How to get from Edinburgh to Cardiff by train, bus or flight.
The best way to travel from Edinburgh to Cardiff is by taking a bus because it’s the best combination of price and speed.
Find all the dates and times for this journey by train, bus, flight, and ferry .
Distance | 308 miles (497 km) | |
Available travel modes | Bus or flight | |
Ticket price range | $66 - $195 | |
Cheapest mode | Bus • $66 (€59) • 15 h 50 min | |
Fastest mode | Flight • $195 (€175) • 1 h 15 min | |
Popular travel companies | FlixBus or Loganair |
Travel 308 miles (497 km) by bus or flight between Edinburgh and 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 $66 (€59). The most popular travel companies which serve this trip are FlixBus or Loganair among others. Travelers can even take a direct bus or flight 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.
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 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.
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.
You can travel by train, bus or flight for as low as $26 (€23). When you search for schedules and tickets, Omio will show you the best trip.
Cross Country trains are a UK-based train operator that provides services across the country including trains from Edinburgh to Cardiff. They offer a range of services, from express services to local services, and have a variety of ticket types to suit different needs. Their express services, such as the CrossCountry Voyager and CrossCountry XC Trains, offer a fast and comfortable journey, with onboard facilities such as free Wi-Fi, power sockets, and a selection of snacks and drinks. Their local services, such as the CrossCountry Regional and CrossCountry Regional Express, provide a more leisurely journey, with stops at smaller stations along the way. They also offer a range of ticket types, such as Advance, Anytime, and Off-Peak tickets, to suit different budgets and travel needs. The most popular routes for Cross Country trains include London to Birmingham, Manchester to Edinburgh, and Bristol to Reading.
FlixBus is one of the most popular low-cost travel companies in Europe. Founded in Germany, FlixBus has expanded its services throughout Europe and even to the United States, giving travelers in both continents the option to take a long-distance travel at an affordable price. FlixBus also operates overnight travel on select routes throughout Europe. FlixBus offers only the Standard ticket for all its routes, which allows you to bring one carry-on bag and one checked bag per person. Additional fees apply for bringing extra luggage and making specific seat reservations, such as if you want to book an Extra Seat, Table Seat or the Panorama Seat. Standard amenities onboard include free Wi-Fi, power outlets to charge your phone, tablet or laptop during long travel journeys, extra legroom, luggage space and toilets.
EasyJet is a British multinational low-cost airline headquartered at London Luton Airport (LTN). It’s the largest UK-based carrier based on the number of passengers carried. EasyJet flies to over 150 destinations across Europe and North Africa, making it a popular budget airline for travelers. To keep fares as low as possible, easyJet tickets are non-refundable and no complimentary snacks are provided onboard. All fare types include allowance of one small personal bag, while additional fees apply for carry-on luggage and checked luggage.
There are 2 ways to get from Edinburgh to Cardiff: bus or flight.
The cheapest way to get from Edinburgh to Cardiff is by taking a bus with average ticket prices of $66 (€59) compared to other travel options to Cardiff:
A bus is $128 (€115) less than a flight with an average ticket price of $195 (€175) from Edinburgh to Cardiff.
The fastest way to get to Cardiff from Edinburgh is by flight with an average travel time of 1 h 15 min.
Other travel options to Cardiff take longer:
Bus takes 15 h 50 min on average.
The distance from Edinburgh to Cardiff is approximately 308 miles (497 km).
These are the most popular departure and arrival points from Edinburgh to Cardiff:
Omio works with many trusted partners that can help you travel the best way from Edinburgh to Cardiff:
Yes, there are direct routes from Edinburgh to Cardiff with the following travel companies:
Direct services to Cardiff tend to save you time and add more convenience as you won't need to transfer at another stop in between, so it's worth paying attention to before booking tickets for your trip.
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