Edinburgh, Scotland, UK
Edinburgh, capital of Scotland, is renowned for its rich history, cultural festivals, and architectural splendor. Nestled among hills and coastline, its landscape offers both historic charm and modern amenities.
The Old Town boasts medieval architecture and winding alleys, while the New Town features elegant Georgian buildings and bustling streets filled with shops and eateries. Edinburgh Castle, perched atop an extinct volcano, dominates the skyline and offers sweeping views of the city.
HOW TO GET AROUND IN EDINBURGH
Edinburgh is a relatively small city, and its medieval air makes it ideal to visit by foot.
A direct tram line connects Edinburgh airport with the New Town. Discover the route and schedule here.
Buses run 24 hours a day in Edinburgh and have frequent services. Find out more about tickets and route here
TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS
Passport instructions
All visitors to Edinburgh must adhere to the UK’s entry requirements. Make sure you have all the necessary documentation required before you travel. Depending on your citizenship and where you are flying from, you may have to present a passport or identity document (ID) upon arrival to the UK. All passports and IDs must be valid for the entirety of your stay.
- EU, EEA and Swiss nationals can enter the UK with a passport
- Irish citizens may continue to use their national ID card
- Nationals from outside the EU, EEA and Switzerland will need a valid passport
ETA requirements
Everyone wishing to travel to the UK – except British and Irish citizens – will need permission to travel in advance of coming here. This can be either through an ETA or an eVisa.
From 27 November 2024, eligible non-Europeans can apply for an ETA and will need an ETA to travel from 8 January 2025. ETAs will then extend to eligible Europeans from 5 March 2025, who will need an ETA to travel from 2 April 2025.
Anyone needing to apply for an ETA will be able to do so through the UK ETA app.
ETAs are digitally linked to a traveller’s passport and ensure more robust security checks are carried out before people begin their journey to the UK, helping to prevent abuse of our immigration system. An ETA costs £10 and permits multiple journeys to the UK for stays of up to 6 months at a time over 2 years or until the holder’s passport expires – whichever is sooner.
Visa requirements
- EU, EEA and Swiss citizens can stay in the UK as a visitor for up to 6 months without a visa.
- Irish citizens have no visa requirements and can travel to the UK as they did before Brexit.
- Other foreign nationals might need to apply for a Standard Visitor visa. You can check here if you require a UK Visa.
