Travel to Edinburgh
The best time is May–June or September for mild weather and lighter crowds; August brings festivals and peak prices. Plan 2–3 full days for first-timers. Don’t miss Edinburgh Castle and a sunset on Calton Hill. From EDI, the tram to the center takes ~30 minutes and costs £7.90 (about $11 / €9).
At a Glance
Where: Edinburgh sits on Scotland’s east coast, straddling extinct volcanoes and the Firth of Forth (approx. 55.9533° N, 3.1883° W). Timezone: GMT/UTC+0 (BST/UTC+1 in summer). Currency: Pound sterling (GBP). On first mention we show USD/EUR at today’s ballpark rates: £1 ≈ $1.34 / €1.15 (as of Sept 25 2025); thereafter we use GBP.
Plugs: Type G; 230 V, 50 Hz. Emergency numbers: 999 or 112; police non-emergency 101; NHS advice 111. Languages: English; Scots (sco) widely heard; Scottish Gaelic (gd) present in culture/signage.
Why go: Layered history, festival energy, and scenery in a compact footprint. Ideal trip length: 2–3 days for highlights; 4–5 days to add day trips.
When to Go (Weather & Crowds)
Spring (Apr–May): Blooming Princes Street Gardens and longer days; light layers and a rain shell are essential. Summer (Jun–Aug): Warmest temps (average highs ~63–66 °F / 17–19 °C), long evenings, and festival crowds in August. Autumn (Sep–Oct): Foliage, cooler air, decent availability. Winter (Nov–Feb): Short days, atmospheric light, Christmas markets, and Hogmanay; bundle up.
Festival headline: August hosts the Edinburgh International Festival & Fringe, when rooms sell out and prices spike—book months ahead.
| Month | Avg High / Low | Rain | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 6.0 °C (42.8 °F) / 0.1 °C (32.1 °F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) | Low |
| Feb | 6.3 °C (43.3 °F) / −0.1 °C (31.8 °F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) | Low |
| Mar | 8.5 °C (47.3 °F) / 1.4 °C (34.5 °F) | 56 mm (2.2 in) | Low–Mod |
| Apr | 10.9 °C (51.7 °F) / 2.9 °C (37.2 °F) | 43 mm (1.7 in) | Moderate |
| May | 14.1 °C (57.4 °F) / 5.5 °C (41.8 °F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) | Moderate |
| Jun | 17.2 °C (63.0 °F) / 8.5 °C (47.3 °F) | 50 mm (2.0 in) | High |
| Jul | 18.7 °C (65.7 °F) / 10.1 °C (50.2 °F) | 52 mm (2.0 in) | High |
| Aug | 18.4 °C (65.1 °F) / 10.0 °C (50.0 °F) | 68 mm (2.7 in) | Very High |
| Sep | 16.1 °C (61.0 °F) / 8.2 °C (46.8 °F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | Moderate |
| Oct | 12.9 °C (55.2 °F) / 5.7 °C (42.3 °F) | 71 mm (2.8 in) | Low–Mod |
| Nov | 8.5 °C (47.3 °F) / 1.9 °C (35.4 °F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | Low |
| Dec | 6.7 °C (44.1 °F) / 0.7 °C (33.3 °F) | 57 mm (2.2 in) | Low |
Climate normals are for Edinburgh Gogarbank (1991–2020). Always pack layers and waterproofs; weather is changeable year-round.
Getting In
By air: Edinburgh Airport (IATA: EDI) sits ~8 miles (13 kilometers) west. The airport maintains an official guide to reaching the city by tram and bus, including first/last services.
By rail: Edinburgh Waverley (EDB) is the main station. Fast LNER services from London King’s Cross take around 4h 10m on the quickest runs; Caledonian Sleeper runs overnight from London Euston.
Entry & ETA (as of September 2025): Most visitors who previously didn’t need a visa now require a UK Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) before flying or boarding to the UK. The ETA costs £16 and is valid for two years (or until passport expiry). Eligible nationalities can also use eGates for faster arrival. Always verify latest rules before booking.
Airport/Station to City Center
| Mode | Time | Frequency | Hours | Price (local; ≈USD/EUR) | Where to Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Edinburgh Trams (Airport ↔ City) | ~30 min to St Andrew Square | ~every 7–10 min | ~06:26–22:48 (from Airport) | £7.90 (≈$11 / €9) single; open return available | Machines at stops, tram app/website; contactless accepted |
| Airlink 100 Bus (Lothian) | ~25–35 min (traffic-dependent) | Every ~10 min day; ~15 min late night | 24/7 service | £6.00 (≈$8 / €7) single; £8.50 return | Pay driver (contactless), Lothian app, airport kiosks |
| Taxi (rank at EDI) | ~25–40 min | On-demand | 24/7 | ~£30 (≈$40 / €34) to city centre (metered) | Airport taxi rank, City Cabs/Central Taxis apps |
Data and fares as of September 2025; check the official operators for updates: Edinburgh Trams fares, EDI “By Tram” page, and EDI “Airport Buses” (Airlink 100). Typical taxi city-centre fare per City Cabs.
