operator's own page for the figures above.

By Airlink 100 bus

The Airlink 100 is the express bus, and it is the cheaper of the two public options. Lothian Buses lists departures from the airport up to every 10 minutes from 04:12 to 01:00, then up to every 20 minutes from 01:15 to 04:00. From Waverley Bridge it runs up to every 10 minutes from 03:40 to 00:20, then up to every 20 minutes overnight. The airport stop is Stop A for the city centre.

The current Airlink fares are £6.00 for an adult single and £3.00 for a child (aged 5 to 15). An adult open return is £8.50, and a family open return, for up to two adults and three children, is £22.00. Contactless is accepted, but American Express is not, and cards issued outside the UK may carry fees from your bank. Standard Lothian day tickets are not valid on the Airlink 100, so do not assume your day pass covers it.

One practical point: the airport also has services 17 and 18, which replaced the old Skylink 200 and 400 and use ordinary city fares. They suit you if your hotel is in the south or east of the city rather than the centre.

By taxi or Uber

The airport says the city centre is about a 20-minute drive. The official taxi company is Capital Cars, and the rank is in the East Terminus, a short walk across the plaza from arrivals. Fares are regulated by the council, so check the City of Edinburgh Council's current fare table rather than trusting a number from a blog, mine included.

If you have booked a private-hire car or are using Uber, go to the charged Pickup and Dropoff zone on the ground floor of the multi-storey car park. There is also a free zone in the Long Stay car park, but the airport puts it at around a ten-minute walk. For a group or a lot of luggage, a taxi is easy. If you would rather have a driver waiting with your name on a board, you can book a private airport transfer in advance.

So which should you choose?

Travelling alone with a small bag, take the tram: it is predictable and it drops you in the middle of town. Watching the pennies, take the Airlink 100, which is cheaper and runs through the night. In a group of three or four, or with heavy bags and a late arrival, a taxi starts to make sense. Whatever you pick, buy the ticket before you board the tram.

Stay connected on arrival

Before you leave home, sort your data. I recommend Roamless for an eSIM that you can set up before you fly. Use code WONDERING for 20% off. It means maps, tram apps and ride-hail work the moment you land.

Scotland uses the UK three-pin plug, so if you are coming from abroad, pack a travel adapter in your hand luggage and charge your phone on the way in.

Where to stay

Edinburgh rewards a central base. The tram runs straight into the New Town and the Old Town is a short walk from Waverley. Use the Edinburgh hotels map below to compare places and prices (Stay22).

Things to do once you are in

Once the bags are down, the Castle and the Royal Mile are an easy first afternoon. For guided options, browse Edinburgh tours and transfers on Viator, Edinburgh day trips on Viator or Edinburgh tours and tickets on GetYourGuide.

Plan your trip

• Hotels: Booking.com

• Apartments: Airbnb

• Tours and transfers: Viator Edinburgh

• Tours and tickets: GetYourGuide Edinburgh

• Private transfer: GetTransfer

• Mobile data: Roamless (code WONDERING, 20% off)

Flights

Flying in? Compare fares to Edinburgh below.

Sources: Edinburgh Airport by tram, Edinburgh Trams ticket prices, Lothian Buses airport services, Edinburgh Airport by taxi and pickup and dropoff zones. Fares and times were checked on 11 October 2026 and can change.

Photo credits: Edinburgh tram, Princes Street by Dr Neil Clifton via Wikimedia Commons and Tram at Edinburgh Airport by Thomas Nugent via Geograph and Wikimedia Commons, both under CC BY-SA 2.0.

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Safe travels, The Wondering Englishman