Overview
Transfer Options
Edinburgh Trams and Lothian Buses occasionally suspend services for engineering works or incidents on the route. Check Lothian Buses service updates or Edinburgh Trams news before heading out. When trams are suspended, tram tickets are typically accepted on Lothian Buses as a fallback. Have a taxi or rideshare app ready if you are on a tight schedule.
Luggage Storage
During the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in August, storage can reach capacity quickly. Consider pre-booking to guarantee a spot and often save on costs.
Visitor Cards and Passes
Recommended Passes
- Network DayTicket: £14.00. Best for those arriving at the airport and staying for a full day of sightseeing. Includes Airlink 100, Trams (to airport), and all Lothian Buses.
- Lothian DayTicket: £6.00. Covers all buses and trams in the city zone (excludes the airport stop).
- Edinburgh City Pass: Includes an airport tram return and entry to over 20 attractions (prices vary by duration — check the official site).
Common Ticket Types
- Single Ticket: £2.40 for city buses and trams.
- Airlink 100: £6.00 single / £8.50 return.
- Tram (Airport): £7.90 single / £9.50 return.
- TapTapCap: Use the same contactless card or mobile device for all journeys. Your daily spend is capped at £5.70 for city travel or £14.00 if you include the airport.
Children’s Fares
- Under 5: Travel free on all Edinburgh Trams and Lothian Buses services. Up to three under-5s per fare-paying adult.
- Ages 5-15: Child tickets cost roughly half the adult fare:
- Single (city zone): £1.20 — buy at tram stop machines or from the bus driver.
- City DAYticket (bus + tram, city zone): £3.00 — not valid to the airport.
- Network DAYticket (includes airport): £7.00
- Family DAYticket: £13.00 — up to 2 adults and 3 children, city zone only. Not valid to the airport.
NOTE: You must activate mobile tickets in the app just before boarding to show the live animation to the conductor.
Public Transit
Edinburgh Trams
Trams run every 7-10 minutes between Edinburgh Airport and Newhaven via the city center (Princes Street). The journey from the airport to the center takes approximately 30-35 minutes. You must buy a ticket or validate your contactless card/app before boarding.
Lothian Buses
The Airlink 100 is the express bus service from the airport to St Andrew Square (near Waverley Station), running 24/7. Standard city buses (Maroon/White) cover the entire city. Note that Edinburgh buses use an “exact fare” policy if paying with cash, but contactless payment (TapTapCap) is the most convenient method.
When using TapTapCap on buses, you only need to Tap On when you board; do not tap off. The system will automatically calculate the best fare and cap your daily spend.
Official Taxi
Official Edinburgh taxis are iconic Black Cabs (Hackney carriages). While traditionally black, many now feature colorful full-body advertisements. All official cabs have a distinctive yellow “Taxi” sign on the roof that is lit when the cab is available for hire. They can be hailed on the street or found at designated ranks.
Rideshare
Use Uber for the most reliable vehicle availability and diverse car options, Bolt for typically lower fares and frequent discounts, and Gett to book professional black cabs that can use bus lanes to bypass Edinburgh’s city-center traffic.
ATMs and Currency
Edinburgh uses the British Pound (GBP). While Scotland issues its own banknotes (Bank of Scotland, Royal Bank of Scotland, Clydesdale Bank), these are legal currency throughout the UK.
If an ATM or card terminal asks if you want to pay in your “Home Currency” or “Continue with Conversion,” always select “No” or “Continue without Conversion”. Choosing your home currency allows the ATM provider to set their own (usually poor) exchange rate.
Best ATMs
To avoid high transaction fees, look for bank-branded ATMs such as Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS), Bank of Scotland, or Clydesdale/Virgin Money. Avoid standalone machines like Travelex or Euronet, which often charge high withdrawal fees and use poor exchange rates.
- Edinburgh Airport: Bank-owned ATMs are located near the International Arrivals and Check-in areas.
- Waverley/Haymarket: ATMs are available on the main concourse and just outside the station entrances.
ATM Finder
Use the LINK ATM Locator (website or mobile app) to find the nearest free-to-use ATMs throughout Edinburgh.
Accessibility & Safety
Edinburgh’s transport hubs are generally very safe and well-equipped for travelers with reduced mobility.
Essential Services
Overview
Transfer Options
Edinburgh Trams and Lothian Buses occasionally suspend services for engineering works or incidents on the route. Check Lothian Buses service updates or Edinburgh Trams news before heading out. When trams are suspended, tram tickets are typically accepted on Lothian Buses as a fallback. Have a taxi or rideshare app ready if you are on a tight schedule.
Luggage Storage
During the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in August, storage can reach capacity quickly. Consider pre-booking to guarantee a spot and often save on costs.
Visitor Cards and Passes
Recommended Passes
- Network DayTicket: £14.00. Best for those arriving at the airport and staying for a full day of sightseeing. Includes Airlink 100, Trams (to airport), and all Lothian Buses.
- Lothian DayTicket: £6.00. Covers all buses and trams in the city zone (excludes the airport stop).
- Edinburgh City Pass: Includes an airport tram return and entry to over 20 attractions (prices vary by duration — check the official site).
Common Ticket Types
- Single Ticket: £2.40 for city buses and trams.
- Airlink 100: £6.00 single / £8.50 return.
- Tram (Airport): £7.90 single / £9.50 return.
- TapTapCap: Use the same contactless card or mobile device for all journeys. Your daily spend is capped at £5.70 for city travel or £14.00 if you include the airport.
Children’s Fares
- Under 5: Travel free on all Edinburgh Trams and Lothian Buses services. Up to three under-5s per fare-paying adult.
- Ages 5-15: Child tickets cost roughly half the adult fare:
- Single (city zone): £1.20 — buy at tram stop machines or from the bus driver.
- City DAYticket (bus + tram, city zone): £3.00 — not valid to the airport.
- Network DAYticket (includes airport): £7.00
- Family DAYticket: £13.00 — up to 2 adults and 3 children, city zone only. Not valid to the airport.
NOTE: You must activate mobile tickets in the app just before boarding to show the live animation to the conductor.
Public Transit
Edinburgh Trams
Trams run every 7-10 minutes between Edinburgh Airport and Newhaven via the city center (Princes Street). The journey from the airport to the center takes approximately 30-35 minutes. You must buy a ticket or validate your contactless card/app before boarding.
Lothian Buses
The Airlink 100 is the express bus service from the airport to St Andrew Square (near Waverley Station), running 24/7. Standard city buses (Maroon/White) cover the entire city. Note that Edinburgh buses use an “exact fare” policy if paying with cash, but contactless payment (TapTapCap) is the most convenient method.
When using TapTapCap on buses, you only need to Tap On when you board; do not tap off. The system will automatically calculate the best fare and cap your daily spend.
Arrival & Check-In
Security Controls
VAT Refunds
Accessibility & Safety
Edinburgh’s transport hubs are generally very safe and well-equipped for travelers with reduced mobility.