The cheapest and fastest buses from Bristol to Cardiff
- Cheapest price on Nov 12
- €6
- Average ticket price on Nov 12
- €7
- Fastest journey on Nov 12
- 1 h 10 m
- Average journey duration on Nov 12
- 1 h 13 m
- Buses on Nov 12
- 33
- Distance
- 41 km
The best way to find a cheap bus ticket from Bristol to Cardiff is to book your journey as far in advance as possible and to avoid traveling at rush hour.
The average ticket from Bristol to Cardiff will cost around €7 if you buy it on the day, but the cheapest tickets can be found for only €6.
On Thu, Nov 12, we found 33 buses from Bristol to Cardiff, including 33 direct services.
On Thu, Nov 12 the direct buses cover the 41 km distance in an average of 1 h 13 m but if you time it right, some buses will get you there in just 1 h 10 m .
On Thu, Nov 12 the slowest buses will take 1 h 15 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.
FlixBus9:15 AM 1h30 Bristol, Bus & Coach Station (Marlborough St) 10:45 AM Cardiff, North Road (Friary Gardens) €6 1 One-way 0 transfers
FlixBus4:55 PM 1h40 Bristol, Bus & Coach Station (Marlborough St) 6:35 PM Cardiff, North Road (Friary Gardens) €6 1 One-way 0 transfers
FlixBus12:10 PM 1h30 Bristol, Bus & Coach Station (Marlborough St) 1:40 PM Cardiff, North Road (Friary Gardens) €6 1 One-way 0 transfers
FlixBus3:30 PM 1h35 Bristol, Bus & Coach Station (Marlborough St) 5:05 PM Cardiff, North Road (Friary Gardens) €6 1 One-way 0 transfers
FlixBus6:05 PM 1h35 Bristol, Bus & Coach Station (Marlborough St) 7:40 PM Cardiff, North Road (Friary Gardens) €6 1 One-way 0 transfers
NX2164:35 AM 1h10 Bristol, Bus & Coach Station (Marlborough St) 5:45 AM Cardiff, Sophia Gardens €7 1 One-way 0 transfers
NX20211:25 PM 1h10 Bristol, Bus & Coach Station (Marlborough St) 12:35 AM Cardiff, Sophia Gardens €9 1 One-way 0 transfers
FlixBus10:00 PM 1h15 Bristol, Bus & Coach Station (Marlborough St) 11:15 PM Cardiff, North Road (Friary Gardens) €7 1 One-way 0 transfers
FlixBus11:10 PM 1h15 Bristol, Bus & Coach Station (Marlborough St) 12:25 AM Cardiff, North Road (Friary Gardens) €8 1 One-way 0 transfers
FlixBus1:05 AM 1h15 Bristol, Bus & Coach Station (Marlborough St) 2:20 AM Cardiff, North Road (Friary Gardens) €7 1 One-way 0 transfers
Journey information
Overview: Bus from Bristol to Cardiff
Buses from Bristol to Cardiff run on average 30 times per day, taking around 1h 23m. Cheap bus tickets for this journey start at €4 if you book in advance.
There are 30 buses per day. The earliest bus runs at 00:10, the last at 23:55. The fastest bus covers the 41 km distance in 1h 0m.
Distance 41 km |
Average bus duration 1h 23m |
Cheapest ticket price €4 |
Buses per day 30 |
Direct buses 30 |
Fastest bus 1h 0m |
First bus 12:10 AM |
Last bus 11:55 PM |
Cheapest Month May |
Cheapest Day Thu |
High Season Jan - Mar |
Low Season Apr - Jun |
Busiest Day Sun |
Least Busy Day Fri |
Best time to book 42 days |
Frequently asked questions about your Bristol to Cardiff trip
Use these quick route answers to check fares, travel time, departure options, and direct services before booking from Bristol to Cardiff.
