Edinburgh Airport (EDI) sits eight miles west of the city at Ingliston, just off the M8/M9 junction. Outside rush hour you can be at the terminal in about 20 minutes from Princes Street. There are four sensible ways to make the trip: the tram, the Airlink bus, a taxi, or your own car.
All three public options — tram, Airlink 100, and the black-cab rank — stop within a short walk of a single terminal, so you won’t get lost changing between them. Every fare below was checked for 2026, and the short version is simple: the bus is cheapest, the tram is smoothest with luggage, and a taxi wins late at night or with a group.
Edinburgh Airport at a Glance
EDI is Scotland’s busiest airport and works from a single terminal with one arrivals hall, which keeps things straightforward. The tram platform and the bus stops are immediately outside the east end of the building; the taxi rank is at the East Terminus a few steps further on. The postcode for sat-navs and taxi apps is EH12 9DN, and the site is right on the edge of the city where the M8 meets the M9, so drivers rarely fight through much town traffic.
Getting In by Tram
Edinburgh Trams run from the airport stop through the west of the city to St Andrew Square and York Place, then on to Leith and Newhaven. An airport single is £7.90 and an open return £9.50. The ride into the centre takes about 35 minutes, with trams roughly every seven minutes from early morning until around 11pm. Buy from the machines on the platform before you board, or just tap a contactless card. One thing that trips people up: a journey wholly inside the city zone is only £2.40, but the airport stop sits outside that zone, so the airport fare always applies. There is no railway station at the airport — the tram is the rail-style link.
By Bus — Airlink 100 & Skylink
Lothian’s Airlink 100 is the workhorse: it runs to Waverley Bridge via Haymarket, 24 hours a day, about every 10 minutes in daytime, and takes roughly 30 minutes. A single is £6.00, a child £3.00, and an open return £8.50; a family return covering two adults and up to three children is £22. Contactless taps are capped for the day under Lothian’s TapTapCap, so you won’t overpay if you use the bus more than once. If Waverley isn’t where you’re headed, the Skylink 200 and 300 services reach Ocean Terminal and the south of the city. For a fixed fare, the Airlink is the cheapest way into town.
Tram vs Bus — Which to Choose
The bus is cheaper (£6.00 against £7.90) and drops you at Waverley Bridge, which is ideal for the Old Town and Waverley station. The tram costs a bit more but rides smoother with a suitcase, shrugs off traffic, and serves the New Town, St Andrew Square, Haymarket, Murrayfield and the whole Leith line. Rule of thumb: near Princes Street either is fine; heading to Leith or Newhaven, take the tram; watching every pound, take the Airlink.
Taxi & Private Transfer
Black cabs queue at the official rank at the East Terminus and need no booking. A metered fare into the centre usually lands between £20 and £40 depending on traffic and time of day, and takes 25 to 40 minutes; the airport adds a pick-up charge of around £5 on top. Pre-booked saloon transfers are typically £28–35 as a fixed price, which can be worth it for a late arrival, a group, or a pile of luggage. Uber and Bolt operate here too, collecting from a designated pick-up area rather than the rank.
Drop-Off & Pick-Up
The terminal drop-off zone charges £8.50 for the first 10 minutes, then £1 a minute — strictly for a quick goodbye. There is no free kerbside outside the doors. If you’re waiting for someone or want more time, use the Long Stay car park, which gives up to 30 minutes free before charges start, then a 6–8 minute walk or a shuttle to the terminal. For meeting arrivals, Long Stay is almost always the cheaper and calmer choice.
Parking & Car Hire
Short Stay sits right beside the terminal and gives 30 minutes free, but it gets expensive quickly and is meant for pick-ups, not holidays. Long Stay is the one to pre-book — around £27.99 a week online, far less than turning up on the day. Off-airport operators can undercut the official parks on longer trips if you don’t mind a transfer bus. The on-site car hire centre is a short walk from arrivals and houses Enterprise, Europcar, Avis and Hertz; book ahead in summer, when stock runs thin.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the cheapest way from Edinburgh Airport to the city?
The Airlink 100 bus at £6.00 single (£8.50 open return), running 24/7 to Waverley Bridge in about 30 minutes. It’s the cheapest fixed fare, and a family return covers two adults and up to three children for £22.
Is there a train from Edinburgh Airport?
No — the airport has no railway station. The Edinburgh Trams line is the rail-style link at £7.90 single, reaching the city centre in around 35 minutes. It connects you to Haymarket and, via a short walk or the Airlink, to Waverley for mainline trains.
How much is a taxi from Edinburgh Airport?
A metered black cab to the centre is typically £20–40 and takes 25–40 minutes, plus an airport pick-up charge of about £5. Pre-booked saloon transfers run roughly £28–35 as a fixed price.
Tram or bus — which is better?
The bus is cheaper and stops at Waverley Bridge for the Old Town; the tram is smoother with luggage and better for the New Town and the Leith/Newhaven line. If your hotel is near Princes Street, either works fine.
Is drop-off free at Edinburgh Airport?
No. Terminal drop-off is £8.50 for the first 10 minutes, then £1 a minute. For free waiting of up to 30 minutes, use the Long Stay car park and walk or take the shuttle to the terminal.