4.9
4.6
Travel Information
Compare bus and train for Exeter to Cardiff
Omio recommends booking the bus as it is the most popular option from Exeter to Cardiff among Omio's users. If you are prioritising price, take the bus, with an average ticket price of €16 For those with little time, consider booking a train, which has an average total journey time of 2h 34m. If you are seeking to minimise your carbon footprint, the train is your best option, with estimated CO2 emissions of 0.0 - 0.1kg. Average ticket prices depend on the travel mode: a bus costs an average of €16, while a train costs an average of €42.
Distance: 54 miles (88 km)
Compare bus with
Most popular Bus | Train | Driving |
|---|---|---|
€16 Average price Cheapest | €42 Average price | €32 Average price (fuel + tolls) |
3h 55m Average total duration 3h 25m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 2h 34m Average total duration Fastest 2h 4m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 2h 6m Average total duration (door-to-door) |
0.1 - 0.2kg CO2 emissions | 0.0 - 0.1kg CO2 emissions Lowest | - CO2 emissions |
 Most popular bus company |  Most popular train 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 Exeter to Cardiff:
A bus is €26 less than a train for this route with tickets for a train from Exeter to Cardiff costing on average €42.
Other travel options to Cardiff take longer:
Bus takes on average 3h 55m.
Tickets start at around €16 compared to roughly €32 in fuel and tolls — a saving of about €16. The journey takes 3h 25m versus 2h 6m by car, so you'll arrive a bit later, but you can use the time productively rather than spending it behind the wheel. No parking to sort, no fuel stops, and most coaches have Wi-Fi and power outlets.
Driving is worth considering if you're on a tight schedule, travelling as a group (where fuel costs split several ways), or want the flexibility to stop along the way.
Travel optionsfrom Exeter to Cardiff
How to get from Exeter to Cardiff by train, bus or flight.
Our recommendation
The best way to travel from Exeter to Cardiff is by taking a bus because it’s the best combination of price and speed.
FlixBus · FlixBus8:25 PM4h00Exeter, Bampfylde Street / Stover Court12:25 AMCardiff, North Road (Friary Gardens)€181One-way1 transfer
Cheapest
- FlixBus · FlixBus8:25 PM4h00Exeter, Bampfylde Street / Stover Court12:25 AMCardiff, North Road (Friary Gardens)€181One-way1 transfer
Fastest
- G01068+
W346159:27 AM2h13Exeter St Davids (EXD)11:40 AMCardiff Central (CDF)€511One-way1 transfer
Other options
- C427019:52 AM2h21Exeter St Davids (EXD)12:13 PMCardiff Central (CDF)€501One-way0 transfers
- C427008:48 AM2h22Exeter St Davids (EXD)11:10 AMCardiff Central (CDF)€501One-way0 transfers
- Y41868 · C427008:37 AM2h33Exeter St Thomas (EXT)11:10 AMCardiff Central (CDF)€501One-way1 transfer
- FlixBus · FlixBus12:25 PM4h05Exeter, Bampfylde Street / Stover Court4:30 PMCardiff, North Road (Friary Gardens)€181One-way1 transfer
- FlixBus · FlixBus9:05 AM4h10Exeter, Bampfylde Street / Stover Court1:15 PMCardiff, North Road (Friary Gardens)€181One-way1 transfer
- FlixBus · FlixBus5:05 PM4h15Exeter, Bampfylde Street / Stover Court9:20 PMCardiff, North Road (Friary Gardens)€181One-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
Compare bus and train 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.
Sep 19
Sep 20
Sep 21
Sep 22
Sep 23
Sep 24
Sep 25
More than 1,000 travel companies trust us to sell their tickets all in one place.
FAQs: Travel from Exeter 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 Exeter to Cardiff.
This is compared to other travel options from Exeter to Cardiff:
A bus is €26 less than a train for this route with tickets for a train from Exeter to Cardiff costing on average €42.
Other travel options to Cardiff take longer:
Bus takes on average 3h 55m.
- Around 18 trains per day.
- Around 10 buses per day.
However, we recommend checking specific travel dates for your route between Exeter and Cardiff as scheduled services by bus and train can vary by season or day of the week.
- Trains mostly depart from Exeter St Davids (EXD) and arrive in Cardiff Central (CDF).
- Buses mostly depart from Exeter, Bampfylde Street / Stover Court and arrive in Cardiff, North Road (Friary Gardens).
- Travel with CrossCountry, Great Western Railway, Cross Country, Great Western Railway (GWR) to go to Cardiff by train.
- Travel with Megabus, National Express, FlixBus to go to Cardiff by bus.
- 3 direct trains per day with Great Western Railway, Great Western Railway (GWR).
Travelling from Exeter 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.
