Edinburgh bus/train tickets

[QuestionableMouse]

Travelling to Edinburgh in 43 days for a city break and I'm trying to figure out the best way to book/pay for bus or train tickets.

We're staying in the haven site outside of the city and will most likely be using the bus to go into the city. I got caught out last time because it was cash only on the bus. Is there an app where I can pay?

Also trying to figure out if it's worth buying a day ticket for traveling round the city?

I'll have the car too but if I can avoid driving I wouldn't mind!

Any tips or advice really appreciated. 😀

Most buses have contactless payment now

43 days! So specific.

You'll want the First Bus app, which lets you do everything on your phone - just wave the screen at the driver when you get on.

Enjoy the 4th May.

You can buy "m-tickets" via the lothian buses app. Some info here . You have to spend at least £4 in one go, but you can easily make that up... Lots of people seem to use those at the moment, and the drivers are understanding if there's problems with activation/ dodgy wi-fi or whatnot.

You can also get pre-loaded "smart cards" of single trips, or "vouchers" for child fares. You can buy some of them online (link to the shop on the website above) - or at the travel shop by waverley. Same cost, but you don't need change which I am so disorganised I never have

yy to day tickets if you are going to be doing more than 2 journeys in a day. Or even if you're not sure you will, its sometimes nice to have the freedom to go a couple of stops if it starts pouring down or something...

I haven't actually seen contactless payment on several of the routes I use - only on the airport buses - though I think it is also on some of the routes with the big new buses.

Don't drive - the buses are fab :-)

If you're at Seton Sands it will take forever to get into Edinburgh on the 26 though!

Oh thanks. So much to check out. 😀

(It might seem sad but I'm excited. Had a stressful few months and desperately need a break!)

@HironsBirons I expected that last year but no, it was cash only. Luckily I had enough change on me but the driver wasn't terribly impressed at the time. (I was using busses daily at the time for uni which did have contactless so I was expecting it!)

I love MN, you can post random questions like this and get help! 😀

@NotAnActualSheep, yep Seton Sands. Thinking of driving to Wallyford and jumping on there to cut it down a bit. I'll have a toddler and mini toddler (10months) so trying to keep it stress free! 🤪😂

Most buses have contactless payment now
Buses in Edinburgh don't

eastcoastbuses.co.uk/
Further to my previous post, apparantly they do take contactless in Edinburgh now! Changed since the last time I was there

Not when I was there last week. Correct money only? we only had notes; contactless? No. We had to get back off the bus and walk.

What would the train be like from Wallyford/Newcraighall/Brunstane? I'm wondering if that might be easier than the bus (we'd be traveling off peak).

Thanks 😀

Wallyford is a good compromise, and as you say, you can get the train from there, which only takes about 10 min. You need to time it right though, as I think there's only one per hour weekdays, two an hour at the weekend.

Don't feel bad about getting excited!! You'll all have a great time, and it sounds like you deserve it!

More frequent from newcraighall I think, though that's not a route I use.

Definitely go on the open-top bus tours. The one with the live guide (green one). You can get an inclusive t icket to the castle, royal yacht and Holyrood.

Thanks, that's really helpful. I'm more excited than the kids at this point. 😀

We drove to wallyford and took the train in when we stayed at that haven park. It was a good few years ago but we had no problems parking.

You could use one of the Park and Rides, there is one at Newcraighall. Some of them have a ticket office where you can buy tickets. There is an ap for Edinburgh bus tickets (M-tickets) where you can buy tickets to use on your phone. You can get family day tickets for £8.50. There is also a bus tracker so which is useful if you’re getting buses that are infrequent.

Lothian buses DO NOT take contactless payment. You can use the app or buy a smart card in advance if you don't want to pay with cash. Correct change only.

The 26 will take a long time to get to city centre but it is a good service. Train will be far quicker and you can buy tickets at the station.

Thanks, I've downloaded the app. We stayed at the same park last year and travelled in via Wallyford (on the bus). It was actually quite nice to sit and look out of the window at the scenery for a bit!

I haven't come across contactless payment. With the new buses there is a pad for 'smart cards' but they don't work for eg bank cards. at least, not yet.

Of course, if you've got 2 wee ones, you may be able to use a long and tedious bus journey to get them to nap.... I have many "happy" memories of trying to get DS to sleep and resorting to getting on a random bus to the end of its route. He would reliably zonk off within minutes then (and wake up at the terminus) - but not any other bastard time. i discovered Cramond that way.

I'm leaning towards taking the train. I don't think either of them would nap on the bus and it's and 1:15 long journey each way. I'd rather spend less time on the train and more time exploring 😂