Edinburgh Travel Tips

• Book your car hire rental at Edinburgh and Edinburgh Airport at best rates on line here

Driving in Edinburgh city centre is ‘mission impossible’ at best, especially with Princes Street currently out of bounds for the Edinburgh Tram development. Although the city centre does have a number of multi-storey car parks it can still be a frustrating exercise to find a parking space. There are car parks in the following areas: Lothian Road, Castle Terrace and several around Princes Street.

A taxi will prove to be a less traumatic experience. Edinburgh has black cab taxis, which can be hailed as they pass if the ‘for hire’ light is lit or picked up at a taxi rank. If you’d rather phone for a taxi the two main providers are City Cabs (www.citycabs.co.uk) and Fastblacks (www.fastblacks.com )  

Walking is probably the best way to get around the city - with something to see at every turn it’s the best way to take it all in. If you’d rather save your energy then Edinburgh’s bus system is the way to go. Your best bet for city centre travel are the purple/maroon “corporate buses” operated by Lothian Regional Transport (LRT). Visit their timetables and fares at www.lothianbuses.com

Taking in the sights and sounds of Edinburgh can also be done using pedal power with the Scottish capital boasting one of the most extensive off-road cycle networks in Britain. Several cycle paths and routes take you past the main attractions as well as off the beaten track to exclusive suburbs and along the seafront. You can hire a bicycle for one of number of companies from as little as £10 for half a day.