Edinburgh Transport Guide: Your Complete Guide to Buses, Trams & More
Last updated: 25 November 2025
Edinburgh is a compact city with lots of transport options – whether you prefer walking, hopping on a bus or tram, taking a taxi or even trying a Voi e-bike! In this guide, we break down the most common ways to get around so you can explore the city smoothly.
🎥 Prefer to watch? This post accompanies our YouTube video on getting around Edinburgh – watch it for a visual walkthrough!
Want a plan that fits your trip perfectly? My personalised itinerary service creates stress-free days out in Edinburgh, so you can focus on exploring the city. See how it works here!
Walking
Edinburgh is a very compact city, so the easiest way to get around is to walk! From the historic streets of the Old Town to the elegant squares of the New Town, many attractions, shops and cafes are within easy walking distance.
The city is quite hilly though, and some pavements have cobbles, so comfortable shoes are a must. Don’t forget to watch out for uneven surfaces and occasional steps, especially in the Old Town.
💡 Related: 5 Pram-Friendly Walks in Edinburgh
Bus
Lothian Buses is the main bus company serving Edinburgh and the surrounding areas, known as the Lothians. They operate multiple branches under the Lothian umbrella, including:
Airlink - connecting the city with Edinburgh Airport.
East Cost Buses and Lothian Country - serving towns and villages outside Edinburgh.
The maroon-and-white Lothian City buses are the ones you’ll see most in the city. With over 50 routes across Edinburgh, buses are a convenient way to reach most parts of the city quickly.
Buses moving along Princes Street, one of Edinburgh’s main city centre thoroughfares.
Fares
Lothian City
| Ticket | Adult | Child (5-15) | Family (up to 2 adults and 3 children) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single Ticket (One journey on a day service) |
£2.20 | £1.10 | |
| Day Ticket* (Unlimited journeys on day services) * A day ticket is worth it if you plan to take the bus at least three times in one day |
£5.50 | £2.75 | £12.00 |
| Day Ticket TapTapCap | £5.00 | ||
| Network Day Ticket (Unlimited journeys on day and night services across entire network) |
£12.50 | £6.25 | |
| NightBus Single Ticket (One journey on a night service) |
£3.50 | ||
| Late Ticket (Unlimited journeys on day and night services between 18.00 and 04.30) |
£5.00 | ||
| Weekly TapTapCap (Journeys on Lothian Buses day and night services) |
£24.50 |
For a full map of all routes and more ticket options, check the Lothian Buses website.
East Coast Buses
Fares for East Coast Buses – which serve East Lothian, including Musselburgh, Haddington and North Berwick – are organised into zones. The map below shows the full zone layout so you can quickly see which fares apply to your journey.
Below you’ll find simplified fare tables for East Coast Buses to make planning your trip easier:
| Single Tickets (Valid for one journey on any day service) |
Adult | Child (5-15) |
|---|---|---|
| Travel in 1 zone (or 2 zones if A/B) |
£2.20 | £1.10 |
| Travel in 2 or 3 zones | £3.20 | £1.60 |
| Travel in 4 zones | £4.20 | £2.10 |
| Travel in 5 zones | £5.20 | £2.60 |
| Travel in 6 zones | £6.20 | £3.10 |
| Day Tickets | Adult | Child (5-15) | Family (up to 2 adults and 3 children) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Day Ticket (Unlimited journeys on day services in zones A-B and Lothian City day services) |
£5.50 | £2.75 | £12.00 |
| Day Ticket TapTapCap | £5.00 | ||
| Country Day Ticket (Unlimited journeys on East Coast Buses and Lothian Country day services in zones B-H) |
£5.70 | £2.85 | £14.00 |
| Country Day Ticket TapTapCap | £5.60 | ||
| City & Country Day Ticket (Unlimited journeys on day services in all zones and Lothian City day services) |
£8.80 | £4.40 | £20.00 |
| City & Country Day Ticket TapTapCap | £8.50 |
For interactive route maps and more ticket options, check the East Coast Buses website.
Lothian Country
Fares for Lothian Country – which serve West Lothian, including Winchburgh, Livingston and Bathgate – are organised into zones. The map below shows the full zone layout so you can quickly see which fares apply to your journey.
