{"id":15873,"date":"2026-09-27T16:46:46","date_gmt":"2026-09-27T15:46:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/iedinburgh.info\/how-to-pay-for-public-transport-edinburgh"},"modified":"2026-09-27T16:46:46","modified_gmt":"2026-09-27T15:46:46","slug":"how-to-pay-for-public-transport-edinburgh","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/iedinburgh.info\/en\/how-to-pay-for-public-transport-edinburgh","title":{"rendered":"How to pay for public transport in Edinburgh and who travels free"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>This page explains how to pay on Lothian buses and Edinburgh Trams in Edinburgh, which tickets and passes are available and who travels free or at a reduced fare. It applies to every route in the city.<\/p>\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_74 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6acb35cad9f67\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6acb35cad9f67\"  aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/iedinburgh.info\/en\/how-to-pay-for-public-transport-edinburgh\/#How_to_pay\" >How to pay<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/iedinburgh.info\/en\/how-to-pay-for-public-transport-edinburgh\/#Tickets_and_passes\" >Tickets and passes<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/iedinburgh.info\/en\/how-to-pay-for-public-transport-edinburgh\/#Who_travels_free_or_at_a_reduced_fare\" >Who travels free or at a reduced fare<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/iedinburgh.info\/en\/how-to-pay-for-public-transport-edinburgh\/#What_we_could_not_confirm\" >What we could not confirm<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/iedinburgh.info\/en\/how-to-pay-for-public-transport-edinburgh\/#Routes\" >Routes<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_to_pay\"><\/span>How to pay<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Lothian buses take cash only as the exact fare, with no change given. With TapTapCap you tap your contactless card as you board and a daily and weekly cap applies; one card covers one person. Tickets are also sold in the Lothian Bus &amp; Tram app and on the Ridacard.<\/p>\n<p>For Edinburgh Trams, buy a ticket before boarding from a machine (coins and cards) or in the app, or use Tap On and Tap Off with a cap. Travelling on the tram without a ticket means paying an on-board fare.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Tickets_and_passes\"><\/span>Tickets and passes<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>On Lothian buses there are single, day and Family tickets (2 adults and 3 children). On the tram, City Day, City Late and Family City Day tickets are valid in the city zone, and the Network Day ticket also covers the airport.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Who_travels_free_or_at_a_reduced_fare\"><\/span>Who travels free or at a reduced fare<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Up to 3 children under 5 travel free with a paying passenger; children aged 5 to 15 pay a child fare. Scottish residents aged 5 to 21 travel free on buses with a National Entitlement Card or Young Scot card, and people aged 60 and over or disabled travel free on buses at any time with a National Entitlement Card, along with a companion if they are entitled to one.<\/p>\n<p>On the tram, free travel for under-22s, over-60s, disabled people and their companions applies only with a National Entitlement Card issued by the City of Edinburgh Council; you tap it no earlier than 30 minutes before boarding.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_we_could_not_confirm\"><\/span>What we could not confirm<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>We could not confirm whether Lothian buses offer a hopper (free transfer) fare or charge penalty fares.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"routes\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Routes\"><\/span>Routes<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Buses: <a href=\"https:\/\/iedinburgh.info\/en\/bus-route-1-edinburgh\">bus 1<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/iedinburgh.info\/en\/bus-route-2-edinburgh\">bus 2<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/iedinburgh.info\/en\/bus-route-3-edinburgh\">bus 3<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/iedinburgh.info\/en\/bus-route-4-edinburgh\">bus 4<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/iedinburgh.info\/en\/bus-route-5-edinburgh\">bus 5<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/iedinburgh.info\/en\/bus-route-7-edinburgh\">bus 7<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/iedinburgh.info\/en\/bus-route-8-edinburgh\">bus 8<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/iedinburgh.info\/en\/bus-route-9-edinburgh\">bus 9<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/iedinburgh.info\/en\/bus-route-10-edinburgh\">bus 10<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/iedinburgh.info\/en\/bus-route-11-edinburgh\">bus 11<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/iedinburgh.info\/en\/bus-route-12-edinburgh\">bus 12<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/iedinburgh.info\/en\/bus-route-13-edinburgh\">bus 13<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/iedinburgh.info\/en\/bus-route-14-edinburgh\">bus 14<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/iedinburgh.info\/en\/bus-route-15-edinburgh\">bus 15<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/iedinburgh.info\/en\/bus-route-16-edinburgh\">bus 16<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/iedinburgh.info\/en\/bus-route-17-edinburgh\">bus 17<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/iedinburgh.info\/en\/bus-route-18-edinburgh\">bus 18<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/iedinburgh.info\/en\/bus-route-19-edinburgh\">bus 19<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/iedinburgh.info\/en\/bus-route-20-edinburgh\">bus 20<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/iedinburgh.info\/en\/bus-route-21-edinburgh\">bus 21<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/iedinburgh.info\/en\/bus-route-22-edinburgh\">bus 22<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/iedinburgh.info\/en\/bus-route-23-edinburgh\">bus 23<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/iedinburgh.info\/en\/bus-route-24-edinburgh\">bus 24<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/iedinburgh.info\/en\/bus-route-25-edinburgh\">bus 