Flights to Edinburgh

Your flight time to Edinburgh depends on where you’re flying from and which airport you’re landing in. A journey from New York to Paris will take around ten hours including a connection in London, while Los Angeles to Edinburgh takes just over 13 hours with a connection.

You can fly to Edinburgh from a number of US cities. Flights with British Airways include a connection at either London Heathrow or London Gatwick.

There are two busy seasons in Edinburgh – summer, when several festivals take place, and the festive period, when Christmas markets and Hogmanay celebrations take over the city. Flights are cheaper outside of these periods, so search our fares to see if you can save.

It’s always a good time to visit Edinburgh. During winter the city fends off the longer evenings with fairy lights and eye-catching installations, including a procession of torches to mark the start of New Year’s Eve celebrations. Spring and autumn see a flourish of colour across the city as flowers begin to bloom and the leaves change during their respective seasons. In summer, Edinburgh’s streets become one gigantic party, with everything from comedy to cabaret taking place during the Fringe Festival, alongside the International Film Festival and Jazz & Blues Festival.

There are lots of options for affordable trips to Edinburgh, even during the more expensive times to visit. The city has accommodation options for every budget, from cheap hostels overlooked by Edinburgh Castle to chic apartments in New Town. You can buy an open return tram ticket from the airport to the city centre that can be used whenever you’re heading home as there’s no use-by date. The city is very easy to walk around too, especially if you explore the different neighbourhoods on different days – but public transport options come at a range of prices if you want to use them.

You can get from Edinburgh Airport to the city centre by tram, bus or taxi. It takes about 30 minutes in a car or 40 by public transport. There are a variety of ticket options available on the tram and bus so you can choose the most appropriate one for your stay.

To see more of Scotland, book a car hire with British Airways, and receive great benefits – with all mandatory charges included and 24-hour customer support. Collect Avios on every rental.

Whether you’re hiking up Arthur’s Seat, learning about the city’s unexpected medical history or watching a show at the Edinburgh Playhouse, culture, history and fun come as standard in Scotland’s capital. You can take your pick of events throughout the year to see Edinburgh at its best and brightest, and catching them all is the perfect excuse to come back for another visit.

You can book a hand baggage-only ticket or make the most of our generous baggage allowance. If you choose economy standard or one of our British Airways Holidays’ packages, each passenger can check in a bag weighing up to 23kg – in addition to a handbag, laptop case or other small bag. Families travelling in any cabin with younger children can also check in one car seat and one fully collapsible pushchair. Read more about baggage allowances for children.

If you’re flying in our business cabin, you can check in two bags weighing up to 32kg each. Read our baggage guide for full details.

Citizens of the UK and Ireland and EU passport holders do not need a visa to visit. If you hold a passport from a country or territory outside of these areas, you may need to apply for a visa before you travel. You can find out more about visa requirements for all the countries we fly to at the IATA Travel Centre.

Discover outstanding service from the moment you book. Choose to fly with hand baggage only or pick a price that includes a 23kg checked baggage allowance and free seat selection 24 hours before you fly. On board you’ll find HEPA-filtered air, quality on-board catering and a warm, uniquely British welcome.

Simply relax and let us take care of you, every step of the way.