- Must visit
Swansea Museum
Swansea's main museum covers local history, Egyptology, natural history and maritime displays in a historic waterfront building.
Cheapest price on 17 Sept
£7
Average ticket price on 17 Sept
£8
Fastest journey on 17 Sept
50 m
Average journey duration on 17 Sept
55 m
Buses on 17 Sept
45
Distance
55 km
The best way to find a cheap coach ticket from Cardiff to Swansea is to book your journey as far in advance as possible and to avoid travelling at rush hour.
The average ticket from Cardiff to Swansea will cost around £8 if you buy it on the day, but you can find cheap coach tickets today for only £7.
On Thu 17 Sept, we found 45 buses from Cardiff to Swansea, including 45 direct services.
These direct buses cover the 55 km distance in an average of 55 m but if you time it right, some buses will get you there in just 50 m .
The slowest buses will take 58 m and usually involve a change or two along the way, but you might be able to save a few pennies if you’re on a budget.
FlixBus
FlixBus
FlixBus
FlixBus
FlixBus
NX111
FlixBus
FlixBus
FlixBus
NX507Omio recommends booking the train as it is the most popular option from Cardiff to Swansea among Omio's users. If you are prioritising price, take the coach, with an average ticket price of £6 For those with little time, consider booking a train, which has an average total journey time of 1h 27m. If you are seeking to minimise your carbon footprint, the train is your best option, with estimated CO2 emissions of 0.0 - 0.0kg. Average ticket prices depend on the travel mode: a coach costs an average of £6, while a train costs an average of £8.
Distance: 55 km
| Coach | Most popular Train | Driving |
|---|---|---|
£6 Average Price Cheapest | £8 Average Price | £12 Average Price (fuel + tolls) |
1h 46m Average total duration 1h 16m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 1h 27m Average total duration Fastest 57m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 1h 3m Average total duration (door-to-door) |
0.1 - 0.1kg CO2 emissions | 0.0 - 0.0kg 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 Cardiff to Swansea:
A coach is £3 less than a train for this route with tickets for a train from Cardiff to Swansea costing on average £8.
Other travel options to Swansea take longer:
Coach takes on average 1h 16m.
Tickets start at around £6 compared to roughly £12 in fuel and tolls — a saving of about £6. The journey takes 1h 16m versus 1h 3m 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.
Direct services are operated by FlixBus, National Express, Megabus.
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.
The table below shows live departures for Cardiff to Swansea coaches for tomorrow, Thursday 17 September. You can also manually refresh the results below to see updated coach journeys.
| Provider | Departs | Duration | Arrives | Changes | Tickets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
FlixBus | 0:30 Cardiff, North Road (Friary Gardens) | 1h20 | 1:50 Swansea, Quadrant Bus Station | 0 changesdirect | |
FlixBus | 0:30 Cardiff, North Road (Friary Gardens) | 1h10 | 1:40 Swansea, University Bay Campus | 0 changesdirect | |
FlixBus | 1:10 Cardiff, North Road (Friary Gardens) | 0h55 | 2:05 Swansea, University Bay Campus | 0 changesdirect | |
FlixBus | 1:10 Cardiff, North Road (Friary Gardens) | 1h05 | 2:15 Swansea, Quadrant Bus Station | 0 changesdirect | |
FlixBus | 4:10 Cardiff, North Road (Friary Gardens) | 1h20 | 5:30 Swansea, Quadrant Bus Station | 0 changesdirect | |
FlixBus | 4:10 Cardiff, North Road (Friary Gardens) | 1h10 | 5:20 Swansea, University Bay Campus | 0 changesdirect | |
FlixBus | 6:30 Cardiff, North Road (Friary Gardens) | 1h05 | 7:35 Swansea, Quadrant Bus Station | 0 changesdirect | |
FlixBus | 6:30 Cardiff, North Road (Friary Gardens) | 0h55 | 7:25 Swansea, University Bay Campus | 0 changesdirect | |
