Edinburgh Bus Travel

General bus information

You buy your ticket on board the bus. Make sure you give exact money for your fare, drivers don't give change. Always keep some change in your pocket just in case you have to travel by bus.
Bus travel tickets are not interchangeable, you cannot travel with a Lothian Bus ticket on a First Bus or vice versa.
Cost of travel by bus transportation is on average £2 a for a full day.
If you buy a cheap day ticket, unfold it clearly for the driver to see every time you get on the bus. They usually don't pay much attention to it but some bus drivers do look at it carefully.

Buses only stop if someone presses the STOP button or if there is someone at the bus stop wanting to get on.
When you are at the bus stop and see the bus in sight, come out of the bus shelter and extend your hand to indicate that you want to get on.
One thing tourists in Edinburgh don't know is that people in Britain queue at the bus stop to get on. You should join the end of the queue when waiting for a bus.
When you travel by bus and aren't sure where to get off, just ask the driver and he will let you know. They are generally helpful and friendly.

Day buses run from 6am to 12am after which the night buses come into operation. Peak time is considered before 9:30am when tickets are more expensive. Buses are less frequent after 7pm and on Sundays.
Lothian Buses have the most frequent buses running every 5-10-20 minutes during the day. First Buses run every 30-60 minutes to and from areas around of Edinburgh.

Buses in Edinburgh City Centre are diverted on occasions such as the Hogmanay, Fireworks Concert, Festival Cavalcade and other parades and marches. Ask drivers, call operators' info lines and observe bus stop information for changes. Most buses running along Princes Street will be diverted to George Street or Queen Street.
On December 25th, 26th and January 1st some bus services may not operate or may operate as a Sunday service. You can travel with Lothian's Night Buses on Hogmanay night but only within the City boundaries.

The easiest and quickest way to go to Edinburgh Castle is to take the Historic Scotland bus from George Street, Hanover Street or the Mound.
The Historic Scotland transportation shuttle is useful for people unable to walk up the hill to the castle. You can buy Edinburgh Castle tour tickets from the bus and jump the queues.

General bus information Essential tourist information on using buses in Edinburgh.

Lothian Buses travel information Details about travelling with Lothian Buses, tickets, contact information and description of buses, etc.

First Edinburgh travel information Details about travelling with First Buses, tickets, timetables, routes, contact information, etc.

Edinburgh travel guide How to travel to and from Edinburgh by different means of transport.

Edinburgh tours by public bus How to make your own cheap tours by combining walking with public transport.