Edinburgh Airport to St Andrews
St Andrews is about 79 km from Edinburgh Airport. Stagecoach JET 787 runs direct up to every two hours in about 90 minutes, from about £20; rail via Leuchars needs two changes; private cars cost roughly £122–140.
St Andrews draws golfers, students and visitors to its cathedral ruins and beaches, and most of them arrive through Edinburgh. Since 2025 there has been a direct coach, the Stagecoach JET 787, from the terminal to the town's bus station. Otherwise it is tram, train and bus via Leuchars, or a car over the Queensferry Crossing.
How far is St Andrews from Edinburgh Airport?
St Andrews is 79 km (49 miles) from Edinburgh Airport by road, about 1h 10m by car outside rush hour. In a straight line it is 56 km. By public transport, Train takes about 1h 50m including a change and costs £18.1.
Every way to get there
Our verdict: Train is the cheapest way at £18.1 (1h 50m, with a change on the way). A private transfer from £122 saves roughly 40 min and takes you to the door.
What it costs for your group
The train is charged per person, while a private transfer is one price for the whole car — so the more of you there are, the better door-to-door value looks.
| Group | Train (per person) | Private transfer (per car) | Best value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Solo · 1 traveller | £18 | £122 | Train |
| Couple · 2 travellers | £36 | £122 | Train |
| Family of 4 · 4 travellers | £72 | £122 | Train |
Which option should you choose?
| If your priority is… | Our pick | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Lowest price | Train | From £18.1, about 1h 50m, with a change on the way. |
| Speed | Private transfer | 1h 10m and door-to-door, from £122. |
| A group of 4 | Train | Four tickets still come to about £72.4 — less than a car. |
| A late-night arrival | St Andrews Shuttle (shared) | It runs through the night (Matched to flight times). |
By transport mode
Bus / shuttle
Direct via Halbeath P&R, Kinross P&R, Auchtermuchty, Cupar, Guardbridge to St Andrews bus station; fare as quoted at launch, check Stagecoach app
Where to catch it: Stop H outside the terminal
Best for solo & budget travellersTrain
Tram airport single plus ScotRail (advance from about £10.20) plus bus or taxi from Leuchars; estimate
Where to catch it: Airport tram stop; change at Edinburgh Gateway, then Leuchars
Best for budget travellers near a stationPrivate transfer
St Andrews Shuttle lists £135 for 1–3 passengers (+£15 22:00–06:00, golf bags £10 each)
Where to catch it: Arrivals hall at the booked time
Times: 24 hours
Best for families, groups & late arrivalsShuttle
Per person; from £70 when two share, about £30 each for six or more
Where to catch it: Arrivals hall, meeting point given on booking
Times: 24 hours (+£5 pp 22:00–06:00)
Best for budget travellersTaxi
Outside Edinburgh the fare is agreed before departure
Where to catch it: East Terminus rank across the plaza
Times: 24 hours
Best for small groups in a hurrySt Andrews & Edinburgh in photos
Buying tickets in Edinburgh
Airlink 100: pay on board by contactless (Visa, Mastercard, Apple Pay, Google Pay) or with the exact fare in cash; American Express is not accepted. Tickets can also be bought in advance in the Lothian Bus & Tram app. Adult single £6.00, open return £8.50, child (5–15) £3.00 / £4.25, family return (2 adults + 3 children) £22.00. Standard Lothian day tickets and DAY caps are not valid on Airlink.
Edinburgh Trams: buy before you board, either from the ticket machines at the airport tram stop, in the et app or Bus & Tram app, at edinburghticket.com, or by tapping on and off on the platform with a contactless card. The Airport Single is £7.90 (£7.50 pre-booked online) and the Airport Open Return £9.50 (£9.25 online); a city-zone ticket does not cover the airport. Combined tram-and-rail tickets are sold at machines in the check-in hall.
Services 17 and 18: the standard Lothian city single (£2.40 adult from 22 February 2026) is valid to and from the airport on these two routes.
Coaches: Citylink, Ember, Stagecoach and Fly sell tickets online and in their apps; Citylink also sells from the driver subject to space. Ember tickets can be booked up to 10 minutes before departure.
Taxi scams & safety in Edinburgh
The only taxi rank at the terminal is run by Capital Cars in the East Terminus, across the plaza from arrivals. A booking is required under council private hire rules: you can make it online in advance or at the rank desk. Inside the City of Edinburgh the fare is set by the council tariff (from 25 July 2026: £3.60 initial charge Monday–Friday 06:00–18:00, £4.80 evenings and weekends, then 30p increments). For any trip ending outside the city, the fare must be agreed before the journey begins.
Uber and other private hire drivers collect from the charged pick-up zone on the ground floor of the multi-storey car park or the free zone in the Long Stay car park. Be wary of anyone approaching you inside the terminal offering a ride: licensed drivers do not tout, and every legitimate pick-up happens at the rank or the marked zones. Note that the airport tram fare is higher than the city tram fare; a cheaper city ticket bought by mistake is not valid from the airport stop.
Step-free access in Edinburgh
Edinburgh Airport provides free special assistance; it is best booked through your airline at least 48 hours before travel, and help points are placed around the terminal and car parks. Staff recognise the Sunflower lanyard for hidden disabilities, and wheelchairs can be provided for passengers with temporary injuries.
