Edinburgh Airport ATMs: locations, fees, and tips

Flying to Edinburgh from elsewhere? Whether you’re flying in from the UK or further afield you might find it useful to know where you can withdraw cash when you land in Scotland, to cover things like taxis, tips and perhaps even spending money for your trip.

The airport is often a convenient place to withdraw cash, especially if you need cash to pay for onward travel.

In this guide, we’ll show you where to find ATMs in Edinburgh Airport, along with important info on fees.

Where do I find an ATM at Edinburgh Airport?

ATMs are available in the main terminal of Edinburgh Airport, both before and after security.

The airport has maps available to download which show the locations of all ATMs.

You can also search for your nearest cash machine with these global ATM locators:

• Visa ATM locator
• MasterCard ATM locator

What are ATMs called in Scotland?

ATMs tend to be called ATMs, cash machines or cash points in Scotland, just like in other parts of the UK.

You may also hear the term ‘hole in the wall’ used to describe an ATM. And in Scottish Gaelic, ATMs are sometimes referred to as inneal-airgid.

Are there max cash withdrawal limits in ATMs at Edinburgh airport?

ATMs at Edinburgh Airport generally don’t have limits for how much you can withdraw at once. If there is a limit, the ATM will display a message advising you that your request has exceeded the maximum limit.

However, your bank or card provider may have its own withdrawal limits.

Most UK banks set withdrawal limits for how much you can withdraw a day, week or month (or in a single transaction).

To find out your limits before you travel, check the terms and conditions for your account or card - or contact your bank.

What fees do airport ATMs in Edinburgh charge?

In most cases, ATMs in Scotland that are operated by banks don’t tend to charge any fees.

However, you might find that the ATMs at Edinburgh Airport aren’t operated by banks. Instead, they’re operated by currency exchange companies such as Travelex or ICE Currency Exchange.

The good news though is that these operators generally don’t charge fees.¹²

You’ll just need to make sure you withdraw in the local currency (GBP) to avoid getting poor exchange rates. This shouldn’t be an issue, as the currency in Scotland is the same as the UK - British pounds.

Tips for avoiding ATM fees in Edinburgh Airport

Here are our tips to avoid airport ATM fees:

Always choose to be charged in the local currency

It’s likely that you’ll be withdrawing GBP to spend in Scotland, as this is the local currency. This is the same as your UK bank account, so no currency conversion will be needed.

But if for some reason you’re using a card linked to an account in another currency (i.e. EUR), there’s an extra step to look out for when using an ATM.

Some ATMs may offer you a ‘service’ of being charged in your local currency (i.e. GBP). It’s always best to decline this option, as this gives the ATM permission to give you an arbitrary (generally much more unfavourable) exchange rate for your withdrawal.

Being charged in the local currency instead helps you avoid hidden ATM rip-offs by giving you the best possible exchange rate.

Flying in from the EU? Check out our currency converter below.

📚 Read: Edinburgh Airport
currency exchange

Check whether your home bank has ATMs in Scotland

If your UK bank has ATMs in Edinburgh, or partners with other banks there, you may be able to benefit from low or no fees on ATM withdrawals. It’s always worth finding out before you travel.

Look for fee-free ATMs

The ATMs in Edinburgh Airport shouldn’t charge any fees, but it’s always worth checking before using one.

If you can’t find a fee-free option, it could be worth waiting until you travel to Edinburgh city centre where there will be lots of free bank-operated ATMs to choose from.

Choose the right fee-free card

You should be fine to use your UK debit card in Scotland without incurring any fees.

But this isn’t the case for credit cards. As a general rule, you should never use a credit card to make ATM withdrawals. Paying with a credit card is usually a lot more expensive than using a debit card, as fees are charged for cash transactions.

Plus, interest will likely start accruing right away, so you won’t benefit from your usual interest-free period.

Spend and withdraw worldwide with the Wise card

Travel a lot? Whether you’re heading to Scotland, elsewhere in the UK or further afield, the Wise card is the perfect way to spend and withdraw cash worldwide.

It’s a dedicated travel card, letting you spend like a local in 150+ countries worldwide. It automatically converts your pounds to the local currency at the mid-market exchange rate whenever you spend.

And when you need cash, you can use it to withdraw up to £200 a month (max. 2 withdrawals) fee-free. You’ll just need to check whether the ATM operator charges its own fees.

Wise only ever charges small, transparent fees for currency conversion*.

Or it’s fee-free if you already have the currency in your Wise account*.

Sign up for a Wise account online and you can get your own Wise card for a one-time fee of just £7 to start spending like a local wherever you go.

Learn more about the Wise card 💳

ATMs in Edinburgh airport FAQs

Should I use ATMs in airports?

Generally speaking, ATMs in airports aren’t usually the cheapest. Many charge high fees and give you poor exchange rates for withdrawing in another currency - at least in many overseas destinations.

But within the UK, you should be able to find fee-free ATMs at most airports. As long as you’re withdrawing in GBP, you won’t have to deal with currency conversion costs either.

Can I withdraw Scottish banknotes from ATMs at Edinburgh airport?

It’s likely that you’ll be issued with Scottish banknotes when you use an ATM in Scotland, especially if it’s run by a Scottish bank.

If contemplating taking cash back to the UK, bear in mind that not everywhere in the UK accepts Scottish bank notes. So it could be worth spending it while still in Scotland.

While Scottish bank notes are legal currency, they aren’t technically legal tender.

Can I exchange cash at Edinburgh airport?

Yes, there are currency exchange services operated by Travelex within Edinburgh Airport. Though keep in mind that airport currency exchange can be a little pricey.

Does Edinburgh Airport only have one terminal?

Yes, there’s just one terminal at Edinburgh Airport, despite it being a popular and busy international airport. With this in mind, it could be worth waiting to withdraw cash until you reach Edinburgh city centre. The ATM at the airport could be very crowded, so you might have to queue.

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Sources used:

1. ICE International Currency Exchange - Travel Money
2. Travelex - Home

Sources last checked on date: 13-06-2024