FlixBus | 9:40 Cardiff, North Road (Friary Gardens) | 1h00 | 10:40 Swansea, University Bay Campus | 0 changesdirect | |
FlixBus | 9:40 Cardiff, North Road (Friary Gardens) | 1h10 | 10:50 Swansea, Quadrant Bus Station | 0 changesdirect | |
FlixBus | 11:45 Cardiff, North Road (Friary Gardens) | 1h00 | 12:45 Swansea, University Bay Campus | 0 changesdirect | |
FlixBus | 11:45 Cardiff, North Road (Friary Gardens) | 1h10 | 12:55 Swansea, Quadrant Bus Station | 0 changesdirect | |
NX507 | 11:55 Cardiff, Sophia Gardens | 1h00 | 12:55 Swansea, University Bay Campus | 0 changesdirect | |
FlixBus | 12:15 Cardiff, North Road (Friary Gardens) | 1h10 | 13:25 Swansea, University Bay Campus | 0 changesdirect | |
FlixBus | 12:15 Cardiff, North Road (Friary Gardens) | 1h20 | 13:35 Swansea, Quadrant Bus Station | 0 changesdirect | |
FlixBus | 13:10 Cardiff, North Road (Friary Gardens) | 1h05 | 14:15 Swansea, University Bay Campus | 0 changesdirect | |
FlixBus | 13:10 Cardiff, North Road (Friary Gardens) | 1h15 | 14:25 Swansea, Quadrant Bus Station | 0 changesdirect | |
FlixBus | 14:25 Cardiff, North Road (Friary Gardens) | 1h05 | 15:30 Swansea, University Bay Campus | 0 changesdirect | |
FlixBus | 14:25 Cardiff, North Road (Friary Gardens) | 1h15 | 15:40 Swansea, Quadrant Bus Station | 0 changesdirect | |
NX508 | 15:15 Cardiff, Sophia Gardens | 1h20 | 16:35 Swansea, University Bay Campus | 0 changesdirect | |
FlixBus | 15:30 Cardiff, North Road (Friary Gardens) | 1h15 | 16:45 Swansea, Quadrant Bus Station | 0 changesdirect | |
FlixBus | 15:30 Cardiff, North Road (Friary Gardens) | 1h05 | 16:35 Swansea, University Bay Campus | 0 changesdirect | |
NX112 | 16:50 Cardiff, Sophia Gardens | 1h05 | 17:55 Swansea, University Bay Campus | 0 changesdirect | |
FlixBus | 17:00 Cardiff, North Road (Friary Gardens) | 1h15 | 18:15 Swansea, Quadrant Bus Station | 0 changesdirect | |
FlixBus | 17:00 Cardiff, North Road (Friary Gardens) | 1h05 | 18:05 Swansea, University Bay Campus | 0 changesdirect | |
NX507 | 18:10 Cardiff, Sophia Gardens | 1h10 | 19:20 Swansea, University Bay Campus | 0 changesdirect | |
FlixBus | 19:25 Cardiff, North Road (Friary Gardens) | 0h55 | 20:20 Swansea, University Bay Campus | 0 changesdirect | |
FlixBus | 19:25 Cardiff, North Road (Friary Gardens) | 1h05 | 20:30 Swansea, Quadrant Bus Station | 0 changesdirect | |
FlixBus | 19:35 Cardiff, North Road (Friary Gardens) | 1h20 | 20:55 Swansea, Quadrant Bus Station | 0 changesdirect | |
FlixBus | 19:35 Cardiff, North Road (Friary Gardens) | 1h10 | 20:45 Swansea, University Bay Campus | 0 changesdirect | |
FlixBus | 19:45 Cardiff, North Road (Friary Gardens) | 1h05 | 20:50 Swansea, University Bay Campus | 0 changesdirect | |
FlixBus | 19:45 Cardiff, North Road (Friary Gardens) | 1h15 | 21:00 Swansea, Quadrant Bus Station | 0 changesdirect | |
NX111 | 19:50 Cardiff, Sophia Gardens | 0h50 | 20:40 Swansea, University Bay Campus | 0 changesdirect | |
FlixBus | 20:30 Cardiff, North Road (Friary Gardens) | 1h20 | 21:50 Swansea, Quadrant Bus Station | 0 changesdirect | |
FlixBus | 20:30 Cardiff, North Road (Friary Gardens) | 1h10 | 21:40 Swansea, University Bay Campus | 0 changesdirect | |
NX507 | 20:45 Cardiff, Sophia Gardens | 0h58 | 21:43 Swansea, University Bay Campus | 0 changesdirect | |
FlixBus | 21:05 Cardiff, North Road (Friary Gardens) | 1h10 | 22:15 Swansea, Quadrant Bus Station | 0 changesdirect | |
FlixBus | 21:05 Cardiff, North Road (Friary Gardens) | 1h00 | 22:05 Swansea, University Bay Campus | 0 changesdirect | |
FlixBus | 21:15 Cardiff, North Road (Friary Gardens) | 1h05 | 22:20 Swansea, University Bay Campus | 0 changesdirect | |
FlixBus | 21:15 Cardiff, North Road (Friary Gardens) | 1h15 | 22:30 Swansea, Quadrant Bus Station | 0 changesdirect | |
