How to get from Edinburgh to Inverness
On Routavio you can compare the ways from Edinburgh to Inverness by price and travel time.
- 178 km as the crow flies
- Fastest: bus, 3h 35m
- 12 bus departures a day with FlixBus
Compare the train, bus and flight options. Then check them for your own date.
At a glance
Fastest
3h 35m
direct
Bus
€16
Calculated by Routavio, refreshed 19 Oct 2026
Start with the whole journey.
We compared the ways to travel from Edinburgh to Inverness. The most useful door-to-door route takes 3h 35m by bus with no transfer. The two cities are about 178 km apart in a straight line. The price and operators below come from a real route search.
The lowest we recorded in the last 14 days was €11, on Fri, Oct 16.
178 km
Which way suits you?
| Transport | Observed fare | Duration and scope | Detail |
|---|---|---|---|
| Train | €46Reading date not recorded | 5h 31m2 transfers | See Train details |
| Bus | €10Omio catalogue, Oct 20 | 3h 35mdirect | See Bus details |
- Train€46Reading date not recorded5h 31m · 2 transfersSee Train details
- Bus€10Omio catalogue, Oct 203h 35m · directSee Bus details
These figures were observed on different days. This table is not a live price ranking for your date.
Edinburgh to Inverness: cheapest or fastest?
All from the same recent search. Pick a tab: the legs, the timing and the difference from the others all change with it.
- 1Edinburgh Airport - Ingliston Park & Ride → Invernessbus
FlixBus·3h 35m
The best balance of price and time we found on this route.
Which date should you go?
The amounts on each day are fares seen earlier, not live offers. A day with no figure is one we have not priced, not one without a service.
Departures from Edinburgh to Inverness
FlixBus runs 12 scheduled departures a day, the first at 06:10 and the last at 16:40.
| Operator | Departures a day | First | Last |
|---|---|---|---|
| FlixBusbus | 12 | 06:10 | 16:40 |
All departures
- 06:10
- 07:10
- 07:40
- 08:10
- 08:40
- 09:40
- 10:10
- 10:40
- 14:40
- 15:40
- 16:10
- 16:40
Departure times come from operator timetables and are local time at the origin. Where a row shows no times, the frequency is the operator's own and the timetable is not published to us. Times can change on holidays and at short notice; confirm with the operator before you travel.
Departure and arrival
Ticket prices on this route
What each way of travelling costs, as the operator publishes it. These describe the route rather than a date you pick, and they refresh once a day. Booking opens at our partner Omio.
Omio last refreshed these on Tue, Oct 20
Operators seen on these journeys
FlixBusEdinburgh Airport - Ingliston Park & Ride-InvernessBook →ScotRailEdinburgh-Dyce, Dyce-ForresBook →Airport shuttle busForres-Inverness AirportBook →On this route you travel with FlixBus, ScotRail, Airport shuttle bus; Routavio does not add a booking fee.
How the trip from Edinburgh to Inverness works
Start with a FlixBus bus from Edinburgh Airport - Ingliston Park & Ride to Inverness, about 3h 35m. In total it's roughly €16 over 3h 35m, direct, no transfers.
Edinburgh to Inverness: common questions
How long does it take to get from Edinburgh to Inverness?
The most useful route takes about 3h 35m by bus, with no transfer.
When is the first bus from Edinburgh to Inverness?
The first bus with FlixBus leaves at 06:10 and the last at 16:40, from Edinburgh Airport - Ingliston Park & Ride, according to the published timetable.
How many bus departures a day are there from Edinburgh to Inverness?
12 a day with FlixBus, between 06:10 and 16:40.
Which station does the bus from Edinburgh to Inverness leave from?
Edinburgh Airport - Ingliston Park & Ride with FlixBus, according to the published timetable.
How far is Inverness from Edinburgh?
About 178 km in a straight line. The real route on the ground or in the air is longer.
How much does Edinburgh to Inverness cost?
On the upcoming dates we checked, the cheapest fare ranged from €13 to €16. Run a live search for your own date to see today's price.
Which operators run Edinburgh to Inverness?
On this route you travel with FlixBus, ScotRail, Airport shuttle bus.
Can you get from Edinburgh to Inverness without flying?
Yes. A ground route by train takes about 3h 30m.
What is the cheapest way to get from Edinburgh to Inverness?
Usually a flexible date, or leaving from a nearby airport. A live search puts every option for your dates side by side.
Can I book directly?
Yes. Routavio sends you straight to the operator or an independent third-party provider. We never add a booking fee. The final fare and availability are confirmed by that provider.
Other ways people search Edinburgh to Inverness
- how to get from Edinburgh to Inverness
- Edinburgh to Inverness travel time
- Edinburgh to Inverness distance
- cheapest way from Edinburgh to Inverness
- Edinburgh to Inverness by bus
Sources and method
Routes are calculated by Routavio's multimodal engine from operator timetables and flight data. Durations come from timetables, and prices are the most recent observation, not a guarantee.
Operators: FlixBus
Route calculated: 19 Oct 2026