Below are simplified fare tables for Lothian Country to help you plan your journey with ease:
| Single Tickets (Valid for one journey on any day service) |
Adult | Child (5-15) |
|---|---|---|
| Travel in 1 zone (or 2 zones if A/B) |
£2.20 | £1.10 |
| Travel in 2 or 3 zones | £3.20 | £1.60 |
| Travel in 4 zones | £4.20 | £2.10 |
| Travel in 5 zones | £5.20 | £2.60 |
| Travel in 6 zones | £6.20 | £3.10 |
| Day Tickets | Adult | Child (5-15) | Family (up to 2 adults and 3 children) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Day Ticket (Unlimited journeys on day services in zones A-B and Lothian City day services) |
£5.50 | £2.75 | £12.00 |
| Day Ticket TapTapCap | £5.00 | ||
| Country Day Ticket (Unlimited journeys on East Coast Buses and Lothian Country day services in zones B-H) |
£5.70 | £2.85 | £14.00 |
| Country Day Ticket TapTapCap | £5.60 | ||
| City & Country Day Ticket (Unlimited journeys on day services in all zones and Lothian City day services) |
£8.80 | £4.40 | £20.00 |
| City & Country Day Ticket TapTapCap | £8.50 |
For interactive route maps and more ticket options, check the Lothian Country website.
How to Buy a Ticket
Contactless
The easiest way to pay on Lothian City buses is by using contactless. Simply tap your card or device when you hop on, wait for the beep, and that’s it.
Lothian Buses uses a system called TapTapCap, which automatically caps your adult fares at £5 per day if you make multiple journeys. Once you reach the cap, any additional rides are free for the rest of the day, so you’ll never pay more than the cost of a day ticket.
Important:
TapTapCap only works when you use the same card or device for every journey.
TapTapCap applies only to your own taps, not to additional paper tickets you buy for others.
If you want to pay for someone else’s ticket, just tell the driver what you need and tap again when prompted. You’ll receive a printed paper ticket, but this does not count toward your TapTapCap total.
For Airlink, East Coast Buses and Lothian Country, you’ll need to tell the driver your destination before tapping so you’re charged the correct fare.
Cash
Cash is also accepted, but fares must be exact change only. No change is given. Just tell the driver what type of ticket you’d like, place the fare into the slot and you’ll receive a paper ticket.
M-Tickets (via the Bus & Tram App)
You can also buy digital tickets through the Bus & Tram App, which covers Lothian Buses and Edinburgh Trams in one place.
How it works:
Purchase m-tickets in the app (they’re valid for 180 days until activated).
Just before boarding, activate your ticket and show it to the driver.
You’ll need an internet connection to activate the ticket. Once activated, you’re good to go – no internet needed to show it.
This is a good option if you like to buy tickets in advance or prefer not to rely on contactless.
Activation rules:
Single tickets are valid for 5 minutes after activation.
Day tickets are valid until the end-of-day services and late/night tickets expire at 04.30.
Only one ticket can be activated per device at a time, except for the family day ticket.
If you need multiple tickets for different people, use the “Share Ticket” function in the app to send them to other devices.
For full details on m-tickets, visit the Lothian Buses website.
How to Know Which Bus to Take
The easiest way to plan your bus journey in Edinburgh is with the Bus & Tram App, which covers both Lothian Buses and Edinburgh Trams in one place. You can check routes, see real-time arrival times and find the best connection for your trip.
Many bus stops also display real-time arrival boards, so you can see exactly when the next bus is due.
If you won’t have mobile data during your trip, you can download an offline Google Map of Edinburgh and use its journey planner. Just remember that offline maps won’t provide real-time arrival times, but they’re still useful for planning your route.
Tips for Taking the Bus
Some bus stops on Princes Street have USB chargers, handy if your phone is running low on battery.
On most newer buses, you’ll also find USB chargers between the seats.
Many of the newer buses announce the next stops automatically, so you won’t miss your stop!
Tram
Taking the tram is another convenient way to get around Edinburgh. Edinburgh Trams, in partnership with Lothian Buses, runs services from Edinburgh Airport through the city centre and up to Leith and Newhaven in the north of the city.
Edinburgh trams at St Andrew Square, a key city centre transport hub.
Fares
Tram fares are divided into two categories: the city zone and the airport zone. Trips to or from the airport have a separate fare, which is higher. Below is a simplified fare table for the city zone, which covers all stops except Edinburgh Airport:
| Ticket | Adult | Child (5-15) | Family (up to 2 adults and 3 children) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single Ticket (One journey) |
£2.20 | £1.10 | |
| Day Ticket (Unlimited journeys on tram and Lothian City day services) |
£5.50 | £2.75 | £12.00 |
| Day Return Ticket (Return journey) |
£4.20 | £2.10 | |
| Late Ticket (Unlimited journeys on tram and Lothian City night services) |
£5.00 |
For more fare options or to plan your journey, you can check the Edinburgh Trams website.
