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Edinburgh Airport Guide

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sleeping in edinburgh airport
(photo courtesy of a guest reviewer / August 2024)

Whether you have a layover, overnight sleepover or are just quickly passing through, our Edinburgh Airport Guide is a great place to start planning your visit.  Here, you’ll find information on services and facilities available inside the airport – including details about airport lounges, WiFi, mobile charging points, lockers, 24-hour food options, nearby hotels, and everything in between.

After being asleep for some 30 minutes, security woke us and shouted at us for being “a security issue”. -Bjoern

EDI Airport Overview

To help you plan your layover or overnight sleepover, here is a quick run-down about what to expect during your time at Edinburgh Airport (Code: EDI).

What to Expect

Edinburgh Airport has only one terminal, making it simple to navigate, but services are limited to about a dozen or so eateries and a similar number of shops. Free WiFi is available, and economy-class passengers can purchase entry into an airport lounge for additional comfort.

Sleeping in Edinburgh Airport

While Edinburgh Airport is open 24 hours a day, you may have to stay in the landside/public zones, as security checkpoints close for a few hours at night. Seating is plentiful landside (e.g., Arrivals and Check-in) and airside, but most have armrests, limiting sleep comfort. Armrest-free benches are available near the baggage claim and in quieter gate areas (e.g., near Gate 5). Cafes may ask lingerers to move during peak hours, but this isn’t consistently enforced overnight when fewer staff are present. Sleeping on the floor seems to be no problem, and you may be able to find some darker or more private corners. The sooner you can arrive, the better your chances are for snagging a good spot.

Here are specific spots that travellers have reported:

  • The Arrivals and Baggage Claim area has a good amount of armrest-free benches.
  • The car rental centre, across from the main terminal, is quiet and has some chairs without armrests. (Airport staff may not allow you to stay here all night.)
  • The Starbucks, located on the landside, has comfortable seating.

Recent traveller feedback notes occasional checks of tickets/ID overnight, but no significant safety concerns beyond typical airport risks. Numerous reviewers have identified the terminal as bright and loud, eyeshades and earplugs/noise-cancelling headphones are recommended. Many travellers end up sleeping on the cold floor, so be prepared!

There are several nearby hotels for uninterrupted sleep, albeit for a price. See the Airport Hotels section below for more info.

Good to Know

If faced with a long daytime layover, consider a journey into Edinburgh Centre via the tram service that runs every seven minutes with a journey time of 30 minutes.

Read the latest traveller airport reviews for more tips. If you would like more airport information, you can continue scrolling down to explore more in our Edinburgh Airport Guide.

To help us keep this guide up-to-date, you can add or update information or write a review to submit airport tips and photos.

In this guide we may refer to locations as “landside” and “airside”. Landside is the public area of the terminal located in the non-secure zone, before security. Airside is the secure area of the terminal that you must reach by going through security.   

Airport Hours

Edinburgh Airport is open 24 hours, landside and airside.

Rest & Relaxation Zones

No dedicated sleeping areas, quiet areas or rest zones exist. If this information has changed, click here to update this guide.

Cots

The airport does not provide cots to stranded travellers. If this has changed, click here to update the guide.

Airport Hotels

If sleeping in the airport sounds like a nightmare, there are hotels near Edinburgh Airport:

Airport Lounges

Pay-per-use, Single Visit Passes & Lounge Memberships

Regardless of what class of service you are flying, there are lounges that you can enter by paying at the door, purchasing a lounge pass or through a lounge membership program.

Show Lounges
  • Aspire Lounge – Location: Airside, Departures, 2nd Floor, near Gate 16. Hours: 4:30 AM – 8:00 PM (Sun-Fri) • 4:30 AM – 7:00 PM (Sat). Showers: No. Dedicated Rest Zone: No. Sleep Facilities: No. Lounge Access: Pay at the door • Prepaid lounge passes • Lounge membership programs • Credit card rewards programs.
  • Escape Lounge – Location: Airside, Departures, Lower Level, next to Gate 4. Hours: 4:00 AM – 10:00 PM. Showers: No. Dedicated Rest Zone: No. Sleep Facilities: No. Lounge Access: Pay at the door (£49 per person) • Prepaid lounge passes • Lounge membership programs • Credit card rewards programs.
  • Turkish Airlines Lounge by Plaza Premium Group – Location: Airside, Departures, Level 2, near Gate 13. Hours: 4:00 AM – 10:00 PM. Showers: No. Dedicated Rest Zone: No. Sleep Facilities: No. Lounge Access: Pay at the door • Prepaid lounge passes • Lounge membership programs • Credit card rewards programs • Eligible Turkish Airlines and Star Alliance passengers.

