Car hire in Edinburgh
1 office in Edinburgh · airport pick-up · United Kingdom
Edinburgh is a capital made for walking: the castle on its volcanic crag, the Royal Mile, the closes of the Old Town and the Georgian elegance of the New Town are all explored on foot. You don't need a car for the city — you need it for what surrounds it: castles, coastal villages and the start of the Scottish Highlands.
Edinburgh Airport, around 25 minutes from the centre, is the ideal place to collect your vehicle: you head straight onto the dual carriageways towards Stirling, Fife or the north without crossing the old town. Scotland unfolds along scenic roads where the train arrives late, rarely or never.
Search cars in EdinburghWhy hire a car in Edinburgh
- The Highlands, the lochs and the Fife coast have barely any rail coverage: a car multiplies what you can see in a few days.
- Collecting at the airport spares you driving through the historic centre, with its narrow streets and tricky parking.
- St Andrews, Stirling and North Berwick make perfect day trips that require slow connections by public transport.
Day trips near Edinburgh
- St Andrews — The home of golf, with its ruined cathedral facing the sea and a lively university atmosphere, across Fife, about 1 hr 15 min away.
- Stirling — A castle that rivals Edinburgh's own, plus the monument to William Wallace, two keystones of Scottish history, about 50 minutes by dual carriageway.
- North Berwick — A seaside town with beaches, the gannet-covered Bass Rock and excellent seafood, about 45 minutes along the coast.
- Loch Lomond and the Trossachs — The first taste of the Highlands: lochs, forests and mountains within the national park, about 1 hr 30 min away.
Where to pick up your car
- Aeropuerto de Edimburgo
Final prices in euros · book without paying · free cancellation up to 72 h before.
Frequently asked questions
Should I pick up the car on the same day I'm sightseeing in Edinburgh?
Better not: the centre is best explored on foot and parking is expensive and difficult. The smart move is to book the airport pick-up for the day your Scottish road trip begins, and save the city for before or after.
Can you reach the Highlands in a day from Edinburgh?
Yes: Glencoe or Loch Ness are around 3 hours' drive, feasible as a long day trip. That said, the Highlands shine brightest with at least one night away, stopping at Stirling or Pitlochry en route.
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