Whether you have a layover, overnight sleepover or are just quickly passing through, our Edinburgh Airport Guide is a great place to start planning your visit. Here, you’ll find information on services and facilities available inside the airport – including details about airport lounges, WiFi, mobile charging points, lockers, 24-hour food options, nearby hotels, and everything in between.
Table of Contents
After being asleep for some 30 minutes, security woke us and shouted at us for being “a security issue”. -Bjoern
EDI Airport Overview
To help you plan your layover or overnight sleepover, here is a quick run-down about what to expect during your time at Edinburgh Airport (Code: EDI).
What to Expect
Edinburgh Airport has only one terminal, making it simple to navigate, but services are limited to about a dozen or so eateries and a similar number of shops. Free WiFi is available, and economy-class passengers can purchase entry into an airport lounge for additional comfort.
Sleeping in Edinburgh Airport
While Edinburgh Airport is open 24 hours a day, you may have to stay in the landside/public zones, as security checkpoints close for a few hours at night. Expect a decent amount of seating, though it’s not the most comfortable and has armrests. Your best move is pushing a few armrest-free chairs or benches together for a makeshift bed, then adding a couple extra layers for some cushion. Several travellers report being asked to leave cafes after a certain amount of time if they are lingering around too long for comfortable seating. Sleeping on the floor seems to be no problem, and you may be able to find some darker or more private corners. The sooner you can arrive, the better your chances are for snagging a good spot.
Here are specific spots that travellers have reported:
- The Arrivals and Baggage Claim area has a good amount of armrest-free benches.
- The car rental centre, across from the main terminal, is quiet and has some chairs without armrests. (Airport staff may not allow you to stay here all night.)
- The Starbucks, located on the landside, has comfortable seating.
Numerous reviewers have identified the terminal as bright and loud, eyeshades and earplugs/noise-cancelling headphones are recommended. Many travellers end up sleeping on the cold floor, so be prepared!
There are several nearby hotels for uninterrupted sleep, albeit for a price. See the Airport Hotels section below for more info.
Read the latest traveller airport reviews for more tips.
Good to Know
If faced with a long daytime layover, consider a journey into Edinburgh Centre via the tram service that runs every seven minutes with a journey time of 30 minutes.
To help us keep this guide up-to-date, you can add or update information or write a review to submit airport tips and photos. You can also visit the airport’s website for current information. If you would like more airport information, you can continue scrolling down to explore more in our Edinburgh Airport Guide.
In this guide we may refer to locations as “landside” and “airside”. Landside is the public area of the terminal located in the non-secure zone, before security. Airside is the secure area of the terminal that you must reach by going through security. For more information on Europe’s Schengen Area, click here.
Airport Hours
The airport is open 24 hours.
Rest & Relaxation Zones
No dedicated sleeping areas, quiet areas or rest zones exist. If this information has changed, click here to update this guide.
Airport Hotels
If sleeping in the airport sounds like a nightmare, there are hotels near Edinburgh Airport:
- DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Edinburgh Airport – A free airport shuttle is available. » Check Rates
- Moxy Edinburgh Airport – No airport shuttle. » Check Rates
- Holiday Inn Express Edinburgh Airport – An airport shuttle is available. » Check Rates
- Premier Inn Edinburgh Airport – No airport shuttle. » Check Rates
- Ibis Budget Hotel Edinburgh Park – No airport shuttle. » Check Rates
For more options, visit Tripadvisor to see a list of hotels near Edinburgh Airport that can be sorted by price, distance, traveller rating, and popularity.
Airport Lounges
Pay-per-use, Single Visit Passes & Lounge Memberships
Regardless of what class of service you are flying, there are lounges that you can enter by paying at the door, purchasing a lounge pass or through a lounge membership program. Visit the individual lounge page for more details about the lounge itself and learn how to gain access with just an economy class ticket!
- Aspire Lounge – Location: Airside, near Gate 4. Lounge Access: Pay at the Door • Prepaid lounge passes • Lounge membership programs.
- Aspire Lounge – Location: Airside, near Gate 16, 2nd Floor. Lounge Access: Pay at the Door • Prepaid lounge passes • Lounge membership programs.
- Plaza Premium Lounge – Location: Departure Hall, 2nd Floor. Lounge Access: Pay at the Door. Hours: 4:00 AM – 10:00 PM.
