4.9
4.6
Travel Information
Compare train and bus for Edinburgh to Cardiff
Omio recommends booking the train as it is the most popular option from Edinburgh to Cardiff among Omio's users. If you are prioritising price, take the bus, with an average ticket price of €65 For those with little time, consider booking a flight, which has an average total journey time of 3h 35m. 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 €65, while a flight costs an average of €151.
Distance: 308 miles (497 km)
Compare train with
Most popular Train | Bus | Flight | Driving |
|---|---|---|---|
€148 Average price | €65 Average price Cheapest | €151 Average price | €146 Average price (fuel + tolls) |
7h 0m Average total duration 6h 30m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 13h 42m Average total duration 13h 12m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 3h 35m Average total duration Fastest 1h 35m Onboard + 2h 0m Additional time* | 7h 32m 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.
Compare ways to travel from Edinburgh to Cardiff
Compare the available ways to get from Edinburgh to Cardiff, with the key details around price, speed, convenience, and direct service.
This is compared to other travel options from Edinburgh to Cardiff:
A bus is €83 less than a train for this route with tickets for a train from Edinburgh to Cardiff costing on average €148.
A bus is €86 less than a flight for this route with tickets for a flight from Edinburgh to Cardiff costing on average €151.
Other travel options to Cardiff take longer:
Train takes on average 7h 0m.
Bus takes on average 13h 42m.
You'll arrive about 1h 2m sooner (6h 30m by train vs 7h 32m by car). Tickets start at around €148 compared to roughly €146 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 Edinburgh to Cardiff
How to get from Edinburgh to Cardiff by train, bus or flight.
Our recommendation
The best way to travel from Edinburgh to Cardiff is by taking a train because it’s the best combination of price and speed.
G38930+
W8491112:12 PM 7h31 Edinburgh Waverley (EDB) 7:43 PM Cardiff Central (CDF) €67 1 One-way 1 transfer
Cheapest
- G38930+W84911
12:12 PM 7h31 Edinburgh Waverley (EDB) 7:43 PM Cardiff Central (CDF) €67 1 One-way 1 transfer
Fastest
W33219+G3885312:51 PM 6h03 Edinburgh Waverley (EDB) 6:54 PM Cardiff Central (CDF) €304 1 One-way 1 transfer
Other options
- K01983 · XC162300+G16005+G38859
1:05 PM 9h46 Edinburgh Waverley (EDB) 10:51 PM Cardiff Central (CDF) €172 1 One-way 3 transfers - K01987 · XC162700 · G01152 · G01110
9:08 AM 10h16 Edinburgh Waverley (EDB) 7:24 PM Cardiff Central (CDF) €304 1 One-way 3 transfers - G01155+TP018200+
C01940+
C4798310:30 AM 8h35 Edinburgh Waverley (EDB) 7:05 PM Cardiff Central (CDF) €600 1 One-way 3 transfers
NX598 · NX5079:45 PM 14h05 Edinburgh, Bus Station 11:50 AM Cardiff, Sophia Gardens €88 1 One-way 1 transfer- FlixBus · FlixBus
11:15 PM 15h00 Edinburgh, Bus Station 2:15 PM Cardiff, North Road (Friary Gardens) €108 1 One-way 1 transfer - FlixBus · FlixBus
10:40 PM 15h00 Edinburgh, Bus Station 1:40 PM Cardiff, North Road (Friary Gardens) €115 1 One-way 1 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
Compare train and bus prices over the next three weeks. See the best deals at a glance, find the lowest fares, and choose the option that fits your budget.
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.
More than 1,000 travel companies trust us to sell their tickets all in one place.
FAQs: Travel from Edinburgh to Cardiff
Travel to Cardiff 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 Edinburgh to Cardiff.
This is compared to other travel options from Edinburgh to Cardiff:
A bus is €83 less than a train for this route with tickets for a train from Edinburgh to Cardiff costing on average €148.
A bus is €86 less than a flight for this route with tickets for a flight from Edinburgh to Cardiff costing on average €151.
Other travel options to Cardiff take longer:
Train takes on average 7h 0m.
Bus takes on average 13h 42m.
- Around 9 buses per day.
- Around 6 trains per day.
- Around 1 flights per day.
However, we recommend checking specific travel dates for your route between Edinburgh and Cardiff as scheduled services by train and bus can vary by season or day of the week.
- Flights mostly depart from Edinburgh Airport and arrive in Cardiff Airport.
- Trains mostly depart from Edinburgh Waverley (EDB) and arrive in Cardiff Central (CDF).
- Buses mostly depart from Edinburgh, Bus Station and arrive in Cardiff, North Road (Friary Gardens).
- Travel with CrossCountry, Avanti West Coast, London North Eastern Railway, Transport for Wales, Transpennine Express to go to Cardiff by train.
- Travel with Loganair to go to Cardiff by flight.
- Travel with FlixBus, National Express to go to Cardiff by bus.
- 1 direct flights per day with Loganair.
Travelling from Edinburgh to Cardiff: related information
Here are some other resources that might have the information you need
Travel to popular destinations by train, bus or flight
The Omio App Makes Travel Planning Easy
We’ll get you where you want to go. From live train updates to mobile tickets, our innovative app is the ideal way to plan and keep track of your travel.
