Edinburgh Airport to Dundee

Two coaches, one stop

Both coach operators use Stop E outside the terminal. That makes comparison easy: walk out, check which leaves next, and decide whether the cheaper fare or the non-stop run matters more. The road distance is about 86 km, via the Queensferry Crossing and the M90 north through Fife and Perthshire.

Fly: non-stop, around the clock

Fly is run by Xplore Dundee and goes direct from the airport to Union Street in Dundee city centre, close to the railway station and the V&A. The airport says it departs every hour, 24 hours a day, with an average journey time of 80 minutes. Xplore lists an adult single at £16.90 and an open return at £18, valid for six months, so the return costs barely more than the single. There are reduced fares for children (£5 single) and students (£8 single).

The 24-hour timetable is Fly's strongest point. A flight landing at 02:00 still has a direct coach within the hour.

Ember E1: cheaper, with stops

Ember's all-electric E1 has called at the terminal every hour since February 2026. The airport lists departures between 07:12 and 01:25. It stops at Rosyth and other points on the way and continues past Dundee to Aberdeen, so it takes longer than Fly. In exchange, the fare is lower: Ember quoted a flat £9.55 single from Dundee to the airport, priced the same whether you book weeks ahead or ten minutes before departure. Ember raised fares by an average of 6.1% on 1 February 2026, before that figure was announced, and fares can change again, so confirm when booking. Tickets are sold online and in the app up to ten minutes before departure.

For a student travelling alone, the difference adds up: E1 one way is a little over half the price of a Fly single, though Fly's £18 open return evens things out for anyone coming back the same way.

Rail through Edinburgh Gateway

Edinburgh Gateway station is a few stops along the tram line and has trains to Fife, Perth, Dundee and Aberdeen. ScotRail lists an average of 1 hour 20 minutes from Edinburgh Waverley to Dundee with advance fares from £10.90; from Gateway, journeys are of a similar length. Add the airport tram fare of £7.90 (£7.50 online) and a change, and rail costs more and takes longer than either coach. It is mainly useful if a coach is full or delayed. Combined tram and train tickets can be bought from the machines in the check-in hall.

Luggage on board

Ember lets you book a wheelchair or bike space free, even shortly before departure, and both operators carry suitcases in the hold. If you are carrying a lot at the start of term, Fly's non-stop run means fewer stops along the way, which some travellers prefer with expensive equipment or several bags.

Door to door

Online transfer sellers start Dundee at roughly £127 for a saloon and around £136–161 for estates and executive cars. That is expensive for one person, but a family of four with luggage pays roughly £32–40 each, about the same as four Fly singles plus taxis at the Dundee end. At the airport rank, Capital Cars will quote a fixed price for Dundee, as the Edinburgh meter does not apply outside the city.

Students and term time

The University of Dundee and Abertay University bring a wave of arrivals at the start of each term. Both coaches serve the city centre, within walking distance or a short taxi ride of both campuses. Fly's open return suits students flying home at the end of term, since it stays valid for six months. Scottish concession card holders, including under-22s resident in Scotland, travel free on both operators.

Late-night arrivals

After Ember's last E1 at 01:25, Fly is the only public option, but it keeps running hourly until morning. That makes Dundee easier to reach late at night than most towns of its size.