Getting around EdinburghGetting to and around Edinburgh, without the guesswork.
Getting around Edinburgh is mostly walking, with one tram line, frequent buses and short train rides to the coast. Here's how to get in from the airport, where the stations are, and what to know about hills, cobbles and tenement stairs.
Getting around Edinburgh: the short answer
Getting around Edinburgh is mostly a matter of walking, with the tram and the buses for longer hops. The centre is compact. You can walk from the Castle to Holyrood, or from Princes Street to Stockbridge, in well under half an hour. For anything further, one tram line and a dense Lothian bus network cover almost the whole city, and trains run out to the coast.
Most guests don't need a car at all. Parking in the centre is scarce and controlled.
- From the airport: the tram, the Airlink bus or a taxi. All three reach the centre in about half an hour or less, traffic allowing.
- By train: Waverley is the main station, right in the centre. Haymarket is the second, a short way west.
- Around town: walk, then tram or bus. Contactless works on both.
- To the coast: trains from Waverley to Musselburgh and North Berwick.
The one thing a map won't tell you is how hilly the city is. The Old Town sits on a ridge, and the New Town slopes down to the north. We cover that below, with step-free routes and tenement stairs.
If you haven't chosen where to stay yet, our guide to where to stay in Edinburgh explains how each neighbourhood connects to the centre. If you're already booked, the guest guide covers check-in. A note on prices: we don't quote fares here because they change. Check the operator's website before you travel.
Edinburgh airport to city centre: tram, bus or taxi
Edinburgh Airport is west of the city. There are three easy ways to get from Edinburgh airport to the city centre, depending on where you're staying and how much luggage you have.
The tram
The tram stop is right outside the terminal, next to the plaza with the large Edinburgh sign. Trams run every 7 minutes for most of the day, less often early and late, and the journey to the centre takes about 30 minutes. It stops at Haymarket, West End, Princes Street and St Andrew Square, then carries on to Leith and Newhaven.
Buy your ticket before you board, from the machine at the stop, in the app, or by tapping a contactless card on the platform reader and tapping off at the other end. Each tram has luggage racks, including space for large cases. The first and last trams of the day are roughly 6.30am and just before 11pm from the airport, but check times before you travel.
The Airlink bus
Airlink 100 is Lothian's express airport bus. It runs 24 hours a day, up to every 10 minutes for most of the day, between the airport and Waverley Bridge in the city centre. It's a good choice for late arrivals after the last tram and for homes near Waverley or the Old Town.
Taxis and private hire
The official taxi rank is a short walk from arrivals; follow the signs. If you've booked a private hire car, the pickup zone is in the multi-storey car park. The drive to the centre takes about 20 minutes on a clear road, longer in rush hour or on festival days.
A taxi suits groups, late arrivals with lots of luggage, and homes off the tram line. Staying near Murrayfield for a match? Our page on accommodation near Murrayfield has more on event days.
Arriving by train: Waverley and Haymarket
Edinburgh has two main stations in the city, plus an interchange near the airport.
Edinburgh Waverley
Waverley sits in the valley between the Old Town and the New Town, right below Princes Street. Trains from London and across Scotland arrive here. It has step-free access to all platforms, with lifts throughout.
Choosing the right exit saves a climb.
- Princes Street: via the Waverley Steps, which have escalators and a lift. Best for the New Town and the tram.
- Market Street: at the Old Town side. From here, closes and steps climb to the Royal Mile.
- New Street: on the east side, towards Canongate and Abbeyhill.
- Waverley Bridge: where the Airlink stops, between Princes Street and the Old Town.
If you need help with boarding or a ramp, Passenger Assistance can be booked in advance, and there's a meeting point in the main hall.
Haymarket
Haymarket is just over a mile west of Waverley, at the edge of the West End. Most trains from Glasgow, Fife and the north stop here before Waverley. If your home is in the West End, Dalry or near Murrayfield, get off here. The tram stops right outside, so it's also an easy change for the airport.
Edinburgh Gateway
Edinburgh Gateway, further west, is a tram and train interchange. Trains to and from Fife and the north call there, and the tram connects it to the airport.
With heavy cases, take a taxi: the walk up from Waverley to the Royal Mile is short but steep. Our guide to Edinburgh neighbourhoods shows which areas are nearest each station, and you can browse our homes in Edinburgh with that in mind.
