Please talk to me about Edinburgh's public transport

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I'm trying to decide if it's worth driving or whether the train would be better. What do you think, you lovely people of Edinburgh/who know it well?

We are going for 4 days & 3 nights in August.

The train would take 3 hours, the car 4. We are staying in Leith, on the coast, rather than in the city centre.

We have tickets for one event on Monday evening and the rest of the time we'd like to explore the city and the sorrounding area.

Do we need a car, or is public transport good enough to move between Leith and the city centre, and between the different areas of the city?

Thanks!

Train and then get an Uber to Leith. Getting across Edinburgh can be hellish let alone with festival traffic. You won’t need a car when here. Plenty of buses too and from Leith plus there are trams available too.

Edinburgh is quite compact. You can walk lots of places.

Get the train. You wont be able to park anywhere in the centre for a start, and it costs a bomb where you can. As you're coming in August as well you got no chance.

The buses are fantastic and sounds like you can use a 22 to and from the centre, which can be as often as every 5 mins.

I wouldnt Uber though - download the City Cabs app.

Take the train, unless you want to travel outside of the city. Public transport is plentiful and cheap. Driving is a nightmare and parking even worse especially during the festival with road closures etc.

We stayed in Leith to visit Edinburgh. The buses were fantastic! Frequent and cheap. And Leith was great. We visited the Royal Yacht while we were there.

Public transport is great. City centre is a nightmare with a car. Most of the big attractions are walkable.

Take the train. You'll be able to get a bus from Waverley to Leith no problem, or you could get a taxi at the station as it won't be expensive.
Use Lothian buses for getting around, I would do this anyway in August, the roads are a nightmare during the Festival

Don’t drive in Edinburgh it’s a living nightmare! I’d second looking for a local taxi company rather than uber

Where in Leith? Leith is pretty close to city centre and many areas are walkable distance.
Even the slightly farther out areas such as the shore, u would be able to walk on a nice day and there are lots of lovely pubs and bars to stop at en route for thirst breaks.
Buses are frequent if u don't want to walk.
Definitely no car.

Check out the Lothian transport website/app for details of buses. There is a very good bus network and there are good day tickets so you can hop on and off. It's worth knowing that you need correct change for the buses, though.

Sorry I disappeared. There were no replies during the day and I assumed this post would sink like a lead balloon . Didn't check past 6pm and I found all these replies in the morning!

No car then! Which is a relief. I'm going to be panicky enough with the crowds, I can do without any road rage incidents!

We'll be sort of halfway up Leith Walk, so I was hoping we could walk at least part of the time. Walking is the best way you get a 'proper' feel for a city if you ask me. But I have a lazy lot to drag along with me!

Thanks everybody, you've been a great help!

If you're halfway up Leith Walk you can most defo walk! :)

Leith has an excellent bus service and halfway down Leith Walk is not too long a walk. Edinburgh has public transport

Should probably mention that it's quite a hilly city. You might want to plan a strategic mix of bus and walk, if you are dragging round people that may moan about sore legs. But I definitely agree that walking is the way to really see the city and its pretty compact.

My parents' house is on the very edge of the city and my DH (then boyfriend) once startled them by turning up at the house, having walked from the railway station in the centre.