Airport bus Edinburgh

IATA code: EDI
ICAO code: EGPH
Passengers: ~ 14 million

Edinburgh Airport (EDI) is the main international airport in Scotland and also the busiest one according to the last available statistics from 2019 when it handled more than 14 million passengers.

The airport is located at Ingliston, an area 10 kilometres west of Edinburgh. Some of the most common international routes from Edinburgh include Amsterdam, Paris, Dublin and Frankfurt.

How to get from Edinburgh Airport to Edinburgh

Airport shuttle bus

Edinburgh Airport is very well connected with the city centre by three bus lines operated by Lothian Buses company.

Airlink 100: shuttles which are so frequent that you won’t wait more than 10 minutes to get on the bus.

  • Buses are blue and usually double-decker
  • The price of a single adult ticket is around £4.50 (for children £2)
  • Airlink buses depart from Domestic Arrivals at Edinburgh Airport to Waverley Bridge in the city.
  • Tickets can be purchased at the Airlink office outside Domestic Arrivals terminal, online and from the driver

Skylink 200: This line connects Edinburgh Airport with Ocean Terminal shopping centre in Leith → timetable

Skylink 300: This line runs to Cameron Toll via West Edinburgh → timetable

N22: Basically the same as Skylink 200 because the last stop is again Ocean Terminal, but it has a different route.
NOTE: It is a night line and it only operates between 00:40 and 04:10 → schedule

Tram

Another possibility of reaching the city is by Edinburgh Trams which run almost every 7  to 10 minutes from the airport.

  • Trams operate between 06:18 and 22:48
  • Besides the city centre, trams stop at Murrayfield Stadium, railway stations at Edinburgh Gateway, Edinburgh Park, Haymarket and St. Andrew Square
  • One-way ticket costs around £6 (for children £3.00)
  • Tickets can be bought online or at vending machines (NOTE: vending machines do not give change back so try to have the exact amount)

Taxi services

Taxis to the city centre are available outside the Arrivals terminal. Pick-up zone is located on the ground floor of car park. The journey usually takes around 25 minutes, depending on the traffic and for that you’ll pay between £20 and  £25 (day/night)

Transfer

In case you are having a lot of suitcases with you and want your own commodity, the best option would probably be to book a private transfer which will take you straight to your accommodation.

Transfer can be booked in advance and a professional driver will wait for you at the airport and take you to your destination.

Renting a car

Car rental companies like Alamo, Sixt and Budget are located at the airport (see map). Alternatively, you can always book your car online and avoid waiting in lines.

Renting a bus

A coach or a minibus is also a possibility, and probably a must-do if you are coming to Edinburgh in a group of 8-10 people or even more.

Make sure you do the booking on time, so the bus rental company can plan everything ahead, like the meeting and pick-up point.

Edinburgh

From EDI to Glasgow: The bus service Citylink Air provides transportation to Glasgow city centre:

  • Buses run from 05:00 to 23:30 seven days a week every half hour from 07:30 to 23:30
  • The journey to Glasgow usually takes approx. 1 hour
  • The price of a one-way ticket is around £12.50 and you can buy them online, from the driver or at Visit Scotland desk at the airport.

Airlines at the airport

According to the last available data, the Edinburgh airport has a lot of traffic – 37 airlines are flying 221 routes to 158 destinations.

Most of the flights are to or from regional and international destinations, such as Belfast International, London, Stockholm, Barcelona and Istanbul.

Here’s a list of airlines that operate seasonal flights at the airport:

  • Aegean Airlines
  • Air Canada
  • easyJet
  • Ryanair
  • TUI Airways

Services and Facilities

If you’re waiting for your flight or you’re on a layover, maybe some of these services and facilities available at EDI airport will help you:

  • ATMs
  • Free WiFi (for 2 hours)
  • Prayer Room
  • Baby Room
  • Lounges (for economy class)

Accommodation near Edinburgh Airport

If you want to rest before or after your flight at one of the nearby hotels and accommodation units, check out the map below and find the best place to stay overnight.

Edinburgh Airport – FAQs

I arrive late at the airport. Will it be a problem for me to get to the city?

Edinburgh Airport is connected with the city centre 24/7 by several means of public transport, so whichever you choose, you cannot go wrong. There is also a night line (N22) for those who arrive after midnight.

I have an early morning departure from the airport, are there any airport hotels I can stay at?

Absolutely, you can choose between two nearby hotels for an overnight stay:  
DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel (4*) – 10 mins walking distance from the airport, free WiFi, laundry service
Holiday Inn Express (3*) – 17 mins walk from the airport, free WiFi connection, free parking, restaurant, bar

I would like to spend one day in Edinburgh in between flights. Is that possible?

