Here are 14 of the cheapest destinations to fly to from Edinburgh Airport
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Fun fact about Edinburgh Airport (EDI): it's Scotland's busiest airport.
And if you're one of the many millions who travel through EDI each year, it's worth knowing about some of the cheaper destinations you can reach from the airport.
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To find them, we've scoured through 12 months of flight listings on Skyscanner – from February 2023 to January 2024 – looking in particular for places that crop up consistently over the most months with starting return fares of less than £60. We've also cherrypicked a few destinations that intrigued us.
Keep in mind that flight prices go up and down constantly, tools like Skyscanner update all the time, and it'd be tough to factor in things like sales, new routes, and future flights that haven't even been released yet, so it's not an exact science. You can surely find affordable fares to other destinations, too, especially if you're flexible with travel dates.
Instead, think of this piece as inspiration, or a starting point for planning a getaway from Edinburgh – to somewhere that won't break the bank on flight costs alone.
Let's take a look...
London, England
During the search, we found starting return flights from EDI to London Stansted (STN) ranging from £28 to £41 over nine months of the year. For four of those months, the fare started from £28. In not very shocking news: they were all with Ryanair.
First-time visitors may find it tricky to pull away from Central London – known for the novelty of Oxford Street shopping, the winding streets of Soho, the bright lights of Piccadilly Circus, countless attractions (from the British Museum to Buckingham Palace, Trafalgar Square and the National Gallery), topped off with an atmospheric stroll along the South Bank and a go around the London Eye.
A Tube ride away, there's plenty more to see and do, from sampling street food in tourist-favourite Camden, to exploring unique shops and Portobello Road Market in Notting Hill. While the price of a weekend or lengthier getaway to London can certainly tot up, there are also plenty of free attractions across the city – including the ultimate trifecta of free museums in South Kensington (Natural History, Science and V&A).
Copenhagen, Denmark
Denmark's capital Copenhagen (CPH) popped up over seven months of the year with starting return fares from £33 to £51, all with Ryanair.
Hardly the world's cheapest city to visit, at least you'll have saved some spending money thanks to low-cost airfare. Copenhagen makes for a wonderful city break, packed with world-class restaurants, cool cafés, shopping along Strøget, museums and galleries galore, and the colourful harbour Nyhavn (from which you can walk to its iconic bronze statue of the The Little Mermaid).
If you fancy something a bit different, you could head to the Nørrebro neighbourhood to check out unusually-designed Superkilen park, admire the expressionist architecture of Grundtvig's Church, or pay a visit to the Frilandsmuseet open museum. For a day of play, just a 25-minute drive from the city is Bakken, the world's oldest amusement park, which dates back to 1583.
As a side note: Billund (BLL) in Denmark also cropped up frequently, with return fares starting from £19 to £53 over five months.
Santiago de Compostela, Spain
Santiago de Compostela (SCQ), a city in Galicia in Spain's north-west, is a welcome addition to the list, as it was Málaga repping for Spain in similar guides for London's airports and Birmingham (BHX). We clocked starting return fares varying from £31 to £50 over five months of the year, all with Ryanair.
Famously, the city is the end point of the Camino de Santiago, aka Saint James' Way – a pilgrimage dating to the medieval era, which is essentially a network of weeks-long walking trails encompassing France, Portugal and Spain (depending on your chosen route). Often, they'll arrive at the Cathedral, a stunning building thought to be where one of Jesus Christ's apostles, Saint James the Great, was buried.
Beyond the Camino connection, there's plenty to see and do on a short break in Santiago de Compostela, from soaking up the baroque beauty of the 18th century Casa do Cabildo House, sampling the seafood (Galicia's speciality) and other local delights at the Mercado de Abastos, or getting to know the history and art of Galicia in dedicated museums and galleries.
Special mention: Kaunas, Lithuania and Riga, Latvia
Look out for low-cost return flights to the Baltics from EDI, as we spotted starting return fares for Lithuania's second city Kaunas (KUN) from £36 to £42, and Latvia's gorgeous capital Riga (RIX) from £37 to £44, both for February and March 2023.
