Getting Around Dundee
Dundee is a compact city, and most of what a visitor wants to see sits within easy reach of the centre. The main sights, shops and restaurants are all within walking distance of each other, so you can cover a great deal of the city on foot. For the wider city and its residential areas, buses are the workhorse of local transport, with taxis filling the gaps and a growing network of cycle routes for those who prefer two wheels.
Walking
Walking is the simplest way to explore central Dundee. The city centre has pedestrian-priority zones, particularly around the Waterfront and Murraygate, and signposted routes link the transport hubs with attractions such as V&A Dundee and Broughty Castle. The railway station sits just south of the city centre, close to Discovery Point, so you can step off a train and be among the main sights almost immediately.
For longer strolls, the Dundee Green Circular is a waymarked loop linking green spaces including Camperdown Park and Broughty Ferry. If you arrive at Dundee Airport with light baggage, the city centre is walkable in around half an hour, though there are no public transport connections at the airport bus stop.
Rail
Dundee Railway Station is the city's main rail gateway, located just south of the city centre near Discovery Point. It has ticket offices and machines, a Tesco Express, and a SleeperZ hotel on its upper floors. Down the escalators beyond the ticket barriers you'll find a coffee house and a Costa Coffee. The platforms all have step-free access from the street-level concourse.
ScotRail trains run hourly or better from the other major Scottish cities, with journeys from Edinburgh, Glasgow and Aberdeen each taking around 80 minutes. Edinburgh services run via Kirkcaldy and Leuchars (the stop for St Andrews); Glasgow services run via Stirling and Perth; and Aberdeen services run via Stonehaven and Arbroath. You can change at Glasgow for connections from Inverness, Aviemore and Oban. From London King's Cross, LNER runs daytime trains via York and Newcastle, though it's usually more convenient to change in Edinburgh. CrossCountry serves the city from the Midlands and the Southwest, and the Caledonian Sleeper connects London Euston overnight.
A local train from Arbroath takes about 20 minutes via Carnoustie, Monifieth and Broughty Ferry. Invergowrie is a small station halt at the western edge of town, which may suit the Ninewells Hospital area, though there are no direct bus links there; trains from Perth stop there twice an hour on their way to Dundee.
Buses and Coaches
Local bus services are the main way to reach the wider city and residential areas. Xplore Dundee operates most city routes, and single tickets can be bought on the bus with exact change or by contactless card. You can make savings by buying bundles or day and week tickets through their phone app. Stagecoach runs other routes, usually originating from towns in the surrounding region, while Moffat & Williamson serves a few local villages.
Most Xplore buses stop on Nethergate, outside the Steeple Church, which also has a taxi rank. Some routes operate instead from Albert Square by the McManus gallery. Stagecoach and Citylink coaches use Dundee Seagate Bus Station, which has covered waiting areas and plenty of cafes and fast food nearby, though no left-luggage facilities.
For longer journeys, Citylink runs hourly coaches from Glasgow Buchanan station and Aberdeen Union Square, and every two hours from Edinburgh St Andrews Square. Megabus competes on those city routes and also runs direct from Manchester, while National Express coaches come up from London Victoria and continue to Aberdeen. FlixBus is a newer operator with routes from Glasgow, Edinburgh and London. Ember's electric buses are based in Dundee and run from Edinburgh, Glasgow and Aberdeen, calling at park-and-ride sites and Perth along the way.
Taxis and Ride-Hailing
Taxis in Dundee are regulated by Dundee City Council, which sets the meter fares. Those fares should be followed unless you booked through an app, which may charge a pound or two more. It's UK etiquette to round up to the nearest pound as a tip, though it isn't required. Most drivers accept contactless card payments, but some still require cash.
As a rough guide, a ride within the city shouldn't exceed £9, while a longer trip such as Ninewells Hospital to Broughty Ferry can be expected to cost around £20. National and international ride-hailing services such as Uber and Lyft are not available in Dundee, although Uber plans to operate there in future. Some local companies have their own apps, but it may be quicker to phone their office. Options include City Cabs, Tele Taxis and Dundee City Taxis, all bookable by phone and website, with the first two also offering apps.
You can hail licensed taxis — look for the small "For Hire" light in the windscreen — find one at the front of a taxi rank, phone a company, or use an app. Because Dundee is small and taxis are plentiful, you'll usually wait no more than five minutes. Booking is recommended if you have a train or coach to catch, especially outside daytime hours. Taxi ranks exist at several spots around the city, including Nethergate alongside the Steeple Church, the south side of Dundee Railway Station, Albert Square/Meadowside by the McManus gallery, Dundee Airport Terminal, Dock Street outside the Malmaison, Ninewells Hospital in front of the bus stops, and Trades Lane near Seagate Bus Station — but you may find them empty.
Cycling
Dundee has an extensive network of dedicated cycle routes, including the Riverside Drive cycleway, segregated lanes on Arbroath Road, and National Cycle Network Route 77 towards Perth. A Cycle Hub for bike rentals sits by the V&A, about 100 yards from the railway station, and e-bike trials and private bike hire are also available, with docking stations at key locations. Covered secure bike shelters can be found near Dundee Railway Station, the universities and shopping centres.
Airport Connections
Dundee Airport sits in Riverside, west of the city centre on the A85. Loganair is the only commercial operator, with scheduled flights to and from London Heathrow twice daily on weekdays and once on Sundays, plus services to Kirkwall in Orkney and Sumburgh in Shetland. There are no public transport connections at the airport bus stop, so you'll need a taxi or a lift; if the taxi rank is empty when you exit the terminal, call a company or use an app.
For most visitors, Edinburgh Airport is the more convenient and economical choice. The "Fly Dundee" bus, operated by Xplore, runs from right outside Edinburgh Airport to Dundee city centre (Union Street) in about 1 hour 20 minutes, and can be booked online through the Fly Dundee website. If you get through baggage claim significantly earlier than your booked ticket, it's easy to rebook online before boarding. Ember also runs a bus service calling at Edinburgh Airport and Dundee Railway Station.
Alternatively, take the Stagecoach Jet 747 bus to Inverkeithing in Fife to catch the hourly train to Dundee, or to Halbeath for the hourly Stagecoach X54. You can also take the tram or bus from Edinburgh Airport to Edinburgh Haymarket or Edinburgh Gateway for trains and buses onward to Dundee.