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Edinburgh Live
Edinburgh Live
National
Alexander Smail

Cheapest way to get to Edinburgh Airport with taxi, bus, car and tram compared

People and families across Scotland will be jetting off to soak up some sun this Easter holiday.

With Edinburgh Airport seeing a large increase in foot traffic, arriving in good time is key if you wish to avoid long queues and potentially missing your flight.

Therefore, we have rounded up the most common modes of transport out to the airport, comparing both how much they cost and how long they usually take.

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For the sake of simplicity, we have compared the prices of a journey between the city centre and Edinburgh Airport — the exact cost will depend on where about in Edinburgh you are located.

Whether one option is cheaper than the others will depend on your individual circumstances, such as the size of your group.

Here is a roundup of how much it likely cost to get from the centre of Edinburgh out to the airport using different transportation methods.

Bus

For those looking to save as much money as possible, the bus will likely be the best option.

There are a few different options, but those leaving from the city centre will likely be getting the Airlink 100.

Buses on this route depart from South St David Street for most of the day, though are less frequent overnight.

From South St David Street, it will take approximately 30 minutes to get to the airport.

An adult Single Ticket costs £4.50, whilst a child ticket will set you back £2.00.

Car

If you have a car, the simplest and quickest solution may be simply to drive to the airport.

It will take around half an hour and, according to The AA's mileage calculator, will cost approximately £1.15 in fuel to get from the centre of Edinburgh out to the airport.

However, unless you are getting dropped off, another expense you will need to consider is parking.

As we previously reported, the cost of parking at Edinburgh Airport depends on how long you intend to leave your car.

If you arrive on the day, without pre booking, the prices are as followed.

  • Three - 24 hours: £40.00
  • Two days: £75.00
  • Three days: £95.00
  • Four days: £120.00
  • Five days: £140.00
  • Six days: £150.00
  • Seven days: £154.00
  • Eight days: £176.00
  • Nine plus days: £22.00

Meanwhile, the cost of terminal parking is as follows:

  • 0 - 10 minutes: £4.00
  • 10 - 15 minutes: £5.00
  • 15 - 30 minutes: £9.00
  • 30 minutes - ONE hour: £12.00
  • one - three hours: £16.00
  • three - seven hours: £18.00
  • seven - 10 hours: £30.00
  • 10 - 24 hours: £60.00

This means, while driving may seem like a cheap and easy option at first, unless you have a friend or family member who can drop you off it is not cost-effective.

Tram

The Edinburgh Trams runs from York Place in the New Town to Edinburgh Airport, with numerous stops in between.

From the city centre, it will take around 35 minutes to get to the airport on the tram.

There are numerous ticket options available, but most people heading to the airport for a holiday will likely be interested in the Adult Airport Single ticket for £6.50.

For those who are happy to take public transport to the airport, but are looking for a slightly smoother ride than the bus, the tram may be the best option.

Taxi

As stated on the City Cabs website, the price of a taxi between the city centre and Edinburgh Airport is approximately £25.

While this is considerably more expensive than other modes of transport, if you are a part of a large group of five or six people, you can book a larger taxi and split the price — working out to around £5 each.

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