Edinburgh by tram, bus and train

About Edinburgh by tram, bus and train

By the ULTIMATE Edinburgh Editorial Team

Editor-in-Chief: Jai Michael

Edinburgh is easy without a car. Edinburgh Trams run from the airport through the West End and along Princes Street to Leith and Newhaven; Lothian Buses run more than 70 services day and night, with Airlink 100 to the airport; and from Waverley station, in the valley below the castle, trains run south to London and north into the Highlands.

From the airport

Edinburgh Airport is linked to the city by tram (airport and city zone, £7.90 adult single) and by Lothian’s Airlink 100 bus (£6.00 adult single), both in October 2026. Trams run every 7 minutes at the busiest times.

In the city

Lothian Buses run more than 70 services and 700 buses, day and night, in its own words; the tram runs from the airport to Newhaven. Traveline Scotland plans journeys across all operators.

An adult tram single in the city zone is £2.40; from the airport, £7.90 (Edinburgh Trams, October 2026).

By train

Edinburgh Waverley is the main station, with Haymarket to the west. LNER, Lumo, Avanti West Coast and CrossCountry run to England; ScotRail runs across Scotland, including the Borders Railway to Tweedbank and the lines north to Perth, Inverness and Aberdeen.

The Sleeper

The Caledonian Sleeper runs overnight between London Euston and Edinburgh.

Our advice: arrive by train if you can: Waverley puts you in the middle of the city.

Opening hours, prices and seasonal openings change, so please check with Edinburgh by tram, bus and train before you go.