TRAVELLING IN FROM THE AIRPORT

If you are arriving by train, see information on travelling in central Edinburgh here.

If you are travelling by car just see the main page.

Remember that Google provides useful information about travelling from one place to another. You want to type in Edinburgh Airport to 3 Sciennes Road using public transport.

Consider Getting a Taxi.

Really!

Just get a taxi in from the airport (around £25-£30 for a Uber with two adults and two children and about £35 for a black cab). It will be just a little more expensive (particularly if there are more than three people in your party) but a lot quicker and stress free. You will be at the house in half an hour or so (rather than an hour to an hour and a half by bus or tram) and you will not have to move heavy luggage as you change buses.

Depending on how many people there are in your party, the cheapest possible options on public transport range from around £11 to £30.

For taxis, there are two options:

a) Get one of the black cab taxis that will be waiting to pick up travellers (£30+). They apply an exit fee of £6 for exiting the pick up zone (March 2026). These are better if there are more than 4 people in your group.

b) Order a Uber … they come to the pick up zone (£25+) (but they also apply an additional a £6 fee for exiting the pick up zone … March 2026).

Travelling by Public Transport

TAPTAPCAP SYSTEM

The easiest way to pay is by using the Taptapcap system. Just state the destination (on the bus) and each person pays with their own card. If each adult uses the same card for the rest of the day, they will not be charged once you reach the limit of £5.60 (meaning that the second leg on the N° 9 bus will be free)

The Airlink 100 bus, which goes into the city centre from Edinburgh Airport, can be boarded at Stop A, just outside the arrivals area at the airport.

EACH ADULT USES THEIR OWN CARD. If each adult uses the same card for the rest of the day, they will not be charged once you reach the limit of £5.60

(On the tram you have to tap on and tap off at the vending machine using the same card or phone and continue using the same card or phone for all future journeys. For the buses, you just have to tap on and continue using the same card for all further journeys.)

THE SIMPLE VERSION

MY ADVICE: GET THE 100 BUS AND EACH INDIVIDUAL PAYS WITH THEIR CARD. FUTURE TRAVEL – FOR EXAMPLE FROM THE CENTRE TO THE HOUSE AS YOU COME IN FROM THE AIRPORT – WILL BE FREE FOR THE REST OF THE DAY

The Airlink 100 bus, which goes into the city centre from Edinburgh Airport, can be boarded at Stop A, just outside the arrivals area at the airport.

With the 100 bus get off at The Mound or at Hanover Street and then take the n° 9 bus up to the house. The direction of the bus is Kings Buildings and you should get off at Roseneath Street/ Warrender Park Road (the same stop). Getting off the bus, you turn left and continue for about 50 metres. Our house is opposite the modern building on the corner and about 20 metres after the Argyle Pub.

Families

The two companies (tram and bus) that run public transport in Edinburgh have made no effort to simplify things for families when travelling in from the airport! Without going into enormous (and mind distorting) complexity, the easiest and cheapest is to get the bus.

FOR FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN, TAKE THE 100 BUS. If you only have one child, the cost to travel to the house should be slightly less than £15

If you have two or three children, you could PURCHASE THE LOTHIAN AIRPORT FAMILY DAY TICKET for £20 (two adults and three children). This ticket can be purchased at the 100 bus stop at the airport or on the bus itself.

The Airlink 100 bus, which goes into the city centre from Edinburgh Airport, can be boarded at Stop A, just outside the arrivals area at the airport.

This ticket will enable you to use the bus into Edinburgh from the airport and then the bus and the tram FOR THE REST OF THE DAY in central Edinburgh. Get off the 100 bus at Hanover Street and walk down to the N° 9 bus stop (you want the N° 9 bus stop going down the hill on Hanover Street).

The direction of the bus is Kings Buildings and you should get off at Roseneath Street/ Warrender Park Road (the same stop). Getting off the bus, you turn left and continue for about 50 metres. Our house is opposite the modern building on the corner and about 20 metres after the Argyle Pub.

USE of PUBLIC TRANSPORT on your SECOND DAY

If you have children and wish to continue using public transport THE FOLLOWING DAY, you could then purchase the Lothian Family City Day ticket for Lothian buses (£12 for the whole day). You can buy the Lothian Family City Day Pass on boarding the bus or at the vending machines for the tram. If not get the Lothian Buses app and purchase the Family City Day pass there.

www.lothianbuses.com/app/

TRAMS

The tram is a pleasant enough way to travel but a) it is more expensive b) the airport tram ticket does not allow you to use your card for the rest of the day on public transport and so you will ALSO have to pay for the second leg of the journey by N) 9bus and d) it is more complicated to use as you have to tap on and tap off.

Conclusion: get the 100 bus