South Queensferry Cruise Port
Edinburgh, United Kingdom · Northern Europe
Cruise ships anchor offshore in Edinburgh — tenders ferry passengers to the port.
Plan my port daysTender port on the Firth of Forth — gateway to Edinburgh, Hopetoun House and the historic Forth Bridge.
At a glance
Port summary
Ships anchor in the Firth of Forth and tender passengers ashore at Hawes Pier in South Queensferry. Edinburgh is 15 km away — easiest by cruise-line shuttle or ScotRail train from Dalmeny station (10 min walk from the pier). The town itself sits beneath the three Forth bridges and has a charming heritage high street with the historic Hawes Inn.
Cruise dock
Hawes Pier — Tender Landing
Tender pier at South Queensferry beneath the Forth Bridge. Cruise ships anchor in the Firth of Forth and tender passengers to this pier; the heritage high street is a 5-minute walk away and Dalmeny railway station is 10-12 min uphill.
Latitude: 55.991886, Longitude: -3.386274
See dock on port map →Getting to Edinburgh
From the cruise terminal to the city centre
Map & things to do
Money & payments
Cards work for almost everything; carry no cash unless visiting small village shops.
Build your perfect day in Edinburgh
Tell us your cruise line, ship and departure date and we'll give you a complete set of full port information and playbooks of how to spend your day.
Inside the British Isles collection
Here's a peek at everything waiting for your Edinburgh cruise day.
Typical weather
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Excursions compared
4 comparedEdinburgh Castle, Royal Mile and panoramic city drive
≈ 5.5 h · sold by 7 cruise lines
Cruise line
€105$117
Do it yourself
€60$67
Save ≈ €45Save ≈ $50 (43% off)
South Queensferry is a tender port - tender to Hawes Pier, then Lothian's seasonal X99 Cruiselink bus runs from the Hawes Pier stop to Waterloo Place in central Edinburgh in 30 min for £12 (€14) round trip. Edinburgh Castle entry is £21.50 (€25) online and the queue at the gate often runs 40+ min on cruise days - pre-booking online for a 10:30 or 11:00 slot is essential. From Waterloo Place it's a 15-20 min uphill walk to the castle along the Royal Mile, which doubles as the main sightseeing thoroughfare on the way back.
See the DIY plan →
Stirling Castle and Rosslyn Chapel countryside day
≈ 8 h · sold by 5 cruise lines
Cruise line
€150$168
Do it yourself
€55$62
Save ≈ €95Save ≈ $106 (63% off)
Stirling Castle is reachable independently by train: walk 15 min from Hawes Pier to Dalmeny station, train Dalmeny to Haymarket then change for Stirling (75 min total, ~£15/€17 return). Rosslyn Chapel adds Lothian bus 37 from central Edinburgh (50 min each way, £4 return) and realistically cannot be combined with Stirling in one cruise day by public transport - pick one. The DIY plan below covers Stirling Castle only as the realistic standalone DIY; for the full Stirling+Rosslyn combo the ship excursion or a private guided car (~€80pp split four ways) is the practical option.
See the DIY plan →
Ready-made port days
13 plansEdinburgh Castle & Royal Mile Classic
The one day every first-timer wants — the fortress on the rock and the medieval spine of the Old Town, done independently on the Cruiselink coach.
Free Old Town on Foot
Edinburgh's greatest hits without a single admission ticket — a world-class free museum, a cathedral, the Royal Mile and Greyfriars.
Arthur's Seat Summit & Holyrood
Climb the extinct volcano over the city for a 360° view of Edinburgh and the Firth of Forth — then drop down to the palace gates.
Royal Edinburgh: Holyroodhouse & the Britannia
Two royal residences in one indoor-friendly day — the King's Edinburgh palace and the Queen's former floating home at Leith.
Frequently asked questions
- Where does my cruise ship dock in Edinburgh?
- Edinburgh is a tender port: your ship anchors offshore and passengers transfer to shore by small boat.
- Can I walk from the cruise port into Edinburgh?
- Walking into Edinburgh from the cruise port isn't practical. Plan to use a shuttle, taxi, or public transport.
- How do I get from the cruise port to Edinburgh centre?
- Typical options include Shuttle bus, Taxi, On foot, Train, Local bus. Durations and costs are listed in the transport section above.
- How much time do I need in Edinburgh?
- Plan for at least 5 hours ashore to see Edinburgh independently and return to the ship with a safe buffer.
- What currency is used in Edinburgh and are cards accepted?
- Edinburgh uses the Pound Sterling. Carry some cash for markets, taxis, and smaller vendors — cards aren't accepted everywhere.
- Is there Wi-Fi at the cruise port?
- Wi-Fi isn't reliably available at the Edinburgh cruise terminal. Consider a local SIM or your cruise line's data package.
- When should I be back at the ship?
- Cruise lines usually require all passengers on board about 30 minutes before scheduled departure. Confirm the exact all-aboard time on your daily programme.
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