Riga is the largest city in the Baltics, and is known for its picture-perfect setting along the River Daugava, brightly-hued Old Town (which is also UNESCO-listed), streets lined with Art Nouveau architecture, historic houses, green spaces, great restaurants and exciting nightlife. Kaunas, meanwhile, recently spent 2022 in the spotlight as a European Capital of Culture. Both are excellent choices for a few days away.
During our search, these fares weren't available all year-round, but as they were all Ryanair flights, it's certainly worth keeping your eyes peeled for any bargains.
Cork or Dublin, Ireland
If you're after cheap flights, consider Cork (ORK) in Ireland. We found affordable starting return fares ranging from £26 to £54, over 12 months of the year, which, by our own logic, makes it the cheapest destination to fly to from Edinburgh Airport year-round. A close runner-up was the Irish capital Dublin (DUB), for which we found the exact same price range across 11 months.
Flights to Knock and Shannon in Ireland were consistently affordable, with similar starting return fares over nine months of the year, too – and all were thanks to cheap fares from Irish low-cost carrier Ryanair. But what else can we say about Cork and Dublin at this point? After all, they've starred in all three of our previous guides for cheap destinations to fly to from Manchester (MAN), BHX and London's airports.
Castles, the city gaol, the harbour town of Cobh and the world-famous Blarney Stone are among the attractions on offer if you head to Cork, while Dublin is a top choice for anyone hoping to enjoy a tipple at a local pub, or a tour of the Guinness Storehouse, the Jameson Distillery, or Irish Whiskey Museum...but for a sober activity, try an informative visit to the Little Museum of Dublin, or a jaunt around Dublin Castle, instead.
Marseille, France
Fancy a trip to the south of France? We found starting return fares to Marseille (MRS) from EDI, flying Ryanair, ranged from £39 to £53 over seven months of the year.
Marseille is truly beautiful, so make sure you've got your camera ready for a walk around the Old Port, and the Notre-Dame de la Garde basilica, and the grand monument Palais Longchamp, and the island-based Château d'If fortress. There are countless pretty streets to wander, but when you're ready to step away from the city sights, head out to the national park Massif des Calanques – a stretch of coves created by limestone cliffs along the glistening Mediterranean Sea, between Marseille and the village Cassis.
If you're open to other French destinations: we spotted return fares to the historic port city of Nantes (NTE), in the west of France (and quite literally on the other side of the country), starting from £37 to £54, over five months of the year. So, if you've already visited Marseille, you've got options...
Bournemouth, England
If it's a beach break you're looking for, then consider Bournemouth (BOH). Return flights to this seaside town in Dorset in southern England started from £25 to £58 over seven months of the year, flying Ryanair.
With train journeys between Edinburgh and Bournemouth taking shy of seven hours (if not a bit longer), the one hour, 20 minute trip by plane seems far more appealing (and realistic). Once you've arrived, you can start exploring its seven miles of sandy beaches, the Oceanarium aquarium, and enjoy the amusements at the eponymous Pier. Heading into the town itself, enjoy some green space at the Lower Gardens.
Happy to hire a car? You've got plenty of Dorset on the doorstep – with Swanage, Studland Bay and Corfe Castle on the Isle of Purbeck, as well as the famous Durdle Door rock formation (a highlight of Dorset's UNESCO-listed Jurassic Coast), all around one hour or so away. Via train and then ferry from Southampton, you can also reach the Isle of Wight in approximately one hour, 30 minutes.
Special mention: Gothenburg, Sweden
Gothenburg (GOT) in western Sweden gets a special mention, as we spotted four months of starting return fares via Ryanair ranging from £35 to £58, covering February, March, April and May.
Often dubbed one of the world's most sustainable destinations, as it's official tourism website points out, expect a slate of eco-friendly hotel and eating-out options in the city. Also expect a lively city centre, classic attractions such as the Gunnebo House and Gardens, and plenty of museums – highlighting everything from art, fashion and 'world culture' to sports, fishing and the car brand VOLVO. One unusual option, the Kortedala Museum, showcases a fully recreated 1950s/60s two-room flat.
