Edinburgh is a city that is quite compact and is relatively simple and easy to get around, even during busy periods such as the summer festival season. Whether it’s your first ever visit to Edinburgh or you’ve journeyed to the city a few times before, it’s always good to know the best ways to get around so that you don’t miss out during your stay. Here are some of our top tips to help you get to where you want to be in Edinburgh as quickly and as easily as possible.
Walking
Going on foot is one of the easiest and most enjoyable ways to explore the awesome city of Edinburgh. From the very centre of the city on Princes Street, it won’t take any longer than around half an hour to reach even the more further afield venues such as the King’s Theatre in the south-east of the city, the Botanical Gardens to the north, or George Square in the south-east. The centre of the city is home to most of the major shops and attractions and thanks to the compactness of the city, it doesn’t take long to walk around. Alternatively you can opt for a guided tour which can be booked on mercattours.com.
By Bicycle
Edinburgh is home to a large number of cyclists who take advantage of some of the great routes available such as the National Cycle Network which includes both road and traffic free areas. This is a very useful network, with most major roads around the city having marked bike lanes and stopping boxes which allow cyclists to travel, stop and start in the safest way possible.
By Bus
Edinburgh has an extensive bus network, the routes of which cover the entire city and its outskirts. The Edinburgh bus network is well regarded by both local residents and visitors to the city. If you are planning on visiting Edinburgh during the annual summer festival, you can catch the bus to the majority of festival venues which are either on or close by to the main bus routes. There are also a number of night buses which are useful for those planning to stay out late or those who want to go for a few drinks in the evening during a visit to Edinburgh. Tickets can be bought on board each bus with great deals on Day and Week tickets. Bear in mind, however, that Lothian Buses don’t offer change so you’ll need to have the exact amount ready when you board.
By Car
If you are planning to drive to Edinburgh by car, you can use your car to get around the city and its outskirts. Due to the high levels of road traffic in the city centre, many visitors prefer to leave their car in a secure parking space during their visit and either walk or use public transport to make it easier and often quicker to get to the places that they need to be. You can use yourparkingspace.co.uk to reserve an Edinburgh space for your car and ensure that your trip is hassle-free. You can also save money whilst driving in Edinburgh by offering to car share through liftshare.com.
Edinburgh is one of the most interesting and vibrant cities in the UK – we hope you enjoy your trip!
