Edinburgh sits 47 miles east of Glasgow and the train takes 50 minutes. If you’re already staying in Glasgow, an Edinburgh day trip from Glasgow is one of the easiest and most rewarding day-out options anywhere in Britain — you can be at the gates of Edinburgh Castle two hours after breakfast and back in Glasgow for dinner.
This is a complete planning guide for doing Edinburgh in a day from Glasgow: the cheapest and fastest way to travel, the perfect 8-hour itinerary, what to actually book in advance, and the realistic answer on whether the day-trip is worth doing at all.
Glasgow to Edinburgh: how to travel
You have four realistic options to do Edinburgh as a day trip from Glasgow.
1. Train (recommended)
ScotRail runs a direct express from Glasgow Queen Street to Edinburgh Waverley every 15 minutes between roughly 6am and 11pm. The journey takes 50 minutes and is the fastest option. Off-peak day return tickets cost around £15.50; anytime returns £30. No advance booking required — just turn up at Queen Street and tap on with contactless. The “off-peak” definition starts after 9.15am Mon–Fri and applies all weekend.
For an even cheaper trip, look out for the ScotRail “Club 50” or family/group rail card discounts (typically 30% off). The slower stopping service (via Falkirk High) takes 75 minutes and costs around £13.50 — fine if you’re not in a rush.
2. Bus (cheapest)
Citylink and Megabus run direct coaches from Buchanan Bus Station to Edinburgh St Andrew Square every 15–30 minutes. The journey takes about 1 hour 20 minutes and tickets cost £6.50–£18 depending on how far in advance you book. The bus is cheaper and arrives close to St Andrew Square (5 minutes’ walk to Princes Street) but is slower than the train.
3. Driving
The M8 covers Glasgow to Edinburgh in about an hour outside rush hour. Parking in central Edinburgh is expensive (£20+ for a day) and the city is heavily traffic-restricted. We don’t recommend driving unless you’re combining the day with a Highland detour. Park & Ride is at Ingliston (£3 per day with a pre-booked tram into the centre).
4. Day-tour bus
Several operators (Highland Explorer, Rabbie’s, Scottish Storyteller) run organised day-tour packages from Glasgow that include Edinburgh and one or two surrounding stops (Linlithgow, Stirling Castle). These cost £55–£85 per person and remove the planning, but you’ll spend more on the road than walking around Edinburgh. Best for visitors who don’t want to plan anything.
Train vs bus: what we recommend
Take the train. The 30-minute saving on each leg of the journey gives you an extra hour in Edinburgh without costing much more. The train arrives at Waverley directly underneath the city centre — three minutes’ walk to the Royal Mile — while the bus station is at the eastern edge of the New Town. Walk-up off-peak return: around £15.50; at peak (before 9.15am): £30.
The perfect Edinburgh day-trip itinerary
Eight hours in Edinburgh is enough to see the headline beats. Here’s a tested itinerary leaving Glasgow at 9.15am.
9.15am — Train from Glasgow Queen Street
Off-peak fare kicks in at 9.15am Mon–Fri (any time on weekends). Coffee & pastry from one of the Queen Street kiosks if you skipped breakfast.
10.05am — Arrive Edinburgh Waverley, head to Edinburgh Castle
Walk up Cockburn Street from Waverley (steep but quick) to the Royal Mile, turn right and follow it to the castle esplanade — about 15 minutes. Pre-book your castle ticket online for £21.50 (saves the 30-minute on-the-day queue at the ticket office).
10.30am – 12.30pm — Edinburgh Castle
Allow two hours: the Crown Jewels, the Stone of Destiny, the Great Hall, the National War Memorial and the One O’Clock Gun (fired daily except Sunday) are the headline beats. Time it for the One O’Clock Gun if you want a free spectacle.
12.30pm — Lunch on the Royal Mile
Avoid the obviously touristy spots facing the castle. Walk 5 minutes down the Royal Mile to The Devil’s Advocate (Advocate’s Close) for upscale Scottish small plates, or to Mum’s Great Comfort Food (Forrest Road) for a £10 plate of haggis, neeps and tatties.
2.00pm — Walk down the Royal Mile
From the castle, the Royal Mile descends to the Palace of Holyroodhouse and the Scottish Parliament. Highlights along the way: St Giles’ Cathedral (free, donations welcome), The Real Mary King’s Close (paid, £20 — book ahead, atmospheric guided tour of Edinburgh’s underground vaults), The Scotch Whisky Experience at the top, and dozens of independent kilt makers and gift shops.