Live departures
Bristol to Cardiff bus times
The table below shows live departures for Bristol to Cardiff buses for today, Wednesday, November 11. You can also manually refresh the results below to see updated bus journeys.
| Provider | Departs | Duration | Arrives | Transfers | Tickets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
FlixBus | 5:10 AM Bristol, Bus & Coach Station (Marlborough St) | 1h15 | 6:25 AM Cardiff, North Road (Friary Gardens) | 0 transfersDirect | |
NX216 | 6:25 AM Bristol, Bus & Coach Station (Marlborough St) | 1h15 | 7:40 AM Cardiff, Sophia Gardens | 0 transfersDirect | |
FlixBus | 8:15 AM Bristol, Bus & Coach Station (Marlborough St) | 1h20 | 9:35 AM Cardiff, North Road (Friary Gardens) | 0 transfersDirect | |
FlixBus | 9:15 AM Bristol, Bus & Coach Station (Marlborough St) | 1h30 | 10:45 AM Cardiff, North Road (Friary Gardens) | 0 transfersDirect | |
NX201 | 9:40 AM Bristol, Bus & Coach Station (Marlborough St) | 1h20 | 11:00 AM Cardiff, Sophia Gardens | 0 transfersDirect | |
NX202 | 10:35 AM Bristol, Bus & Coach Station (Marlborough St) | 1h20 | 11:55 AM Cardiff, Sophia Gardens | 0 transfersDirect | |
FlixBus | 10:40 AM Bristol, Bus & Coach Station (Marlborough St) | 1h30 | 12:10 PM Cardiff, North Road (Friary Gardens) | 0 transfersDirect | |
FlixBus | 11:40 AM Bristol, Bus & Coach Station (Marlborough St) | 1h35 | 1:15 PM Cardiff, North Road (Friary Gardens) | 0 transfersDirect | |
FlixBus | 12:10 PM Bristol, Bus & Coach Station (Marlborough St) | 1h30 | 1:40 PM Cardiff, North Road (Friary Gardens) | 0 transfersDirect | |
NX202 | 12:35 PM Bristol, Bus & Coach Station (Marlborough St) | 1h20 | 1:55 PM Cardiff, Sophia Gardens | 0 transfersDirect | |
FlixBus | 1:00 PM Bristol, Bus & Coach Station (Marlborough St) | 1h15 | 2:15 PM Cardiff, North Road (Friary Gardens) | 0 transfersDirect | |
NX202 | 2:35 PM Bristol, Bus & Coach Station (Marlborough St) | 1h30 | 4:05 PM Cardiff, Sophia Gardens | 0 transfersDirect | |
FlixBus | 2:50 PM Bristol, Bus & Coach Station (Marlborough St) | 1h40 | 4:30 PM Cardiff, North Road (Friary Gardens) | 0 transfersDirect | |
FlixBus | 3:30 PM Bristol, Bus & Coach Station (Marlborough St) | 1h35 | 5:05 PM Cardiff, North Road (Friary Gardens) | 0 transfersDirect | |
NX202 | 4:40 PM Bristol, Bus & Coach Station (Marlborough St) | 1h35 | 6:15 PM Cardiff, Sophia Gardens | 0 transfersDirect | |
FlixBus | 4:55 PM Bristol, Bus & Coach Station (Marlborough St) | 1h40 | 6:35 PM Cardiff, North Road (Friary Gardens) | 0 transfersDirect | |
FlixBus | 5:55 PM Bristol, Bus & Coach Station (Marlborough St) | 1h35 | 7:30 PM Cardiff, North Road (Friary Gardens) | 0 transfersDirect | |
FlixBus | 6:05 PM Bristol, Bus & Coach Station (Marlborough St) | 1h35 | 7:40 PM Cardiff, North Road (Friary Gardens) | 0 transfersDirect | |
NX111 | 6:30 PM Bristol, Bus & Coach Station (Marlborough St) | 1h15 | 7:45 PM Cardiff, Sophia Gardens | 0 transfersDirect | |
NX202 | 6:45 PM Bristol, Bus & Coach Station (Marlborough St) | 1h15 | 8:00 PM Cardiff, Sophia Gardens | 0 transfersDirect | |
FlixBus | 6:50 PM Bristol, Bus & Coach Station (Marlborough St) | 1h15 | 8:05 PM Cardiff, North Road (Friary Gardens) | 0 transfersDirect | |
FlixBus | 7:00 PM Bristol, Bus & Coach Station (Marlborough St) | 1h25 | 8:25 PM Cardiff, North Road (Friary Gardens) | 0 transfersDirect | |
FlixBus | 7:35 PM Bristol, Bus & Coach Station (Marlborough St) | 1h35 | 9:10 PM Cardiff, North Road (Friary Gardens) | 0 transfersDirect | |
NX202 | 8:45 PM Bristol, Bus & Coach Station (Marlborough St) | 1h15 | 10:00 PM Cardiff, Sophia Gardens | 0 transfersDirect | |
FlixBus | 8:55 PM Bristol, Bus & Coach Station (Marlborough St) | 1h20 | 10:15 PM Cardiff, North Road (Friary Gardens) | 0 transfersDirect | |
FlixBus | 9:05 PM Bristol, Bus & Coach Station (Marlborough St) | 1h20 | 10:25 PM Cardiff, North Road (Friary Gardens) | 0 transfersDirect | |
