4.9
4.6
Travel Information
Compare bus and train for Cardiff to Edinburgh
Omio recommends booking the train as it is the most popular option from Cardiff to Edinburgh among Omio's users. If you are prioritising price, take the bus, with an average ticket price of $74 For those with little time, consider booking a flight, which has an average total journey time of 3h 28m. If you are seeking to minimise your carbon footprint, the train is your best option, with estimated CO2 emissions of 0.1 - 0.4kg. Average ticket prices depend on the travel mode: a bus costs an average of $74, while a train costs an average of $205.
Distance: 308 miles (497 km)
Compare train with
Most popular Train | Bus | Flight | Driving |
|---|---|---|---|
$205 Average price | $74 Average price Cheapest | $177 Average price | $174 Average price (fuel + tolls) |
6h 55m Average total duration 6h 25m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 13h 35m Average total duration 13h 5m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 3h 28m Average total duration Fastest 1h 28m Onboard + 2h 0m Additional time* | 8h 8m Average total duration (door-to-door) |
0.1 - 0.4kg CO2 emissions Lowest | 0.5 - 1.2kg CO2 emissions | - CO2 emissions | - CO2 emissions |
 Most popular train company |  Most popular bus company |  Most popular airline | Your own car or car rental |
Direct Options | Direct Options | Direct Options | Direct Options |
Additional time: Average total travel duration to departure point, security checks and transfers.
This is compared to other travel options from Cardiff to Edinburgh:
A bus is $102 less than a flight for this route with tickets for a flight from Cardiff to Edinburgh costing on average $177.
A bus is $131 less than a train for this route with tickets for a train from Cardiff to Edinburgh costing on average $205.
Other travel options to Edinburgh take longer:
Train takes on average 6h 55m.
Bus takes on average 13h 35m.
You'll arrive about 1h 43m sooner (6h 25m by train vs 8h 8m by car). Tickets start at around $205 compared to roughly $174 in fuel and tolls — so you're paying a bit more, but getting hours of your day back, a city-centre arrival, and the freedom to work or relax instead of drive.
Driving makes more sense if you're travelling as a group (where fuel costs split several ways), want to stop along the way, or need a car once you arrive.
Travel optionsfrom Cardiff to Edinburgh
How to get from Cardiff to Edinburgh by train, bus or flight.
Our recommendation
The best way to travel from Cardiff to Edinburgh is by taking a bus because it’s the best combination of price and speed.
- NX509 · NX5945:00 PM14h20Cardiff, Sophia Gardens7:20 AMEdinburgh, Bus Station$751One-way1 transfer
Cheapest
- NX509 · NX5945:00 PM14h20Cardiff, Sophia Gardens7:20 AMEdinburgh, Bus Station$751One-way1 transfer
Fastest
W33799+
G389519:53 AM6h25Cardiff Central (CDF)4:18 PMEdinburgh Waverley (EDB)$3581One-way1 transfer
Other options
- G39003+W33709+
L879154:55 PM7h41Cardiff Central (CDF)12:36 AMEdinburgh Waverley (EDB)$911One-way2 transfers - G38958+W33717+L878833:53 PM7h42Cardiff Central (CDF)11:35 PMEdinburgh Waverley (EDB)$911One-way2 transfers
- G38958+W337943:53 PM6h29Cardiff Central (CDF)10:22 PMEdinburgh Waverley (EDB)$951One-way1 transfer
FlixBus · FlixBus6:10 PM13h05Cardiff, North Road (Friary Gardens)7:15 AMEdinburgh, Bus Station$841One-way1 transfer- FlixBus · FlixBus4:15 PM14h10Cardiff, North Road (Friary Gardens)6:25 AMEdinburgh, Bus Station$931One-way1 transfer
- NX509 · NX5913:15 AM15h20Cardiff, Sophia Gardens6:35 PMEdinburgh, Bus Station$941One-way1 transfer
Find all the dates and times for this journey by train, bus, flight, and ferry .
Compare prices and tickets Prices for trains, buses and flights
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FAQs: Travel from Cardiff to Edinburgh
Travel to Edinburgh easily. Whether you want fast, cheap or something entirely different, our travel experts have collected everything you need to know so you can find the best option from Cardiff to Edinburgh.
This is compared to other travel options from Cardiff to Edinburgh:
A bus is $102 less than a flight for this route with tickets for a flight from Cardiff to Edinburgh costing on average $177.
A bus is $131 less than a train for this route with tickets for a train from Cardiff to Edinburgh costing on average $205.
Other travel options to Edinburgh take longer:
Train takes on average 6h 55m.
Bus takes on average 13h 35m.
- Around 8 buses per day.
- Around 6 trains per day.
- Around 1 flights per day.
However, we recommend checking specific travel dates for your route between Cardiff and Edinburgh as scheduled services by bus and train can vary by season or day of the week.
- Flights mostly depart from Cardiff Airport and arrive in Edinburgh Airport.
- Trains mostly depart from Cardiff Central (CDF) and arrive in Edinburgh Waverley (EDB).
- Buses mostly depart from Cardiff, North Road (Friary Gardens) and arrive in Edinburgh, Bus Station.
- Travel with Loganair to go to Edinburgh by flight.
- Travel with CrossCountry, Avanti West Coast, Transport for Wales, Transpennine Express, London North Eastern Railway to go to Edinburgh by train.
- Travel with National Express, FlixBus to go to Edinburgh by bus.
- 1 direct flights per day with Loganair.
- 1 direct trains per day with CrossCountry.
Travelling from Cardiff to Edinburgh: related information
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