3.30pm — Holyrood Palace OR climb Arthur’s Seat
Two options at the bottom of the Royal Mile. Holyrood Palace is the King’s official Scottish residence — sumptuous Mary Queen of Scots apartments, £20 entry, allow 90 minutes. Alternatively, Arthur’s Seat — the 822-foot extinct volcano in Holyrood Park — is a 30-minute climb to spectacular city views, free.
5.00pm — Princes Street & the New Town
Walk back up the Royal Mile or hop on bus 35 to Princes Street. Browse the gardens, climb the Scott Monument (£10) or wander the Georgian streets of New Town (Charlotte Square, George Street). Quality whisky-buying: try Cadenheads on the Canongate.
6.30pm — Dinner
Edinburgh has dozens of brilliant pre-train dinner options. The Tolbooth Tavern on the Canongate is a no-fuss historic-pub dinner; Mum’s Great Comfort Food is the budget choice; The Dome on George Street is the most beautiful interior in the city.
8.30pm — Train back to Glasgow
Last train back to Glasgow Queen Street is around 11.30pm; we’d aim for 8.30pm or 9pm to get back relaxed.
What to skip on a day trip
Edinburgh is a proper city and there’s no way to do it all in a day. Skip:
- Edinburgh Zoo — too far from the centre and you’ll lose two hours getting there and back.
- Royal Yacht Britannia — wonderful but adds 90 minutes of bus travel.
- The Botanic Gardens — Edinburgh’s are lovely, but Glasgow’s are 30 seconds from the Subway. Save it.
- The full Real Mary King’s Close + Holyrood Palace + Castle combo — pick two of the three or you’ll be exhausted.
Edinburgh in a day with kids
The Castle, Camera Obscura (interactive optical illusions, £20 — usually a hit) and Greyfriars Bobby’s statue are the family-friendly headline sights. The Museum of Childhood on the Royal Mile is free and brilliant. Skip Arthur’s Seat with under-eights and Holyrood Palace with under-sixes.
What to budget for an Edinburgh day trip
Realistic costs per adult: £15.50 off-peak ScotRail return + £21.50 Castle entry + £15 lunch + £25–35 dinner = £77–87 per adult. Add-ons: Real Mary King’s Close £20, Holyrood Palace £20, Scotch Whisky Experience £25.
When to do an Edinburgh day trip
August is risky: the Edinburgh Festivals (Fringe, International Festival, Military Tattoo) take over the entire city and double or triple visitor numbers. Do an Edinburgh day trip in May, June, September or October for the best balance of weather, daylight and crowds — see our best time to visit Glasgow guide. December is also charming for the Christmas Markets in Princes Street Gardens.
FAQs
How long is the train from Glasgow to Edinburgh?
50 minutes on the express service from Glasgow Queen Street to Edinburgh Waverley, every 15 minutes during the day.
How much does the train from Glasgow to Edinburgh cost?
£15.50 off-peak day return, £30 anytime return, with seasonal Advance fares from £8.50 if you book a specific train. No advance booking needed for off-peak walk-up.
Can you do Edinburgh in a day from Glasgow?
Easily — the 50-minute train means an 8-hour day in Edinburgh is entirely realistic and rewarding. Plan two big sights (e.g. Castle + Mary King’s Close OR Holyrood Palace) plus a Royal Mile wander.
Is the train better than the bus from Glasgow to Edinburgh?
Yes for speed and convenience (saves an hour of travel time on a return). The bus is cheaper if you book in advance — around £6.50 with Megabus.
What’s the best Glasgow station for Edinburgh trains?
Glasgow Queen Street — the express to Edinburgh Waverley runs from there. Glasgow Central also has services but they’re slower (1h 15m via the Carstairs route).
Should I stay in Edinburgh or Glasgow for a Scotland trip?
Glasgow is cheaper, has stronger nightlife and is 50 minutes from Edinburgh. Edinburgh is prettier and closer to the Highlands departure points. Many travellers stay in Glasgow and day-trip to Edinburgh — see our where to stay in Glasgow guide.
Plan more Glasgow day trips
Edinburgh is the headline day-trip but Glasgow’s geography opens up loch country, the Highlands and the seaside too. See our complete day trips from Glasgow guide and the deep-dive on Loch Lomond from Glasgow for the alternative.