- Must visit
National Museum of Scotland
National museum covering science, design, world cultures and Scottish history. Excellent for varied collections and a dramatic central hall.
Omio recommends booking the flight as it is the most popular option from Santander to Edinburgh among Omio's users. If you are prioritising price, take the coach, with an average ticket price of £163 For those with little time, consider booking a flight, which has an average total journey time of 5h 15m. Average ticket prices depend on the travel mode: a coach costs an average of £163, while a flight costs an average of £188.
Distance: 1389 km
Most popular Flight | Coach |
|---|---|
£188 Average Price | £163 Average Price Cheapest |
5h 15m Average total duration Fastest 3h 15m Onboard + 2h 0m Additional time* | 31h 36m Average total duration 31h 6m Onboard + 30m Additional time* |
![]() Most popular airline | ![]() Most popular bus company |
Direct Options | Direct Options |
Compare coach and flight prices over the next three weeks. See the best deals at a glance, find the lowest fares, and choose the option that fits your budget.
Take a train from Santander to Edinburgh and enjoy the approximately 1389 km long journey. Find schedules and pricing options for a convenient and affordable trip.
The earliest train runs at 05:40, the last at 13:58.
Distance 1389 km |
First train 5:40 |
Last train 13:58 |
High Season Oct - Dec |
Low Season Apr - Jun |
Discover the best of Edinburgh — top attractions, local food, transport tips, budget advice, and currency essentials. Plan your perfect Edinburgh trip today.
National museum covering science, design, world cultures and Scottish history. Excellent for varied collections and a dramatic central hall.
Major art gallery with Scottish and international works from the Renaissance to the late nineteenth century, beside Princes Street Gardens.
Contemporary art gallery in a converted schoolhouse, known for thoughtful exhibitions by Scottish and international artists near the Royal Mile.
Historic street linking the castle and Holyroodhouse, lined with closes, shops and public buildings. Ideal for first-time visitors on foot.
Extinct volcano with popular walking routes and broad views over the city and coast. A rewarding outdoor escape close to the centre.
Large public gardens below the castle, good for a break between Old and New Town sights, with monuments, lawns and seasonal planting.
A rich Scottish soup of smoked haddock, potatoes and onions, closely associated with east coast cooking and widely enjoyed in Edinburgh.
Scotland’s iconic savoury pudding of sheep’s offal, oats and spices, traditionally served with neeps and tatties at Burns suppers.
A classic Scottish dessert of raspberries, whipped cream, honey and toasted oats, often linked with soft fruit from eastern Scotland.
Elegant dining room serving refined Scottish tasting menus focused on seasonal produce in a calm central setting.
Popular traditional restaurant near the Castle, specialising in haggis, game and hearty Scottish comfort food.
Stylish brasserie and oyster bar with Scottish seafood, shellfish and classic dishes in a grand city-centre space.
Moderate for the UK. Rooms and dining are pricier in peak season, but buses are affordable and budget eats are easy to find.
Tipping is optional. In restaurants, 10-12.5% is common if service is not included. Round up taxi fares. Cafés and pubs usually do not expect tips.
Official public transport app
Edinburgh Waverley -> Princes Street, Edinburgh
If you are intending to travel to Edinburgh from Santander then expect not to find a direct route but instead a journey that will require multiple changes. With an approximate duration of 2h 33min, expect the possibility of 5 or more changes onboard your journey. This journey will be completed with a number of Europe’s leading train providers, all of which offer great facilities and offer good service from staff.
Passengers who have train tickets to Edinburgh from Santander will find multiple departures per day, all from different providers. Depending on when you are due to travel, you might find that your departures may differ. There is no direct train that runs from Santander to Edinburgh but instead trains that require multiple changes. Each train will run at least once daily. There are a few trains that run at a better frequency like the train from Bayonne to Bordeaux St-Jean running every 2h. The train from London Kings Cross to Edinburgh runs hourly.
The duration of travel from Santander to Edinburgh can differ as there is no direct route between the two locations. However, an overall duration will take approximately 20h 33min. A passenger will find different providers taking them on different routes throughout the journey to Edinburgh, all differing in their duration. The longest duration is from Bordeaux St-Jean Station to Lille Flandres Station with a duration of 4h 41min and a frequency of one train daily. This is with the provider of TGV inOui. The shortest duration is just 1h 22min and this is from Lille Europe Station to London St Pancras Eurostar Station. This is with the provider, Eurostar. This journey also runs once daily.

