There are 5 ways to get from Edinburgh to Islay by train, plane, bus, or ferry
Select an option below to see step-by-step directions and to compare ticket prices and travel times in Rome2Rio's travel planner.
Train, fly
best- Take the train from Edinburgh Waverley to Glasgow Queen Streettrain
- Fly from Glasgow Airport (GLA) to Islay (ILY)plane GLA - ILY
2h 57m£106–254Bus, ferry via Oban
cheapest- Take the bus from George Street to Oban Bus Stationbus Ember
- Take the ferry from Oban Ferry Terminal to Port Askaig Islay Ferry Terminalferry Cm9
8h 37m£23–103Train, bus, ferry
- Take the train from Edinburgh Waverley to Glasgow Queen Streettrain
- Take the bus from Buchanan Bus Station to Ferry Terminalbus 926
- Take the ferry from Kennacraig Ferry Terminal to Port Askaig Islay Ferry Terminalferry Cm9
8h 10m£33–119Train, ferry
- Take the train from Edinburgh Waverley to Glasgow Queen Streettrain
- Take the train from Glasgow Queen Street to Obantrain
- Take the ferry from Oban Ferry Terminal to Colonsay Ferry Terminalferry Cm9
- Take the ferry from Colonsay Ferry Terminal to Port Askaig Islay Ferry Terminalferry Cm9
10h 10m£54–179Bus, ferry
- Take the bus from Princes Street to Buchanan Bus Stationbus
- Take the bus from Buchanan Bus Station to Ferry Terminalbus 926
- Take the ferry from Kennacraig Ferry Terminal to Port Askaig Islay Ferry Terminalferry Cm9
8h 33m£34–106
Edinburgh to Islay by train, foot, bus, and ferry
Comparing Your Travel Options
The cheapest way to get from Edinburgh to Islay is to bus and ferry which costs £30 - £110 and takes 8h 33m.
The fastest way to get from Edinburgh to Islay is to train and fly which takes 2h 57m and costs £100 - £260.
The distance between Edinburgh and Islay is 128 miles.
The best way to get from Edinburgh to Islay without a car is to train and bus and ferry which takes 8h 10m and costs £30 - £120.
It takes approximately 2h 57m to get from Edinburgh to Islay, including transfers.
There are 53+ hotels available in Islay.
What companies run services between Edinburgh, Scotland and Islay, Scotland?
There is no direct connection from Edinburgh to Islay. However, you can take the train to Glasgow Queen Street, walk to Buchanan Street, take the line 500 bus to Terminal Building, walk to Glasgow Airport (GLA) airport, then fly to Islay (ILY). Alternatively, you can take a train from Edinburgh Waverley to Port Askaig Islay Ferry Terminal via Glasgow Queen Street, Buchanan Bus Station, Ferry Terminal, and Kennacraig Ferry Terminal in around 8h 10m.
- Website
- loganair.co.uk
Flights from Glasgow Airport to Islay
- Ave. Duration
- 40 min
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- £95–220
- Phone
- +44 (0)344 811 0141
- Website
- ScotRail
Train from Edinburgh Waverley to Glasgow Queen Street
- Ave. Duration
- 50 min
- Frequency
- Every 30 minutes
- Estimated price
- £18–30
- Website
- ScotRail
Train from Edinburgh Waverley to Glasgow Queen Street
- Ave. Duration
- 50 min
- Frequency
- Every 30 minutes
- Estimated price
- £18–30
- Website
- ScotRail
Train from Edinburgh Waverley to Glasgow Queen Street
- Ave. Duration
- 50 min
- Frequency
- Every 30 minutes
- Estimated price
- £18–30
- Website
- ScotRail
Train from Glasgow Queen Street to Oban
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 5m
- Frequency
- 5 times a day
- Estimated price
- £35–60
- Website
- ScotRail
- Phone
- 0345 528 0409
- customerexperience@lumo.co.uk
- Website
- Lumo
Train from Edinburgh Waverley to Glasgow Queen Street
- Ave. Duration
- 53 min
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- £7–14
- Website
- Lumo
Train from Edinburgh Waverley to Glasgow Queen Street
- Ave. Duration
- 53 min
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- £7–14
- Website
- Lumo
Train from Edinburgh Waverley to Glasgow Queen Street
- Ave. Duration
- 53 min
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- £7–14
- Website
- Lumo
- Phone
- 0141 352 4444
- info@citylink.co.uk
- Website
- Scottish Citylink Coaches Ltd
Bus from Buchanan Bus Station to Ferry Terminal
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 17m
- Frequency
- 4 times a day
- Estimated price
- £19–40
- Website
- Scottish Citylink Coaches Ltd
- Single
- £19–40
Bus from Princes Street to Buchanan Bus Station
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 22m
- Frequency
- Every 20 minutes
- Estimated price
- £8–17
- Website
- Scottish Citylink Coaches Ltd
- Single
- £8–17
Bus from Buchanan Bus Station to Ferry Terminal
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 17m
- Frequency
- 4 times a day
- Estimated price
- £19–40
- Website
- Scottish Citylink Coaches Ltd
- Single
- £19–40
- Phone
- +44 (0)131 510 4007
- ride@ember.to
- Website
- Ember
Bus from George Street to Oban Bus Station
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 42m
- Frequency
- 4 times a day
- Estimated price
- £13–19
- Website
- Ember
Rome2Rio's guide to FlixBus
Contact DetailsContact Details
- Phone
- +49 30 300 137 300
- service@flixbus.com
- Website
- Flixbus
Bus from Princes Street to Buchanan Bus Station
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 21m
- Frequency
- Every 15 minutes
- Estimated price
- £5–8
- Website
- Flixbus
- Phone
- +44 (0)1475 650 397
- enquiries@calmac.co.uk
- Website
- Caledonian MacBrayne
Ferry from Kennacraig Ferry Terminal to Port Askaig Islay Ferry Terminal
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 55m
- Frequency
- 4 times a day
- Estimated price
- £6–50
- Website
- Caledonian MacBrayne
- Passenger Fare
- £6–9
- Car Fare
- £40–50
Ferry from Oban Ferry Terminal to Port Askaig Islay Ferry Terminal
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 50m
- Frequency
- Once a week
- Estimated price
- £10–85
- Website
- Caledonian MacBrayne
- Passenger Fare
- £10–15
- Car Fare
- £65–85
Ferry from Oban Ferry Terminal to Colonsay Ferry Terminal
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 15m
- Frequency
- 4 times a week
- Estimated price
- £7–60
- Website
- Caledonian MacBrayne
- Passenger Fare
- £7–11
- Car Fare
- £50–60
Ferry from Colonsay Ferry Terminal to Port Askaig Islay Ferry Terminal
- Ave. Duration
- 1h
- Frequency
- Once a week
- Estimated price
- £4–30
- Website
- Caledonian MacBrayne
- Passenger Fare
- £4–7
- Car Fare
- £24–30
Ferry from Kennacraig Ferry Terminal to Port Askaig Islay Ferry Terminal
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 55m
- Frequency
- 4 times a day
- Estimated price
- £6–50
- Website
- Caledonian MacBrayne
- Passenger Fare
- £6–9
- Car Fare
- £40–50
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