Edinburgh Airport has one terminal on the western edge of the city, close to the M8 and M9. It is easier than most in two ways: security is quicker to pack for, because liquids and laptops stay in your bag, and Meet & Greet costs about the same as Park & Ride. The part to plan is the drop-off, where the free option means a ten-minute walk with your cases. This guide covers what is worth knowing before you fly from Edinburgh.
Getting to the terminal by car
The airport's postcode is EH12 9DN, and the entrance is off the A8 Glasgow Road between the Gogar and Newbridge roundabouts.
- From Edinburgh and the city bypass, take the A8 towards Glasgow and follow the airport signs.
- From the M9 and the north, leave the M9 at junction 1 and take the A8 from the Newbridge roundabout towards Edinburgh.
- From the M8 and Glasgow, continue to the Newbridge roundabout and join the A8 towards Edinburgh.
If you are parking off the airport, use the postcode in your parking confirmation instead. See parking for the terminal.
Drop-off: the charge, and the free half hour
- The charged Pickup and Dropoff is on the ground floor of the multi-storey directly outside the terminal: £8.50 for up to 10 minutes, then £1 a minute. You pay by card at the pay stations or the exit barrier, so there is nothing to remember afterwards. People living in some nearby postcodes can apply for half price on the first 10 minutes.
- The free option is in the Long Stay car park, where the first 30 minutes cost nothing. After that it is £14 up to an hour, so do not wait there. There is no shuttle bus: allow about ten minutes to walk to the terminal, using the walking route from the north end of the car park.
- Blue Badge holders get an hour free in the airport's car parks. Press the intercom at the exit barrier and give the 16-character code on the badge.
With heavy cases or children, the walk from the Long Stay can cost more in effort than the £8.50 saves. If you are parking rather than being dropped off, none of this applies, and your confirmation email says exactly where to go. Our drop-off charges guide compares Edinburgh with every other UK airport.
Security: liquids stay in your bag
Edinburgh's security scanners let you leave liquids and electricals, including laptops and tablets, in your bag. You can carry liquids up to 2 litres through security, as long as each container is securely sealed. Take off jackets and belts and empty your pockets into the tray; watches and glasses can stay on.
The rules are not the same at every UK airport. If your return flight leaves from another airport, check its own rules before you pack the bag for home, because many still limit each container to 100ml.
If you would rather skip the main queue, fastTRACK can be booked in advance. The time you book is when you expect to reach security, not your flight time.
How early to arrive
Edinburgh Airport does not publish a single arrival time, so go by your airline's check-in and bag-drop times, on your booking. Then work back the time from your car park:
- Park & Ride: allow 25 to 35 minutes from the car park barrier to check-in. The Park & Ride we sell closest to the airport is 1 to 2 minutes from the terminal by shuttle.
- Meet & Greet: be at the handover point 10 to 15 minutes before your booked time.
- On-airport car parks: from about a minute's walk for Fast Park and the terminal car parks, to 5 to 10 minutes for Long Stay.
Which parking suits which trip
Before You Fly lists every Edinburgh car park we sell in one table, cheapest first, including the on-airport car parks. When we compared prices for an eight-day trip booked about three months ahead:
- Meet & Greet was around £55, about the same as the cheapest Park & Ride. At Edinburgh, that makes it worth a look for almost any trip: you hand the car over and walk in, with no shuttle either way. Photograph the car at handover.
- Park & Ride started at around £55, with a shuttle of a minute or two to the terminal.
- On-airport parking ranged from about £50 to £80 for the car parks further from the terminal, rising to about £120 for the multi-storey beside it.
Prices move with the dates, so compare them side by side for your trip. Our Meet & Greet or Park & Ride guide explains how to choose. Whichever you pick, book the flexible rate if your dates might move. It can be cancelled up to 72 hours before arrival for a full refund; see the cancellation FAQs.
Lounges and hotels
Edinburgh has three lounges: the Escape Lounge, the Aspire Lounge at gate 16, and the Turkish Airlines Lounge, run by Plaza Premium Group. All can be booked in advance, and walk-in entry depends on space on the day. Compare them on our Edinburgh lounges page.
For a very early flight, a hotel the night before saves the drive. There are several hotels nearby, including the Dakota Edinburgh. Search Edinburgh hotels.
Getting there by tram and bus
Useful if someone is collecting you, or you are leaving the car at home.
- Tram: from the airport through the city centre, including Princes Street and St Andrew Square, to Newhaven. Trams run from every 7 minutes, with the first from the airport at 06:30 and the last at 22:52. An adult airport ticket is from £7.90.
- Airlink 100 bus: from the airport to Waverley Bridge in the city centre, taking about 30 minutes. It runs every 8 to 10 minutes through the day and every 20 minutes overnight.
Frequently asked questions
How much is drop-off at Edinburgh Airport?
£8.50 for up to 10 minutes in the Pickup and Dropoff on the ground floor of the multi-storey, then £1 a minute, paid by card before you leave. Drop-off is free for the first 30 minutes in the Long Stay car park, about a ten-minute walk from the terminal.
Is there a shuttle from the free drop-off at Edinburgh?
No. There are no shuttle buses between the Long Stay car park and the terminal, so allow about ten minutes to walk, using the route from the north end of the car park.
Do I need to take liquids out of my bag at Edinburgh?
No. Liquids and electricals can stay in your bag at Edinburgh, and you can carry up to 2 litres as long as each container is sealed. Other airports may still have the 100ml limit, so check the rules for your return flight.
What postcode should I use for Edinburgh Airport?
EH12 9DN, then follow the signs from the A8. If you have booked parking, use the postcode in your confirmation instead.
What is the cheapest way to park at Edinburgh for a week?
In our comparison for an eight-day trip, the cheapest Meet & Greet and Park & Ride both cost around £55, less than most on-airport car parks. Compare Edinburgh parking for your dates.
Sorted before you fly.
