Travel Information
Compare train and bus for Edinburgh to Aberdeen
Omio recommends booking the train as it is the most popular option from Edinburgh to Aberdeen among Omio's users. If you are prioritising price, take the bus, with an average ticket price of €14 For those with little time, consider booking a train, which has an average total journey time of 3h 2m. If you are seeking to minimise your carbon footprint, the train is your best option, with estimated CO2 emissions of 0.0 - 0.1kg. Average ticket prices depend on the travel mode: a bus costs an average of €14, while a train costs an average of €39.
Distance: 149 km
Compare train with
Most popular Train | Bus | Driving |
|---|---|---|
€39 Average price | €14 Average price Cheapest | €71 Average price (fuel + tolls) |
3h 2m Average total duration Fastest 2h 32m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 4h 20m Average total duration 3h 50m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 2h 34m Average total duration (door-to-door) |
0.0 - 0.1kg CO2 emissions Lowest | 0.1 - 0.4kg CO2 emissions | - CO2 emissions |
![]() Most popular train company | ![]() Most popular bus company | Your own car or car rental |
Direct Options | Direct Options | Direct Options |
Additional time: Average total travel duration to departure point, security checks and transfers.
This is compared to other travel options from Edinburgh to Aberdeen:
A bus is €25 less than a train for this route with tickets for a train from Edinburgh to Aberdeen costing on average €39.
Other travel options to Aberdeen take longer:
Bus takes on average 4h 20m.
Travel optionsfrom Edinburgh to Aberdeen
How to get from Edinburgh to Aberdeen by train, bus or flight.
Our recommendation
The best way to travel from Edinburgh to Aberdeen is by taking a bus because it’s the best combination of price and speed.
FlixBus4:15 PM3h55Edinburgh, Bus Station8:10 PMAberdeen, Guild Street€111One-way0 transfers
Cheapest
FlixBus4:15 PM3h55Edinburgh, Bus Station8:10 PMAberdeen, Guild Street€111One-way0 transfers
Fastest
C146289:30 AM2h26Edinburgh Waverley (EDB)11:56 AMAberdeen station (ABD)€381One-way0 transfers
Other options
C019438:34 PM2h43Edinburgh Waverley (EDB)11:17 PMAberdeen station (ABD)€241One-way0 transfers
C01971+
L8843510:31 AM4h13Edinburgh Waverley (EDB)2:44 PMDyce (Aberdeen Airport) (DYC)€261One-way1 transfer
G802162:32 PM2h40Edinburgh Waverley (EDB)5:12 PMAberdeen station (ABD)€281One-way0 transfers
FlixBus8:30 PM3h29Edinburgh, Bus Station11:59 PMAberdeen, Guild Street€121One-way0 transfers
FlixBus11:35 AM3h30Edinburgh, Bus Station3:05 PMAberdeen, Guild Street€121One-way0 transfers
FlixBus6:15 PM3h30Edinburgh, Bus Station9:45 PMAberdeen, Guild Street€121One-way0 transfers
Find all the dates and times for this journey by train, bus, flight, and ferry .
Compare prices and tickets Prices for trains, buses and flights
Compare train and bus prices over the next three weeks. See the best deals at a glance, find the lowest fares, and choose the option that fits your budget.
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How to Travel from Edinburgh to Aberdeen?
Travellers heading north to Aberdeen from the Scottish capital have a choice of rail or bus connections. There are direct bus and train services between the two cities seven days a week. Train journeys are the quickest option, taking around two hours and 20 minutes to complete the trip to Aberdeen. Bus journey times range from three to four hours, with some connections requiring a change in Dundee.
What is the Cheapest Way To Get from Edinburgh to Aberdeen?
In most instances, the bus is the cheaper option for travel to Aberdeen, but occasionally some advance fares on certain trains can prove the more economical option. Budget bus operator Megabus provides direct bus services from Edinburgh city centre to Guild Street in central Aberdeen, with the fastest daily connection taking three hours. Three rail operators, London North Eastern Railway, Scotrail, and CrossCountry Trains provide daily direct trains from Edinburgh Waverley Station in the capital to Aberdeen, with the quickest service covering the route in two hours and 17 minutes.
What is the Fastest Way to Travel from Edinburgh to Aberdeen?
Scotrail's direct late morning train from Edinburgh Waverley to Aberdeen is the quickest travel option, taking two hours and 17 minutes to complete the 120-mile route northeast, with other direct rail journeys taking about five to 20 minutes longer. The fastest Megabus direct bus connection to Aberdeen takes three hours. Other Megabus services can involve a change en route, at Dundee Seagate Bus Station, and can take four hours to complete the trip. All bus journey times are subject to traffic congestion at peak times on the route north from Edinburgh.
Find and Book with Omio the Best Tickets from Edinburgh to Aberdeen
It's easy to make a quick comparison between timetables and bus and train fares on the Omio travel booking platform, helping travellers find the ideal combination of price, journey duration, and departure time for their trip from Edinburgh to Aberdeen.
Travel from Edinburgh to Aberdeen by Train
London North Eastern Railway, CrossCountry Trains and Scotland's national rail company Scotrail all offer daily direct trains from Edinburgh Waverley Station and Haymarket Station to Aberdeen. On weekdays and Saturdays, there are roughly hourly departures from the capital from early morning to mid-evening, with average journey times of around two hours and 20 minutes. Sunday schedules are slightly reduced with fewer direct trains but some additional indirect connections requiring a change in Dundee. Trains arrive at Aberdeen's main station, close to Union Square in the city centre.
Travel from Edinburgh to Aberdeen by Bus
National budget bus operator Megabus provides daily direct and indirect buses to Aberdeen from bus stands on Edinburgh Elder Street seven days a week. Daily schedules offer buses to Aberdeen hourly throughout the day and evening, with direct services alternating with indirect departures requiring a change in Dundee en route. Timetables include a late-night service to Aberdeen. Journey times range from three hours for the quickest direct services to over four hours for some connections via Dundee. Megabus services from Edinburgh arrive at Guild Street Bus Station, close to the train station in the centre of Aberdeen.
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FAQs: Travel from Edinburgh to Aberdeen
Travel to Aberdeen easily. Whether you want fast, cheap or something entirely different, our travel experts have collected everything you need to know so you can find the best option from Edinburgh to Aberdeen.

This is compared to other travel options from Edinburgh to Aberdeen:
A bus is €25 less than a train for this route with tickets for a train from Edinburgh to Aberdeen costing on average €39.
Other travel options to Aberdeen take longer:
Bus takes on average 4h 20m.
- Around 34 buses per day.
- Around 7 trains per day.
However, we recommend checking specific travel dates for your route between Edinburgh and Aberdeen as scheduled services by train and bus can vary by season or day of the week.
- Flights mostly depart from Edinburgh Airport and arrive in Aberdeen Airport.
- Trains mostly depart from Edinburgh Waverley (EDB) and arrive in Aberdeen station (ABD).
- Buses mostly depart from Edinburgh, Bus Station and arrive in Aberdeen, Guild Street.
- Travel with Scotrail, London North Eastern Railway, CrossCountry to go to Aberdeen by train.
- Travel with FlixBus to go to Aberdeen by bus.
- 6 direct trains per day with Scotrail, London North Eastern Railway, CrossCountry.
- 10 direct buses per day with FlixBus.
Travelling from Edinburgh to Aberdeen: related information
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