How to Get Around Edinburgh

How transport works in Edinburgh

Lothian Buses + Edinburgh Trams share ticket: single £2, day £5, family £11 — buy on Transport for Edinburgh app or contactless tap. Old Town + New Town walkable — most tourists never touch transit. Airport tram/bus £6.50. Uber + FreeNow reliable (£8–15). LNER from Waverley reaches London 4h30, York 2h30; ScotRail to Glasgow 50 min, Inverness 3h30, Aberdeen 2h30.

Your options compared

• Lothian Buses

  Comprehensive bus network across the city.

• Edinburgh Tram

  Single line connecting Airport ↔ York Place via Princes Street.

• Walking

  Old Town + New Town are 20 min end-to-end on foot.

Passes and tickets

Contactless tap on bus + tram — daily cap £5 (family day £11 up to 5).

Local transport tips

Transport for Edinburgh app for real-time. Uber, Bolt and Free Now cover cabs.

Arriving from the airport

• Edinburgh Airport (EDI)

  Tram to St Andrew Square in ~35 min £7.50 (every 8–10 min); Airlink 100 bus £5.50 in ~30 min; taxi £25–35.

Do you need a rental car?

Inside Edinburgh a car is usually a liability — parking and traffic cost more than transit. A rental earns its keep for day trips and regional drives, so compare rates only for the days you actually leave the city.