How to get to the Edinburgh Christmas Market 2024
If you love to visit a Christmas market during the holiday season, then we suggest a trip to the Edinburgh Christmas Markets. Arriving at the Christmas markets in Edinburgh is simple thanks to its central location.
Opting for train travel is one of the most convenient ways to arrive at the Edinburgh Christmas Markets. Edinburgh is the northernmost point of the West Coast Mainline, which runs all the way down to London with stops at plenty of popular cities.
Wherever you are in mainland UK, you can hop on a train and roll into Edinburgh train station and hit the market stalls in no time. Located at East Princes Street Gardens, just minutes from the station, you’ll be there in no time. It's no exaggeration to say you simply step out of the station and there you are, right in the heart of festive Edinburgh.
You could also get to Edinburgh’s Christmas markets by car or public transport. Edinburgh has excellent public transport links, with regular buses and trams that can take you around the city with ease. Keep in mind that if you’re driving into the city, roads and parking may be busy due to city centre festivities.
What to do at the Edinburgh Christmas Market
There are multiple areas to the Edinburgh Christmas Market. The market itself is in East Princes Street Gardens. Here you’ll find around 70 stalls selling traditional European wares, be they foods, drinks, toys, decorations, gifts or clothes. You can also take a ride on Scotland’s largest Ferris wheel. It's the perfect place to kick start your Christmas in one of the most beautiful cities in the world.
On West Princes Street Gardens you’ll find the festive family funfair. There are all the fairground rides you'd expect, from the gentle rides like helter-skelters to some hair-raising thrills.
George Street and Castle Street are home to an undercover ice rink to enjoy in any weather. Glide along the ice with family or friends whilst enjoying the festive atmosphere. New for 2024, the rink will have an adults-only skate session complete with party tunes. Over 18s can also enjoy the Polar Ice Bar, the coolest bar in the city.
There’s something for everyone at the markets. Little ones will be thrilled to meet Santa and his elves in St Andrew Square. Here, they can enjoy a magical storytelling experience and weave through the Christmas Tree Maze.
About the Edinburgh Christmas Market
One of the greatest markets in Europe, Edinburgh Christmas Market has been around since 1999. Edinburgh attracts tourists all year round for its architecture, history, people and food. And every year this beautiful city finishes off with a selection of Christmas markets just before its famous New Year’s Eve celebrations.
You'll find a treasure trove of gifts, amazing foods and memorable experiences when you explore the festive market. Taking place in and around East Princes Street Gardens, there are plenty of activities and things to see scattered around the city centre.
There’s lots of time to squeeze a trip to the markets into your festive calendar. The Edinburgh Christmas Market’s 2024 dates are from 15th November 2024 until 4th January 2025.
Ways to save on your train ticket to the Edinburgh Christmas Market
Wherever you’re coming from, you're going to want to spend as little as possible on your travel. With Avanti West Coast there are lots of ways to keep the cost down. For example, if you can, it’s always cheaper to travel Off-Peak. By choosing quieter times of the day to travel to Edinburgh, you will benefit from cheaper tickets.
Of course, Railcards are another great way to save. For a one-off fee, you can save on most of your train journeys. Whether you're a frequent traveller, or just make a few long journeys each year, you can more than cover the cost of the card and start saving some big money.
Try to book as far in advance as possible, because the sooner you book, the cheaper the ticket will be. You'll also stand a better chance of reserving your favourite seat in the carriage of your choice.
Other ways to save include booking as a group if there are more than nine passengers in your party. Our Groups Travel team is on hand to help you get a group discount, as well as ensuring you can sit together in a group. You could also opt for a family train ticket if you’re travelling as a family group with at least one adult and a maximum of four children.
Finally, avoid third-party train ticket vendors. When you buy directly through our website or via the Avanti app there are no additional booking fees added.
Get the app
The Avanti West Coast app brings plenty of travel benefits right into the palm of your hand. Without leaving the app you can book tickets, change your booking, upgrade to a First Class carriage or choose your seat.
When you buy using the app your tickets are stored on the app itself, so you always have them on hand. If you've got a Railcard, you can add that to your app too, so we can easily apply discounts when you use it.
