Find a Flight to Edinburgh

Edinburgh Airport is the busiest in Scotland, with a single terminal eight miles west of the city and a dense European network plus North American and Middle Eastern long-haul routes.

Before you book

Getting in is easy. The tram runs from the terminal to Princes Street and on to Leith in about 35 minutes; Airlink 100 reaches Waverley Bridge in about 30 and runs 24 hours. Both leave from directly outside arrivals. See airport to the city.

One terminal, compact, with the tram platform and bus stops under two minutes from the doors.

Glasgow Airport is an hour away and often has cheaper fares; there are direct coaches between the two cities. Glasgow Prestwick, used by some low-cost carriers, is considerably further.

Scotland is not in the Schengen area and the UK requires an ETA — Electronic Travel Authorisation — from most visa-exempt visitors. Check whether yours applies well before travelling; it is applied for online and is not issued at the border.

When fares are lowest

January to March and November are cheapest, and are also the cheapest months for accommodation — though the days are genuinely short.

August is the most expensive by a wide margin because of the Festival, followed by the days around Hogmanay. May, June and September command a moderate premium and are the best value against weather.

Mid-week beats Friday and Sunday.

The overland alternative

The London to Edinburgh rail journey takes about four and a half hours on the East Coast Main Line and is genuinely competitive with flying once airport time is counted, with far better scenery on the Northumberland coast section. Advance fares booked early are cheap; walk-up fares are not.

Glasgow is fifty minutes by train, Newcastle ninety, Manchester three and a half hours, York two and a half.

The Caledonian Sleeper runs overnight from London Euston to Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen, Inverness and Fort William, which is a pleasant way to arrive and not a cheap one.