Sure thing, the airport is situated only 10 km from the city centre and you can reach in 30 minutes by public transport. Don’t miss to visit the beautiful Holyrood Palace and Royal Botanic Garden for a nice picnic. Don’t know where to leave your luggage? No problem, there is a storage facility at the airport where you can leave your stuff for a day for £8/10/20 (depending on the size).

I am continuing my journey outside Edinburgh. Are there any direct lines from the airport to other cities?

Yes, many actually, most of them operated by Citylink bus service. Besides above mentioned Glasgow, you can also visit some of these Scottish cities:  
Aberdeen – First bus leaves Edinburgh Airport  at 06:00 and then runs every half hour from 09:30-20:30.
Dundee – First bus departs at 06:00, then at 07:00, and from 08:30 – 22:50 every half hour.
Inverness – At 05:00 first bus leaves the airport and from 08:30 – 19:05 runs every half hour. The last one to Inverness is at 20:10.

Can I exchange money at the airport to pay for my transfer?

Certainly, there are several ATMs available throughout the airport building and several ICE exchange offices located both at Arrivals and Departures terminals. Have in mind that the official currency is British pound (£), so it is better to have some on you prior to your flight.

  18Comments

  1. Kannika

    I’m going to Edinburgh and stay in tipperlinn road can I still have shuttle bus from the airport at 23:30 ? How much it costs? And do I need to book tickets first by internet?
    Thank you

    • Maja

      Dear Kannika,

      Airlink 100 (shuttle bus) departs every 10 minutes throughout the day until 00:30. There are also night departures every 10-15 minutes, so whenever you arrive, you will be able to catch it.
      You don’t have to pre-book your ticket, they provide contactless payments on board. You can check the prices on the following link – https://www.lothianbuses.com/tickets/

      Best regards,
      Maja, GBB Team

  2. Peter Sheen

    I need to be at the Airport at 4am. I live in Gilmerton. Is there a bus?

    • Melani   Author

      Dear Peter,

      You can catch N7 line at 3AM from Newtoft Street to North Bridge (Stop NA). Then get off and walk to Waverley Bridge (Stop WA) and board the Airlink 100 which departs around 3:45AM. You’ll be at the airport around 4:10AM.

      Best regards,
      Melani GBB Team

  3. Elia

    Hi, I’ll arrive in Edinburgh by train at midnight. I need to go to the airport. Is there any bus at that time? How can I book them? thanks

    • Melani   Author

      Dear Elia,

      Get off at Edinburgh Waverly train station and catch bus line N22 which stops near Scott Monument in Princes Street. You can check the timetable of departures in the blog post.

      Best regards,
      Melani GBB Team

  4. Fiona

    Are Airport buses running normally in July 2021? Does the bus still leave from Waverley Bridge

    • Maja

      Dear Fiona,

      yes, Airlink 100 buses connect the airport to Waverley Bridge, click on the link in the text to see the current timetable.

      Best regards,
      Maja, GBB Team

  5. Helen Payne

    How long does the shuttle bus take to get the airport? Trying to fit in with train from Tweedbank and flight arrivals. Thank you. Helen

    • Maja

      Hi Helen,

      during normal traffic conditions, the journey with the shuttle bus takes about 30 minutes.

      Best,
      GBB Team

  6. Eva

    z ktorého nástupišťa ide bus do Glasgow ?

    From which platform the bus goes to Glasgow

    • Maja

      Hi Eva,

      the bus that departs from Edinburgh Airport to Glasgow is located at Stop D.
      You can check out all the details and purchase your tickets directly on the link above.

      Best,
      GBB Team

  7. George Drysdale

    Does the bus from the airport to halbeath park & ride run 24 hours?

    • Maja

      Hi George,

      according to the official information, yes the bus JET747 operates 24/7.

      Best,
      GBB Team

  8. Louis

    Hallo wij logeren in het Fredericks House Hotel (Frederick Street). Wat is de dichtsbijzijnde opstaphalte voor de luchthaven. Princes Street is volgens jullie info alleen voor uitstappen.

    • Maja

      Hi Louis,

      yes, the bus stop on Princess Street is also for boarding the shuttle bus.

      Best,
      GBB Team

  9. elisa pacciani

    Hello, i wanted to know if the buses will be operational on december 30th 2022. I will land at 7/30 pm adn should go to Dunfermline. Thanks

    • Maja

      Hi Elisa,

      buses should operate normally on that date, however, we suggest you keep following the official website of the airport to see if there are going to be any changes as the date approaches.

      Best,
      GBB Team

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