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 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 & Tram app and on the Ridacard.
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.
Tickets and passes
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.
Who travels free or at a reduced fare
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.
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.
What we could not confirm
We could not confirm whether Lothian buses offer a hopper (free transfer) fare or charge penalty fares.
Routes
Buses: bus 1, bus 2, bus 3, bus 4, bus 5, bus 7, bus 8, bus 9, bus 10, bus 11, bus 12, bus 13, bus 14, bus 15, bus 16, bus 17, bus 18, bus 19, bus 20, bus 21, bus 22, bus 23, bus 24, bus 25, bus 26, bus 27, bus 29, bus 30, bus 31, bus 32, bus 33, bus 34, bus 35, bus 36, bus 37, bus 38, bus 39, bus 43, bus 44, bus 45, bus 47, bus 47B, bus 49, bus 60, bus 100, bus 106, bus 111, bus 140, bus N1, bus N3, bus N11, bus N14, bus N16, bus N25, bus N26, bus N30, bus N31, bus N35, bus N37, bus N44.
Checked on 27 September 2026. Sources: Lothian Buses, Edinburgh Trams, Transport Scotland.