bus travel edinburgh

Getting Around Edinburgh

Edinburgh is a relatively small city, and its medieval air makes it ideal to visit by foot .

The majority of the city’s top attractions are concentrated in the city centre and if you’re staying  near the Royal Mile, it’s likely that you won’t need to take more than a few buses during your stay

Places of interest that might be best to get to by public transport are the Royal Yacht Britannia , the Royal Botanic Garden , Portobello Beach or Edinburgh Zoo.

Edinburgh Public Buses

Edinburgh trams, edinburgh taxis.

• Best Time to Visit
• Edinburgh Airport Guide
• Public Transportation
• 48-Hour Itinerary
• Day Trips From Edinburgh
• Top Things to Do
• Best Museums
• Visiting Edinburgh Castle
• Guide to Arthur's Seat
• Best Restaurants
• Nightlife Guide
• Search Please fill out this field.
• Newsletters
• Destinations

Getting Around Edinburgh: Guide To Public Transportation

Getty Images

Although Edinburgh is known as a very walkable city, the Scottish destination also has a solid public transportation system. Run by Transport for Edinburgh, the city's primary public transportation options include buses, trams, and rental bikes. The main bus company, Lothian Buses , operates more than 50 routes, connecting locals and travelers to the city center as well as the surrounding suburbs and Edinburgh Airport .

Most visitors to Edinburgh will concentrate their itinerary to the city center and the Royal Mile, making it unnecessary to rent a car or take a lot of taxis. Meanwhile, the airport is easily accessed by bus or tram, with extensive hours available for early or late travelers. Here's what you need to know about using public transportation in Edinburgh.

How to Ride Lothian Buses

There are several bus companies that operate in and around Edinburgh, but Lothian Buses is the city's main mode of public transportation. In addition to its NightBus and Airport Bus services, the bus line operates more than 50 different routes throughout the city. Other local bus companies include First , which connects South East and Central Scotland (and is not run by Transport for Edinburgh).

• Fares: Single journey adult tickets start at 1.80 pounds. DAYtickets, which allow unlimited rides on Lothian Buses and Edinburgh Trams, can be also be purchased for 4.50 pounds (2.20 for kids between the ages of 5 and 15). Families can buy group DAYtickets, which are available for two adults and up to three kids for 9.50 pounds. NightBus tickets and Airport Bus tickets must be purchased individually.
• How to Pay: Tickets or DAYtickets can be purchased directly from the bus driver if you have exact change. Contactless credit and debit cards can also be used, and both adult and family tickets can be purchased in advance on the Transport for Edinburgh m-tickets app .
• Routes and Hours: There are numerous routes both in Edinburgh proper and to the surrounding areas, some of which run 24 hours a day. Check the times for your journey online ahead of traveling or use the Transport for Edinburgh app.
• Service Alerts: All current service alerts, including closures and roadworks, for Lothian Buses can be found on the company's website .
• Transfers: Travelers using DAYtickets can freely transfer between the Lothian Buses and the Edinburgh Trams. Other passengers should use either the m-tickets app or a contactless card to tap on and off the buses to get the best fare when transferring.
• Accessibility: There is a dedicated wheelchair space on all buses; passengers are asked to clear the space (and parents to fold strollers) whenever a wheelchair user boards. Mobility scooters are not permitted on the buses.

Riding Edinburgh Trams

Edinburgh Trams connects Edinburgh Airport with York Place via 15 stops, all of which are wheelchair accessible. The trams are a good option for connecting with the airport, although they are less useful for getting around the city itself when staying in the Royal Mile. The airport is about 35 minutes from Princes Street, which is the tram stop nearest to the city center.

• Fares: Tram fares start at 1.80 pounds for a single journey adult ticket. You can also purchase a return for 3.40 pounds or a DAYticket for 4.50. For those traveling to and from Edinburgh Airport, fares start at 6.50 pounds for a single journey adult ticket. Tickets are available at ticket machines at each tram stop, and can be purchased with exact change or a credit or debit card. Use the Edinburgh Trams Farefinder to calculate your route.
• Hours: The trams run from early morning until around 11 p.m., although the first and last tram times vary based on which direction you are traveling. The trams run every 7 minutes during the day and every 10 minutes before 7 a.m. and after 7 p.m. Check the online timetable ahead of time to plan your journey.
• Service Alerts: Live tram departure information and service alerts are available on the Edinburgh Trams website .

Using Edinburgh Cycle Hire

Transport for Edinburgh offers Edinburgh Cycle Hire as a way for residents and visitors to temporarily rent bicycles around the city. The bikes are parked throughout Edinburgh at 99 different stations; they can be rented using an app, available for iPhone and Android, which allows users to unlock a bike and ride for up to one hour. There are both electric and pedal bikes available, and you can select multi-trip access if you plan to use the bikes to stop at various attractions. While helmets are not required for cyclists in Edinburgh, it's recommended to ride safely and take proper precautions.

Taxis and Ridesharing Apps

With several taxi companies operating in Edinburgh, cabs can be hailed around town, at the airport, or booked online or by phone. Central Taxis is the most popular black cab company in the city, and offers guided driving tours of Edinburgh for those who want to take advantage of the cabbies' knowledge. A taxi from Edinburgh Airport to the city center typically costs between 20 and 25 pounds, but can run higher depending on traffic and other circumstances. Uber also operates in Edinburgh; the ridesharing app is often cheaper than a taxi, but does require you to have cell phone service to use it.

