Edinburgh Bus Tickets
About Edinburgh
The capital city of Scotland, Edinburgh, is famous for its medieval castles and rustic buildings. What's special about the city is that they have maintained all the ancient buildings in their original glory. The Old Town here is a UNESCO heritage site. The New Town now has a blend of ancient and modern architecture all over. A tourist would never run short of ideas for entertainment here as the city has a lot to offer for everyone.
The city flaunts green hills, lush valleys, and the blue sea with numerous ancient buildings lining the shores and beyond. The view from the top of the hill is something to behold. An Edinburgh bus can take you to Edinburgh bus station and once you reach there you can simply take a walk around the city. There are plenty of narrow lanes, stairs, and some churchyards hidden from immediate view to explore.
Quick Guide to Edinburgh
Here is a quick glance at the important things to see, do and know about this wonderful medieval city.
What to See in Edinburgh
- Edinburgh Castle
- National Museum of Scotland
- Arthur’s Seat
- Calton Hill
- Palace of Holyroodhouse
What to do at Edinburgh
- A trip to Leith
- Hiking to Arthur’s Seat
- Shopping at Victoria Street
- Experience the visual illusion at Camera Obscura
What to know about Edinburgh
- It's a crowded city small in size.
- You don't need a car, just walk around.
- The Old Town and New Town are on either side of the castle and are distinctive.
- Scotland holds plenty of festivals, especially in summer. Plan ahead to either watch or avoid them.
How to Travel to Edinburgh
Travelling to Edinburgh is easy as there are buses, trains and flights available at regular intervals from all parts of the UK. Edinburgh is also connected internationally via its airport to several parts of the world, such as Australia, the US, European countries, etc.
A bus to Edinburgh is more rewarding as it offers cheaper travel expenses and will also give you an opportunity to enjoy the landscape and the meadows on the way here. Cars and taxis are also available to enjoy the journey here but they are highly expensive. Buses are the best option as you can find them easily, book online, and get cheaper tickets.
- Buses to Edinburgh
Bus to Edinburgh is available from other parts of the UK. Apart from the main London to Edinburgh bus, you will find buses from Manchester, Birmingham, Sheffield, Glasgow, etc., as well. Several bus operators provide their service to and from Edinburgh and the tickets are available online for convenient booking.
The buses have luxury amenities inside including WiFi onboard, charging ports, comfortable luggage allowance, etc. You will also find a coach to Edinburgh from other cities in Scotland, such as the Aberdeen to Edinburgh bus and Dundee to Edinburgh bus.
- Trains to Edinburgh
National Rail trains are available from cities such as Glasgow, Manchester, Newcastle Liverpool, London, etc to the Edinburgh train station. The train station in Edinburgh is called Edinburgh Waverley Station. Apart from the regular train. You will also see a tram station- York Place in Edinburgh that is directly linked to the Edinburgh Airport.
- Flights to Edinburgh
Edinburgh has an airport which is about 25 mins away from the City Centre. Flights arrive here from all major cities in the UK and have direct flights from these cities as well. Buses and trams are available right at the airport to help you reach the city.
Top Bus Routes to and From Edinburgh
Edinburgh bus to Glasgow or the London to Edinburgh bus is not the only popular bus that is operating to or from this city. You will find buses from other parts of the UK as well as from cities in Scotland. The most significant bus routes operating to Edinburgh or starting from here are,
- Birmingham to Edinburgh
- Edinburgh to Aberdeen
- Edinburgh to Dungee
- Edinburgh to Manchester
- Glasgow to Edinburgh
- Leeds to Edinburgh
- London to Edinburgh
- Manchester Airport to Edinburgh
- Newcastle to Edinburgh
- Preston to Edinburgh
- Sheffield to Edinburgh
Top Things to Do in Edinburgh
Edinburgh is rich in history, culture, heritage, and architecture. There are plenty of tourist attractions here that deserve your time. Here are those famous spots that you need to add to your activity list.
Major tourist attractions in Edinburgh
Arthur's Seat
Hiking to Arthur’s Seat, an ancient volcano named after King Arthur is one of the most famous activities to do in Edinburgh. It takes about 2 hrs to climb here. The total distance is about 2.4 miles and the climbing is a bit tough. You can easily find Arthur’s Seat bus route in Edinburgh as most city buses pass through this place. N14 will be the first available bus through this area.
