How to get to Edinburgh from Cardiff

Thu 02 Jul
+ Add return
Travel by coach, train, flight with
CrossCountry
National Express
Loganair
Avanti West Coast
FlixBus
1,000+ more
CrossCountry
National Express
Loganair
Avanti West Coast
FlixBus
1,000+ more
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Travel Information

Compare coach, train and flight for Cardiff to Edinburgh

Omio recommends booking the train as it is the most popular option from Cardiff to Edinburgh among Omio's users. If you are prioritising price take the coach with prices starting from £29. For those with little time consider booking a flight which can get you there in 1h 20m. In case you are seeking to minimise your carbon footprint the train is your best bet as it emits only 0.1 - 0.4kg. The ticket price range depends on the travel mode: a coach costs an average of £29, and a flight costs an average of £83.

Distance: 497 km

Compare train with

Most popular
Train
Coach
Flight

£143

Average Price

£49

Average Price

Cheapest

£182

Average Price

7h 1m

Average total duration

6h 31m

Onboard

+

30m

Additional time*

13h 48m

Average total duration

13h 18m

Onboard

+

30m

Additional time*

4h 20m

Average total duration

Fastest

1h 20m

Onboard

+

3h 0m

Additional time*

0.1 - 0.4kg

CO2 emissions

Lowest

0.5 - 1.2kg

CO2 emissions

-

CO2 emissions

CrossCountry

Most popular train company

National Express

Most popular bus company

Loganair

Most popular airline

Direct Options

Direct Options

Direct Options

Additional time: Average total travel duration to departure point, security checks and transfers.

Travel options
from Cardiff to Edinburgh

How to get to Edinburgh from Cardiff by train, bus, flight or ferry.

Our recommendation

bus

The best way to travel from Cardiff to Edinburgh is by taking a coach because it’s the best combination of price and speed.

  • National ExpressNX216 · NX100 · NX183
    22:1019h05
    Cardiff, Sophia Gardens
    17:15Edinburgh, Bus Station
    £491One-way
    2 changes

Cheapest

  • National ExpressNX216 · NX100 · NX183
    22:1019h05
    Cardiff, Sophia Gardens
    17:15Edinburgh, Bus Station
    £491One-way
    2 changes

Fastest

  • Transport for WalesY63472+Avanti West CoastW34291
    16:166h05
    Cardiff Central (CDF)
    22:21Edinburgh Waverley (EDB)
    £901One-way
    1 change

Other options

  • Transport for WalesY62730+Avanti West CoastW34144
    5:486h32
    Cardiff Central (CDF)
    12:20Edinburgh Waverley (EDB)
    £711One-way
    1 change
  • CrossCountryG01067
    9:457h24
    Cardiff Central (CDF)
    17:09Edinburgh Waverley (EDB)
    £1011One-way
    0 changes
  • Great Western RailwayW35161+Avanti West CoastW34144+CrossCountryG66987
    5:536h27
    Cardiff Central (CDF)
    12:20Edinburgh Waverley (EDB)
    £1681One-way
    2 changes
  • National ExpressNX111 · NX183
    8:2012h05
    Cardiff, Sophia Gardens
    20:25Edinburgh, Bus Station
    £511One-way
    1 change
  • National ExpressNX111 · NX180
    17:1014h55
    Cardiff, Sophia Gardens
    8:05Edinburgh, Bus Station
    £511One-way
    1 change
  • FlixBusFlixBus · FlixBus
    18:1014h05
    Cardiff, North Road (Friary Gardens)
    8:15Edinburgh, Bus Station
    £571One-way
    1 change

Find all the dates and times for this journey by train, bus, flight, and ferry .

Compare prices and tickets Prices for trains, coaches, flights and ferries

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FAQs: Cardiff to Edinburgh

Travel to Edinburgh 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 Cardiff to Edinburgh.

FAQs
There are 3 options to travel between Cardiff and Edinburgh including taking a coach, train and flight.
The cheapest way to travel from Cardiff to Edinburgh is a coach with an average price of £49.

This is compared to other travel options from Cardiff to Edinburgh:

A coach is £94 less than a train for this route with tickets for a train from Cardiff to Edinburgh costing on average £143.

A coach is £133 less than a flight for this route with tickets for a flight from Cardiff to Edinburgh costing on average £182.

The fastest way to travel from Cardiff to Edinburgh is by flight with an average journey time of 1h 20m.

Other travel options to Edinburgh take longer:

Train takes on average 6h 31m.

Coach takes on average 13h 18m.

The Cardiff to Edinburgh distance is approximately 497 km.
The average frequency per day from Cardiff to Edinburgh is:
  • Around 7 coaches per day.
  • Around 6 trains per day.
  • Around 1 flights per day.

However, we recommend checking specific travel dates for your route between Cardiff and Edinburgh as scheduled services by coach, train and flight can vary by season or day of the week.

These are the most popular departure and arrival points from Cardiff to Edinburgh:
  • Flights mostly depart from Cardiff Airport and arrive in Edinburgh Airport.
  • Trains mostly depart from Cardiff Central (CDF) and arrive in Edinburgh Waverley (EDB).
  • Coaches mostly depart from Cardiff, Sophia Gardens and arrive in Edinburgh, Bus Station.
If finding a good deal is your main consideration for your trip from Cardiff to Edinburgh, then we'll help you find the best value travel companies for you:
  • Travel with Loganair, easyJet to go to Edinburgh by flight.
  • Travel with National Express, FlixBus, Megabus, Cardiff Bus to go to Edinburgh by coach.
  • Travel with CrossCountry, Avanti West Coast, Transport for Wales, Transpennine Express, Cross Country, Transport for Wales to go to Edinburgh by train.
Yes, there is a direct route available from Cardiff to Edinburgh:
  • 0 direct trains per day with CrossCountry, Cross Country.
Omio customers who travel from Cardiff to Edinburgh often also extend their vacation to go to London, Glasgow, Inverness, Manchester, Paris. Omio can help you plan your trip by finding the best connections between Edinburgh and these popular destinations at a great price.

Travelling from Cardiff to Edinburgh: related information

Here are some other resources that might have the information you need

HomeTravelTravel to United KingdomTravel to EdinburghHow to get to Edinburgh from Cardiff

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