#TripReport: Travelling from Edinburgh Airport to City Centre
Often the most boring but most important feature of a holiday is transport to and from the airport. It's not fun, but without it you can't get stuck into your holiday and begin enjoying the capital of Scotland. There's a few public transport options for travelling from Edinburgh Airport to the City Centre.
The first and most frequent service is the local bus network. There's multiple operators of buses within the region, however the most likely option you will take is the Airlink 100 to St Andrew Square. Operating 24x7 and with frequencies every 20-30 minutes (depending on the time of day) and 30 minute duration, this is likely to be the most flexible option for a majority of travellers looking to get to and from the airport. It was, in fact, the method of transportation I opted for when go to/from the airport last year - it was fast, quick and a decent price, at just GBP 7.50 for an open return. Thankfully, the operator accepts contactless payments (Mastercard and Visa only, no AMEX) or you can purchase a ticket via the Lothian Buses M-Tickets app. Other options for getting into other parts of Edinburgh include the Skylink 200, 300 and 400, which go to other districts in the city - however for most travellers the Airlink 100 is likely to be the best and most suitable option.
Edinburgh also operates a small tram network, with a stop directly outside the airport, also acts a convenient option for people to travel into the city. It takes about the same amount of time as the bus options above and costs slightly more at GBP 9 for an open-return. The only true benefit of the tram system is that it has the ability to bypass traffic in a way that buses cannot, however the tram system only operates from 06h18 to 2330 meaning it is less flexible as an option for visitors to Edinburgh. It does offer some more direct connections to the Scottish railway system meaning that if you are connecting onto a train into another part of the nation, it may be slightly easier for you. Tickets can be purchased at vending machines or on the Transport for Edinburgh app - they do not appear to offer any "tap in/tap-out capability as per the London Tube network.
The final option is taking the train, however this isn't really a proper direct connection to the airport. Nearby train stations include Edinburgh Gateway, Edinburgh Park, Haymarket and Edinburgh Waverley to connect onto local, regional, or long-distance services to other UK cities. To get to any of these stations will involve taking another means of transport, like the bus, tram or taxi. If you're just looking to get to the City Centre, don't bother with the train - just go for tram or bus. This may be a useful option if you are travelling from another city or town in the UK in order to then reach your flight out of Edinburgh - besides this I can't see a reason why you would take the railway.
As per any city, outside of public transport links you always have the alternative option of taxi, either hailed on the spot or using the FREENOW app, or ride-hailing services. Uber seems to be the only major operator of ride-hailing services in Edinburgh, with OLA, Didi and Bolt not operating in the city.