Flying into Edinburgh for the Festival? The transport options if you're heading to the city

It's August in Edinburgh and we all know what that means...

The Edinburgh Festival is back and we are extremely excited to welcome visitors from all across the world for a month of the very best comedy, arts, music and entertainment. Not only is this the 75th anniversary of the world-renowned event, but it represents the first time many people are able to travel in to sample it in three long years.

With that in mind we thought we'd put together a quick guide looking at the different transport options you can take once arriving at EDI, whether you're staying in the city centre or based further afield.

Board a bus

We have services which leave the airport and head straight for the city centre, making bus travel a super-easy option. The Airlink100, which you can board from Stop A right next to the plaza, will take you directly to St Andrew Square, and tickets can be purchased from the driver as you board. These buses depart every ten minutes between 0430 and 0100, and every 30 minutes through the night. These also stop at Haymarket and Waverley railway stations.

The Skylink 200 bus to Ocean Terminal departs every 30 minutes and stops at Clermiston, Blackhall, Drylaw, Muirhouse and Newhaven, and you can catch this bus at Stop B next to the plaza. The Skylink 300 to Bread Street stops at west Edinburgh Park, Saughton, Slateford and Fountainbridge - departing Stop C every 60 minutes.

Alternatively you can get the Skylink 400 to Fort Kinnard which departs Stop C every 30 minutes and goes to Edinburgh Park, Fairmilehead, Royal Infirmary and Oxgangs.

Further information on the bus options available at Edinburgh Airport can be found here.

Tram it

Another quick and easy way to get into the city centre is by tram. A tram stop is located at the airport, next to the plaza, and services depart frequently between 0700 and 2248.

Tram stops can be found in the following locations:

• Edinburgh Airport

• Ingliston Park & Ride

• Gogarburn

• Edinburgh Gateway

• Gyle Centre

• Edinburgh Park Central

• Edinburgh Park Station

• Bankhead

• Saughton

• Balgreen

• Murrayfield Stadium

• Haymarket

• West End - Princes Street

• Princes Street

• St Andrew Square

More information on airport tram services can be found here.

Hire a car

Our car rental centre can be found just a few minutes' walk from the terminal - just head across the plaza and follow the covered walkway.

If hiring a car is your preferred option then you can take your pick from the following: Alamo, Europcar, Avis, National, Budget, Enterprise, Hertz and Sixt.

It should take little around 25 minutes to drive into the centre of Edinburgh from the airport. You can head up on to Glasgow Road and then either through Corstorphine or Murrayfield, or along Maybury Road and then into town via Queensferry Road.

Glasgow Road also offers easy access to the City Bypass and the M8 and M9 if you are based elsewhere in Edinburgh and the Lothians.

Get a taxi or private hire

And of course you can get a taxi or private hire to wherever you're headed.

These can be found in our new East Terminus facility located just across the plaza from the main terminal. Already booked one? Just arrange to meet them in the pick-up zone on the bottom floor of the multi-storey car park.