Trains to Edinburgh Airport
Edinburgh Airport is the most popular airport in Scotland. As a result, many passengers flying from other places in Scotland and the North of England take the train to get there. This often saves time. The airport is just west of Edinburgh. One of the fastest ways to get there from the city centre is by train.
From Edinburgh Waverley, the train takes about 10 minutes to Edinburgh Gateway station. Edinburgh Gateway is the closest train station to Edinburgh Airport, which is then only a short tram’s journey away. Trains run 7 days a week and every 5-20 minutes during peak times. All trains from Edinburgh to Edinburgh Gateway are operated by ScotRail. Trams and shuttle buses also run from Haymarket (Edinburgh) station to Edinburgh Gateway station.
Read on to learn more about buying train tickets, timetables and possible connections.
Getting to Edinburgh Airport by train
Using Trainline, you can book cheap train tickets to Edinburgh Gateway station, Haymarket (Edinburgh) station. This will save you time and you won’t have to pay out for taxis or airport parking. Which means you’ll have more to spend on your holiday. Booking well in advance of your journey will get you the lowest price fares. On top of this, National Railcards can save you a further 1/3 off an adult’s journey and 60% off kids’ fares.
ScotRail operate the trains from Edinburgh Waverley to Edinburgh Gateway. They run every 5-20 minutes during peak times from around 6 a.m. to midnight, 7 days a week. The journey takes 10 minutes. Edinburgh Gateway has quick and direct trains from Dundee, Inverness and Perth. You can also get direct trains from Glasgow, Aberdeen, Manchester, Birmingham, Leeds, London and other UK towns and cities from Edinburgh Waverley and Haymarket (Edinburgh) stations. This puts Edinburgh Airport within easy reach of mainland UK.
To get from Edinburgh Gateway to Edinburgh Airport, you can take a direct tram. Edinburgh Waverley tram station is only 2 minutes’ walk from the train station and the trams run every 7-10 minutes. A tram ticket costs £5.50 for a single (£3.00 for children ages 5-15) and the tram journey takes 7 minutes. The tram stops just outside Edinburgh Airport terminal. The tram also stops at Edinburgh Park train station, which has further train links from stations in Scotland and North England.
Alternatively, you can take the Airlink 100 shuttle bus or a tram from Haymarket (Edinburgh) station to the airport. This takes longer than taking the train to Edinburgh Waverley. If you have an early flight the next day, there’s a Doubletree Hilton Hotel within 2 minutes’ walk of Edinburgh Airport terminal.
Useful travel tips
We want to make travel easier for you, which is why we’ve compiled a selection of useful travel tips to help you on your way.
Off-peak fares
Learn more about peak and off-peak fares, and how they can affect the cost of your journey.
Seat reservations
Need information about seating? Read our guide to find out more about what's available.
Railcards
Want to see how much you could save by using a railcard? Read our handy guide on all the different railcards available.
Things to do in Edinburgh Airport
With 12 million passengers every year, Edinburgh Airport is Scotland’s busiest airport. So, naturally, it has plenty of places to eat, drink and shop. For eating and drinking, it has Starbucks, Costa Coffee, Caffe Nero, EAT, Yo! Sushi, Wetherspoons and more. There’s also plenty of stores such as Dixons Travel, WHSmith, Boots and JD Sports. Plus, there’s a duty-free after security selling spirits, confectionery, souvenirs and many other products.
The check-in gates, bag drop desks and airline ticket desks are on the ground floor of Edinburgh Airport terminal.
If you’re planning a holiday in Europe, then why not take the train for a memorable experience? You can use Trainline to book cheap fares to major European cities such as Paris, Amsterdam, Madrid, Brussels, Barcelona and Rome.