Getting around Edinburgh by tram and bus
Edinburgh's trams and buses are frequent and easy to use, and contactless works on both.
The tram
There's one tram line, running from the airport through Haymarket, along Princes Street, down Leith Walk and on to Newhaven. It's the quickest way between the West End, the centre and Leith. Remember to buy a ticket or tap on before you board.
Lothian buses
The bus network reaches almost everywhere the tram doesn't: the Southside, Bruntsfield, Morningside, Portobello and beyond. Many routes run through the centre on Princes Street, North Bridge or the Bridges, so you rarely need more than one bus.
- Contactless: tap your card or phone on the reader as you board. Lothian caps what you pay over a day and a week, so you don't need to work out which ticket to buy. Use one card or device per person.
- Cash: drivers can't give change, so have the exact fare ready.
- The app: the Lothian bus and tram app sells tickets and shows live times.
- Night buses: NightBus routes run from midnight until about 4.30am across Edinburgh and the Lothians.
- Bus passes: holders of Scottish concessionary cards travel free on daytime services, but not on NightBus.
Buses on festival days
In August, and on Hogmanay, some central roads close and buses divert. Allow extra time and check live updates before you set off. Our Fringe visitor's guide and Hogmanay guide both cover getting around on the busiest days. For family days out by bus, see Edinburgh with kids.
Walking in Edinburgh: hills, steps and cobbles
Walking is the best way to see Edinburgh, and often the quickest.
Hills
The Old Town is built along a ridge, with the Castle at the top. The New Town is lower, across the valley that holds Princes Street Gardens and Waverley. Walking from the New Town to the Royal Mile means a climb, whichever way you go.
Closes and steps
Closes are the narrow lanes that run off the Royal Mile. Many are steep, and some are long flights of stone steps. They're hard work with a suitcase and no good for wheelchairs or buggies. If you need a step-free route, keep to the main streets, such as the Bridges, the Mound and Cockburn Street, which are slopes rather than steps.
Cobbles
Many Old Town streets and New Town lanes are paved with setts, the squared stone cobbles. They're uneven and slippery when wet, and Edinburgh is often wet. Wear shoes with grip, and don't plan on rolling a small-wheeled case very far over them.
Green walking routes
Some of the best walks avoid traffic altogether. The Water of Leith Walkway follows the river through Dean Village and Stockbridge down to Leith. The Meadows link the Southside, Marchmont and Bruntsfield. Holyrood Park and Arthur's Seat are a short walk from the Old Town, and Calton Hill is just off Princes Street. Our guide to day trips from Edinburgh has longer walks.
The weather
It can rain, blow and shine in the same afternoon. Bring a waterproof rather than an umbrella, which the wind will happily take. If it really pours, our rainy-day guide has plenty to do indoors.
Cycling, taxis and private hire in Edinburgh
Cycling
Edinburgh is a good city to cycle once you've accepted the hills. The Water of Leith Walkway is suitable for cycling and links the west of the city to Leith. Paths also run out to Portobello and the coast.
A council-backed e-bike hire scheme, run by Voi through its app, started in the city centre in 2025, with plans to expand. Check the app for where bikes are available and where you can leave them. Cycle hire shops also rent bikes by the day.
You can take a bike on the tram at the staff's discretion, up to two per tram, but not at peak times or during the August festivals, and never an e-bike or e-scooter.
Taxis
Edinburgh's black taxis can be hailed in the street when the light is on, or picked up from a rank. There are ranks near both main stations, at the airport and around the centre. Many black cabs take wheelchairs; mention it if you book ahead.
Private hire and ride-hailing
Private hire cars, including ride-hailing apps, must be booked in advance. You can't hail them in the street.
A taxi or private hire car is often the best way to arrive at your home with luggage. It gets you to the door, which matters when the door is at the bottom of a tenement stair or down a cobbled lane. Our guest guide explains how self check-in works when you arrive.
Getting home late
Between midnight and morning, your options are NightBus routes, taxis and private hire. Taxi queues can be long during the Fringe and on Hogmanay, so plan your way home before you go out. If you're travelling with a group, our Fringe accommodation for performers page covers longer August stays.
Driving and parking in Edinburgh
You can drive to Edinburgh, but you won't want to drive around it much.