- Every Edinburgh tram has two wheelchair spaces in the middle carriage and six luggage racks.
- Blue Badge holders get one hour of free access in the airport car parks (press the intercom at the exit barrier), and there are Blue Badge bays near the shelter in the free drop-off zone.
- Citylink recommends wheelchair users book online so a space can be confirmed; Ember lets you reserve a wheelchair space free of charge.
Getting from EDI to St Andrews
Over the Forth and into Fife
The drive from the airport to St Andrews is about 79 km. It crosses the Firth of Forth on the Queensferry Crossing, runs up through central Fife and finishes on the coast, about an hour and ten minutes in normal traffic. The town has no railway station, which shapes every public transport option.
The JET 787
Stagecoach launched the JET 787 in May 2025 to fill the obvious gap. It leaves from Stop H outside the terminal and runs via Halbeath Park and Ride, Kinross Park and Ride, Auchtermuchty, Cupar and Guardbridge to St Andrews bus station. The airport describes it as running up to every two hours, with a journey of about 90 minutes from St Andrews.
At launch, Stagecoach quoted an adult single of about £20 from St Andrews and £11.70 from Halbeath. Treat these as a guide, since fares may have moved since, and check the Stagecoach app, where you can also buy tickets. Holders of a Scottish concession card (over-60s, under-22s and eligible disabled passengers) travel free; that does not help most visitors.
With departures every two hours, timing matters more than on a frequent route. If your flight lands just after a coach has gone, the wait can be long. Check the timetable before you fly and decide whether a two-hour wait or a rail connection suits you better.
The rail route via Leuchars
St Andrews' nearest station is Leuchars, about 8 km away. From the airport, take the tram to Edinburgh Gateway, which has trains to Fife, Dundee and the north. ScotRail lists an average journey of about 1 hour 5 minutes from Edinburgh Waverley to Leuchars, with advance fares from £10.20; the trip from Gateway is similar. From Leuchars, a local bus or a taxi covers the last stretch into town.
That is three vehicles: tram, train and bus or taxi. The tram leg alone is £7.90 (or £7.50 bought online), so this route is rarely cheaper than the JET 787 and is more work with luggage. Its advantage is frequency: trains run much more often than every two hours. Combined tram and rail tickets are sold from the machines in the check-in hall.
Golf bags, term trunks and private cars
For many St Andrews arrivals, the luggage decides the method. Golf bags and the boxes that come with the start of a university term do not suit a three-change rail trip. Pre-booked private cars are where most of these travellers end up. City Airport Taxis lists a saloon from about £122 and estates and executive cars at £128–140. St Andrews Shuttle lists £135 for one to three passengers and £150 for four to eight, with a £15 supplement between 22:00 and 06:00. Split between three golfers, that is about £45 each, door to door. The same operator charges £10 per golf bag on top, and larger kit may need a bigger car, priced accordingly.
The shared shuttle middle ground
St Andrews Shuttle also runs shared transfers, matching travellers who land at similar times. One passenger joining one other pays from £70; joining two others, from £50; with five or more sharing, the price falls to about £30 each. Between 22:00 and 06:00 add £5 per person. Each passenger can bring two cabin items and two hold cases. It costs more than the coach but ends at your door, and for a solo traveller it is roughly half the price of a private car.
The official airport cabs (Capital Cars) will also take you, but outside the City of Edinburgh the fare is negotiated rather than metered, so ask for the price before setting off.
Busy weeks
Demand spikes around university term starts, graduation weeks and major golf events. Private transfer companies can sell out, and coaches fill up. Book well ahead if your arrival coincides with any of these.
Arriving late
The JET 787 timetable has early-hours departures in the St Andrews to airport direction, but check whether there is a late departure from the airport that matches your flight. For anyone landing late in the evening, a pre-booked car is the reliable choice; the night supplement is small compared with a hotel in Edinburgh.
EDI to St Andrews — FAQ
How far is St Andrews from Edinburgh Airport?
What is the cheapest way from Edinburgh Airport to St Andrews?
What is the fastest way to St Andrews?
How much is a taxi or private transfer to St Andrews?
Is there a train to St Andrews?
How often does the JET 787 run?
What should I do if I land late at night?
Sources
Fares and times on this page were last held against their official sources on 21 October 2026. Operators change prices without notice — if you spot a difference, the operator’s own page is the authority. How we check fares.
- Edinburgh Airport – Fife bus links (JET 747, JET 787, Ember E1) · checked 2026-10-21
- Stagecoach – JET787 launch (route and fares) · checked 2026-10-21
- Edinburgh Airport – trains (Edinburgh Gateway, Edinburgh Park, Haymarket) · checked 2026-10-21
- ScotRail – Edinburgh Waverley to Leuchars · checked 2026-10-21
- Edinburgh Trams – tickets (Airport Single £7.90, Open Return £9.50) · checked 2026-10-21
- City Airport Taxis – Edinburgh Airport to St Andrews quotes · checked 2026-10-21
- St Andrews Shuttle – price list · checked 2026-10-21
- Edinburgh Airport – taxis (Capital Cars, East Terminus) · checked 2026-10-21
- City of Edinburgh Council – taxi fare table from 25 July 2026 · checked 2026-10-21
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