Airline Lounges
If you are a First or Business Class traveller, you may have access to the lounges listed below. If you would like more information, you can check the airline’s website.
- British Airways Lounge – Location: Departure Area. Hours: 5:00 AM – 8:30 PM (Mon-Fri) • 5:15 AM – 8:30 PM (Sat-Sun). Lounge Access: Pay at the Door • Prepaid lounge passes • Lounge membership programs.
Related Pages: Edinburgh Airport Lounges
Drinking Water
Information is unavailable. Does Edinburgh Airport have water fountains or water bottle refill stations? Click here to update this guide.
Food & Drinks
Food concessions throughout the terminal operate with varying schedules. A reader tells us that Costa Coffee on the landside is open 24 hours. (June 2024)
Luggage Storage & Lockers
Lockers are available at the Luggage Point. Location: Landside, Arrivals. Hours: 4:00 AM to 10:00 PM. Rates for standard size: £9.50/ 0 – 3 hours • £14.50/ 1st day • £12.50 each additional day/bag • £60.00 per week.
Mobile Charging
Recharge your electronics before security at Caffè Nero (on the first floor) and after security at WHSmith Café (near Gate 16). In addition, plenty of outlets are available on both the Landside and Airside.
Showers
Unavailable. If this information has changed, click here to update this guide.
WiFi / Internet
Free WiFi is available at Edinburgh Airport, but the connection is slow and only works in certain areas of the building. Connect to the ‘Edinburgh Airport’ network.
Security & Safety
Because the security checkpoints close overnight, you won’t be allowed to stay in the airside/gate areas. Instead, airport staff relocate all travellers to the landside/public zones. The security guards may also keep you in specific areas, like the Arrivals floor and not the Check-in areas. Still, they tend to tolerate overnight sleepers, even those sprawled on the floor. Around 4:00 AM, the airport starts buzzing with early morning activity, so you probably won’t be able to sleep much past that.
At the time of this update, we have no reports from travellers commenting on safety issues at Edinburgh Airport. However,
sleeping in any airport can include a certain level of risk, especially when travelling alone. It’s important to take certain precautions to ensure your safety and the security of your valuables. Here are a few tips:
- Safety First. It’s a good idea to know where the security office is located and look for video cameras where you plan to sleep. You can also ask the security personnel for advice on the safest places to spend the night.
- Don’t Seclude Yourself. If you’re travelling alone, we recommend you stay near other travellers or close to security. This will help you feel more secure and deter potential thieves.
- Hide Your Valuables. It’s also important to hide your valuables. Don’t leave them out in plain view, as this could make you a target for theft. Additionally, if you are a deep sleeper, you may want to padlock your bag to something or sleep with your bag up against a wall to make it harder for someone to access zippers and pockets. We have received reports of sleepers who woke up without their phones and laptop bags. The travellers were left with just their headphones and laptop bag strap.
- Stay Alert. It’s best to stay alert and awake if you feel unsafe or uncomfortable. Drink coffee or other caffeinated beverages to help you stay awake, and remember that you can always catch up on sleep during your flight. These simple precautions can help you enjoy a safe night at the airport.
Pro-tip: If you sleep in the public zone, don’t be surprised if you receive an early morning wake-up call. Security is known to make the rounds, waking people up as travellers arrive for morning flights.
More Airport Information
Dry Cleaning – Drop your dirty clothing off and receive it back clean at the Luggage Point’s “Drop Off, Pick Up” dry cleaning service. Location: Location: Landside, Arrivals. Hours: 4:00 AM – 10:00 PM.
Family Services
- Baby Care Facilities – Many toilets have baby changing facilities and dedicated cubicles for children. You will also find a family washroom and a nursing room at Gate 21.
- Children’s Play Area – At one point, there were children’s play areas in several locations airside. We could not confirm this at the time of our September 2023 update. If you know whether they are still there, click here to update our guide.
- Family Lane – Breeze through security using the designated Family Lane, free of charge.
- Food – Most restaurants provide high chairs and children’s menus. Diapers, formula milk and more children’s products used to be available at the Superstore Drug Store (Airside – open 24 hours). We could not confirm this at the time of our September 2023 update. If you know whether this store is still there, click here to update our guide.
Fast Track Service – As a premium service, customers with Fast Track security passes will be given priority service to ensure that wait times are minimal. Cost: £7.00. Book online or purchase tickets at FastTrack Machines located throughout Landside. Travellers can also buy a FastTrack passport control service for the same price.
