Fares and tickets
We offer a range of flexible ways to pay for travel on Lothian Buses. Read on to find the ideal ticket or card to fit your lifestyle and budget.
Note that all of our regular services (with the exception of AIRLINK) use an exact fare system for cash fares. Please have exact change available when boarding, place your change in the red fares box and take your ticket from the machine (either beside the fares box or just behind the driver's cab). Drivers do not have access to cash and cannot give change.
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SINGLEticket
Adult: £1.50
Child: 70p
Scottish National Entitlement Card: FreeIdeal for infrequent users.
SINGLEtickets are available from your bus driver. When boarding the bus let the driver know the type of ticket you require and then place the correct change into the red fares box. Please have your correct fare ready as our drivers do not have access to cash and cannot give change.
Transport Scotland Young Persons Bus Concession Card holders can travel on Lothian Buses for £1.00 single fare.
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RIDACARD
Our best option for regular bus travellers -
the more you travel, the more you save!Adult, Junior and Student 1-week, 4-week, annual and Direct Debit RIDACARDs available to suit every pocket. As well as day buses, RIDACARD holders can also travel on AIRLINK buses at no extra charge, and a discount is available on Night Buses.
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CITYSINGLEticket
Like a single ticket without searching for loose change!
Available as a pack of 20 tear-off tickets for single journeys. Available from our Travelshops and directly from our Online Shop. When you board the bus, show both sides of the CITYSINGLEticket to the driver before placing it in the red fares box. The driver will then issue you with a ticket valid for travel.
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DAYticket
Unlimited travel on our day buses for one day.
Perfect if you are making 3 or more journeys in a day. Like single tickets, these can be purchased from the bus driver of the first bus you board. Please have your correct fare ready as our drivers do not have access to cash and cannot give change. You must clearly show your DAYticket to the driver on every bus you board. DAYtickets can also be pre-purchased from our Travelshops, and online from our Online Shop.
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Night Ticket
All Night Ticket: £3.00
With RIDACARD: £1.50
Your Night Ticket can be used on multiple NIGHTBUS services.Perfect after a night out or for getting somewhere (very) early
Night Tickets are available from your bus driver. When boarding the bus place the correct change into the red fares box. Please have your correct fare ready as our drivers do not have access to cash and cannot give change. Your Night Ticket is valid for travel all night.
RIDACARD holders get a discount on their Night Ticket - see prices above.
Travel Restrictions
RIDACARDS are valid on AIRLINK and all Lothian Buses except Service 98 and Tours. RIDACARDS give a £1.50 discount on the NIGHTBUSES Night Ticket fare when shown to the NIGHTBUSES driver.
Daytime SINGLEtickets, DAYtickets and CITYSINGLEtickets are valid on all buses except AIRLINK, NIGHTBUSES, Service 98 and Tours.
Child Fares
Up to two children under five may travel free when accompanied by a fare-paying passenger who is responsible for them. Additional children under five will be charged the Child fare.
Children between 5 and 15 inclusive pay the Child fare.
Passengers asking for a Child fare may be required to prove their age – a Lothian Buses TEENCARD provides that proof. TEENCARDs are available free from Waverley Bridge Travelshop on production of proof of age (passport, birth certificate, etc.) and a recent passport–size photograph conforming to UK Passport Agency standards.
Senior/Concession Passes
Scottish National Entitlement Card holders travel free at all times on all buses except NIGHTBUSES and Tours. We cannot accept concession cards from other areas of the UK.
Young Persons Concession Passes
Holders of Transport Scotland Young Persons Bus Concession Cards (ages 16 to 18 inclusive) travel for £1.00 flat fare on all buses except AIRLINK, NIGHTBUSES and Tours – a discount off the usual AIRLINK fare is also offered – ask the AIRLINK driver for details.
