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Car hire in Edinburgh

Hiring a car in Edinburgh

The capital of Scotland, Edinburgh is revered around the world as one of the most beautiful, tourist-centric cities that anyone could hope to visit, which is why it welcomes millions of visitors each year, looking to walk its ancient cobbled streets, learn of its history and soak up the culture that makes Scotland the unique land it is.

Edinburgh is perhaps best known for the historic buildings that line its streets, from the many old shops and churches that line the Royal Mile all the way to the iconic Edinburgh Castle, which looks down on the city from its lofty position atop the central hill on which it was built. But no matter what your tastes are, you're sure to find something that will put a smile on your face in Edinburgh and its fantastic surroundings.

What you need to know

Much of what you'll want to see in Edinburgh as a tourist is reachable by foot, thanks to the relatively small nature of the city centre, and the many attractions that it holds as a result. However, that's not to say that the Edinburgh area as a whole isn't worth visiting. Both East Lothian and Fife have fantastic places you will want to visit when in Edinburgh, and car hire in the city will give you the freedom to make this a reality.

Booking your car hire with Holiday Autos allows you the chance to compare prices from a number of different companies, with over 1,500 major car hire suppliers to choose from. Our website makes it simple to secure your vehicle, and you have peace of mind that everything is booked and ready for you with our 24/7 support and free cancellation and amendments.

Where to pick up your car

When you arrive at Edinburgh Airport (EDI), once you have collected your baggage and got through customs, head outside to find the location for your car hire desks. Well signposted throughout the arrivals lounge, all of the car hire desks at the airport are located outside the main terminal, making it easy to collect your vehicle and get on the road in a matter of minutes to head into the city itself.

If you decide you want to hire a car after you have arrived in Edinburgh, there are also numerous car hire offices located throughout the centre of the city, so this will always be convenient to book and collect with Holiday Autos.

Best Car Hire Companies Edinburgh

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thrifty
thrifty

Car Hire Reviews Edinburgh

  • “The pick-up was easy, it took 5 minutes from arriving at the desk to driving out the car, and the return took even less time. Booking with Holiday Autos was easy and I received the car that I had asked for, just perfect!”
    Diane T

Where to go

Once you've collected the keys and picked up your hire car, the next thing you'll want to decide is what you want to do and where you want to go in Edinburgh and the surrounding areas to make the most of your time in Scotland.

Whether it's the gruesome history of the city you want to immerse yourself in, or whether you want to sample some of the wonderful Scottish cuisine such as haggis and stovies, you'll find something to do that really makes you feel like you have experienced Scottish culture in the most fiercely proud Scottish city of all.

Nearby Edinburgh

One of the biggest plus points of hiring a car in Edinburgh from Holiday Autos is that you immediately unlock the chance to visit some of the unheralded little places that surround the city itself. For example, a short drive from Edinburgh and across the famous Forth Road Bridge will take you to North Queensferry, a beautiful little fishing village where you can indulge in seafood, or see the marine world from another angle; kids will love Deep Sea World, home to sand tiger sharks, conger eels and a range of other fantastic sea life from around the globe, and all within 15 minutes of Edinburgh.

Scotland is famous for being home to some fantastic inventions, and one of the most heralded among these is the Flying Scotsman, perhaps one of the world's most famous trains. You can experience the spirit of this train by visiting Bo'ness and Kinneil Railway, only a ten minute drive from the centre of Edinburgh, where you can learn all about the history of rail travel in Scotland, and even take a little trip through the countryside on an authentic steam train.

Longer drives

Slightly further away from Edinburgh, there are yet more delights that really sum up Scottish culture and will allow you to make the very most of your car hire.

For golf fans, the hour-long drive north to St Andrews, the home of golf, seems like a no-brainer, and it's something that is well worth travelling for. The famous Old Course might be impossible to book a round for, but there are other courses you can play, and you can take a walk around and visit the Old Lady herself while you're in St Andrews to see the famous sights where many a world-class player has come a cropper over the years. One of Scotland's most beautiful towns, St Andrews even has royal approval, with William and Kate having both lived and studied in the town during their university years.

Another drive that's worth making is to Stirling. Just a short journey along the M9, Stirling is a city much like Edinburgh in its historical importance, if a little smaller. From Stirling Castle to the site of the Battle of Stirling Bridge, Scotland's smallest city is positively brimming with historical delights you need to see. And close by, you can even pay a visit to Bannockburn, the sight of Scotland's most famous historical victory.

Top attractions to visit in Edinburgh

No visit to Edinburgh will be complete without taking in the attractions and sights it has to offer, and when you have hired a car from Holiday Autos, the freedom to do so opens up so many opportunities to enjoy your stay.

History

History is what it's all about when you come to Edinburgh, and thankfully there's so much to see in this respect. Places that simply have to be visited to soak up what Edinburgh has been throughout the centuries include the likes of Edinburgh Castle for a look at Scotland's royal past, Mary King's Close to see what it was like to be decidedly poorer and sicker, and even pubs dotted all the way down the Royal Mile, all with a story or two to tell from their collective hundreds of years of serving locals and visitors alike.

Theatre

It may not be all that well known as a theatre city, but Edinburgh's main theatre, the Playhouse, is like a mini West End all on its own. Throughout the year, the theatre welcomes a number of former West End musicals to its stage, and if you happen to be in the city at the right time, this is a great place to spend an evening in one of the most stunning theatres you will find anywhere in the world.

Edinburgh Festival

Again, timing is everything, but if you happen to be in Edinburgh in August of any given year, you will experience something unmatched and unrivalled across the world. Edinburgh Festival is a coming together of performers from all over the world to spend a month showing an adoring public their passions in life. From top billed comedians playing to packed out venues to street performers delighting with magic, dancing and all other manner of street theatre, the Festival is something to be experienced with its truly magical atmosphere that grips the city year after year.

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