25<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/iedinburgh.info\/en\/bus-route-26-edinburgh\">bus 26<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/iedinburgh.info\/en\/bus-route-27-edinburgh\">bus 27<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/iedinburgh.info\/en\/bus-route-29-edinburgh\">bus 29<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/iedinburgh.info\/en\/bus-route-30-edinburgh\">bus 30<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/iedinburgh.info\/en\/bus-route-31-edinburgh\">bus 31<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/iedinburgh.info\/en\/bus-route-32-edinburgh\">bus 32<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/iedinburgh.info\/en\/bus-route-33-edinburgh\">bus 33<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/iedinburgh.info\/en\/bus-route-34-edinburgh\">bus 34<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/iedinburgh.info\/en\/bus-route-35-edinburgh\">bus 35<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/iedinburgh.info\/en\/bus-route-36-edinburgh\">bus 36<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/iedinburgh.info\/en\/bus-route-37-edinburgh\">bus 37<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/iedinburgh.info\/en\/bus-route-38-edinburgh\">bus 38<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/iedinburgh.info\/en\/bus-route-39-edinburgh\">bus 39<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/iedinburgh.info\/en\/bus-route-43-edinburgh\">bus 43<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/iedinburgh.info\/en\/bus-route-44-edinburgh\">bus 44<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/iedinburgh.info\/en\/bus-route-45-edinburgh\">bus 45<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/iedinburgh.info\/en\/bus-route-47-edinburgh\">bus 47<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/iedinburgh.info\/en\/bus-route-47b-edinburgh\">bus 47B<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/iedinburgh.info\/en\/bus-route-49-edinburgh\">bus 49<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/iedinburgh.info\/en\/bus-route-60-edinburgh\">bus 60<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/iedinburgh.info\/en\/bus-route-100-edinburgh\">bus 100<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/iedinburgh.info\/en\/bus-route-106-edinburgh\">bus 106<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/iedinburgh.info\/en\/bus-route-111-edinburgh\">bus 111<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/iedinburgh.info\/en\/bus-route-140-edinburgh\">bus 140<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/iedinburgh.info\/en\/bus-route-n1-edinburgh\">bus N1<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/iedinburgh.info\/en\/bus-route-n3-edinburgh\">bus N3<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/iedinburgh.info\/en\/bus-route-n11-edinburgh\">bus N11<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/iedinburgh.info\/en\/bus-route-n14-edinburgh\">bus N14<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/iedinburgh.info\/en\/bus-route-n16-edinburgh\">bus N16<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/iedinburgh.info\/en\/bus-route-n25-edinburgh\">bus N25<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/iedinburgh.info\/en\/bus-route-n26-edinburgh\">bus N26<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/iedinburgh.info\/en\/bus-route-n30-edinburgh\">bus N30<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/iedinburgh.info\/en\/bus-route-n31-edinburgh\">bus N31<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/iedinburgh.info\/en\/bus-route-n35-edinburgh\">bus N35<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/iedinburgh.info\/en\/bus-route-n37-edinburgh\">bus N37<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/iedinburgh.info\/en\/bus-route-n44-edinburgh\">bus N44<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><em>Checked on 27 September 2026. Sources: Lothian Buses, Edinburgh Trams, Transport Scotland.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>This page explains how to pay on Lothian buses and Edinburgh Trams in Edinburgh, which tickets and passes are available and who travels free or at a reduced fare. It applies to every route in the city. How to pay Lothian buses take cash only as the exact fare, with no change given. With TapTapCap [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":656,"featured_media":15874,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6674],"tags":[],"moimportance":[],"motype":[],"moformat":[],"class_list":["post-15873","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-im-a-passenger"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/iedinburgh.info\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15873","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/iedinburgh.info\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/iedinburgh.info\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/iedinburgh.info\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/656"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/iedinburgh.info\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=15873"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/iedinburgh.info\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15873\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":17328,"href":"https:\/\/iedinburgh.info\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15873\/revisions\/17328"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/iedinburgh.info\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/15874"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/iedinburgh.info\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=15873"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/iedinburgh.info\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=15873"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/iedinburgh.info\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=15873"},{"taxonomy":"moimportance","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/iedinburgh.info\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/moimportance?post=15873"},{"taxonomy":"motype","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/iedinburgh.info\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/motype?post=15873"},{"taxonomy":"moformat","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/iedinburgh.info\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/moformat?post=15873"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}