Airline Lounges

If you are a First or Business Class traveller, you may have access to the lounge listed below. If you would like more information, you can check the airline’s website.

Show Lounges
  • British Airways Lounge – Location: Airside, Departures, near Gate 4. Hours: Contact British Airways for current opening hours. Showers: No. Dedicated Rest Zone: No. Sleep Facilities: No. Lounge Access: British Airways Club Europe and Business Class passengers • British Airways Club Silver and Gold members • oneworld Sapphire and Emerald members travelling on eligible oneworld flights.

Food & Drinks

Food and beverage outlets operate on varying schedules. Sainsbury’s (landside, before security) is open 24 hours for basic groceries and snacks. On Caffe Nero (airside, Gate 7) is open 24 hours.

Drinking Water
Refill-friendly drinking water fountains are available in the terminal. (Reader report, Dec 2024.)

Luggage Storage & Lockers

Lockers are available at the Luggage Point. Location: Landside, Arrivals. Hours: 4:00 AM to 10:00 PM. Rates for standard size: £9.50/ 0 – 3 hours • £14.50/ 1st day • £12.50 each additional day/bag • £60.00 per week.

Mobile Charging

Charging points are available before security at Caffè Nero (first floor) and after security at WHSmith Café (near Gate 16). Additional power outlets can be found in seating areas both landside and airside, though availability varies.

Showers

Public showers are not available. If this information has changed, click here to update this guide.

WiFi / Internet

Free WiFi is available at Edinburgh Airport, but the connection is slow and only works in certain areas of the building. Connect to the ‘Edinburgh Airport’ network.

More Airport Information

More Services, Facilities & Things To Do On A Layover

Dry Cleaning – A dry-cleaning drop-off and pick-up service is available through Luggage Point.

Family Services

  • Baby Care Facilities – Many restrooms include baby-changing tables. A family washroom and a nursing room are also available.
  • Children’s Play Area – Children’s play areas have existed airside in the past, but we were unable to confirm their current status at the time of this update.
  • Family Lane – Families travelling with children may use a designated Family Lane at security, offered free of charge.
  • Food – Most restaurants provide high chairs, and some offer children’s menu options.

Fast Track Service – Fast Track security and passport control services are available for a fee, offering priority access during busy periods.
Information Desk – An information desk is available in the Arrivals area for general assistance.

Luggage

  • Luggage Storage & Lockers – see “Luggage Storage & Lockers” above.
  • Luggage Weighing – Bag-weighing scales are available through Luggage Point for travellers checking baggage weight.
  • Luggage Wrapping – A luggage-wrapping service is available to help protect bags during travel.

Massages – Short massage treatments and therapies are available airside.
Massage Chairs – Coin-operated massage chairs are available in select airside areas.

Money

  • ATMs / Cash Machines – ATMs are available both landside and airside. Fees may apply depending on your bank.
  • Currency Exchange – Currency exchange services are available in multiple locations, with hours varying by counter.

Pharmacy – A Boots pharmacy operates airside.
Prayer Room – A prayer room is available near International Arrivals and is open 24 hours.
Shopping – Duty-free shopping and a wide range of retail stores are available, selling travel essentials, snacks, and gifts.
Smoking – Smoking is permitted only in designated outdoor smoking areas.
Spa – A full-service spa is located at the nearby DoubleTree by Hilton hotel, accessible via a short complimentary shuttle.
Viewing Areas – Several cafés and restaurants airside offer views of aircraft movement, providing casual spots to watch runway activity.

