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What city is best to fly into Scotland?

Edinburgh Airport is Scotland's busiest airport, connecting the city with destinations all over the world via dozens of major and budget airlines.



The "best" city to fly into Scotland depends entirely on your final destination and the origin of your flight. Edinburgh Airport (EDI) is generally the most popular choice for international tourists because it is the busiest and offers the widest range of direct connections from North America and Europe. It places you directly in the historic capital, perfect for the Royal Mile and the Edinburgh Festival. However, Glasgow Airport (GLA) is often a better choice if you are heading to the West Coast, the Lochs, or the Highlands, and it sometimes offers more competitive fares for transatlantic routes. For those specifically targeting the northern Highlands or the Isle of Skye, flying into Inverness Airport (INV) via a connection in London or Amsterdam can save hours of driving time. While Edinburgh is the "prettier" arrival, Glasgow is often cited as the friendlier and more central "hub" for rail travel to the rest of the country. Ultimately, check both EDI and GLA, as they are only about an hour apart by bus or train, making them interchangeable for most Scottish itineraries.

People Also Ask

There are just 2 international airports in Scotland -- Glasgow and Edinburgh. Belfast makes little sense. The only alternative to the Edinburgh/Glasgow is London, where you can usually cheaper fares to, from the US. Then fly/train/bus to Scotland from London.

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Glasgow's closer to the Highlands and the western islands, so if you want to visit either of those areas, Glasgow is a bit more convenient gateway, requiring a bit less transportation time to get to where you want to go. Flights to Edinburgh are usually cheaper for me, so that's how I choose.

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DIRECT FLIGHTS
  • From New York (Newark) to Edinburgh with United.
  • From New York (JFK) to Edinburgh with Delta.
  • From New York (JFK) to Edinburgh with JetBlue.
  • From Chicago to Edinburgh with United.
  • From Orlando to Edinburgh with Virgin Atlantic.
  • From Washington DC to Edinburgh with United.
  • From Boston to Edinburgh with Delta.


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Where's cheapest to fly into in Scotland? If you're flying from United States, the cheapest city in Scotland to fly into is Edinburgh. The cheapest airport serving Edinburgh at the moment is Edinburgh Airport.

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The cheapest time to fly to Scotland is currently January.

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A direct flight between the USA and Edinburgh can take between 6 hours 30 minutes and 8 hours 5 minutes depending on which cities you're flying between. Here's a breakdown of the average flight times: Direct flights between New York and Edinburgh take around 6 hours and 50 minutes.

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Allegiant Air is the best airline with flights from United States to Scotland.

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You can fly directly from the USA to Edinburgh from New York or Chicago. United runs direct routes to Chicago O'Hare and New York Newark airports, while American Airlines and Delta fly to New York JFK. Air Canada Rouge flys to Toronto twice a week from Edinburgh Airport, with a flight time of roughly 7½ hours.

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Find more flights to Edinburgh (EDI) with United
  • New York/Newark (EWR)to. Edinburgh (EDI) ...
  • Chicago (ORD)to. Edinburgh (EDI) ...
  • Washington, D.C. (IAD)to. Edinburgh (EDI) ...
  • Philadelphia (PHL)to. Edinburgh (EDI) ...
  • San Francisco (SFO)to. Edinburgh (EDI) ...
  • Cleveland (CLE)to. Edinburgh (EDI) ...
  • Houston (IAH)to. Edinburgh (EDI) ...
  • Denver (DEN)to.


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To have the most sunlight and best weather, many people head to the Scottish Highlands in the summer, between May and September. Starting in October, the weather can be unpredictable — freezing temperatures, gale-force winds, and snowfall are all possible.

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If you live or are visiting nearby cities such as Glasgow, Liverpool, Newcastle or Manchester, the easiest and most comfortable way of getting to Edinburgh is by train. From further away destinations, flying is normally the cheapest and fastest option.

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Hotels and accommodation represent the biggest expenditure for Edinburgh visitors. January to March is the best value period to stay. April to May is the shoulder period with value prices. June to September is the most expensive period.

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