For years, Edinburgh Airport was oddly stranded – a major international gateway without a rail or tram link to the city. That changed in 2022 when the Edinburgh Tram extension finally reached the terminal building, and it’s made a genuine difference to how the arrival experience feels.
The Tram (Edinburgh Trams Line 1)
The tram is the default choice for most travellers arriving without huge amounts of luggage. The stop is directly outside the terminal – no shuttle bus, no connecting walk through a car park, just out of the doors and onto the platform. Journey time to the city centre (Princes Street area) is around 35 minutes. To Haymarket it’s about 30 minutes. To the end of the line at Newhaven in Leith it’s around 50 minutes total.
Fares: £8.50 single adult from the airport to any city centre stop. Return tickets are available and worth buying if you know you’re coming back the same way. Children under 5 travel free. Trams run roughly every 7-10 minutes during the day, every 12-15 minutes in the evenings, from around 6am to midnight. They don’t run 24 hours – if you’re on an early arrival before 6am or a very late departure, you’ll need another option.
Airlink 100 Bus
Operated by Lothian Buses, the 100 Airlink runs directly to Waverley Bridge in the city centre, calling at Haymarket and a few stops along the A8 through the West End. Journey time is 25-35 minutes depending on traffic – the A8 corridor can snarl up during peak hours, which the tram avoids entirely by running on its own track.
Fares are roughly comparable to the tram: single around £5, return £9. The service runs every 10 minutes at busy periods and 24 hours a day – so it has a significant advantage over the tram for unsociable-hours arrivals. The buses are double-deckers with luggage space underneath.
The regular Lothian Buses service 22 is also an option – runs to more destinations across the city for the standard £2 flat fare. Takes longer (45+ minutes) but useful if you’re heading south of the centre to Morningside, Bruntsfield or Corstorphine.
Taxis
Taxis from the official rank outside arrivals are metered. Expect to pay £25-35 into the city centre depending on exact destination and time of day. The journey is 20-30 minutes. If you’re three or four people splitting the cost, or you’ve got serious luggage, it stops being unreasonable. City Cabs and Central Taxis are reliable booked options. Uber and Bolt pick up from the designated zone just outside the terminal.
Which Should You Take?
The tram wins for convenience and predictability if you’re travelling light and arriving between 6am and midnight. The Airlink 100 wins for 24-hour coverage and is marginally better for heavy luggage given the lower floor access. The taxi wins for groups, families with children, or if you’re heading somewhere awkward for public transport. The bus 22 wins only on price, and only if time isn’t a factor.
Driving yourself and parking at the airport: long-stay car parks are a short shuttle bus from the terminal. Book online in advance for dramatically better rates – walk-up prices at Edinburgh Airport parking are eyewatering. Ingliston Park and Ride is nearby and connects to the tram for a much cheaper option if you’re leaving a car for a few days.
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