The Edinburgh tram connects the airport with the city centre and continues to Leith and Newhaven, a fast, comfortable and sustainable alternative to other forms of transport.
The tram line
There is a single tram line between the airport and Newhaven, running through the city centre, Leith and Ocean Terminal. Princes Street is a handy stop for visiting the Old Town and the New Town.
From the city centre stops you can easily reach the Royal Mile, the Old Town, the New Town and most of the city’s hotels and hostels. The extension to Leith and Newhaven has also made the tram much more useful for visitors staying in or exploring that part of the city.
The journey from the airport to the centre usually takes 30–40 minutes, depending on your stop. Leith and Newhaven take longer.
Tram timetable
The first trams leave Newhaven at 5.20am and the airport at 6.30am (these are terminus times, not Princes Street times). For most of the day, there’s a tram roughly every seven minutes.
The last published departures are at 10.52pm from the airport and 11.56pm from Newhaven. Check the destination of the last service and the times at your stop: some late services may terminate before the other end of the line. The tram doesn’t run all night.
For other ways to get to the airport, see our guide to getting to and from Edinburgh Airport.
Buying tram tickets
Every tram stop in Edinburgh has a ticket machine where you can buy single, return and day tickets.
The machines accept coins and cards, but don’t give change. Buy your ticket before you board. You can also use Tap On, Tap Off with a contactless card or device: tap the readers on the platform when you start and finish your journey, always with the same card or device.
You can also buy return and day tickets in advance on the Transport for Edinburgh website or app.
Single tickets bought from machines, and the outward journey on return tickets, must be started within the validity period shown, usually 30 minutes. Day tickets have their own conditions. Boarding without a valid ticket or without tapping on means a £10 on-board fare.
Edinburgh tram fares
| Ticket | Adult | Child (5–15) |
|---|---|---|
| City single | £2.40 | £1.20 |
| City return, same day | £4.60 | £2.30 |
| City DAY: city trams and buses | £6 | £3 |
| Airport single | £7.90 | £4 |
| Airport open return | £9.50 | £5 |
| Network DAY: includes the airport and buses | £14 | £7 |
| City LATE: from 6pm | £5.50 | — |
| Family City DAY: up to 2 adults and 3 children | £13 in total | — |
| Family Airport Open Return: up to 2 adults and 3 children | £28 in total | — |
City tickets don’t include the airport. City LATE also lets you use Lothian night buses until 4.30am, but the tram stops earlier. Family tickets and open returns have their own conditions.
The tram is also handy for getting around the city: you can take bikes on board at certain times (see our guide to cycling in Edinburgh), and day tickets are also valid on Lothian buses.