Getting Around
Edinburgh is highly walkable; supplement with Lothian Buses, Edinburgh Trams, and ScotRail for day trips. Use contactless cards/phones for automatic daily capping (TapTapCap). A city Day cap is £5.50; a Network DAY cap (includes Airport Zone/tram) is £12.50 (as of September 2025).
Apps & tickets: Lothian app for real-time buses; Edinburgh Trams app; National Rail/ScotRail for trains. Taxis & ride-hail: Black cabs and licensed private hire are abundant; Uber/Bolt operate. Driving & parking: City center has controlled parking zones; many 20 mph (32 km/h) streets—drive defensively.
Neighborhoods & Where to Stay
Old Town: Medieval lanes (the “closes”), Royal Mile, nightlife. Best for first-timers who want character. Boutique B&Bs to luxe design hotels.
New Town: Georgian crescents and shopping; central and elegant. Good for shoppers and those wanting flat streets and easy transit.
Leith: Shore district with award-winning restaurants and the Royal Yacht Britannia; hip waterfront lofts. Great for foodies and longer stays.
Stockbridge & Dean Village: Leafy vibe, indie cafés, and Water of Leith strolls; ideal for families and quiet nights.
Southside/Bruntsfield/Morningside: Local cafés, meadows, theatre scene; great for students, mid-range hotels, and apartments.
Portobello: Seaside suburb with a beach boardwalk; roomy apartments and family-friendly stays.
Top Sights & Experiences
Edinburgh Castle: Book timed tickets; allow 2–3 hours.
Royal Mile → Holyroodhouse: Walk downhill from the Castle past closes to St Giles’ Cathedral, then to the Palace of Holyroodhouse (allow 2 hours; dress respectfully).
Arthur’s Seat & Holyrood Park: 2–3 mile (3–5 km) loop, sturdy shoes, windproof layer.
National Museum of Scotland: Excellent and free; plan 2 hours.
Calton Hill sunset: Panoramas with classical monuments—bring a camera.
Royal Yacht Britannia (Leith): Pre-book peak weekends; allow 1.5–2 hours.
Dean Village & Water of Leith Walkway: Peaceful urban nature between museum/hotel districts.
Whisky experiences: Book a guided tasting or distillery tour; designated driver or use transit.
For city-run planning resources and accessible itineraries, see the official “This is Edinburgh” site.
Local Language & Phrasebook
Languages: English (en) predominates; Scots (sco) is a closely related Germanic language with its own spelling and vocabulary; Scottish Gaelic (gd) is a Celtic language. Scripts are Latin and written left-to-right (LTR). Edinburgh’s council supports Gaelic visibility in cultural/education contexts; some signage appears bilingually.
Politeness & address: Standard British politeness (“please,” “sorry,” “cheers”). In Scots you might hear “ta” (thanks) and “aye” (yes). Gaelic uses formal/informal forms (e.g., Tapadh leat informal “thanks,” Tapadh leibh formal/plural). Pronunciations below follow LearnGaelic guidance (approximate).
| English | Local (script) | Transliteration | IPA | When to Use |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hello | Halò (Gaelic) | Ha-loh | [haˈlɔː] | Any greeting; “Hullo” is common in Scots. |
| Thank you | Tapadh leat / leibh (Gaelic) | TA-pah LAT / LEEV | [ˈt̪ʰapə] [ʎeːvʲ] | Informal / formal-plural. |
| Please | Mas e do thoil e | Mas eh do hol-eh | [masʲ e toːlʲ e] | Polite requests. |
| Yes / No | Seadh / Chan eil | Shah / Chan yail | [ʃa] / [xan̪ˠ eːlʲ] | Affirm/negate. (Scots: “aye” / “nae”.) |
| Excuse me / Sorry | Gabh mo leisgeul | Gav mo LESH-gyool | [kav mo ˈleʃkʲeul] | Passing by or apologising. |
| How much? | Cuimear a tha e? | KOO-mar a ha eh? | [ˈkʰumʲər ə ha ɛ] | Shops/markets. |
| Where is…? | Càite bheil…? | KAH-tchuh vel… | [ˈkaːtʲə veɫ] | Asking directions. |
| Do you speak English? | A bheil Beurla agad? | A vel BYUR-la a-gat? | [ə veɫ ˈbʲeul̪ˠə akət̪] | Polite language check. |
| Numbers 1–10 | 1–10: aon, dà, trì, ceithir, còig, sia, seachd, ochd, naoi, deich | aon (ohn), da (da), tree, KAY-hir, kohg, sha, shak, ochk, noi, jeh | — | Useful for prices/rooms. |
Resources: LearnGaelic.scot (Gaelic) and Scots Language Centre for Scots words and usage.
