How to travel from Edinburgh to Cardiff
Travel optionsfrom Edinburgh to Cardiff
You can get from Edinburgh to Cardiff by train, bus or flight.
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Travel Information between Edinburgh and Cardiff
 | Distance | 308 miles (497 km) |
 | Available travel modes | Bus, flight or train |
 | Ticket price range | $32 - $305 |
 | Cheapest mode | Bus • $32 (€26) • 14 h 10 min |
 | Fastest mode | Flight • $217 (€173) • 1 h 15 min |
 | Popular travel companies | National Express, Loganair or Avanti West Coast |
Take a bus, flight or train to travel 308 miles (497 km) from Edinburgh to Cardiff. If speed is a priority, then a flight is the best option with an average duration of 1 h 15 min; whereas, if saving money is more important, then a bus is the best option with prices starting as low as $32 (€26). The most popular travel companies which serve this trip are National Express, Loganair or Avanti West Coast among others. Travelers can even take a direct from Edinburgh to Cardiff.
General Information about the journey from Edinburgh to Cardiff
It is possible to travel between the cities of Cardiff and Edinburgh by plane, bus or train. The quickest and only direct route is by plane, with journeys by bus taking the longest. All airports and stations have good local transport links.
Buses from Edinburgh to Cardiff
National Express Coaches operate four services a day, with a journey time of approximately 12 hours. There are three morning departures and one just before 10:00 p.m., seven days a week. Connections are made at Birmingham or London, with buses departing from Elder Street Bus Station and arriving at Cardiff Central Bus Station. Both are conveniently located for the city centers.
Trains from Edinburgh to Cardiff
Trains between Edinburgh Waverley Station and Cardiff Central Station take around 6 to 7 hours, with one or two departures an hour from early morning, until around 5:00 p.m. Later trains involve more connections and longer journey times. The service is operated by Cross Country, First Great Western, Virgin and Arriva Wales, with connections at Crewe or Bristol Parkway. There is a reduced service on Sundays.
Flights from Edinburgh to Cardiff
There are six daily direct flights between the two cities operated by Flybe and Easyjet, with flight times of approximately 5 hours. The first departure is around 8:00 a.m. and the last plane leaves just before 9:00 p.m. Flights depart from Edinburgh International Airport, 9 km from the city center and land at either Cardiff Airport, 19 km West of the city, or Bristol International Airport, 70 km from Cardiff. Other routes involve connections in London, or outside the United Kingdom, and have longer journey times.
Travel Tips
There are 3 ways to get from Edinburgh to Cardiff: bus, flight or train.
The cheapest way to go to Cardiff from Edinburgh is by taking a bus, which costs on average $32 (€26).
This is compared to other ways of getting to Cardiff:
A bus is generally $184 (€147) less than a flight for the same route. Taking a flight costs on average $217 (€173) from Edinburgh to Cardiff.
Taking a bus is about $273 (€218) less than taking a train, which costs on average $305 (€244) for this journey.
The quickest way to travel between Edinburgh and Cardiff is by flight, which takes on average 1 h 15 min compared to other travel options that may take you longer to get to your destination:
In comparison, taking a bus requires on average 14 h 10 min of travel time.
In comparison, going by train can take 5 h 52 min on average.
The distance from Edinburgh to Cardiff is approximately 308 miles (497 km).
The average frequency per day from Edinburgh to Cardiff is:
- Around 12 trains per day.
However, we recommend checking specific travel dates for your journey between Edinburgh and Cardiff as scheduled services by bus, flight or train can vary by season or day of the week.
These are the most popular departure and arrival points from Edinburgh to Cardiff:
- Buses from Edinburgh to Cardiff most often leave from Edinburgh, Elder Street and arrive in Cardiff, Sophia Gardens.
- Flights most often depart from Edinburgh at Edinburgh Airport and arrive in Cardiff at Cardiff Airport.
- Trains from Edinburgh to Cardiff most often leave from Edinburgh Waverley and arrive in Cardiff Central.
If finding a good deal is your main consideration for your trip from Edinburgh to Cardiff, then we'll help you find the best value travel companies for you:
- Travel with National Express for buses to Cardiff. If you’re looking for a good deal on tickets, check for National Express Edinburgh to Cardiff tickets on Omio for $32 (€26).
- Loganair can take you to Cardiff by plane. If searching for a good deal on flights, you can find tickets for Loganair from Edinburgh to Cardiff for $217 (€173).
- Avanti West Coast can get you to Cardiff by train. You can find a good deal for train tickets with Avanti West Coast from Edinburgh to Cardiff for $305 (€244) on Omio.
When planning your trip from Edinburgh to Cardiff, it’s good to keep in mind what tickets to book and their prices in the next 7 days:
- Bus tickets cost $32 (€26) one way on average.
- Plane tickets cost $217 (€173) one way on average.
- Train tickets cost $305 (€244) one way on average.
However, we recommend buying tickets from Edinburgh to Cardiff online a few months in advance to get the best deals and save money on your upcoming journey.
Important Stations and Airports for this Journey
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Travelling from Edinburgh to Cardiff: related information
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