Please sign in to post.

University St. Andrews Visit - New To Edinburgh - Advice Appreciated for Tight Weekend

Posted by on

New to Edinburgh / Scotland traveling - from the northeast and daughter will be doing a University of St. Andrews visit in 3 weeks, Sat and Sun. We could only make a very tight weekend work, landing EDI 530 pm on Friday, staying in city center, train to Leuchars early Sat, one night in St.A, train back to Waverly midafternoon Sunday, 7 am flight out of EDI Monday.

Welcome guidance on the below and my apologies in advance for the inexperienced questions:

  1. Is the tram safe for mom/daughter to take from EDI to Picardy Place ~6 pm on Friday? Appears easy to find outside of arrivals area, and an app to buy tickets.

  2. Staying at Couryard Marriott, appears we can walk to Waverly train station early Sat AM and walk back to Couryard late afternoon Sunday upon returning from St. A - with larger carrry-on roller suitcases each, is this walk feasible?

  3. Recommendations for dinner on Sunday around 630 pm, walkable from Courtyard Edinburgh?

  4. Best travel to EDI on Monday, for a 7 am flight, a 4 am taxi that hotel can help me arrange? Not sure how long to plan to get through security.

I know this itinerary is not ideal - but it was all we could manage this time. Thanks so much!

Posted by
9261 posts

1 - Tram very safe. The area will be busy, with weekend getaways. No need for an app . Buy tickets from the machines or it is very likely there will be staff around to sell you tickets.
2- yes it is feasible, but is uphill. You may prefer to hop on a city bus from a stop just below the hotel for a couple of stops to Waverley steps for an elevator straight down into the station. There is a near constant stream of buses.
4- I think you will be surprised at how busy the airport is at that time of the morning. I would personally be sticking with the 3 hour check in time rule leaving nothing to chance.
On that basis if I was me I would have stayed at the airport on the Sunday night having travelled back direct from St Andrews to the airport on the Sunday night on the direct 24/7 #787 bus. So you could have had dinner in St Andrews.

PS- That bus is too new to be in the RS guidebook, or even the updates.

Posted by
52 posts

Others have answered your questions, but as far as restaurant recommendations - Howie’s is excellent. Many people on the forum spoke highly of it before my trip last summer, and my RS tour had our farewell dinner there. Howie’s has two locations in Edinburgh, and the Waterloo Place location is within walking distance from your hotel. I would recommend making reservations.

Posted by
1409 posts

I would agree with the advice not to stay in Edinburgh City Centre the night before your early morning flight. The airport will be busy even early in the morning and you'd not have to worry about early taxis if you stayed in an airport hotel that night. If you have Marriott loyalty and want to stay in a hotel that is part of that chain, there is a Moxy hotel within walking distance of the airport terminal building.

Posted by
2 posts

Many, many thanks to each of these replies - so very helpful and appreciated, will be making adjustments!!

Add Reply

Please do not reply to violations of our Community Guidelines.