Airlines
Edinburgh Airport is served by the following airlines: Aegean Airlines • Aer Lingus • Air Canada • Air France • Air Baltic • • American Airlines • Atlantic Airways • Aurigny • Austrian Airlines • BA Cityflyer • BH Air • British Airways • Brussels Airlines • Cathay Pacific • Crystal Ski • Delta Air Lines • EasyJet • Edelweiss Air • Emirates • Eurowings • Finnair • Hainan Airlines • Iberia • Iberia Express • Inghams • Jet2 • KLM • Laudamotion • Loganair • Lufthansa • Norwegian • Qatar Airways • Ryanair • SAS • Sun Express • Transavia • Transavia France • TUI Airways • Turkish Airlines • United Airlines • Virgin Australia • Vueling • WestJet • Wizz Air.
Airport Transportation: Getting To/From The Airport

Buses and Coaches

Several companies operate daily buses and coaches to and from Edinburgh Airport. These buses and coaches travel to railway stations and destinations within Edinburg and its surrounding areas and long-distance destinations. Airlink 100 buses run every 10-15 minutes from 4:00 AM to 1:00 AM (less frequent overnight), costing £5.50 one-way or £8.50 round-trip as of 2025 fare updates. Journey time is approx. 30 minutes between south St David Street (near the main bus and train station) and the airport. For details on the bus companies and their pick-up zones, visit the Edinburgh Airport website.

Car Rentals

Car rental services are handled in the Car Rental Centre, a designated facility behind the multi-storey car park and connected to the main passenger terminal via a covered walkway. Onsite car rental agencies include Alamo • Avis • Budget • Enterprise • Europcar • Hertz • National • Sixt.

Compare car rental prices on Expedia

Hotel Shuttles

See Airport Hotels above.

Ride Sharing

Uber operates throughout Edinburgh. A ride to the city centre will cost you about £27.

Taxis

Licensed black taxis are available on the ground floor of the multi-storey car park, just opposite the main passenger terminal. All taxis are metered, and reservations are not required. The total trip time between the airport and the city centre is 20 minutes.

Tram

Edinburgh Trams is an easy and economical way to travel to the city centre (with stops along the way) if you travel light. Trams operate every 7-10 minutes from 5:29 AM to 11:58 PM, with a one-way fare of £7.50. Tickets are sold at vending machines at each tram stop. For route maps, schedules, and additional fare information, visit the Edinburgh Trams website.

Security & Safety

Because the security checkpoints close overnight, you won’t be allowed to stay in the airside/gate areas. Instead, airport staff relocate all travellers to the landside/public zones. The security guards may also keep you in specific areas, like the Arrivals floor and not the Check-in areas. Still, they tend to tolerate overnight sleepers, even those sprawled on the floor. Around 4:00 AM, the airport starts buzzing with early morning activity, so you probably won’t be able to sleep much past that.

At the time of this update, we have no reports from travellers commenting on safety issues at Edinburgh Airport. However,

sleeping in any airport can include a certain level of risk, especially when travelling alone. It’s important to take certain precautions to ensure your safety and the security of your valuables. Here are a few tips:

  • Safety First. It’s a good idea to know where the security office is located and look for video cameras where you plan to sleep. You can also ask the security personnel for advice on the safest places to spend the night.
  • Don’t Seclude Yourself. If you’re travelling alone, we recommend you stay near other travellers or close to security. This will help you feel more secure and deter potential thieves.
  • Hide Your Valuables. It’s also important to hide your valuables. Don’t leave them out in plain view, as this could make you a target for theft. Additionally, if you are a deep sleeper, you may want to padlock your bag to something or sleep with your bag up against a wall to make it harder for someone to access zippers and pockets. We have received reports of sleepers who woke up without their phones and laptop bags. The travellers were left with just their headphones and laptop bag strap.
  • Stay Alert. It’s best to stay alert and awake if you feel unsafe or uncomfortable. Drink coffee or other caffeinated beverages to help you stay awake, and remember that you can always catch up on sleep during your flight. These simple precautions can help you enjoy a safe night at the airport.

Pro-tip: If you sleep in the public zone, don’t be surprised if you receive an early morning wake-up call. Security is known to make the rounds, waking people up as travellers arrive for morning flights.

Last updated: 2026-01-26

This guide is for informational purposes only to assist with your planning.  All information, including rates and hours, is subject to change at any time without notice.   The information in this airport guide is based on information collected and/or received from the airports, lounges, hotels, transportation providers, and their websites. We are not representatives of any of the above-mentioned service providers. To report errors or to add/update any items mentioned in the guide: update the airport guide or  write a review.

Airport at a Glance

Overall Experience:

45 Reviews
Tolerable