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
Need an instant Edinburgh transfer quote?
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- Flight tracking — delay-aware pickup
- Fixed price · no surge · free cancellation
- Cars, vans, minibuses for 1–8 passengers
via Kiwitaxi · EDI
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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).
Airport transfers in other cities: