Edinburgh Airport sits about 20 minutes west of the city, off the A8. It runs its own car parks — this isn't council parking, so the rules are different — and the terminal drop-off now charges. Here's how to drop off, pick up and park without overpaying.
⏳ 14 days Got a ticket? It’s £100 — or £50 if you act within 14 days. My pay-or-appeal guide, incl. a free personal verdict on whether yours is worth fighting →Edinburgh Airport drop-off: £8.50 for 10 minutes (and the free alternative)
The quick drop-off and pick-up zone is on the ground floor of the multi-storey, right outside the terminal. It's the convenient option, but it's charged.
| Option | Cost | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Terminal drop-off / pick-up | £8.50 for 10 min (+£1/min) | a fast set-down at the door |
| Long Stay free area | Free up to 30 min | dropping off on a budget (≈10-min walk) |
| Long Stay / budget (pre-booked) | from online rates | leaving the car for a trip |
Local residents in selected postcodes (EH4 6, EH4 8, EH12 0, EH12 9, EH28, EH29, EH52 5) can apply for a 50% discount on the first 10 minutes in the charged zone.
Parking for a trip
From closest to cheapest: the Terminal and Multi-storey car parks (nearest, priciest), Mid Stay, Long Stay, and Plane Parking (budget, with a free shuttle bus). Pre-booking online saves up to 65% versus the gate price, and all car parks are now cashless (card, contactless, Apple/Google Pay). Book official parking on the Edinburgh Airport website.
Every car park compared
| Car park | Getting to the terminal | Pre-booked from* |
|---|---|---|
| Multi-storey | About 1 minute’s walk, covered. 2.1m height limit | £55 |
| FastPark (valet) | About 1 minute. Hand over your keys at the terminal | £39 |
| Terminal Parking | About 2 minutes’ walk, open-air, no height limit | £45 |
| Mid Stay | About 5 minutes’ walk, no shuttle | £38 |
| Long Stay | 10–12 minutes’ walk, no shuttle. First 30 minutes free | £29 |
| Plane Parking | Free shuttle bus | £24 |
*Early-booking “from” prices reported in August 2026. Airport prices change with demand and dates, so check the live price when you book. The closer to the terminal, the more you pay: for a week away, Long Stay or Plane Parking is usually the sweet spot.
Off-airport parking and park & ride
A ring of private car parks sits around the airport perimeter and runs shuttle buses to the terminal. They are not run by the airport, so you book them direct or through a comparison site. Most are fenced, barrier-controlled and covered by CCTV. They are often, but not always, cheaper than the airport’s own Long Stay.
| Operator | Getting to the terminal | Worth knowing |
|---|---|---|
| Secure Airparks | 1–2 minute shuttle, western edge of the airport | Rated 76% by Which? and recommended for value and service. EV charging bays available. |
| PremiAir (NCP) | Short shuttle, near the A8 airport junction | Rated 77% by Which?, the best-rated off-site option. |
| Flying Scot | About a 10-minute shuttle | Usually one of the cheapest weekly prices on comparison sites. |
| Drop & Go | About a 3-minute shuttle | Off-site, close to the terminal. |
Weekly prices listed in October 2026 started around £48 (Flying Scot) and £55 (Secure Airparks) on APH. But in a Which? sample for an August weekday, Secure Airparks and PremiAir came to about £85 against about £55 for the airport’s Long Stay. Off-site is not automatically cheaper — compare your actual dates.
Which car park is best? The Which? ratings
Which? surveyed travellers at UK airports in 2026. For Edinburgh:
| Car park | Run by | Which? score |
|---|---|---|
| FastTrack | Edinburgh Airport | 83% |
| PremiAir | NCP (off-site) | 77% |
| Secure Airparks | Off-site | 76% |
| Terminal Parking | Edinburgh Airport | 73% |
| Multi-storey | Edinburgh Airport | 72% |
| Mid Stay | Edinburgh Airport | 71% |
| Long Stay | Edinburgh Airport | 63% |
How to get the best price
- Book early. Airport and off-site prices both rise as your dates fill up. Booking weeks ahead is the most reliable discount there is — far more dependable than hunting for codes.
- Compare the same dates in two places. Check the airport’s own site and a comparison site side by side. The gap for a week can be tens of pounds either way.
- Match the car park to the trip. A weekend away: Mid Stay or Long Stay. A fortnight: off-site or Plane Parking. Early flight with kids and bags: the extra for Terminal Parking can be worth it.
- Never pay at the barrier if you can avoid it. Turn-up prices are the highest you will see.
Getting to the city centre
The tram stops directly outside the terminal and runs to St Andrew Square via Haymarket — frequent and easy. The Airlink 100 bus runs 24 hours from outside the terminal. By car or taxi it's about 20 minutes to the centre.
Quick recap
- Terminal drop-off: £8.50 / 10 min; free for 30 min in Long Stay.
- Pre-book for a trip — up to 65% off the gate price.
- Blue Badge: 1 hour free in the car parks.
- Into town: tram or Airlink 100, both outside the terminal.
Driving into Edinburgh?
Once you're off the plane and on the road, check parking zones and charges anywhere in the city.
Check parking in the city →