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Travel Information
Compare train and bus for Manchester to Cardiff
Omio recommends booking the train as it is the most popular option from Manchester to Cardiff among Omio's users. If you are prioritising price take the bus with prices starting from €15. For those with little time consider booking a train which can get you there in 3h 27m. In case you are seeking to minimise your carbon footprint the train is your best bet as it emits only 0.1 - 0.2kg. The ticket price range depends on the travel mode: a bus costs an average of €15, and a train costs an average of €39.
Distance: 143 miles (231 km)
Compare train with
Most popular Train | Bus |
|---|---|
€74 Average price | €29 Average price Cheapest |
3h 57m Average total duration Fastest 3h 27m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 6h 7m Average total duration 5h 37m Onboard + 30m Additional time* |
0.1 - 0.2kg CO2 emissions Lowest | 0.2 - 0.6kg CO2 emissions |
 Most popular train company |  Most popular bus company |
Direct Options | Direct Options |
Additional time: Average total travel duration to departure point, security checks and transfers.
Travel optionsfrom Manchester to Cardiff
How to get from Manchester to Cardiff by train, bus or flight.
Our recommendation
The best way to travel from Manchester to Cardiff is by taking a bus because it’s the best combination of price and speed.
FlixBus · FlixBusCheapest
FlixBus · FlixBusFastest
L64720Other options
C72478 · C75254C72475 · C75251C72480 · C75257FlixBus · FlixBusFlixBus · FlixBusFlixBus · FlixBusFind all the dates and times for this journey by train, bus, flight, and ferry .
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FAQs: Travel from Manchester 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 Manchester to Cardiff.
There are 2 options to travel to Cardiff from Manchester including taking a train or bus.
The cheapest way to get from Manchester to Cardiff is by taking a bus with average ticket prices of $15 (€14) compared to other travel options to Cardiff:
A bus is $15 (€14) less than a train for this journey with tickets for a train from Manchester to Cardiff costing on average $31 (€28).
The fastest way to get to Cardiff from Manchester is by train with an average travel time of 3 h 8 min.
Other travel options to Cardiff take longer:
Taking a bus requires on average 5 h 10 min of travel time.
The distance is approximately 143 miles (231 km) from Manchester to Cardiff.
The average frequency per day from Manchester to Cardiff is:
- 21 buses a day.
- 6 trains a day.
However, we recommend checking specific travel dates for your trip to Cardiff from Manchester as scheduled services by train or bus can vary by season or day of the week.
These are the most popular departure and arrival points from Manchester to Cardiff:
- Buses most often depart from Manchester at Manchester, Shudehill Interchange and arrive in Cardiff at Cardiff, University.
- Trains mostly depart from Manchester Piccadilly and arrive in Cardiff Central.
Omio works with many trusted partners that can help you travel the best way from Manchester to Cardiff:
- You can take a bus from Manchester to Cardiff with Megabus, National Express or FlixBus. Cheap tickets can be found for $15 (€14) with FlixBus from Manchester to Cardiff.
- You can travel by train from Manchester to Cardiff with Transport for Wales or CrossCountry, and you can find Transport for Wales Manchester to Cardiff tickets for $31 (€28) on Omio.
Yes, there are direct services available from Manchester to Cardiff with the following travel companies:
- Direct bus available with Megabus 8 direct buses per day.
- Direct train available with Transport for Wales 3 direct trains per day.
Direct services tend to save you time and add more convenience in getting you to Cardiff as you won't need to transfer at another stop in between, so it's worth paying attention to before booking your tickets from Manchester to Cardiff.
Travelling from Manchester 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
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