Edinburgh Airport - How to get to the city

• By: Editor
• On: 09/Jan/2009
• In: UK Travel Tips

Edinburgh Airport is located 12 kilometres (8 miles) to the west of the city centre, with an excellent position close to the M8/M9 intersection. The M8 is the main road between Scotland’s two biggest cities, Glasgow and Edinburgh. The M9 can get you to Falkirk and Stirling.

How to Get to Edinburgh City

The airport is situated close to the A8 Glasgow Road. The route into the city can get a little tricky towards the end as you'll be faced with a series of narrow medieval streets and a one-way system.

So to get to the city by car you will want to exit south of the airport onto the A8 Glasgow Road. Stay on this road all the way into the city for about 9 kms.

After you pass Haymarket Rail Station, the road will bend slightly to the left - take the next right hand turn onto Torphichen Street. Stay on this street as it goes right, and then turn left onto Dewar Place (B700). Stay on this road as the names change for about a kilometre. When you come to a roundabout continue on the first exit along Cowgate. When you get to Saint Mary’s Street, you can turn left and continue on Jeffery Street. Then turn right onto North Bridge, past the Edinburgh Rail Station and you'll then come to Princes Street which is pretty much the city centre.

If you'd prefer to use public transport to get into the city, there are a few options available. There's a Shuttle Bus which offers a door-to-door service for certain hotels, etc. The fare is £9 per person, though for larger groups there might be a discount.

A number of bus routes will take you into the city:
The Airlink 100 will take you to Waverley Bridge near Princes Street. The bus leaves from Stand 19 every 10 minutes (20 minutes in off peak hours) and a single fare is £3.

The Nightbus N22 will take you to Waverley Steps via South Gyle. The bus leaves from Stand 19 every 30 minutes and a single fare is £2.50.

Service 35 will take you to the city centre, with stops at RBS World Headquarters, the Scottish Parliament and the Palace of Holyroodhouse. The bus leaves from Stand 21 every 15 minutes and a single fare is £1.10.

Getting to Edinburgh Airport from the City

If you're going to the airport with a starting point of Princes Street just head north onto Georges Street which runs parallel. At the end of the street turn left, and then at the end of that street turn right onto the end of Princes Street. Continue on Shandwick Place, turn left on Torphichen Street and immediately right onto Torphichen Place. Turn right onto Morrison Street and then keep heading west on the A8. You'll eventually come to the turn off for the airport.

If you'd like to drive out from Edinburgh Airport then you may need a car, why not look through our car hire Edinburgh Airport page and take your pick.

So that's how to get from the airport into the city. If you've any other questions or would like to provide tips of your own then we’d be more than happy to see them - please leave your message in the comment box below.