Travel Information
Compare bus and flight for Madrid to Cardiff
Omio recommends booking the flight as it is the most popular option from Madrid to Cardiff among Omio's users. If you are prioritising price, take the bus, with an average ticket price of zł763 For those with little time, consider booking a flight, which has an average total journey time of 5h 48m. If you are seeking to minimise your carbon footprint, the bus is your best option, with estimated CO2 emissions of 1.2 - 3.1kg. Average ticket prices depend on the travel mode: a bus costs an average of zł763, while a flight costs an average of zł1617.
Distance: 764 miles (1231 km)
Compare flight with
Most popular Flight | Bus | Driving |
|---|---|---|
zł1617 Average price | zł763 Average price Cheapest | zł306 Average price (fuel + tolls) |
5h 48m Average total duration Fastest 3h 48m Onboard + 2h 0m Additional time* | 32h 37m Average total duration 32h 7m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 20h 26m Average total duration (door-to-door) |
3.7 - 7.4kg CO2 emissions | 1.2 - 3.1kg CO2 emissions Lowest | - CO2 emissions |
![]() Most popular airline | ![]() 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 Madrid to Cardiff:
A bus is zł854 less than a flight for this route with tickets for a flight from Madrid to Cardiff costing on average zł1617.
Other travel options to Cardiff take longer:
Bus takes on average 32h 37m.
You'll arrive about 16h 38m sooner (3h 48m by flight vs 20h 26m by car). Tickets start at around zł1617 compared to roughly zł306 in fuel and tolls — a bit more, but you get time back and avoid a long drive.
Driving makes more sense if you're travelling as a group, want flexibility on timing, or plan to stop en route.
Travel optionsfrom Madrid to Cardiff
How to get from Madrid to Cardiff by train, bus or flight.
Our recommendation
The best way to travel from Madrid to Cardiff is by taking a bus because it’s the best combination of price and speed.
FlixBus · FlixBus · FlixBus · FlixBus8:50 PM39h50Madrid, Estación Sur de Autobuses11:40 AMCardiff, North Road (Friary Gardens)zł4511One-way3 transfers
Cheapest
FlixBus · FlixBus · FlixBus · FlixBus8:50 PM39h50Madrid, Estación Sur de Autobuses11:40 AMCardiff, North Road (Friary Gardens)zł4511One-way3 transfers
Fastest
FR 11 · FR 63412:30 PM9h50Madrid Barajas Airport9:20 PMCardiff Airportzł14541One-way1 transfer
Other options
FlixBus · FlixBus · FlixBus · FlixBus11:35 PM39h40Madrid, Estación Sur de Autobuses2:15 PMCardiff, North Road (Friary Gardens)zł5371One-way3 transfers
FlixBus · FlixBus · FlixBus · FlixBus11:59 PM39h16Madrid, Terminal de autobuses T4 (Aeropuerto de Madrid)2:15 PMCardiff, North Road (Friary Gardens)zł5601One-way3 transfers
FlixBus · FlixBus · FlixBus4:40 PM34h05Madrid, Estación Sur de Autobuses1:45 AMCardiff, North Road (Friary Gardens)zł5671One-way2 transfers
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
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FAQs: Travel from Madrid 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 Madrid to Cardiff.

This is compared to other travel options from Madrid to Cardiff:
A bus is zł854 less than a flight for this route with tickets for a flight from Madrid to Cardiff costing on average zł1617.
Other travel options to Cardiff take longer:
Bus takes on average 32h 37m.
- Around 9 flights per day.
- Around 6 buses per day.
However, we recommend checking specific travel dates for your route between Madrid and Cardiff as scheduled services by bus and flight can vary by season or day of the week.
- Flights mostly depart from Madrid Barajas Airport and arrive in Cardiff Airport.
- Buses mostly depart from Madrid, Estación Sur de Autobuses and arrive in Cardiff, North Road (Friary Gardens).
- Travel with Ryanair, KLM to go to Cardiff by flight.
- Travel with FlixBus to go to Cardiff by bus.
Travelling from Madrid to Cardiff: related information
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