Renting a Car

Numerous car rental companies are available in both Edinburgh proper and at Edinburgh Airport. These include Sixt, Budget, and Hertz. While it might be daunting to drive on the opposite side of the road and learn foreign street markers, a rental car is a good way to travel outside Edinburgh or venture to more remote destinations. Be sure to add the GPS to your rental, especially if you are concerned about your cell signal, and have all your necessary documents ready when you arrive at the rental counter. Those driving into Edinburgh itself should be aware that parking in the city center can be a challenge, as many parking spots are restricted and some are reserved for resident drivers. Look for pay-and-park lots or talk to your hotel about the best parking option.

Tips for Getting Around Edinburgh

• Edinburgh is an extremely walkable city, so if you're having trouble figuring out the best option for public transportation, grab some sturdy shoes and open Google Maps. Many of the main attractions in Edinburgh are in the city center near the Royal Mile, which means they are well positioned for walking.
• During big events, holidays, or on warm days, you might spot pedicab drivers around the city center. The pedicabs have been operating in Edinburgh since 1996, and visitors can hail one for a (short) ride. The price is negotiable, although expect to pay a solid fee for the journey.
• Traveling between Edinburgh and Glasgow is quick and easy (the drive is about an hour). Trains are available from Edinburgh's Waverley to Glasgow Queen Street regularly, or you can take a bus or taxi service between the two cities.

Related Articles

More related articles.

Lothian Buses

Sign in & sync, save your favourites.

Sign in for quick access to your favourite stops, journeys and services.

• Recent journeys

Home / Using the Bus / Visitor Guide

Visitor Guide

We extend a warm welcome to all visitors. There’s so much to see and do in Edinburgh and the Lothians – with our help you’ll enjoy an unforgettable experience.

• Getting around

Planning your journey

Paying for your ticket, getting to the airport, arriving by train, edinburgh bus tours, getting around edinburgh and the lothians.

We operate over 70 routes, and our family of services includes

We also operate Edinburgh Bus Tours , five-star sightseeing bus tours showcasing the very best that the city has to offer. Visit the website to see the amazing memories you could make on-board these great hop-on, hop-off tours. Download the Edinburgh Bus Tours app now!

This is easy when you use our online Journey Planner . Key in details of where you’re staying and your destination and we’ll tell you the best bus options and times. If you don’t know the postcode, don’t worry; the street or place name is usually enough.

Bus route maps and timetables can be downloaded here or you can pick them up  at one of our TravelHubs .

Download our app

Also, we recommend that you download our app ; it provides real-time information on bus departure times and live service updates. You can buy your bus tickets in advance by loading m-tickets to your phone – this will save you the trouble of finding coins for your fare.

You can pay for a SINGLEticket and DAYticket when you get on the bus. Just tell the driver what ticket you want, pop the coins in the box or tap your contactless card/device , take your ticket and find a seat.

If paying by cash, make sure you have coins with you before getting on the bus. You will need to have the exact money as our drivers cannot give you change (except on Airlink). 

• SINGLEticket £2.00 (valid in city zones)
• DAYticket £5.00 (valid in city zones)

Please keep your ticket for the duration of your journey.  If you buy a DAYticket, remember to show it to the driver each time you board the bus. 

It’s easy to get to the airport from the city centre with our airport buses.

Our Airlink 100 express service operates 24/7, connecting the city centre with the airport.  We operate two other airport services: Skylink 200, which links North Edinburgh to the airport and Skylink 400 connecting the south of the city.

• Adult Single: £5.50
• Adult Open Return: £8.00
• Adult Network DAYticket: £12.00
• Child Single: £2.75
• Child Open Return: £4.00
• Child Network DAYticket: £6.00

You will need to have the exact money on Skylink services as our drivers cannot give you change. Contactless payments are accepted on all our services, and our season ticket – Ridacard – is valid on all of our airport buses.

Edinburgh has two main train stations and they are both located centrally.

Most visitors arrive at Waverley Station, just off Princes Street where there are great bus connections.  Haymarket Station is a ten minute walk from Princes Street, and equally well served with bus links to the airport and across Edinburgh and the Lothians.

Make amazing memories with  Edinburgh Bus Tours .

These bus tours are a great favourite with visitors and the perfect way to relax and see the sights from the top deck. You can enjoy a live guide or listen to a multi-lingual commentary through headphones. 

With itineraries ranging from one hour to two-days, whatever time you’ve got to spend here  you’ll see the best of Edinburgh with  these ‘hop on, hop off’ tours.

Download the official Edinburgh Bus Tours app to find sights near your stop, view live bus times, learn more about attractions, discover exclusive discounts and more! Edinburgh Bus Tours operates 3 great tours:

Copyright 2024 Lothian Buses ltd

• Annual Reports
• Management Team
• Wayfinding Project
• Edinburgh Cycle Hire

Lothian Buses

Lothian Buses is an award-winning bus company that operates over 70 services in Edinburgh and the surrounding areas of Midlothian,  East Lothian and West Lothian.  Lothian Buses remains publicly owned – the major shareholder being The City of Edinburgh Council.

Edinburgh Trams

Edinburgh Trams is the award winning operator of the city’s tramway with a vision to be an integral part of the future success of Edinburgh and the Lothians by providing world-class, environmentally-friendly and socially-inclusive transport.

Edinburgh Trams & IHF push ahead with the development of driver safety wrist band

Edinburgh Cycle Hire Scoops Award at Scottish Transport Awards

Project celebrates breakthrough in driver fatigue detection

RE-PURPOSED BIKES ADDED TO UNIVERSITY HIRE SCHEME

Download the transport for edinburgh app.

Your go to app for transport around the city.