NX507 | 22:20 Cardiff, Sophia Gardens | 0h58 | 23:18 Swansea, University Bay Campus | 0 changesdirect | |
FlixBus | 22:30 Cardiff, North Road (Friary Gardens) | 1h10 | 23:40 Swansea, Quadrant Bus Station | 0 changesdirect | |
FlixBus | 22:30 Cardiff, North Road (Friary Gardens) | 1h00 | 23:30 Swansea, University Bay Campus | 0 changesdirect | |
FlixBus | 23:20 Cardiff, North Road (Friary Gardens) | 1h20 | 0:40 Swansea, Quadrant Bus Station | 0 changesdirect | |
FlixBus | 23:20 Cardiff, North Road (Friary Gardens) | 1h10 | 0:30 Swansea, University Bay Campus | 0 changesdirect | |
Find all the dates and times for this journey
Compare train and coach 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.
Buses from Cardiff to Swansea run on average 35 times per day, taking around 1h 16m. Cheap bus tickets for this journey start at £4 but you can travel from only £2 by train.
There are 35 coaches per day. The earliest coach runs at 00:05, the last at 23:55. The fastest coach covers the 55 km distance in 55m.
Distance 55 km |
Average bus duration 1h 16m |
Cheapest ticket price £4 |
Buses per day 35 |
Direct buses 35 |
Fastest bus 55m |
First bus 0:05 |
Last bus 23:55 |
Cheapest Month Mar |
Cheapest Day Mon |
High Season Jul - Sept |
Low Season Jan - Mar |
Busiest Day Thu |
Least Busy Day Mon |
Best time to book 7 days |
Discover the best of Swansea — top attractions, local food, transport tips, budget advice, and currency essentials. Plan your perfect Swansea trip today.
Swansea's main museum covers local history, Egyptology, natural history and maritime displays in a historic waterfront building.
A modern museum in the Maritime Quarter exploring the city's copper, coal, industry and waterfront heritage with interactive exhibits.
A compact museum inside Dylan Thomas Square focusing on the writer's life, works and links to Swansea through exhibitions and events.
A broad sandy sweep along Swansea Bay, popular for walking, cycling and sea views, with easy access from the city centre.
A historic village area by the sea, known for its pier, independent shops, promenade and access to coastal walks.
A large city park with botanical displays, glasshouses, sports facilities and open lawns close to central Swansea.
Traditional Welsh cakes are small griddled currant cakes, served warm with sugar. They are a classic Welsh teatime treat long associated with home baking.
Laverbread is a Welsh speciality made from slow-cooked laver seaweed, often served at breakfast. It is deeply tied to the South Wales coast and local food culture.
A traditional Welsh breakfast in Swansea often includes laverbread and cockles alongside bacon and eggs. It showcases produce gathered from the nearby Gower coast.
Established Swansea seafood spot focused on simple fish, shellfish, and classic British sides in an easy-going atmosphere.
Well-known casual venue in Mumbles serving fresh seafood and fish dishes, with a modern feel and strong local reputation.
Smart waterfront restaurant at the marina serving modern British cooking, steaks, and seafood in a polished setting.
Moderate for the UK. Hotels, meals and local transport are often cheaper than in London, though summer stays and seafront dining can raise daily costs.
Restaurants: 10-12.5% if service is not included. Taxis: round up or add about 10%. Cafés and pubs: tipping is optional, though small change is appreciated.
Official public transport app
Swansea University Bay Campus -> Swansea Bus Station
National Express offer multiple services from Cardiff Coach Station to Swansea Bus Station each day, with the first service departing from Swansea at 10:30 a.m. and the last service of the day departing from Cardiff Station at 23:20 p.m. The journey time will vary slightly depending on the time of travel, with the fastest journey taking 55 minutes and others in the region of one hour and 15 minutes.
