Edinburgh’s city centre is best explored on foot combined with the tram, which runs a single line from Edinburgh Airport through the heart of the city to Newhaven, while Lothian Buses cover a much wider network across the wider metropolitan area, including a dedicated airport shuttle service.
How public transport works in Edinburgh
Edinburgh’s public transport is built around two main systems that work independently of each other:
- The tram, a single line running from Edinburgh Airport, through Haymarket, Princes Street and York Place, all the way to Newhaven on the waterfront. The core “City” fare zone covers every stop between Ingliston Park & Ride and Newhaven.
- Lothian Buses, which operate a large network of routes across the city and surrounding area, including the dedicated Airlink 100 airport shuttle service.
These two systems are entirely separate: a ticket valid on the tram does not automatically cover Lothian Buses, and vice versa, so it is worth being clear from the outset about which network your pass actually covers.
Getting around central Edinburgh
Most visitors spend their time around Princes Street, St Andrew Square, Haymarket and Waverley Station, all of which sit directly on the tram route. The tram is a straightforward way to move along this central corridor, while Lothian Buses fill in journeys away from the tram line, including routes toward the Old Town and other central neighbourhoods not directly served by tram.
Edinburgh airport connections
There are two separate ways to reach Edinburgh Airport by public transport:
- The tram, which has Edinburgh Airport as one terminus of its single line. The airport itself sits just beyond Ingliston Park & Ride, outside the standard City fare zone.
- The Airlink 100, a dedicated airport shuttle bus operated by Lothian Buses, running between Edinburgh Airport and the city centre (Waverley Bridge and St Andrew Square). It operates 24 hours a day, departing every 7 to 10 minutes during the daytime and every 15 to 30 minutes at night, with stops including Haymarket, Princes Street, St Andrew Square and Waverley Bridge, near Waverley Station.
Both options get you into the centre, but they run on different networks and are priced and ticketed separately.
What a digital transport pass covers in Edinburgh
A digital transport pass such as Conet Pass covers unlimited tram travel within the City fare zone, meaning any stop between Ingliston Park & Ride and Newhaven, for the duration of your ticket (see how Conet Pass works for the general logic behind these packages). Passes are currently available for 1, 3, 4 and 5 days, all built around this same unlimited tram travel in the City fare zone. The standard pass does not include Lothian Buses, so if your plans rely on the wider bus network rather than the tram, you will need a separate ticket for that.
At the time of writing, none of the Edinburgh packages on sale include a separate airport option: every available duration covers tram travel within the City fare zone only, and Edinburgh Airport sits just beyond it. If you need to reach the airport, the Airlink 100 bus described above is a separate service with its own ticket, unconnected to your transport pass. This kind of variation in what is bundled into a standard pass is common across the network, and is explained in more detail in why digital transport pass pricing can differ. Always check your confirmation email, and the current options on the booking page, for the precise coverage of your specific ticket.
What is not included
To avoid confusion once you are in the city:
- Lothian Buses, including the Airlink 100 airport shuttle, are not part of the standard Conet Pass and require a separate ticket.
- Airport travel is not included in any of the currently available Edinburgh passes (1, 3, 4 or 5 days), all of which cover tram travel within the City fare zone only.
- Anything outside the City fare zone (beyond Ingliston Park & Ride on one end and Newhaven on the other) sits outside standard tram coverage.
Activation and validity
Validity for a digital transport pass in Edinburgh depends on the ticket type and duration selected. With Conet Pass, as with most digital passes on local public transport (see how Conet Pass works on local public transport), the pass is delivered by email after purchase and generally needs to be activated before first use. Rather than listing generic activation steps here, the safest approach is to follow the instructions included in your own confirmation email, since these are specific to your ticket type and can vary between products.
Every pass includes a free Ubigi eSIM with 500 MB of data preloaded, sent directly in your confirmation email alongside your ticket, which can help you stay connected while checking timetables or your ticket status. Activation happens on Ubigi’s website, so check your confirmation email for the details specific to your booking.
Tips for using public transport in Edinburgh as a tourist
- Use the tram for straightforward journeys along Princes Street, Haymarket and toward Waverley Station.
- Airport travel is not part of any current Edinburgh pass, so if you need it, plan for the Airlink 100 bus as a separate ticket.
- If your itinerary relies heavily on areas only served by Lothian Buses, plan for a separate bus ticket alongside your tram pass.
- Keep your confirmation email accessible offline, in case you need to check what is included in your ticket type.
Frequently asked questions
No. A standard Conet Pass in Edinburgh covers unlimited tram travel within the City fare zone only. Lothian Buses, including the Airlink 100 airport shuttle, run on a separate network and require their own ticket.
No. All currently available Edinburgh passes (1, 3, 4 and 5 days) cover unlimited tram travel within the City fare zone only. Edinburgh Airport sits beyond this zone, and none of the current packages include a route to reach it. The Airlink 100 bus is a separate service with its own ticket.
A dedicated airport shuttle bus operated by Lothian Buses, running 24 hours a day between Edinburgh Airport and the city centre, with stops at Haymarket, Princes Street, St Andrew Square and Waverley Bridge. It is a separate service from the tram and from the standard transport pass.
It covers every stop between Ingliston Park & Ride and Newhaven. Edinburgh Airport itself sits just beyond this zone, which is why none of the current transport passes reach it, and travellers rely on the Airlink 100 bus instead.
Check your confirmation email, sent after purchase, which lists the exact transport modes and validity for your specific ticket type. If you cannot find it or need help with your booking, the Conet Pass assistance and refund page is the right place to start.
Summary
Edinburgh’s public transport splits into two separate networks: the tram, running a single line between Edinburgh Airport and Newhaven, and Lothian Buses, which cover a much wider area including the dedicated Airlink 100 airport shuttle. Every currently available digital transport pass covers unlimited tram travel within the City fare zone only, and none of them include Lothian Buses or a route to the airport. Reaching Edinburgh Airport currently means using the Airlink 100 as a separate ticket. As always, check your confirmation email, and the current options on the booking page, to confirm the exact coverage for your specific ticket type.
Edinburgh is one of the cities covered by the wider Conet Pass network. For the full list of Conet Pass city sites, see the Conet Pass network directory.