The Low Emission Zone
Edinburgh has a Low Emission Zone covering the city centre. Fines have been issued since 1 June 2024. It runs 24 hours a day, every day, and cameras read number plates. It applies to all vehicles unless they meet the emission standards or have an exemption, including hire cars and cars from outside Scotland. Check your vehicle on the official Low Emission Zone checker before you travel.
Controlled parking
Much of the city has controlled parking zones. In the central zones, controls apply Monday to Saturday and on Sunday afternoons. In the outer zones, they usually apply on weekdays only. Many spaces are for permit holders. Where you can pay, use a machine or the app, and read the signs, because hours vary.
Don't assume a holiday home comes with a parking space. Many central homes don't. If parking matters, check the listing or ask us before you book.
Park once, then walk
A park-and-ride site on the edge of the city saves a lot of stress. The tram stops at Ingliston Park and Ride, near the airport, so you can leave the car there and ride into the centre. Once you're settled in your home, walk, take the tram and use the buses.
When a car makes sense
A car is useful if you're staying on the East Lothian coast and want to explore beyond the towns, or if you're planning days out to the Borders or the Highlands. Our day trips guide covers what you can do by train and bus, and what really needs a car. Golfers carrying clubs may prefer to drive; see our page on golf holidays in East Lothian.
Getting to East Lothian by train
Musselburgh and North Berwick, on the East Lothian coast, are easy to reach from Edinburgh without a car. Trains leave from Waverley.
The North Berwick line
ScotRail trains run from Edinburgh Waverley to North Berwick, calling at Musselburgh, Wallyford, Prestonpans, Longniddry and Drem. Musselburgh is about seven minutes from Waverley, and North Berwick about 35 minutes.
Check the timetable before you plan a late evening, as services can change on Sundays and during engineering work.
From the station to your home
North Berwick station is a short, mostly flat walk from the town centre and the harbour. Musselburgh station is on the edge of town, so allow for a walk or a short taxi ride to the centre or the harbour at Fisherrow. Buses also run along the coast road between Edinburgh and East Lothian's towns, which can be handy for places between stations.
Why stay on the coast
Staying in East Lothian gives you beaches, golf and quieter evenings, with the city a train ride away. Because Musselburgh and North Berwick are outside the City of Edinburgh, the Edinburgh Visitor Levy doesn't apply to stays there. Our page on the Edinburgh Visitor Levy explains how the 5% charge on the first five nights works in the city.
You can browse our homes in North Berwick, or read our guide to where to stay in Edinburgh for how the coast compares with the city's neighbourhoods. In North Berwick, the Scottish Seabird Centre is beside the harbour, and boat trips go out towards the Bass Rock in season; check times before you go.
Accessibility and luggage on tenement stairs
Step-free travel
- Trams: low-floor, with two wheelchair and mobility scooter spaces on every tram, and luggage racks.
- Buses: every Lothian bus has at least one wheelchair space.
- Waverley: step-free access to every platform, lifts throughout, and a lift between the station and Princes Street. Book Passenger Assistance in advance if you need help.
Tenement stairs
Most homes in central Edinburgh are flats in tenements: stone buildings with a shared stair, often with no lift. A top-floor flat can be several flights up. Before you book, check the floor in the listing, or ask us. If stairs are hard for anyone in your group, a ground-floor or main-door home, or a home on the coast, may suit you better.
Bringing luggage up the stairs
- Pack lighter than you would for a hotel. Two medium cases are easier on a stone stair than one huge one.
- Take a taxi to the door rather than wheeling cases over cobbles.
- Carry bags up one at a time, and don't leave cases on the stair. It's a shared space and a fire escape for neighbours.
- If you're arriving early, ask about early check-in. You can request it in the app up to 24 hours before, and it's confirmed once accepted and paid.
Quiet on the stair
Shared stairs carry sound. Quiet hours on shared stairs start at 10pm, so late arrivals should go gently with cases and doors. Our guest guide covers the house rules in full.
If you have a question about access at a particular home, get in touch. During your stay, our guest team answers messages from 9am to midnight every day, and there's an emergency line 24/7. Guests' own words are on our reviews page.
By the Stays In team, Edinburgh. Checked 1 October 2026: times, prices and programmes change, so check before you go.
