EDI · Edinburgh, United Kingdom · International Hub
Edinburgh Airport Guide
Terminals, minimum connection times, ground transport, parking, lounges, and layover advice for Edinburgh Airport (EDI), every figure cited to the airport's own data.
Quick answer
- Terminals: 1 terminal, not airside-connected (re-security between some)
- Minimum connection time: 1 hr domestic, 1 hr 30 min international to domestic
- Arrive: 1 hr 15 min before domestic, 2 hr 30 min before international
- To Edinburgh: about 30 min one-way
- Free WiFi: Yes · Showers: Yes
Map
Terminals & connections
Edinburgh Airport has 1 terminal. Not all terminals are airside-connected; transfers between some terminals require exiting security and re-clearing TSA. Floors run a high 60 minutes for UK domestic-to-domestic and 90 minutes for any sector involving an international flight. Since Brexit, EU and Schengen flights are 'international' at a UK airport, so the 90-minute floors apply to them too. The real driver is the UK border: an international arrival clears UK Border Force immigration and normally reclaims and re-checks bags unless the airline through-checked them. British Airways files about 60 min same-airline for domestic and domestic-to-international connections. EES does not apply (the UK is outside the Schengen area and the EU).
Main Terminal
3 airlines: British Airways, easyJet, Ryanair
Single terminal. International arrivals clear UK Border Force immigration on arrival, including when connecting to a UK domestic flight; domestic arrivals go straight to baggage reclaim. There is no published airside international-transfer facility.
Minimum connection times
- Domestic to domestic
- 1 hr
- Domestic to international
- 1 hr 30 min
- International to domestic
- 1 hr 30 min
- International to international
- 1 hr 30 min
- Transfer system
- Single terminal. International arrivals clear UK Border Force immigration and reclaim bags; with no airside international-transfer facility, most connections involving an international flight are effectively landside self-transfers
- Airside connected
- No
Layover helper
Check whether your layover at EDI is tight, comfortable, or long enough to leave the airport. Adjust trip type, terminal change, and checked-bag assumptions to match your itinerary.
Security & TSA
Typical TSA wait at EDI is 30 minutes at peak and 10 minutes off-peak. Arrive at least 1 hr 15 min before a domestic flight and 2 hr 30 min before international.
- TSA PreCheck
- Not available
- CLEAR
- Not available
- Global Entry
- Not available
UK airport; no US TSA programs. UK Border Force passport control for international arrivals. UK Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) required for visa-exempt visitors entering the UK; airside transit passengers who do not pass border control are currently exempt, though that exemption is under review. EES does not apply (the UK is outside the Schengen area and the EU).
Lounges
2 notable lounges at EDI, including airline-branded clubs and third-party options accessible via Priority Pass or day-pass. Check your credit card benefits (Amex Platinum, Chase Sapphire Reserve, Capital One Venture X) before paying a day-pass fee.
Aspire Lounge
Departures, near Gate 16 (airside)Aspire / contract
Access: Priority Pass, eligible cards, paid day pass
Amenities: Buffet, Bar, Wi-Fi
British Airways Lounge
Departures, near Gate 4 (airside)British Airways / oneworld
Access: Business class, oneworld status, BA passengers
Amenities: Buffet, Bar, Wi-Fi
Amenities
6 of 7 core amenities available at EDI: showers, free WiFi, nursing rooms, chapel, pharmacy, pet relief. Free WiFi quality is rated good. Dining options span 1 terminal.
Showers
Available
Premium lounges
Sleep pods
Not available
WiFi
Free (good)
Free wifi
Nursing rooms
Available
Terminal
Chapel
Available
Multi-faith prayer room
Pet relief areas
Available
Pet relief areas
Dining highlights
Departures: JD Wetherspoons (near Gate 10), PizzaExpress (near Gate 16)
Ground transport to Edinburgh
EDI is about 30 min from downtown Edinburgh by the fastest transit option.
| Option | Cost | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Edinburgh Trams Train To St Andrew Square / city centre in ~30 min, every 7 min daytime; adult single GBP 7.50 (~USD 10). | $10 | 30-35 min |
| Airlink 100 express bus Bus To Waverley Bridge (near Princes Street and Waverley station) in ~30 min, at least every 10 min; adult single GBP 3.50 (~USD 4). | $4-$5 | 30-35 min |
| Taxi Taxi Approximate; ~13 km to central Edinburgh. | $25-$35 | 20-30 min |
Parking
EDI does not publish a fixed daily parking rate; on-airport parking is priced dynamically by date and lot. Foreign airport; parking rates not independently verified. UK prices in GBP via edinburghairport.com.
