Edinburgh Airport Transfer Guide
🏴 Edinburgh Airport (EDI) — Updated 2026
Edinburgh Airport (EDI) is 13 km west of the city centre — 25-40 minutes by road. The Edinburgh Trams (Line 1) run from the airport direct to Princes Street / York Place in 35 min for £7 one-way. Pre-booked transfers (£35-55) are useful for heavy luggage, multiple passengers, or hotels outside the central New Town / Old Town walking radius. The Airlink 100 bus is £4.50 one-way to Waverley Bridge in 30 min.
13 km from city centre (Waverley)
Pre-book your Edinburgh airport transfer
English-speaking driver meets you in arrivals with a name sign. Fixed prices, flight tracking, free cancellation up to 24h.
- Flight tracking — delay-aware pickup
- Fixed price · no surge · free cancellation
- Cars, vans, minibuses for 1–8 passengers
via Welcome Pickups · EDI
Edinburgh airport transfer options compared
| Option | Cost | Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Welcome Pickups (pre-booked) | £35–55 | 25–40 min | Meet-and-greet, English driver, fixed fare. |
| Kiwitaxi (pre-booked) | £32–50 | 25–40 min | Marketplace, instant quote. |
| Edinburgh black cab (metered) | £25–40 | 25–40 min | Honest meters, knowledgeable drivers. |
| Uber / Bolt | £20–40 | 25–40 min | App-based, surge during Edinburgh Festival. |
| Edinburgh Trams | £7 | 35 min to Princes St | Direct from airport, every 7-10 min. |
| Airlink 100 bus | £4.50 | 30 min to Waverley | Every 10 min, direct. |
Top destinations from EDI
Old Town (Royal Mile)
UNESCO district, 25-40 min in traffic.
New Town (Princes St)
Shopping + hotels, 25-35 min.
Leith
Waterfront, 30-40 min.
Glasgow
75 km west, 75-90 min.
St Andrews
Golf town 80 km north, 90-100 min.
Booking tips for Edinburgh
- → Edinburgh Festival (August): book transfer 2+ weeks ahead — surge + capacity issues
- → Royal Mile + Grassmarket are pedestrian/cobblestone — drivers drop at nearest road access
- → Trams (£7) are good value but limited to Princes Street line — onward walk for Old Town
- → For Glasgow / St Andrews onward: pre-book transfer cheaper than taxi for the distance
Hotels in Edinburgh
Find hotels in Edinburgh
Hotels, hostels & more · Trip.com
FAQ
Tram or transfer from EDI?+
Edinburgh Trams (Line 1) run direct from EDI to Princes Street + York Place in 35 min for £7 one-way. Frequency every 7-10 min, 06:00-22:30. Pre-booked transfer is 25-40 min door-to-door for £35-55. Solo + central hotel near Princes St: tram. Group + heavy luggage + Old Town pedestrian streets: transfer.
Edinburgh Festival traffic — how bad?+
During August Festival (Edinburgh International Festival + Fringe + Tattoo) the city gains 250,000+ visitors. Transfer times double to 50-80 min for centre hotels, taxis at the rank queue 30-45 min, and prices surge. Pre-book transfers 2+ weeks ahead. Tip: book Welcome Pickups (fixed-price contract) not Uber (surge).
EDI to St Andrews transfer?+
St Andrews is 80 km north (across the Forth bridge) / 90-100 min. Pre-booked transfer £100-150. Standard alternative: tram to Waverley + ScotRail to Leuchars (90 min, £18-30) + bus to St Andrews (10 min). For golf trips + golf-bag luggage: transfer. For backpackers: train.
EDI to Glasgow transfer?+
Glasgow is 75 km west / 75-90 min via M8 motorway. Pre-booked transfer £90-130. Cheaper alternatives: Citylink bus £8-15 (75-90 min direct EDI to Glasgow Buchanan), or tram to Haymarket + ScotRail to Glasgow Queen St (£14-22, 80 min total).
Parking at Edinburgh Airport
Pre-book a space before you fly. These providers list parking at Edinburgh Airport.
Mobile data for the United Kingdom
Get mobile data for the United Kingdom set up before you land.
Luggage storage in Edinburgh
Leave your bags somewhere secure in Edinburgh and see the city hands-free.
Airport lounges at Edinburgh Airport
Wait for your flight in a lounge — one membership covers lounges at airports across the country and worldwide.
Airport transfers in other cities: