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
3h 1m£97–275Bus, ferry
cheapest- Take the bus from Princes Street to Buchanan Bus Stationbus 900
- Take the bus from Buchanan Bus Station to Argyll Arms Hotelbus 926
- Take the ferry from Kennacraig Ferry Terminal to Port Askaig Islay Ferry Terminalferry Cm9
9h 43m£29–82Train, bus, ferry via Glasgow
- Take the train from Edinburgh Waverley to Glasgow Queen Streettrain
- Take the bus from Buchanan Bus Station to Argyll Arms Hotelbus 926
- Take the ferry from Kennacraig Ferry Terminal to Port Askaig Islay Ferry Terminalferry Cm9
9h 23m£40–150Train, bus, ferry
- Take the train from Edinburgh Waverley to Annieslandtrain
- Take the bus from Anniesland Cross to Argyll Arms Hotelbus 926
- Take the ferry from Kennacraig Ferry Terminal to Port Askaig Islay Ferry Terminalferry Cm9
9h 42m£43–95Train, 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
- Take the ferry from Colonsay Ferry Terminal to Port Askaig Islay Ferry Terminalferry Cm9
10h 26m£48–210
Edinburgh to Islay by train, foot, bus, and ferry
Questions & Answers
The cheapest way to get from Edinburgh to Islay is to bus and ferry which costs £28 - £85 and takes 9h 43m.
The fastest way to get from Edinburgh to Islay is to train and fly which takes 3h 1m and costs £95 - £280.
The distance between Edinburgh and Islay is 129 miles.
The best way to get from Edinburgh to Islay without a car is to train and bus and ferry via Glasgow which takes 9h 23m and costs £40 - £150.
It takes approximately 3h 1m to get from Edinburgh to Islay, including transfers.
There are 47+ 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 Cathedral 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, Argyll Arms Hotel, Ferry Terminal, and Kennacraig Ferry Terminal in around 9h 23m.
- Website
- loganair.co.uk
Flights from Glasgow Airport to Islay
- Ave. Duration
- 42 min
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- £80–200
- Phone
- +44 344 811 0141
- Website
- scotrail.co.uk
Train from Edinburgh Waverley to Glasgow Queen Street
- Ave. Duration
- 50 min
- Frequency
- Every 20 minutes
- Estimated price
- £17–18
- Website
- https://www.scotrail.co.uk/
Train from Edinburgh Waverley to Anniesland
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 35m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- £21
- Website
- https://www.scotrail.co.uk/
Train from Glasgow Queen Street to Oban
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 6m
- Frequency
- Every 4 hours
- Estimated price
- £20–45
- Website
- https://www.scotrail.co.uk/
- Phone
- 0800 031 8542
- Passengerassistance@lumo.co.uk.
- Website
- lumo.co.uk
Train from Edinburgh Waverley to Glasgow Queen Street
- Ave. Duration
- 53 min
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- £17–18
- Website
- https://www.lumo.co.uk/
- Phone
- +44 330 060 0500
- enquiry@sleeper.scot
- Website
- sleeper.scot
Train from Edinburgh Waverley to Glasgow Queen Street
- Ave. Duration
- 57 min
- Frequency
- 6 times a week
- Estimated price
- £60–75
- Website
- https://www.sleeper.scot/
- Sleeper Berth Classic
- £210–230
- Sleeper Seat
- £60–75
- Sleeper Berth Club Solo
- £230–260
- Phone
- 0141 352 4444
- info@citylink.co.uk
- Website
- citylink.co.uk
Bus from Buchanan Bus Station to Argyll Arms Hotel
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 44m
- Frequency
- Every 2 hours
- Estimated price
- £14–20
- Website
- https://www.citylink.co.uk/
Bus from Anniesland Cross to Argyll Arms Hotel
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 26m
- Frequency
- Every 3 hours
- Estimated price
- £13–19
- Website
- https://www.citylink.co.uk/
Bus from Princes Street to Buchanan Bus Station
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 18m
- Frequency
- Every 10 minutes
- Estimated price
- £9–14
- Website
- https://www.citylink.co.uk/
- Phone
- +44 (0)1475 650 397
- enquiries@calmac.co.uk
- Website
- calmac.co.uk
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
- https://www.calmac.co.uk
- Passenger Fare
- £6–9
- Car Fare
- £40–50
Ferry from Oban Ferry Terminal to Colonsay Ferry Terminal
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 30m
- Frequency
- 6 times a week
- Estimated price
- £7–60
- Website
- https://www.calmac.co.uk
- Passenger Fare
- £7–11
- Car Fare
- £50–60
Ferry from Colonsay Ferry Terminal to Port Askaig Islay Ferry Terminal
- Ave. Duration
- 1h
- Frequency
- Twice a week
- Estimated price
- £4–30
- Website
- https://www.calmac.co.uk
- Passenger Fare
- £4–7
- Car Fare
- £24–30
Want to know more about travelling around United Kingdom
Rome2Rio's Travel Guide series provide vital information for the global traveller. Filled with useful and timely travel information, the guides answer all the hard questions - such as 'How do I buy a ticket?', 'Should I book online before I travel? ', 'How much should I expect to pay?', 'Do the trains and buses have Wifi?' - to help you get the most out of your next trip.
Related travel guides
Travelling to the UK: What do I need to know?
Read the travel guide