Fancy a little day trip, too? You've got plenty of choice, including nearby castles, fortresses and fishing trips, as well as Kosterhavets National Park. The city of Jönköping is just over two hours away by train (with one change), and is another must-see for quirky museum fans. It's home to Tändsticksmuseet – aka the Match Museum – and is set to reopen after renovation in summer 2023.
Belfast, Northern Ireland
Low return fares to Belfast (BFS), the capital of Northern Ireland, popped up over nine months of the year when we searched, with starting prices ranging from £24 to £50. Many were with – shock horror – Ryanair, but budget fares also appeared for easyJet flights, too.
Another destination to make an appearance in our guides to MAN and BHX, we've already discussed some of Belfast's biggest highlights, from the Titanic Belfast museum, Ulster Museum, HMS Caroline and the sculpture-packed CS Lewis Square. You could also add a tour of Crumlin Road Gaol to your itinerary, and a luxury shopping spree (or fantasy browsing sesh) at Queen's Arcade.
Belfast can also be a jumping off point for countless day trips – to the seaside towns of Portrush or Newcastle, and perhaps to the eerie beech tree avenue known as the Dark Hedges. Hikers can easily reach the Mourne Mountains, home to the country's highest mountain, by car in just over an hour – while the UNESCO-listed Giant's Causeway and Causeway Coast are also accessible by car or train/bus.
Gdańsk, Poland
Gdańsk (GDN) in northern Poland will be familiar to fans of festive markets, but during our search we clocked Wizz Air and Ryanair starting return fares from £25 to £40 over five months of year – not just for Christmas.
Add the 17th century Neptune's Fountain (and Artus Court beside it), St Mary's Church (known for its Gothic design), the Museum of the Second World War and a war memorial at Westerplatte, along with a walk along the Motlawa River Embankment to your 'must see and do' list. Prepare to pass through countless multicoloured and Instagram-friendly areas along the way, such as the Long Market square and Mariacka street. You'll also pass plenty of places to try traditional Polish dishes (or, you know, just a really big burger).
For an extra adventure on your city break, Gdańsk is 20 minutes away from seaside resort Sopot by bus, where you can hit the beach (however it cold it may be during your visit), walk the pier and check out Sopot Lighthouse, and enjoy the purposefully-wonky Krzywy Domek (Crooked House).
Bordeaux, France
Rejoice! For any money you save on flights to Bordeaux (BOD), you can spend on wine. Starting return fares from EDI ranged from £42 to £53 over six months of the year during the year. All were Ryanair fares.
Myriad wine-focused tours exist for anyone hoping to veer straight to the vineyards and wine tasting opportunities, though you'd be daft not to spend at least a day or two admiring Bordeaux's charming sights, such as the Pont de Pierre bridge and the 18th-century Grosse Cloche (essentially, the Big Bell). Of course, to soak up all that vin, you'll need to eat. Consider the famed Capucins food market, or splash out on one of many fine restaurants – there are currently 42 listed by the Michelin Guide.
Francophiles will also pleased to know that, in addition to Bordeaux, Marseille and Nantes, there were also affordable fares from the Scottish capital to Paris (BVA), starting from £34 to £59, and Toulouse, starting from £43 to £56, each over five months of the year.
Special mention: Turin, Italy
Last but not least is Turin (TRN) in northern Italy. We found affordable fares over three months of the year (February, March and April) with return flights starting from £37 to £46. It's worth keeping an eye out as the months go on for any other bargains, as these were all Ryanair fares.
While some might feel pulled toward major tourist hotspots such as Rome, Venice or Florence, Turin shouldn't be shunned. Among the attractions are numerous ornate piazzas and palazzos, and some interesting collections – in the Mole Antonelliana tower's museum, the Museo Nazionale dell'Automobile, the coffee-mad Lavazza Museum, and the Juventus Museum, a shrine to Italy's top football club.
History buffs will also enjoy a gander at the Roman-era Palatine Gate, and a hilltop trek to the Basilica of Superga, which dates back to early 18th century.
Related: Take a look at our round-ups for five London airports, MAN and BHX.
Prices were correct at the time of writing. Featured image by Getty Images/EyeEm