Information Desk – If you have any questions, visit the Information Desk in the arrivals area. Hours: unknown.
Luggage
- Luggage Storage & Lockers – see “Luggage Storage & Lockers” above.
- Luggage Weighing – Are you worried you are over your airline’s luggage weight limit? The Luggage Point has scales available to put your mind at ease. Locations: Landside, Arrivals. Rate: Unknown.
- Luggage Wrapping – Luggage Point luggage wrapping service is available, with rates starting at £12 per bag. Location: East Terminal Annex Hours: 4:00 AM – 10:00 PM.
Massages – Inside & Out offers a range of treatments and therapies. Location: Airside, Gate 10.
Massage Chairs – A reader tells us, “Coin operated massage chairs available opposite aspire lounge, before gates 1-4.” (July 2024)
Money
- ATMs / Cash Machines – Need cash? ATMs are available. Fees may apply, so check your bank’s fee schedule and daily withdrawal limit if you are travelling internationally. You may also want to notify your bank of your travel plans. Locations: Landside and Airside.
- Currency Exchange – The International Currency Exchange (ICE) has six locations:
- Landside: opposite Ticket Desk Area A • International Arrivals.
- Airside: Between Gates 9 and 10.
Pharmacy – Boots is located Airside. Hours: 3:00 AM – 10:00 PM. At one point, visitors could also access a Superdrug store located Airside. We could not confirm this at the time of our 2023 September update. If you know whether this store is still there, click here to update our guide.
Prayer Room – Location: International Arrivals, Ground Floor, beside the Ryanair check-in area. Hours: open 24 hours.
Shopping – Duty-Free shopping and a large selection of shops are available.
SIM Cards – A reader has asked us to include where to buy SIM Cards. If you know, click here to update this airport guide.
Smoking – Smoking is permitted in designated areas outside the airport.
Spa – Doubletree Hotel by Hilton is home to the PURE spa and beauty. You can easily access this hotel via a free two-minute shuttle from the terminal. Hours: 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM.
Viewing Areas – The best places to watch the action on the tarmac and runways are located airside at The Gathering Restaurant & Lounge, Costa Coffee (Gate 12) and WHSmith Café.
Buses and Coaches
Several companies operate daily buses and coaches to and from Edinburgh Airport. These buses and coaches travel to railway stations and destinations within Edinburg and its surrounding areas and long-distance destinations. The Airport Link 100 runs every 10 minutes during the day (4:30 AM – 1:00 AM) and every 20 minutes during the night (1:00 AM – 4:30 AM), taking approximately 30 minutes to travel between south St David Street (near the main bus and train station) and the airport. For details on the bus companies and their pick-up zones, visit the Edinburgh Airport website.
Car Rentals
Car rental services are handled in the Car Rental Centre, a designated facility behind the multi-storey car park and connected to the main passenger terminal via a covered walkway. Onsite car rental agencies include Alamo • Avis • Budget • Enterprise • Europcar • Hertz • National • Sixt.
Hotel Shuttles
A few area hotels provide airport shuttle service: DoubleTree by Hilton Edinburgh Airport • Holiday Inn Express Edinburgh Airport.
See also Airport Hotels above.
Ride Sharing
Uber operates throughout Edinburgh. A ride to the city centre will cost you about £27.
Taxis
Licensed black taxis are available on the ground floor of the multi-storey car park, just opposite the main passenger terminal. All taxis are metered, and reservations are not required. The total trip time between the airport and the city centre is 20 minutes.
Tram
Edinburgh Trams is an easy and economical way to travel to the city centre (with stops along the way) if you travel light. Trams depart every 7 minutes for the 30-minute ride to the city centre. As of this update, adult tram fare is £7.00 (one way) or £9.00 (round trip). Trams run from 6:26 AM to 10:48 PM. Tickets are sold at vending machines at each tram stop. For route maps, schedules, and additional fare information, visit the Edinburgh Trams website.
Last updated: 2024-08-26
This guide is for informational purposes only to assist with your planning. All information, including rates and hours, is subject to change at any time without notice. The information in this airport guide is based on information collected and/or received from the airports, lounges, hotels, transportation providers, and their websites. We are not representatives of any of the above-mentioned service providers. To report errors or to add/update any items mentioned in the guide: update the airport guide or write a review.