Edinburgh Castle
This was the royal residence of the Scottish Royalty for years. This is situated at the top of a hill, from where the view below is spectacular. The castle was captured repeatedly by the British and Scots. This is now a Heritage Site and is also part of both the Old and New Towns. Edinburgh Castle bus is frequently available from the Edinburgh bus station. The distance from the bus station to the castle is just 11 minutes.
Edinburgh Zoo
Edinburgh Zoo is another popular must-visit centre in the city. It is the main centre for conservation, research, and education about animals in Europe. Here several threatened and endangered animals are cared for and make them fit for their survival. Edinburgh Zoo bus is available from Princess Street. The bus stop is close to the zoo entrance where you can alight or board the buses.
Calton Hill
Calton Hill is a commercial centre in Edinburgh where you can see plenty of eateries, bakeries, art galleries, gift shops etc. People come here to view the city from the top of the hill. Calton Hill bus is available from the city. You can board the bus to the hill from St. Andrew’s House, Leopold Place, or Hillside from the city centre. The distance from the city to Calton Hill is just over a mile so you can take a walk as well.
National Museum of Scotland
This is a museum that preserves artefacts from across the globe and not just from Scotland. One can get a small glimpse of world history by a visit here. It may take a few hours to finish the tour here. You don't have to worry about the transportation here as the museum is a mile away from the city centre. Most city buses operate a National Museum of Scotland bus that passes through this place.
Palace of Holyroodhouse
The palace used to be the main residence of Queen Mary before her arrest. Several of her personal artefacts are still preserved inside the palace. It is also the official residence of the Queen when she visits Scotland. The palace is close to the Royal Mile. The Palace of Holyroodhouse bus is available from other parts of Edinburgh. Bus no. N26 will be the best option. It is also within a walking distance of the city centre.
Royal Mile
The Royal Mile used to be the traditional route of the Kings and Queens’ procession in ancient times. The Royal Mile has Edinburgh Castle and the Palace of Holyroodhouse at both ends. It is now a significant part of the Old Town. The Royal Mile bus stops at the South Bridge which happens to be the nearest bus stop here. Buses are available from all parts of Edinburgh.
Royal Botanic Garden
This tourist attraction in Scotland is not just a garden with precious trees and plants but also a conservation and research centre for the plants. It is older than 350 years and houses several exotic and medicinal plants here. It has two entrances, one at the eastern end and the other one on the western end. The garden is situated one mile away from the city. But the Royal Botanic Garden bus takes about 20 minutes to reach here.
Scottish National Gallery
The National Gallery of Scotland is a collection of three individual galleries. While the entry is free for all, you will need to take a ticket which will be timed. You have to be on time and should also finish your visit within the limits. It may take around 90-100 minutes to finish scrolling through all the fine arts displayed here. The Scottish National Gallery bus will bring you right close to the gallery. N26 is the first bus to look for.
Where to Stay in Edinburgh
Edinburgh is a popular tourist spot so there are plenty of options for accommodation in and around the city. The most popular options are available in the Old Town, New Town, Leith, Dean Village etc. There are several options such as a budget stay, luxury hotels, economical hotels etc.
The first time visitors will love it more if they stay in the Old Town or the Royal Mile areas. New Town is more for shopping enthusiasts and foodies. While booking, make sure that you book for at least 2-3 days so that you get enough time to enjoy all parts of this beautiful city.
What to eat in Edinburgh
When in Edinburgh, it would be a mistake not to taste its most popular dish- the haggis. It's a flavourful meat pudding with lots of spices. The same goes for its national drink-whisky which originates from here. Edinburgh has more eateries and pubs than any other city. So try any of these. Other than these main dishes and drinks there are a few more important dishes that are available at Pitt Street in Leith, Waverly Market, Fountainbridge on Fridays, or the Old Town food festival. Some popular dishes are,
- Aberdeen Angus beef
- Cranachan
- Dundee Cake
- Scotch broth
- Smoked Scottish salmon
Best Time to Visit Edinburgh
The most comfortable weather in Scotland is from June through August. August is the hottest season of the year when the temperature is around 70 degrees at its highest. All the main events here such as the Fringe Festival, Edinburgh festival, etc are all conducted in the month of August.
Scotland is often wet during the remaining time of the year. September to November is the wettest time in Scotland.
November to March is the cheapest season when you can save some money if you want to. But this is also the coldest season, especially December-January. April-May is also another low season here when you can find cheaper accommodations and tickets.