Costs, Money & Tipping
Cards first: Edinburgh is largely cashless-friendly. ATMs exist but expect contactless everywhere (buses, trams, cafés). Tipping: 10–12.5% in sit-down restaurants if service isn’t included; not expected at pubs for drinks. VAT: Included in menu prices.
| Budget Tier | Per-Day Estimate | What it Covers |
|---|---|---|
| Shoestring | £80 (≈$108 / €92) | Dorm/hostel, simple meals, transit caps, one paid site |
| Mid-range | £180 (≈$242 / €206) | 3★ hotel, good restaurants, attractions, short taxi |
| Luxury | £350 (≈$471 / €401) | 4–5★ stay, fine dining, tours, private transfers |
Food & Drink
Expect comforting fare (haggis, neeps & tatties), superb seafood in Leith, and global cuisines city-wide. Book weekends in advance—especially during August festivals. For curated lists and markets, use the official city guide’s food pages.
Try a whisky tasting on the Royal Mile or a contemporary tasting menu in Leith; reserve prime spots 2–4 weeks out (longer in August).
Safety, Etiquette & Local Laws
Edinburgh is generally safe; standard urban awareness applies at night around busy pub streets. In an emergency, dial 999/112. For non-urgent police matters, call 101; health advice via 111.
The city has widespread 20 mph (32 km/h) limits to calm traffic—use extra caution as a driver. Alcohol is widely available; respect pub closing times and avoid drinking on certain streets if signage/bylaws prohibit it.
Connectivity & Practicalities
SIM/eSIM: Major UK carriers—EE, O2, and Three—offer prepaid SIMs and eSIMs (check compatibility before arrival). 5G covers much of the city. Tap water is safe to drink (Scottish Water). Plugs are Type G (230 V). Sunday trading is common in the center.
Accessibility & Traveling with Kids
Wheelchairs & mobility: Edinburgh Trams are 100% low-floor with two dedicated wheelchair spaces per tram; Lothian buses are wheelchair-accessible with priority spaces. Many central streets are cobbled; plan extra time and use step-free routes where possible.
Strollers & car seats: Buses allow buggies if the wheelchair space is free; be prepared to fold when requested. In cars/taxis, UK law requires child seats until 12 years or 135 cm (4 ft 5 in), whichever comes first.
Day Trips & Nearby
Stirling: Trains from Waverley in ~50–60 minutes; explore Stirling Castle and the Old Town. Check ScotRail for times/fares.
North Berwick: Seaside town and Bass Rock views; ~33 minutes by train from Waverley.
Glasgow: Frequent trains (~50 minutes) to Glasgow Queen Street; museums and music scene.
Linlithgow: Palace ruins and loch; ~20 minutes by train.
Suggested Itineraries
24 hours: Morning: Castle (pre-book), Royal Mile to St Giles’. Afternoon: National Museum, Greyfriars. Sunset: Calton Hill. Dinner: Old Town gastropub.
48 hours: Day 1 above. Day 2: Holyroodhouse, Holyrood Park/Arthur’s Seat hike; late afternoon in New Town (George Street). Evening whisky tasting in Old Town or show at Festival Theatre.
72 hours: Add Leith & Royal Yacht Britannia, then Stockbridge & Dean Village loop; reserve a special dinner in Leith.
FAQ
Is Travel to Edinburgh safe for solo travelers?
Yes—use normal city sense at night and on festival weekends. Keep valuables close in crowded areas. For emergencies dial 999/112; non-emergency police 101; NHS advice 111.
What is the best neighborhood to stay in?
First-timers: Old Town/New Town for walking access. Foodies/longer stays: Leith. Families: Stockbridge or Southside/Bruntsfield for parks and calmer evenings.
How do I get from the airport to the city center late at night?
Use the 24/7 Airlink 100 bus (every ~10–15 minutes overnight). Taxis are also available at the airport rank; typical city-centre fare is ~£30.
What Did We Learn Today?
- Tram from EDI to the center is ~30 minutes and £7.90 (≈$11/€9).
- August is festival peak—book rooms months ahead and expect higher prices.
- Old Town/New Town suit first-timers; Leith is best for food and the Britannia; Stockbridge is family-friendly.
- Local languages include English, Scots, and Gaelic; polite forms and simple phrases go a long way.
- Tap contactless for Lothian/Tram caps and save time and money on transit.
