Transport
Getting to Edinburgh
Flying into Edinburgh Airport
Edinburgh airport works with 40 airlines to welcome people to Scotland and flies to more than 150 destinations.
The airport is conveniently located approximately 8 miles away from the city centre.
Travelling from the U.S.
Visitors from the United States will find direct flights to Edinburgh from the following North American cities:
- New York – Delta Airlines provides direct flights between Edinburgh and New York JFK. United Airlines and Air Canada both offer direct flights from Edinburgh to Newark Airport
- Chicago – United Airlines provides direct flights between Edinburgh and Chicago O’Hare.
How to get to Edinburgh City Centre from the Airport
Tram Services
Edinburgh trams run between the airport and the city every 10-15 minutes from 6 am to 11 pm.
If you are travelling directly to the EICC the stop you’ll need is Haymarket which takes 26 minutes and is then a short walk to the Conference Centre.
The nearest stop to the city centre is Princes Street which takes 35 minutes.
Don’t forget to buy your ticket before you get on the tram.
- The tickets are purchased at the tram vending machines located at each tram stop.
- You will have to have the exact change or use a debit or credit card since the vending machines don’t give any change.
- Once you have bought your ticket you will need to validate it on the tram (within 30 minutes of purchase).
- The cost of a single ticket is £7, and a return ticket is £9.50.
- For more information and to plan your journey, please see Edinburgh Trams official website.
Enjoy your trip into Edinburgh
Airlink (service 100) express bus
The Airlink bus (service 100) runs between the airport and the city centre. A single adult ticket costs £5.50 and an open return is £8. The route to and from the airport runs 24 hours a day every 10 minutes approximately.
For more information, please see the Lothian bus official website.
Bright Bus Airport Express
This airport transfer departs every 15 to 30 minutes. The journey to the city centre takes 30 minutes and a one-way ticket costs just £4.
You can buy your tickets online or you can pay the bus driver.
The bus stops at Haymarket Station (for the EICC) and Princes Street (city centre).
For more information, please see Edinburgh: Bright Bus To/From Edinburgh Airport.
Taxi
A taxi can be a good option for a large group and there is a taxi rank opposite the arrivals terminal. The black taxis in Edinburgh accept up to 5 passengers and the price to the city centre is between £25 and £40.
A taxi from Edinburgh Airport takes an average of 25 minutes to travel to the city centre. Ubers are limited in Edinburgh.
Getting to Edinburgh via train
Edinburgh is easily accessible via train from many other cities within the UK. While you’re in the UK for the conference you may want to combine your visit with a trip to London. Trains from London Kings Cross to Edinburgh are very frequent with up to three trains per hour. The travel time from London to Edinburgh via train takes just over four hours.
For more information on the trains available, please visit the official National Rail website.
Getting around Edinburgh
Edinburgh is a relatively small city, with the EICC and National Museum of Scotland both centrally located. It’s likely you will be able to travel everywhere by foot, however here are some useful tips for getting around the medieval city.
Buses
The public buses are the best way and sometimes the only way of getting to the city centre from the outskirts. Buses run 24 hours a day and are extremely frequent.
Edinburgh has several bus companies that run through the heart of the city, but the most important is Lothian which is the dominant city operator with most buses and routes. Lothian allow passengers to purchase tickets on the bus.
Trams
The Edinburgh tram has one route with 15 stations, which connects the airport with the new part of the city. Don’t forget to buy your ticket before you get on the tram.
The tickets are purchased at the tram vending machines located at each tram stop. You will have to have the exact change or use a debit or credit card since the vending machines don’t give any change. Once you have bought your ticket you will need to validate it on the tram (within 30 minutes of purchase).
Taxis
Please note that Ubers are limited in Edinburgh.