Cheap flights to Edinburgh

As one of the UK’s most important transport hubs there are no shortage of cheap flights to Edinburgh – and even more reasons to take advantage of them.

The airport at Edinburgh is the UK’s third busiest, in terms of passenger numbers, and it leads to one of Europe’s most beautiful cities.

The city itself is nonchalantly draped over craggy hills that overlook the sea. The Old Town is a delightful jumble of medieval tenements that align themselves along the Royal Mile. Turrets demarcate the skyline – as do the natural features of Castle Rock and the Salisbury Crags.

In contrast to this atmospheric jumble the New Town stands elegantly prim and proud with its neat lines of neoclassical geometry.

And, at ground level, there’s arts, music, theatre, nightlife and dining to enjoy – not to mention the Fringe Festival, and the small matter of Hogmanay.

When to book flights to Edinburgh

You’ll be hard pushed to find cheap flights to Edinburgh during August (thanks to the world’s largest arts festival taking place) and Christmas (thanks to Hogmanay).

Having said that with August also seeing the Edinburgh International Festival and the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo it more than pays to take a more expensive flight sometimes!

The cheapest flights tend to come up between September and early December, so do book early for the very best prices.

How to find the best flight deals to Edinburgh

Here are three ways to use your Expedia search to bag a bargain.

1. Use the ‘Nearby Airports’ option when you search for flights. This can be found under your search’s chosen departure location – it shows you what price tickets are from other airports that are close to you.
2. If you are not tied to flying on a specific date you can reveal on which days the cheapest flights are available by using the ‘Show flexible dates’ feature. This can be located just above where your list of flight options that are returned from a search.

Airlines offering direct flights to Edinburgh include:

• Flybe
• easyJet
• Loganair
• British Airways
• Ryanair

Getting to Edinburgh from the airport

Edinburgh Airport is well-connected to the city. It lies just seven miles from the centre.

Public transport options include trams and the express Airlink bus (both offering a 30-minute journey time) and Lothian bus services (whose journey time varies between 40 and 60 minutes). You can hop on any of these direct from the terminal.

You could also hire a car or take a taxi from the airport. For drivers just follow the A90 all the way into the heart of this historic city.

Unmissable Edinburgh

If you’re here during the Fringe there’s simply so much to see and do that you can’t help but miss some of the highlights.

We’ve assumed you’ve got Edinburgh’s major attractions firmly in your sights, so here are some lesser known gems to add to your bucket list.

You can scare yourself silly on a spooky candlelit tour of Edinburgh at night. Follow in the footsteps of the infamous 18^th century bodysnatchers Burke & Hare, and venture deep down beneath the city in dark, haunted vaults.

Forget the shortbread, the real Scottish souvenir can be found at 21^st Century Kilts on Thistle Street. Edinburgh designer Howie Nicholsby has given the traditional kilt a modern revamp.

The secret chamber of Lauriston Castle, known as the Laird's Lug, allows you to eavesdrop on conversations in the salon below. Watch what you say!

Edinburgh’s monument to Walter Scott allows you to climb up inside it for panoramic views of the city. Take a deep breath, there’s 267 narrow steps to ascend before you reach the top.

Edinburgh’s music scene is second to none, but the ‘reel’ deal can be found when the Scotch and Irish fiddlers play nightly at Sandy Bells on Forrest Road. The music thumps, the audience reel and you’re likely to need a lie-in come tomorrow!