How to Buy a Ticket
There are several ways to buy a tram ticket in Edinburgh, giving you plenty of options depending on your preference:
Contactless – Tap On, Tap Off
The simplest way to pay is with contactless, known as Tap On, Tap Off. Simply tap your card or device against a Platform Validator before boarding, and tap again when you get off to complete your journey.
The great thing about Tap On, Tap Off is that it works together with the bus TapTapCap system, so you can switch between buses and trams without paying more than the daily cap.
Vending Machines
You can also buy a ticket at the ticket vending machines located at each tram stop. You can pay by cash or most debit and credit cards. If paying by cash, make sure to have exact change, as no change is given.
The St Andrew Square tram stop, complete with ticket machine and seating.
M-Tickets (via the Bus & Tram App)
You can also buy digital tickets through the Bus & Tram App, which covers Lothian Buses and Edinburgh Trams in one place.
How it works:
Purchase m-tickets in the app (they’re valid for 180 days until activated).
Just before boarding, activate your ticket and show it to the Ticketing Services Agent when requested.
You’ll need an internet connection to activate the ticket. Once activated, you’re good to go – no internet needed to show it.
This is a good option if you like to buy tickets in advance or prefer not to rely on contactless.
Activation rules:
Single tickets are valid for 5 minutes after activation.
Day tickets are valid until the end-of-day services and late/night tickets expire at 04.30.
Only one ticket can be activated per device at a time, except for the family day ticket.
If you need multiple tickets for different people, use the “Share Ticket” function in the app to send them to other devices.
For full details on m-tickets, visit the Edinburgh Trams website.
Edinburgh Trams Website
You can also pre-purchase tickets on the Edinburgh Trams website. Simply buy your ticket online and display it on your device when needed.
Pre-Purchase Policy
Edinburgh Trams has a pre-purchase policy, which means you must buy and validate or activate your ticket before boarding. Once you’re on the tram, a Ticketing Services Agent will check that all passengers have valid tickets.
If you board without a ticket, you’ll need to pay the on-board fare of £10 per person, so it’s always best to purchase your ticket in advance.
Voi E-Bikes
Another great way to get around Edinburgh is by e-bike! You’ll find Voi e-bikes parked throughout the city, especially in central and student areas. They’re perfect for short journeys or for exploring the city without relying on public transport.
To use a Voi e-bike:
Download the Voi app and create an account.
Find a nearby bike on the map in the app.
Unlock the bike by scanning its QR code.
There are several plans to suit how often you ride, including pay-as-you-go. Currently in Edinburgh, it’s free to unlock a bike and a ride costs 11p per minute.
When you finish your trip, make sure to park the bike within a blue area on the map and in a designated parking spot.
Taxi or Ride-Share
If you’re looking for a more convenient way to get around, Edinburgh’s black cabs are a reliable option. The main providers are City Cabs and Central Taxis, and the vehicles look similar to the classic black cabs you’d find in London. The minimum base fare is currently £3.60.
If you prefer ride-sharing services, Uber and Bolt also operate in Edinburgh and can be a convenient alternative.
Taxis lined up on Waverley Bridge with the historic Old Town in the background.
Airport Transfers into Edinburgh
✈️ Arriving at Edinburgh Airport? Our full guide shows all the ways to get into the city – buses, trams, taxis and more – so you can start your trip stress-free. Read the full guide here!
Further Afield
If you want to travel beyond Edinburgh, there are several options by public transport.
By Bus
Edinburgh Bus Station is the main hub for long-distance buses. Companies operating from here include CityLink, Megabus, Stagecoach and National Express, with routes that can take you all over Scotland and to other parts of the UK.
Tip: Book in advance during busy periods to secure cheaper fares.
Edinburgh Bus Station, a major hub for buses across Edinburgh and the rest of Scotland and the UK.
By Train
Another option is to take the train from Edinburgh Waverley Station. Some of the train companies that operate from Waverley include ScotRail, London North Eastern Railway (LNER), TransPennine Express, Avanti West Coast and Cross Country. They provide connections to many areas across the UK, making it easy to continue your journey.
Tip: Compare prices using Trainline or the National Rail website – just note that Trainline may charge a small booking fee compared with buying directly from the train operator.
Inside Waverley Train Station, the central hub for trains to and from Edinburgh.
💡 Related: 5 Best Day Trips By Train from Edinburgh
We hope you found this guide helpful! If you have any questions about getting around Edinburgh, drop them in the comments below. We’d love to help you plan your trip!
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