Edinburgh Car Parks

10 February 2023|Read time 3 mins

Parking in Edinburgh is surprisingly straightforward for a major city.

There is a huge range of on- and off-street parking choices, as well as Park & Ride and airport parking services, so knowing your options in advance will really help.

Edinburgh Car Parks and parking

If you are travelling by car there are a range of options for parking in and around the city.

Here is a rundown of the best options:

Car parks in Edinburgh

There are more than 30 car parks across the city. Among the most useful and convenient are:

• NCP - Edinburgh Castle Terrace – a 750-space car park ideal both for the Edinburgh International Conference Centre and visiting the Old Town. EH1 2EW
• Fountain Park – free parking is available for up to four hours at this 800-space car park if you validate the ticket at one of the attractions in the complex. A short distance to the west of the city centre, but a perfect spot to park and enjoy a meal at the end of a long day of sightseeing. EH11 1AF
• Q-Park Omni – close to Princes Street and with 1,000 parking spaces. Handy for Calton Hill and the New Town. EH1 3AN
• Q-Park, Quartermile - within easy walking distance of not just Edinburgh University but also Edinburgh Castle, this car park offers 374 spaces. EH3 9AU
• NCP - Holyrood Road - this car park offers 297 spaces and is the perfect spot for visiting the lower end of the Royal Mile, including Dynamic Earth and the Palace of Holyroodhouse. EH8 9UL
• Waverley Station – a convenient long-stay parking choice, this car park has 540 spaces. It is also the ideal option for meeting someone at Waverley train station. EH1 1BB

Park & Ride in Edinburgh

There are seven Park & Ride sites in Edinburgh, allowing you to travel into town by public transport without the stress of finding a parking space in the City Centre. They are:

• Ferrytoll – off the A90 in Inverkeithing, over the Queensferry Bridge to the north of the city – KY11 1LN
• Hermiston – Riccarton Mains Road, Currie, southwest Edinburgh, adjacent to the M8 – EH14 5PX
• Ingliston – Eastfield Road, Newbridge, off the A8 to the west of the city centre – EH28 8LN
• Newcraighall – Newcraighall Road, east of the city centre, close to the A1 – EH21 8RX
• Sherifhall – Old Dalkeith Road, off the A7 roundabout to the southeast of Edinburgh – EH22 1RU
• Straiton – Straiton Road, south of the A720 Edinburgh Southern Bypass – EH20 9NP
• Wallyford – off the A199 Haddington Road, west of the city, close to the Firth of Forth – EH21 8JX
• Lothian Buses have more information on this service.

Edinburgh Airport Parking

There are several options for parking at Edinburgh Airport, and in all cases, you can get substantial discounts by booking online in advance. You can select from the following:

• Long Stay – the Long Stay car park is on the airport boundary and a free, coach transfer service runs every 8 minutes to take you to the terminal building
• Mid Stay – this car park is situated within the airport grounds and you can walk to the terminal building in 5-8 minutes.
• Terminal parking – these parking options are located just outside the terminal and have a covered walkway to the building.
• Fast Park - this option uses a self-service process to ensure you can quickly get parked and then off to see the sights of Edinburgh!
• Multi-storey Parking - this is 1 minute walk to the terminal buildings.
• Plane Parking - Edinburgh Airport’s official budget car park is ideal for the price-savvy traveller.

Is there free parking in Edinburgh?

There are a handful of free parking options which are fairly close to the city centre such as St Margaret's Loch, located on the edge of Holyrood Park, which offers free parking for up to 2 hours. 

Some supermarkets also offer free parking, including Waitrose at Comely Bank and the Meadowbank Shopping Centre (although keep an eye on the time limit).

However, if you'd prefer not to take your car into the centre of the city then Park and Ride would be the best option as it offers free parking at 5 stations including Ingliston & Hermiston.

Parking in Edinburgh – Where else?

Another Edinburgh parking option is to leave your car in an on-street bay.

The City of Edinburgh Council is responsible for these and enforces the many restrictions and regulations strictly. 

Prices for on-street parking in Edinburgh vary depending on where you are in the city.

Parking is generally free on Sundays, New Year’s Day, Easter Monday, Christmas Day and Boxing Day. 

Be careful to check what times parking charges apply and how much it costs per hour. It is also important to make sure you avoid residents-only parking spaces.

Usually, you can pay for parking by cash at pay machines on the street, or via RingGo.

Book with Reserve Apartments

Even if your chosen property does not come with parking, you can still bring your car to Edinburgh and take advantage of the many parking and transport options.

Browse our portfolio and book your next city break today!