Edinburgh is fairly straightforward to travel to and around. You can see most of the central sights on foot, if you’re energetic and don’t mind hills.
Getting to Edinburgh
Flights to Edinburgh Airport
Edinburgh International Airport is not far from the city. It’s used by budget airline Easyjet, and so flying to Edinburgh from other parts of the UK may actually be cheaper than travelling by train, as well as quicker.
There is an Airline express shuttle service between Edinburgh Airport and the city centre, which runs as often as every 10 minutes in the daytime. An open return ticket costs £5 for adults and £3 for children.
Trains
The train journey from London to Edinburgh takes around four and a half hours, from King’s Cross to the heart of Edinburgh. Note that when the UK rail system has its regular problems, this can be dramatically extended.
Getting around Edinburgh
On foot
This is the best way to explore the city centre. Arm yourself with a guidebook and map (or use free leaflets available from the Tourist Information Office), some sensible shoes, and explore. This will be the only way to see some of Edinburgh’s poky medieval alleyways, and to enjoy the views from Arthur’s Seat.
Edinburgh buses
Bus services in Edinburgh are run by Lothian Buses, which provide good coverage of the centre and the outlying areas. All-day tickets are available
Open top bus tours are another way of seeing the centre; there are a number of different services. Tickets are usually valid for 24 hours. The limited number of stops means they’re not perfect for hopping on and off, although repeating stretches of the route can be worthwhile if you find a different on-board guide, as some are more knowledgeable than others. Note that your ticket may give you a discount on entry to Edinburgh Castle. The main stop for open top bus tours is on Waverley Bridge, by the corner with Princes Street.