Cheap flights to Edinburgh

Quick summary

Why track Edinburgh with SniperAir

You do not need to compare prices every day

Airport and getting into town

A western airport, then the tram or an express bus to the centre

Distances and times are approximate, based on Wikivoyage (EN, DE, ES, FR); sources differ by a few kilometres and timetables change, so check them before you travel. We do not quote fares.

Edinburgh has been Scotland's capital since at least the 15th century and sits on the south shore of the Firth of Forth. The city is home to around 506,500 people (2020) according to English Wikipedia, with German Wikipedia giving about 525,000, and to over 900,000 in the wider urban area. The centre is split in two: the medieval Old Town along the Royal Mile and the Georgian New Town to the north, divided by Princes Street Gardens. Together they have been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1995, and the city drew 5.3 million visits in 2023, according to Wikipedia (EN).

Landmarks

The Castle, Princes Street Gardens, the Scott Monument, Calton Hill and Arthur's Seat

Edinburgh is built on an extinct volcano and a rocky ridge, which is why so many landmarks are best enjoyed from below or from a hilltop. Locals call it Auld Reekie, and since the early 19th century it has been known as the Athens of the North. The places below are illustrated; Holyrood, St Giles' and the Old Town closes are described at the end of the section.

Edinburgh Castle

Princes Street Gardens and the Ross Fountain

The Scott Monument

Calton Hill

Arthur's Seat and Holyrood Park

Holyrood, St Giles' and the closes

The Palace of Holyroodhouse, at the foot of the Royal Mile, is the monarch's official residence in Scotland (Wikipedia, EN), and the modern Scottish Parliament building stands close by. St Giles' Cathedral, first mentioned in 854 per German Wikipedia and rebuilt from about 1120, is where John Knox preached. Narrow lanes called closes or wynds, including Mary King's Close, drop steeply from either side of the High Street.

Day trips from Edinburgh

Leith and the former royal yacht Britannia, the seaside suburb of Portobello, Dean Village, Roslin chapel (which Wikivoyage ES links to the Da Vinci Code), North Berwick and Glasgow by train are all within easy reach. Wikivoyage (EN) also suggests the Glenkinchie distillery out in the countryside towards Haddington.

Museums and culture

National Museum of Scotland, art galleries, Britannia and the festivals

Museums and galleries

The National Museum of Scotland on Chambers Street is, according to Wikivoyage (EN), an amazing free collection that will absorb a whole afternoon. The National Gallery of Scotland and the Scottish National Portrait Gallery stand side by side on Princes Street, while Modern One and Two are a mile beyond Haymarket. German Wikipedia notes that the National Galleries of Scotland are spread across five galleries in the city.

Heritage and science

The Royal Botanic Garden in Canonmills and the Royal Yacht Britannia, moored at Leith, round out a visit; Wikivoyage (EN) mentions that the garden's glasshouses were closed until 2025, so check before you go. Craigmillar Castle is a large medieval ruin in the south of the city. Underground tours of the Old Town closes, including Mary King's Close, tell the story of the city before the great fire of 1824 according to Wikipedia (FR).

Festivals and performing arts

From late July to early September the city hosts the Fringe, the International Festival, the Military Tattoo and the Book Festival, according to Wikipedia (EN). The Fringe staged over 3,700 shows in 300 venues in 2023 and calls itself the world's largest performing arts festival. Hogmanay, the New Year celebration, now spans four days, with the main street party capped at 100,000 tickets according to the same source. We do not quote fares because tickets, closing days and timetables change.

Food and drink

Haggis, fish and chips, whisky, gin and Scottish ale

Scottish classics

Haggis, made from sheep's offal, is available in a vegetarian version too, according to Wikivoyage (FR, DE). A full Scottish breakfast, scones and shortbread round out the table, and Wikivoyage (EN) says Scots have a weakness for fried food, including battered chocolate bars. Edinburgh chip shops, it adds, serve salt and sauce, a thin vinegary brown sauce, as the default rather than salt and vinegar. Edinburgh Rock is a soft mint or ginger confection sold in tartan tins.

