Edinburgh by Train: A Car-Free City Break

Did you know that you don’t need a car to make the most of Edinburgh? Compact, walkable and well connected by tram, bus and train, the Scottish capital is one of those cities where leaving the car behind can actually make your trip easier. You can arrive at Edinburgh Waverley and walk straight into the Old Town, hop on a tram for lunch in Leith, or be beside the sea in North Berwick around half an hour after leaving the city. And if you’re staying a little longer? Edinburgh's rail connections put even more of Scotland within easy reach, from Stirling and Dundee to the coast of East Lothian. Here's how to experience Edinburgh without a car, with a few ideas that take you beyond the most obvious stops along the way.

First things first: Is Edinburgh easy to explore without a car?

Yes, very. For a first visit, walking is often the best way to explore central Edinburgh. Many of the city's best-known sights sit surprisingly close together, with the Old Town, New Town, Princes Street and the Royal Mile all easily explored on foot. There's also a practical reason to walk: some of Edinburgh's most interesting discoveries are tucked down closes, stairways and side streets that you'd simply miss from a car. Start around the Royal Mile and leave yourself time to wander. 

Duck down Advocate's Close for a classic glimpse of the city rooftops, explore Victoria Street and the Grassmarket beneath Edinburgh Castle, or walk down towards Holyrood before tackling Arthur's Seat if you're feeling energetic. Edinburgh is compact, but it certainly isn't flat, so comfortable shoes are worth packing. The city's hills, cobbles and steps can make seemingly short distances feel a little longer. 

A tip from The Resident Insiders: Discover a different side of the city and follow part of the Water of Leith Walkway. The full walkway stretches for 12.5 miles, but there's no need to complete all of it. One particularly lovely section takes you through Dean Village and towards Stockbridge, giving you a peaceful, traffic-free contrast to the bustle of the city centre. Stop in Stockbridge afterwards and make an afternoon of exploring its independent shops, cafés and delis.

Take the tram from the airport straight into the city

Arriving by plane doesn't mean needing a taxi or hire car either. The Edinburgh tram stop sits directly beside the airport terminal, and the journey into the city centre takes less than 35 minutes Once you're in Edinburgh, the tram becomes a handy way to explore beyond the immediate city centre too. The route runs from the airport through Haymarket, Princes Street and St Andrew Square before continuing down Leith Walk to The Shore, Ocean Terminal and Newhaven. During the daytime, services run from every seven minutes.