Edinburgh Airport sits about 6 miles west of the city centre, and unlike many UK airports it has its own tram stop on the forecourt. Your quickest cheap routes into town are the tram (adult single £7.90, or £7.50 online) and the 24-hour Airlink 100 bus (£6.00 single), both around 25 to 30 minutes. A metered taxi runs roughly £25 to £40. Drop-off costs £8.50 for 10 minutes. Prices checked August 2026.
Getting to and from Edinburgh Airport at a glance
| Option | Price | Time to Edinburgh centre | Runs at night? | Door to door? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Airlink 100 bus | £6.00 single | 25 to 30 min | Yes, 24 hours | No, city stops |
| Edinburgh Tram | £7.90 single (£7.50 online) | ~30 min to York Place | Until ~midnight | No, city stops |
| Metered taxi (rank) | ~£25 to £40 | 20 to 30 min | Yes, 24/7 | Yes |
| Uber / Bolt | ~£20 to £35 | 20 to 30 min | Fewer cars late on | Yes |
| Citylink AIR 900 (to Glasgow) | day return from ~£10 | ~1 hour | Yes, hourly overnight | No, Glasgow stops |
Edinburgh handled a record 16,980,588 passengers in 2025, the first Scottish airport ever to pass that level, and it is Scotland's busiest. It runs from a single terminal, so there are no satellite buildings to shuttle between, but the 05:00 to 08:00 morning peak gets busy.
In this guide
- Taxis, Uber and private hire
- Public transport
- Parking
- Drop-off and pick-up
- Popular routes
- Latest news and updates
- Airport facilities and lounges
- Travel blog and guides
- FAQs
The quick answer
If you are travelling light and watching the cost, the Airlink 100 bus is the cheapest express option at £6.00 single, running effectively 24 hours a day, up to every 10 minutes by day, and dropping you at Waverley Bridge in about 25 to 30 minutes. The tram costs a little more (£7.90 on the day, £7.50 online) but gives a smoother ride and stops at Haymarket, the West End and St Andrew Square.
If you are two or more people with luggage, or you want the door, a metered taxi or pre-booked private hire often works out at a similar price per head once you add up separate fares, and it drops you exactly where you are going. Uber and Bolt are available too, but they collect from the Rideshare zone in the multi-storey car park rather than at the arrivals door.
If someone is collecting you, know that the forecourt drop-off zone costs £8.50 for the first 10 minutes. The free alternative is the Long Stay car park, which gives 30 minutes at no charge. Driving yourself? The cheapest way is to pre-book one of the Mid Stay or FastPark car parks rather than turning up at the gate.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a train station at Edinburgh Airport? No. There is no heavy-rail station in the terminal. The nearest is Edinburgh Gateway, one tram stop away, where you can join ScotRail services. See the public transport page.
What is the cheapest way from Edinburgh Airport to the city centre? The Airlink 100 bus at £6.00 single, about 25 to 30 minutes to Waverley Bridge. If you have more time, city services 17 and 18 carry the roughly £2 capped fare. More on the public transport page.
How much is a taxi from Edinburgh Airport to the city centre? A metered taxi from the official rank is typically £25 to £40 in the daytime, more at night and weekends. Uber and Bolt run about £20 to £35. See the taxis page.
How much is drop-off at Edinburgh Airport? The forecourt drop-off zone is £8.50 for the first 10 minutes, then £1 per additional minute, up to a 2-hour maximum. The Long Stay car park is free for the first 30 minutes. See drop-off and pick-up.
How often do the trams run? Every 7 minutes at peak and about every 10 minutes off-peak, from around 06:00 to midnight. Compare it with the bus on the public transport page.
How we verified this
The prices and facts on this site were checked in August 2026 against the airport's own website and the named operators (Edinburgh Trams, Lothian Buses and the Airlink 100, Scottish Citylink, ScotRail, and the rank operator Capital Cars). Tariffs and timetables change, so confirm the specifics on the official Edinburgh Airport site before you travel.
We recommend a transport partner and may earn a referral fee. It never changes what you pay, and we only list options we would use ourselves.
Last verified August 2026 by the Edinburgh Airport Guide editorial team. Prices and timetables change, so confirm the specifics on the official Edinburgh Airport website before you travel.