travelling around edinburgh

Once in Edinburgh you may not want to leave but as you pack in as much as you can you’ll find that getting around is easier than you think.

It is a well-acknowledged truth that driving in Edinburgh city centre is ‘mission impossible’ at best. Although the city centre does have a number of multi-storey car parks it can still often be a frustrating exercise to find a parking space especially with the strict street parking restrictions.

If you want to take on the challenge there are car parks in the following areas: Lothian Road, Castle Terrace and several around Princes Street. And if you do want to drive, a better idea would be to park a bit further out in the free-to-park "peripheral zone" and then walk or take a bus into the city centre.

For getting from A to B by car around Edinburgh a taxi will prove to be a less traumatic experience. Like London, Edinburgh has black cab taxis, which can be hailed as they pass if the ‘for hire’ light is lit or picked up at a taxi rank. If you would rather phone for a taxi the two main providers are City Cabs and Capital Castle. For further information visit our Edinburgh taxis section.

Walking is probably the best way to get around the city. Depending on your level of fitness some of the hilly strolls may leave you a little out of breath but with something to see at every turn it’s the best way to take it all in.

If you’d rather save your energy then Edinburgh’s bus system is the way to go. Deregulation has meant that there is more than one bus service operating in the city, but your best bet for city centre travel are the purple/maroon “corporate buses” operated by Lothian Regional Transport (LRT). For further information visit our travel to Edinburgh coach/bus section.

Generally bus tickets are fairly cheap but if you are thinking of doing a lot of bus travel it may be worth considering a ‘saver ticket’. These vary in price according to the amount of time you need them for and when you plan to travel but can be a real bargain. Timetables can be obtained from the Traveline offices at in Cockburn Street but with a regular service on the main routes you should not have to wait more than 15 to 20 minutes for a bus.

Taking in the sights and sounds of Edinburgh can also be done using pedal power with the Scottish capital boasting one of the most extensive off-road cycle networks in Britain.

Several cycle paths and routes take you past the main attractions as well as off the beaten track to exclusive suburbs and along the seafront.

If you’re wanting to experience the city in this way you can hire a bicycle for one of number of companies from as little as £10 for half a day.