Departure station: Cardiff Coach Station is situated at Sophia Gardens in central Cardiff. The train station is a 15-minute walk from the coach station, however, taxis are available at the bus station. Local bus services to the surrounding areas are also available from the coach station.
Arrival station: Swansea Bus Station is adjacent to the Quadrant Shopping Centre in Central Swansea and less than five minutes walk from Swansea's shops and markets. There is a taxi rank at the bus station which also services local bus routes to the surrounding areas.
Buses from Cardiff to Swansea generally set off from Cardiff Central bus station, or if travelling on a Megabus service, Cardiff, Kingsway. Cardiff Central is directly adjacent to Cardiff Central railway station. The Megabus stop is a little further to the north of Cardiff's main transport interchange, although it is still within easy reach of many of Cardiff's central attractions, including Cardiff Castle. Local buses travel to both bus stations regularly.
This bustling city in South Wales was home to the poet Dylan Thomas, and fans can visit the Dylan Thomas Centre, dedicated to the life and works of this Welsh icon. The National Waterfront Museum explores the impact of industry in Wales over the past 300 years, where guests can also see working machinery in action. The museum also holds a number of free events, such as 'The Science of Harry Potter Show', with something to interest everyone.
Buses from Cardiff to Swansea arrive at Swansea bus station, which is situated in Swansea city centre, next to the Quadrant shopping centre. Swansea railway station is about half a kilometre away. The bus station is also an important terminal for local buses, so onward travel is easy. No night buses are available, but in their place are numerous taxis.
Find answers to the most common questions about traveling from Cardiff to Swansea by coach. From journey times and ticket prices to direct connections, first and last departures, and even whether the route is scenic, our FAQs cover everything you need to plan your trip. Whether you’re looking for the fastest coach, the cheapest option, or tips for making the most of your visit at Swansea, this guide helps you travel smarter and with confidence.

Most Cardiff to Swansea buses use the Cardiff, North Road (Friary Gardens) to Swansea, University Bay Campus station pair, with some services arriving at Swansea, Quadrant Bus Station. Use this guide to compare Cardiff and Swansea bus stations on this route, check city-centre transport, alongside checking practicalities like bus station facilities and services.
Cardiff, North Road (Friary Gardens) has practical services for this route, including Wifi, Parking, ATM, Taxis, Accessibility, WC, Shower and Ticket Office.
Wi-Fi is available at Cardiff, North Road (Friary Gardens). ATMs are available at Cardiff, North Road (Friary Gardens).
Ticket office support is available at Cardiff, North Road (Friary Gardens).
Available at Cardiff, North Road (Friary Gardens): Parking, Taxis, WC.
Accessibility facilities are available at Cardiff, North Road (Friary Gardens): Accessible for passengers with reduced mobility.
Cardiff, Sophia Gardens has practical services for this route, including Wifi, Parking, ATM, Taxis, Accessibility, WC, Shower and Ticket Office.
Wi-Fi is available at Cardiff, Sophia Gardens. ATMs are available at Cardiff, Sophia Gardens.
Ticket office support is available at Cardiff, Sophia Gardens.
Available at Cardiff, Sophia Gardens: Parking, Taxis, WC.
Accessibility facilities are available at Cardiff, Sophia Gardens: Basic accessibility features available.
Swansea, Quadrant Bus Station has practical services for this route, including Wifi, Parking, Dining, ATM, Taxis, Accessibility, WC, Shower and Ticket Office.
Food options include: Food outlets available within the station.
Free WiFi available in the station premises. ATMs are aTMs are located near the main entrance.
Ticket office support is available at Swansea, Quadrant Bus Station.
Available at Swansea, Quadrant Bus Station: Parking, Taxis, WC.
Accessibility facilities are available at Swansea, Quadrant Bus Station: The station is wheelchair accessible.
Swansea, University Bay Campus is 4 km from Swansea city centre. Public transport options include:
Swansea, University Bay Campus has practical services for this route, including Wifi, Parking, Dining, ATM, Taxis, Accessibility, WC, Shower and Ticket Office.
Food options include: Several cafes and a restaurant on campus.
Free Wi-Fi available within campus buildings. ATMs are aTM located near the student union building.
Ticket office support is available at Swansea, University Bay Campus.
Available at Swansea, University Bay Campus: Parking, Taxis, WC.
Accessibility facilities are available at Swansea, University Bay Campus: Campus is accessible with ramps and elevators.
Here are some other resources that might have the information you need