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 prices starting from $43. For those with little time consider booking a train which can get you there in 6h 29m. In case you are seeking to minimise your carbon footprint the train is your best bet as it emits only 0.1 - 0.4kg. The ticket price range depends on the travel mode: a bus costs an average of $43, and a train costs an average of $75.
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 prices starting from $29. For those with little time consider booking a train which can get you there in 6h 24m. In case you are seeking to minimise your carbon footprint the train is your best bet as it emits only 0.1 - 0.4kg. The ticket price range depends on the travel mode: a bus costs an average of $29, and a train costs an average of $74.
Distance: 308 miles (497 km)
Compare train with
Most popular Train | Bus | Driving |
|---|---|---|
$128 Average price | $76 Average price Cheapest | $181 Average price (fuel + tolls) |
6h 59m Average total duration Fastest 6h 29m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 13h 38m Average total duration 13h 8m Onboard + 30m 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 |
 Most popular train company |  Most popular bus company | Your own car or car rental |
Direct Options | Direct Options | Direct Options |
$241 Average price | $76 Average price Cheapest | $181 Average price (fuel + tolls) |
6h 54m Average total duration Fastest 6h 24m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 13h 34m Average total duration 13h 4m Onboard + 30m 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 |
Most popular train company | Most popular bus company | Your own car or car rental |
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 $52 less than a train for this route with tickets for a train from Cardiff to Edinburgh costing on average $128.
Other travel options to Edinburgh take longer:
Train takes on average 6h 29m.
Bus takes on average 13h 8m.
This is compared to other travel options from Cardiff to Edinburgh:
A bus is $110 less than a flight for this route with tickets for a flight from Cardiff to Edinburgh costing on average $186.
A bus is $166 less than a train for this route with tickets for a train from Cardiff to Edinburgh costing on average $241.
Other travel options to Edinburgh take longer:
Train takes on average 6h 24m.
Bus takes on average 13h 4m.
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.
FlixBus · FlixBus6:40 PM13h05Cardiff, North Road (Friary Gardens)7:45 AMEdinburgh, St Andrew's House$721One-way1 transfer
Cheapest
- FlixBus · FlixBus6:40 PM13h05Cardiff, North Road (Friary Gardens)7:45 AMEdinburgh, St Andrew's House$721One-way1 transfer
Fastest
G39027+
W33935+
W851829:23 AM6h13Cardiff Central (CDF)3:36 PMEdinburgh Waverley (EDB)$3961One-way2 transfers
Other options
- G010679:45 AM7h24Cardiff Central (CDF)5:09 PMEdinburgh Waverley (EDB)$981One-way0 transfers
- W34144+Y627305:48 AM6h32Cardiff Central (CDF)12:20 PMEdinburgh Waverley (EDB)$981One-way1 transfer
- G00947 · G0107512:45 PM7h20Cardiff Central (CDF)8:05 PMEdinburgh Waverley (EDB)$1241One-way1 transfer
- FlixBus · FlixBus6:40 PM13h35Cardiff, North Road (Friary Gardens)8:15 AMEdinburgh, Bus Station$721One-way1 transfer
- FlixBus · FlixBus1:40 AM15h55Cardiff, North Road (Friary Gardens)5:35 PMEdinburgh, Bus Station$881One-way1 transfer
- FlixBus · FlixBus4:15 PM14h10Cardiff, North Road (Friary Gardens)6:25 AMEdinburgh, Bus Station$891One-way1 transfer
Find all the dates and times for this journey by train, bus, flight, and ferry .
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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 $52 less than a train for this route with tickets for a train from Cardiff to Edinburgh costing on average $128.
Other travel options to Edinburgh take longer:
Train takes on average 6h 29m.
Bus takes on average 13h 8m.
- 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, Sophia Gardens and arrive in Edinburgh, Bus Station.
- Travel with Loganair, easyJet to go to Edinburgh by flight.
- Travel with National Express, FlixBus, Megabus, Cardiff Bus to go to Edinburgh by bus.
- Travel with CrossCountry, Avanti West Coast, Transport for Wales, Transpennine Express, Cross Country, Transport for Wales to go to Edinburgh by train.
- 1 direct flights per day with Loganair.
- 0 direct trains per day with CrossCountry, Cross Country.
Travelling from Cardiff to Edinburgh: related information
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