Whisky, gin and beer

At the top of the Royal Mile, an interactive whisky tour explains how the spirit is made; the nearest malt distillery is Glenkinchie, while the grain distillery in the city does not take visitors, says Wikivoyage (EN). Several gin distilleries operate in and around Edinburgh, there are two major local breweries, and most pubs pour guest ales alongside a long list of whiskies. A bright orange fizzy drink is jokingly described as Scotland's second national drink.

Where to eat

For value, Wikivoyage (EN) points to Elm Row at the top of Leith Walk, South Bridge, Forrest Road and Tollcross, and warns that the upper Royal Mile, Princes Street and the Grassmarket are overpriced. The area around the Central Mosque on South Bridge is nicknamed Little Cairo. Vegan, halal and gluten-free options are widespread. We do not recommend individual restaurants.

Getting around

On foot, by bus and tram: a compact but hilly centre

Walking first

Wikivoyage (EN) says walking should be your first choice in the centre, where most sights lie near the Royal Mile or Princes Street. Factor in the hills, the railway tracks and the deep valley of the Water of Leith, and bridges that cross lower streets without a link. For the zoo, the Botanic Garden, Leith or Craigmillar, take a bus.

Buses and the tram

Lothian Buses in burgundy and cream are the main network, with a flat fare, no transfers and contactless payment with daily capping per Wikivoyage (EN); drivers do not give change. A single tram line links the airport, Haymarket, Princes Street and Leith, extended to Newhaven in June 2023. The tram was widely mocked for cost and delays when it opened in 2014, the same source says. We do not quote fares, as they change every year.

Car, taxi and bike

According to Wikivoyage (EN), the centre is a nightmare for drivers, with one-way systems and some of the most expensive on-street parking in the world, so park and ride is the better option. Taxis are widely used, and cycle lanes are scarce according to Wikivoyage (FR).

Budget and precautions

A pricey city in August and at New Year: book early

Price level

Edinburgh has a reputation as a rather expensive destination, above all during the August festivals and at Hogmanay, when accommodation needs to be booked well ahead, as Wikivoyage (EN, DE) advises. We do not give amounts because we could not cross-check them against two independent sources: the fares in the Wikivoyage editions date from 2018 to 2026 and differ.

Flying and precautions

SniperAir monitors prices to EDI and compares them with the route's price history, but it does not sell or book tickets. Consider watching Glasgow (GLA), less than 100 km away. The UK is outside the Schengen area and uses the pound sterling: check entry formalities for your nationality with the official authorities. Wikivoyage (DE) warns of long passport queues at the airport when several flights land together, so leave a margin for connections.

Safety

The city is generally safe according to Wikivoyage (EN); keep an eye on your belongings in crowds, where pickpockets operate, and avoid drunken crowds after football matches and at pub closing time. The emergency number in the UK is 999.

When to go

A cool maritime climate: windy, mild summers and very long days

Edinburgh has a cool temperate maritime climate (Cfb) according to Wikipedia (EN, FR), milder than its latitude suggests, since it sits at about the same latitude as Moscow per Wikipedia (ES). Rain falls throughout the year, roughly 128 days a year according to French Wikipedia, and considerably less than in Glasgow per English Wikipedia. Easterly winds are drier but colder and can bring haar, a persistent coastal sea fog. The record high of 31.6 degrees C was set on 25 July 2019 according to Wikipedia (EN). We do not give monthly averages because the Wikipedia editions do not agree on the readings. Locals say you can get all four seasons in a day, so pack a windproof layer.

By length of stay

What to do in Edinburgh depending on how long you stay

In pictures

Edinburgh in pictures

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FAQ

Frequently asked questions about flights to Edinburgh