- Short-term
- Varies
- Long-term
- Varies
- Economy
- Not available
- Valet
- Not available
Can I leave EDI during a layover?
With a 3-hour layover, stay inside EDI. With 6+ hours, you have time to see part of Edinburgh. Round-trip to the city center is about 1 hr plus re-screening on return.
Central Edinburgh is ~30 min by tram or the Airlink 100 bus. A 4+ hour layover can reach the Old Town; under 3 hours stay airside. Non-UK visitors leaving the airport need a UK ETA or visa and pass UK Border Force on return.
Frequently asked questions
How early should I arrive at EDI?
Arrive at least 75 minutes before a domestic flight from EDI, and 150 minutes before an international flight. Peak-time TSA waits at EDI can hit 30+ minutes, so add buffer.
What is the minimum connection time at EDI?
EDI requires at least 60 minutes for domestic-to-domestic connections and 90 minutes for international-to-domestic connections. EDI terminals are not all airside-connected; expect to re-clear security between some terminals. Transfer system: Single terminal. International arrivals clear UK Border Force immigration and reclaim bags; with no airside international-transfer facility, most connections involving an international flight are effectively landside self-transfers.
How long does it take to get between terminals at EDI?
Budget 15 min for same-terminal transfers and 15 min for different-terminal transfers at EDI via Single terminal. International arrivals clear UK Border Force immigration and reclaim bags; with no airside international-transfer facility, most connections involving an international flight are effectively landside self-transfers. Floors run a high 60 minutes for UK domestic-to-domestic and 90 minutes for any sector involving an international flight. Since Brexit, EU and Schengen flights are 'international' at a UK airport, so the 90-minute floors apply to them too. The real driver is the UK border: an international arrival clears UK Border Force immigration and normally reclaims and re-checks bags unless the airline through-checked them. British Airways files about 60 min same-airline for domestic and domestic-to-international connections. EES does not apply (the UK is outside the Schengen area and the EU).
Can I leave EDI during a 6-hour layover?
With 3 hours you should stay inside EDI. A 6-hour layover is enough to leave the airport briefly. Round-trip to the city center is about 60 minutes plus re-screening. Central Edinburgh is ~30 min by tram or the Airlink 100 bus. A 4+ hour layover can reach the Old Town; under 3 hours stay airside. Non-UK visitors leaving the airport need a UK ETA or visa and pass UK Border Force on return.
Does EDI have showers?
Yes, EDI has showers at Premium lounges.
Does EDI have sleep pods?
EDI does not have dedicated sleep pods. Check premium airline lounges for quiet rooms.
Is WiFi free at EDI?
Yes. EDI offers free WiFi throughout the airport. Free wifi
What is the cheapest way to get from EDI to Edinburgh?
The cheapest option is typically Airlink 100 express bus at $4-$5, taking 30-35 minutes. To Waverley Bridge (near Princes Street and Waverley station) in ~30 min, at least every 10 min; adult single GBP 3.50 (~USD 4).
Is there TSA PreCheck and CLEAR at EDI?
EDI does not support TSA PreCheck and does not have CLEAR. Typical peak-hour wait is 30 minutes. UK airport; no US TSA programs. UK Border Force passport control for international arrivals. UK Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) required for visa-exempt visitors entering the UK; airside transit passengers who do not pass border control are currently exempt, though that exemption is under review. EES does not apply (the UK is outside the Schengen area and the EU).
Where should I eat at EDI during a layover?
Notable dining at EDI includes JD Wetherspoons (near Gate 10) (Departures), PizzaExpress (near Gate 16) (Departures).
How much does parking cost at EDI?
EDI does not publish a fixed daily parking rate; rates are set dynamically by date and lot. Foreign airport; parking rates not independently verified. UK prices in GBP via edinburghairport.com.
Are there pet relief areas at EDI?
Yes. Pet relief areas.
Is there a chapel or prayer room at EDI?
Yes. Multi-faith prayer room.
Compare EDI to other airports
See how EDI ranks against the other 97 airports in our dataset.
Airlines operating at EDI
Look up baggage policies for any airline flying out of EDI.
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Sources & verification
- overview: https://www.edinburghairport.com/prepare/arriving-passengers
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edinburgh_Airport
Verified Jun 2026. Airport operations, parking rates, and amenities change; always confirm with Edinburgh Airport before flying.