⚠️ This help page deals with travelling to Scotland to start your holiday. For help on travel within Scotland, please see my Public transport in Scotland page.
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Travelling to Scotland… from overseas
Scotland has five main international airports: Edinburgh, Glasgow, Glasgow Prestwick, Aberdeen and Inverness. Edinburgh and Glasgow are by far the largest, and these are likely to be your entry points if you fly into Scotland. Both of these airports have quick and straightforward public transport into their respective cities, for onward connections to the rest of the country. I use 🔗 Skyscanner to search for air fares.
Alternatively, various English airports (particularly around London) are very well served by international flights. You can make the onward journey to Scotland by train, coach or hire car – see the section below.
The interactive map below gives details of all of Scotland’s airports, their official websites, and details of destinations served.
For visitors from elsewhere in Europe, using long distance trains via the Channel Tunnel (with a change at London St Pancras) is a viable, more environmentally friendly alternative to flying. There are also vehicle ferries from The Netherlands to Newcastle (northeast England) and from Ireland to Stranraer (southwest Scotland).
Onward travel from Edinburgh Airport
To the city centre
- 🚌 Airlink 100 | ⌚ Every 10 mins (every 10-20 mins overnight) | 🚏 Stops include Haymarket, West End, Princes Street & St Andrew Square | 🎫 £8 adult / £4 child for open return (buy onboard) | 🔗 lothianbuses.com
- 🚋 Edinburgh Trams | ⌚ Every 7-10 minutes (daytime only) | 🚏 Stops include Haymarket, West End, Princes Street, St Andrew Square, Leith & Newhaven | 🎫 £9.50 adult / £5 child for open return (buy at ticket machine or online) | 🔗 edinburghtrams.com
To North / East / South / West Edinburgh
- 🚌 Skylink 200 / 400 | ⌚ Up to every 30 mins (daytime only, less frequent outwith peak times) | 🚏 Stops include Newhaven, Leith, south Edinburgh & Fort Kinnaird | 🎫 £8 adult / £4 child for open return (buy onboard) | 🔗 lothianbuses.com
To Glasgow
- 🚌 Citylink AIR | ⌚ Every 30 mins (hourly evenings / overnight) | 🚏 Primarily serves Buchanan Street Bus Station (Glasgow city centre) | 🎫 Prices vary (buy online / onboard) | 🔗 citylink.co.uk
To everywhere else
- 🚌 Direct buses to destinations including Stirling, Dundee & Fife | 🔗 edinburghairport.com
- Most other destinations require a change, usually in Edinburgh city centre (see above)
In addition to the public transport options above, taxis and car hire are also available.
Onward travel from Glasgow Airport
To the city centre
- 🚌 Glasgow Airport Express 500 (GAE) | ⌚ Every 10-60 mins depending on time of day / night | 🚏 Stops include Bothwell Street, George Square & Buchanan Street Bus Station | 🎫 £17 adult / £10 child for open return (buy online / onboard) | 🔗 firstbus.co.uk
- 🚌 Local route 77 | ⌚ Up to every 10 mins (daytime only) | 🚏 Stops include Braehead, Partick, Charing Cross & Buchanan Street Bus Station | 🎫 Marginally cheaper than the Express bus, but takes longer (buy onboard) | 🔗 firstbus.co.uk
To Edinburgh
⚠️ No direct service. I recommend:
- 🚌+🚆 Glasgow Airport Express 500 (GAE) to George Square, Glasgow (see above), then train from Glasgow Queen Street to Edinburgh (⌚ Up to every 15 mins, daytime only | 🎫 Buy online / at station | 🔗 scotrail.co.uk)
To everywhere else
- 🚌 Direct buses to destinations including Paisley, Loch Lomond, Glencoe, Fort William & the Isle of Skye | 🔗 glasgowairport.com
- Most other destinations require a change, usually in Glasgow city centre (see above). For towns in southwest Scotland with railway stations, change at Paisley Gilmour Street railway station instead (see immediately above)
In addition to the public transport options above, taxis and car hire are also available.
Travelling to Scotland… from England and Wales
There are two main railway lines into Scotland from all points in England and Wales: the West Coast Main Line (London to Glasgow) and the East Coast Main Line (London to Edinburgh), both with several intermediate stops. Travel time from London to Edinburgh is approximately 4 hr 30 (a bit longer to Glasgow) and tickets start from about £15 each way if bought in advance (a bit more for Glasgow). I recommend using 🔗 National Rail Enquiries to search for fares.
The map below shows the entire UK railway network, though with some local routes omitted.
A slightly less comfortable (but often less expensive) option is long distance coach, for which I recommend booking through 🔗 Megabus. Many people will of course choose to fly (typically the most expensive option) or self drive.