FlixBus | 10:00 PM Bristol, Bus & Coach Station (Marlborough St) | 1h15 | 11:15 PM Cardiff, North Road (Friary Gardens) | 0 transfersDirect | |
FlixBus | 11:10 PM Bristol, Bus & Coach Station (Marlborough St) | 1h15 | 12:25 AM Cardiff, North Road (Friary Gardens) | 0 transfersDirect | |
NX202 | 11:25 PM Bristol, Bus & Coach Station (Marlborough St) | 1h10 | 12:35 AM Cardiff, Sophia Gardens | 0 transfersDirect | |
| Thursday, November 12 | |||||
FlixBus | 12:10 AM Bristol, Bus & Coach Station (Marlborough St) | 1h15 | 1:25 AM Cardiff, North Road (Friary Gardens) | 0 transfersDirect | |
FlixBus | 1:05 AM Bristol, Bus & Coach Station (Marlborough St) | 1h15 | 2:20 AM Cardiff, North Road (Friary Gardens) | 0 transfersDirect | |
FlixBus | 2:50 AM Bristol, Bus & Coach Station (Marlborough St) | 1h15 | 4:05 AM Cardiff, North Road (Friary Gardens) | 0 transfersDirect | |
NX216 | 4:35 AM Bristol, Bus & Coach Station (Marlborough St) | 1h10 | 5:45 AM Cardiff, Sophia Gardens | 0 transfersDirect | |
This is the last bus of the day. | |||||
Find all the dates and times for this journey
Why should you book Bristol to Cardiff buses with Omio?
Why book with Omio vs FlixBus?
- Compare with other providers: On Omio, you can not only buy tickets for FlixBus, but also compare tickets for the likes of National Express to find the best option for your trip from Bristol to Cardiff.
- Designed for International Travelers: Omio is in your language including 24/7 customer service and offers multiple payment options, including PayPal, credit cards, and bank transfer, in your preferred currency.
- Compare all your options: Omio allows you to compare FlixBus with all available travel options, which are train and bus to ensure you get the best deal for traveling from Bristol to Cardiff.
Why book with Omio over Wanderu or Trainline?
- Compare with other providers: On Omio, you can also compare tickets for the likes of National Express to find the best option for your trip from Bristol to Cardiff.
- Multiple modes of transport: Omio allows you to compare travel options including train and bus to find the ideal travel option from Bristol to Cardiff.
Bus providers: FlixBus, National Express from Bristol to CardiffYou can travel by bus between Bristol to Cardiff with FlixBus, National Express for as low as €4. When you search for schedules and tickets, Omio will show you the best journey
FlixBus
National Express
Companies, tickets, and onboard amenities between Bristol and Cardiff
Review the details behind your booking, from operators and ticket rules to luggage, onboard amenities, accessibility, and route-specific travel policies.
- National Express
- Assistance
- Priority seating
- Accessible toilets.
- FlixBus
- Assistance
- Priority boarding
- Wheelchair-accessible buses.
- National Express
- You can cancel your ticket up to 24 hours before departure for a refund minus a cancellation fee. Changes can be up to 24 hours before departure for a fee.
- FlixBus
- You can cancel your ticket up to 15 minutes before departure and receive a voucher for future travel. Refund requests for delays over 120 minutes are possible.
- National Express
- Two medium-sized suitcases up to 20kg each and one small piece of hand luggage.
- FlixBus
- One carry-on bag up to 7kg (42x30x18 cm) and one checked bag up to 20kg (80x50x30 cm).
- National Express
- 10€ per additional bag.
- FlixBus
- Additional luggage can be purchased for a fee.
- FlixBus
- Small pets in carriers allowed
- guide dogs travel for free.
Buses from Bristol to Cardiff
National Express operates a direct bus service between Bristol and Cardiff. This is a one hour trip, although some services can take 20 minutes longer. There are ten buses covering this route every day, departing at least every two hours, and hourly at peak times. Coaches begin travelling this route every day at 9:15 a.m., and service ends at 1:55 a.m.
What are the departure and arrival stations for buses from Bristol to Cardiff?