Santander Panoramic View. Source: Shutterstock
Departure train station:A passenger’s departure station which serves trains to Edinburgh is Santander Train Station. The station has some great facilities like cafés, money withdrawal, toilet facilities, wheelchair access and more. Santander city centre is just 1 mile (1.6 km) from the station. The walking distance is just 8min via Calle Cádiz and Calle Isabel II. Alternatively, a train will take just 5min. Walk 3min to Santander Bus Stop and take the ALSA – Tus L17 towards Corban and disembark at Plaza Ayuntamiento. The walk is then just 1min to central Santander.
Arrival train station:Those who have train tickets to Edinburgh will always find that their train provider will take them to Edinburgh Waverly Train Station. Although the trip to Edinburgh from Santander can be reached by multiple providers, a passenger will find that only the company, LNER, will actually reach the final destination in Edinburgh. The station has great facilities like wheelchair access, eateries, ATM machines, and more. Edinburgh Waverly Train Station is just 0.8 miles (1.3 km) from the city centre and can be reached in as little as 10min if you take public transport. Simply walk 1min to North Bridge (Stop NA) and take the 14 bus towards Muirhouse and disembark at Leopold Place (Stop EG.) The walk is then just 4mins away from central Edinburgh.
Passengers looking for train tickets to Edinburgh from Santander will find a variety of train providers that will take you on part of your route. However, none of these providers will offer a direct route but instead routes that require a number of stopovers on the route. Just some of these companies include Eurostar, TV inOui, SNCF, LNER, and more. Each provider will take you on a different section of your trip to Edinburgh and they will all differ in their duration. Your serving provider that will depart directly from Santander will depart from the main train station in Santander, also known as Santander Train Station. This station serves all of Santander and sees the leading providers depart and arrive. Your chosen provider will then take you to the main airport in Edinburgh, also known as Edinburgh Waverly Station. Both of these stations are well located and are within close proximity to their cities.
A passenger will not be able to find a direct route from Santander to Edinburgh but instead routes that require multiple stopovers and even different forms of transport like buses and ferries. Providers like LNER trains will take you on the last leg of your trip and takes you to the final destination in Edinburgh, specifically Edinburgh Waverly Station. A passenger will pick up the LNER train from London Kings Cross Station and the duration will take approximately 4h 20min.
A passenger can expect to pick up trains with TGV inOui from popular destinations like Bayonne Station. The duration will take 1h 48min as it reaches Bordeaux St-Jean Station. Departing from this station and arriving at Bayonne Station will have to be completed with train travel from different train providers as there is no direct route to Edinburgh from Santander.
The leading company, Eurostar, will commonly take you from Lille Europe Station to London St Pancras Eurostar Station. This duration takes 1h 22min and the train runs once daily. Getting to Lille Europe Station and getting from London St Pancras Eurostar Station will have to be with different train providers as there is no provider that offers a direct route to Santander.

Santander Beach. Source: Shutterstock
A passenger who has tickets from Santander to Edinburgh will find a great number of onboard facilities during their trip. In addition, a passenger can benefit from great service from staff on and offboard their coach. Prior to travel, if you are boarding with a passenger with reduced mobility then make sure to pre-book any additional help that you may need. Staff will help a passenger on and off of the coaches and will be there to answer any additional queries that you might have. The serving providers to Edinburgh also have the option of either first-class or standard class travel. Whilst they both offer good amenities, first-class provides that little bit of extra luxury. First-class includes comfortable seating, extra legroom, access to snacks and beverages, as well as much more.
Finding cheap train tickets to Edinburgh from Santander is extremely easy with just a few money-saving tips. When looking for your trip to Edinburgh then make sure to book with enough time in advance so that you’re not facing last-minute price inflation. Price increase last minute is usually when a passenger is looking for tickets with days or hours in advance before they are due to travel. To make sure that you’re facing the best fares for your trip then book either weeks or months in advance.
If you are already looking for tickets with enough time in advance, then consider altering your dates of travel by just a few days. Travel can usually increase on certain days of the week like Saturdays and Sundays, meaning that weekdays can be your cheapest price of travel. Alternatively, certain times of the year, like children’s holidays and bank holidays could also increase your ticket price so it’s best to check your time of travel before you’re due to depart from Santander.
Edinburgh is gifted with lots of exciting attractions, venues, landmarks, and more, all of which are attractive to every member of the family, as well as every tourist, visitor, and resident. The capital is packed with lots of exciting activities to keep every man, woman, and child entertained. Just enjoy some of the top family-friendly attractions like Edinburgh Zoo, Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art, National Museum of Scotland, Scottish National Gallery, The Edinburgh Dungeon, Deep Sea World, and more.
Alternatively, consider visiting some of the top landmarks that contribute to the history of the town. These landmarks include Edinburgh Castle, St Giles’ Cathedral, Lauriston Castle, Craigmillar Castle, Rosslyn Chapel, as well as much more. Or perhaps, you’re visiting Edinburgh for its good nightlife. There are lots of leading bars, clubs, and restaurants that aligns with the city centre.
Just some of the most popular include The Bongo Club, Why Not Nightclub, Club Tropicana, The High Five Nightclub & Venue, Cabaret Voltaire, Lulu Bar and Nightclub, Sneaky Pete’s, and Bourbon. No matter how you choose to spend your time in Edinburgh, you’ll be quickly anticipating your return.
Find answers to the most common questions about traveling from Santander to Edinburgh by train. From journey times and ticket prices to direct connections, first and last departures, and even whether the route is scenic, our FAQs cover everything you need to plan your trip. Whether you’re looking for the fastest train, the cheapest option, or tips for making the most of your visit at Edinburgh, this guide helps you travel smarter and with confidence.

Here are some other resources that might have the information you need