- Train - Edinburgh has two major train
stations, Waverley and Haymarket.
Haymarket is on the outskirts of the city and is mostly used by
commuters and locals, while Waverley is smack in the middle of the
Old and New Towns, functioning as the main 'port of entry' for
visitors and all major routes. Trains run between Glasgow and
Edinburgh constantly for £8-12and the journey only takes 45min, but
be aware that during peak commuter hours (8-9am, 4-6pm)
they can be standing-room only. You can get a train to
Edinburgh from virtually any major train station in England or
Scotland, but make sure you check to see if you need to change
trains at any point in your chosen route.
- Plane - Edinburgh International Airport is the
main point of entry if you're arriving by plane. From there,
the Airlink Bus runs every 10 minutes 24/7 and takes you
directly from the airport to the city center (and vice versa) for
£4. Alternatively, if you fly into Heathrow, you can get a
train direct from London King's Cross Station to Edinburgh Waverley
Station for about £60. I say it's worth the fare just for the
scenery on the way!
- Ship - Quoi, you ask? If, like me, you're not
a huge fan of cruising along an unstable jet stream at 35,000 feet
in an aluminum can, there is an alternative. Many commercial
cargo ships will rent out empty cabins to private
travelers. These ships frequently dock along the east
coast of the USA and make their way to English or Scottish ports
where you can disembark. The journey from US to UK typically takes
about 5-6 days and all the usual passport/border/customs procedures
still apply.
- Car - There are many ways to get to Edinburgh
by car, depending where you're coming from. I recommend traveling
along one of Scotland's National Tourist Routes.
You'll pass many beautiful historic sites and can pop in to see one
on the way if you have time. If you'd like to rent a car, most
rental agencies will have automatics and manuals and require you to
be at least 25 years old.