Departure Station: Bristol Coach Station Also known as Marlborough Street Station. The station is conveniently located between the University and the shopping area of Broadmead which can be reached on foot in just ten minutes. The cultural district and Harbourside are one mile away, and so is Temple Meads.
Arrival Station: Cardiff Coach Station Cardiff Coach Station, or Sophia Gardens Station, located by the River Taff, 0.6 miles north of the Millennium Stadium and from Cardiff Castle. There are frequent city buses connecting the station with the city centre, although the most convenient bus is number 24. The recreational area of Cardiff Bay is two and a half miles away.
Which bus companies provide the route from Bristol to Cardiff?
There is one bus provider that serves the route from Bristol to Cardiff– National Express
How long is the journey from Cardiff to Bristol on the coach?
On average the journey takes just over an hour to complete on the coach. This may var slightly depending on the coach provider and if the service includes a change or a stop.
Where do the coaches depart from and arrive to?
Departing Bristol on the coach: Bristol Coach Station is the main departure point in the city for National Express services. Located in the city centre, about a mile from Bristol Temple Meads station, the coach station can be reached on foot from most other central destinations, or by using public buses.
Getting into Cardiff on the coach: National Express buses from Bristol to Cardiff terminate at Cardiff Bus Station, which is conveniently located on the forecourt of Cardiff rail station in the heart of the city centre, and easy walking distance from most hotels and the main shopping promenade.
FAQs: Bus from Bristol to Cardiff
Find answers to the most common questions about traveling from Bristol to Cardiff by bus. 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 bus, the cheapest option, or tips for making the most of your visit at Cardiff, this guide helps you travel smarter and with confidence.

popular bus stations
Popular bus stations from Bristol to Cardiff
Most Bristol to Cardiff buses use the Bristol, Bus & Coach Station (Marlborough St) to Cardiff, North Road (Friary Gardens) station pair, with some services arriving at Cardiff, Sophia Gardens. Use this guide to compare Bristol and Cardiff bus stations on this route, check city-centre transport, alongside checking practicalities like bus station facilities and services.
Getting to Bristol, Bus & Coach Station (Marlborough St) from Bristol city centre
Getting to Bristol, Airport Bus Station from Bristol city centre
Which Cardiff station do buses from Bristol arrive at?
Getting to Cardiff, North Road (Friary Gardens) from Cardiff city centre
Cardiff, North Road (Friary Gardens) 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 and ATMs
Wi-Fi is available at Cardiff, North Road (Friary Gardens). ATMs are available at Cardiff, North Road (Friary Gardens).
Tickets and information
Ticket office support is available at Cardiff, North Road (Friary Gardens).
Parking, taxis and toilets
Available at Cardiff, North Road (Friary Gardens): Parking, Taxis, WC.
Accessibility
Accessibility facilities are available at Cardiff, North Road (Friary Gardens): Accessible for passengers with reduced mobility.
Getting to Cardiff, Sophia Gardens from Cardiff city centre
Cardiff, Sophia Gardens bus station facilities and services
Cardiff, Sophia Gardens has practical services for this route, including Wifi, Parking, ATM, Taxis, Accessibility, WC, Shower, and Ticket Office.
Wi-Fi and ATMs
Wi-Fi is available at Cardiff, Sophia Gardens. ATMs are available at Cardiff, Sophia Gardens.
Tickets and information
Ticket office support is available at Cardiff, Sophia Gardens.
Parking, taxis and toilets
Available at Cardiff, Sophia Gardens: Parking, Taxis, WC.
Accessibility
Accessibility facilities are available at Cardiff, Sophia Gardens: Basic accessibility features available.
Getting to Cardiff, Kingsway (Stop GB) from Cardiff city centre
Cardiff, Kingsway (Stop GB) bus station facilities and services
Cardiff, Kingsway (Stop GB) has practical services for this route, including Wifi, Parking, ATM, Taxis, Accessibility, WC, Shower, and Ticket Office.
Wi-Fi and ATMs
Wi-Fi is available at Cardiff, Kingsway (Stop GB). ATMs are available at Cardiff, Kingsway (Stop GB).
Tickets and information
Ticket office support is available at Cardiff, Kingsway (Stop GB).
Parking, taxis and toilets
Available at Cardiff, Kingsway (Stop GB): Parking, Taxis, WC.
Accessibility
Accessibility facilities are available at Cardiff, Kingsway (Stop GB): Accessible via ramped access.
More options for your journey from Bristol to Cardiff
Here are some other resources that might have the information you need
