There are 8 ways to get from Cardiff to Athlone by train, plane, ferry, bus, car, or car ferry
Select an option below to see step-by-step directions and to compare ticket prices and travel times in Rome2Rio's travel planner.
Train to Bristol Airport, fly to Dublin Airport, train
best- Take the train from Cardiff Central to Bristol Temple Meadstrain
- Fly from Bristol Airport (BRS) to Dublin Airport (DUB)plane BRS - DUB
- Take the train from Dublin Heuston to Athlonetrain
7h 15m€51–174Fly Cardiff Airport to Dublin Airport, train
cheapest- Fly from Cardiff Airport (CWL) to Dublin Airport (DUB)plane CWL - DUB
- Take the train from Dublin Heuston to Athlonetrain
6h 59m€48–243Train, ferry
- Take the train from Cardiff Central to Holyheadtrain
- Take the ferry from Holyhead Ferry to Dublin Ferryport B+Iferry 0
- Take the train from Dublin Heuston to Athlonetrain Re / ...
12h 7m€131–244Bus, ferry
- Take the bus from Sophia Gardens to Upper Park Roadbus 112
- Take the ferry from Pembroke Dock to Rosslare Harbourferry
- Take the bus from Rosslare Europort to Waterford Bus Stationbus 40
- Take the bus from Waterford Bus Station to Athlone Stationbus 73
16h 39m€78–117Drive, car ferry
- Drive from Cardiff to Cairnryancar
- Take the car ferry from Cairnryan to Belfastcarferry
- Drive from Belfast to Athlonecar
12h 31m€175–262Train to Birmingham Airport, fly to Dublin Airport, train
- Take the train from Cardiff Central to Birmingham New Streettrain
- Fly from Birmingham Airport (BHX) to Dublin Airport (DUB)plane BHX - DUB
- Take the train from Dublin Heuston to Athlonetrain
8h 16m€71–254Train to Bristol Airport, fly to Belfast International Airport, train
- Take the train from Cardiff Central to Bristol Temple Meadstrain
- Fly from Bristol Airport (BRS) to Belfast International Airport (BFS)plane BRS - BFS
- Take the train from Belfast Great Central to Dublin Connollytrain
- Take the train from Dublin Heuston to Athlonetrain
9h 36m€69–167Train to Bristol Airport, fly to George Best Belfast City Airport, train
- Take the train from Cardiff Central to Bristol Temple Meadstrain
- Fly from Bristol Airport (BRS) to George Best Belfast City Airport (BHD)plane BRS - BHD
- Take the train from Belfast Great Central to Dublin Connollytrain
- Take the train from Dublin Heuston to Athlonetrain
9h 15m€68–221
Cardiff to Athlone by train, ferry, foot, and tram
Questions & Answers
The cheapest way to get from Cardiff to Athlone is to train and fly which costs €50 - €180 and takes 7h 15m.
The fastest way to get from Cardiff to Athlone is to fly and train which takes 6h 59m and costs €45 - €250.
The distance between Cardiff and Athlone is 548 km.
The best way to get from Cardiff to Athlone without a car is to train and ferry which takes 12h 7m and costs €130 - €250.
It takes approximately 7h 15m to get from Cardiff to Athlone, including transfers.
There are 40+ hotels available in Athlone.
What companies run services between Cardiff, Wales and Athlone, Ireland?
There is no direct connection from Cardiff to Athlone. However, you can take the train to Bristol Temple Meads, walk to Temple Meads Stn, take the bus to Public Transport Interchange, walk to Bristol Airport (BRS) airport, fly to Dublin Airport (DUB), walk to Dublin Airport, Terminal 2, take the bus to Dublin Heuston Rail Station Phoenix Park & Dublin Zoo, walk to Dublin Heuston, then take the train to Athlone. Alternatively, you can take a train from Cardiff Central to Athlone via Holyhead, Holyhead Ferry, Dublin Ferryport B+I, The Point, Heuston, and Dublin Heuston in around 12h 7m.
- Website
- ryanair.com
Flights from Bristol Airport to Dublin Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 5m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- €22–100
Flights from Cardiff Airport to Dublin Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 5m
- When
- Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- €22–160
Flights from Birmingham Airport to Dublin Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 5m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- €23–95
- Website
- easyjet.com
Flights from Bristol Airport to Belfast International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 11m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- €23–85
Flights from Bristol Airport to Belfast International Airport via Edinburgh
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 3m
- When
- Monday, Tuesday, and Friday
- Estimated price
- €23–85
Flights from Bristol Airport to George Best Belfast City Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 5m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- €27–150
Flights from Bristol Airport to George Best Belfast City Airport via Edinburgh
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 10m
- When
- Wednesday and Sunday
- Estimated price
- €27–150
- Website
- aerlingus.com
Flights from Bristol Airport to Dublin Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 20m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- €30–120
Flights from Cardiff Airport to Dublin Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 10m
- When
- Thursday
- Estimated price
- €180–490
Flights from Birmingham Airport to Dublin Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 12m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- €22–100
- Phone
- +44 3457 000 125
- gwr.feedback@gwr.com
- Website
- gwr.com
Train from Cardiff Central to Bristol Temple Meads
- Ave. Duration
- 46 min
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- €17–27
- Website
- https://www.gwr.com/
Train from Cardiff Central to Bristol Temple Meads
- Ave. Duration
- 49 min
- Frequency
- Once a week
- Estimated price
- €7–13
- Website
- https://www.crosscountrytrains.co.uk/
Train from Cardiff Central to Birmingham New Street
- Ave. Duration
- 2h
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- €26–110
- Website
- https://www.crosscountrytrains.co.uk/
- Phone
- +353 1 836 6222
- info@irishrail.ie
- Website
- irishrail.ie
Train from Dublin Heuston to Athlone
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 20m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- €11–17
- Website
- https://www.irishrail.ie/en-ie/
- Flexible
- €11–17
Train from Belfast Great Central to Dublin Connolly
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 13m
- Frequency
- Every 3 hours
- Estimated price
- €15–22
- Website
- https://www.irishrail.ie/en-ie/
- Flexible
- €15–22
- Phone
- 03333 211 202
- Website
- tfw.wales
Train from Cardiff Central to Holyhead
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 53m
- Frequency
- Every 4 hours
- Estimated price
- €50–130
- Website
- https://tfw.wales/
- Phone
- +44 28 9066 6630
- Website
- translink.co.uk
Train from Belfast Great Central to Dublin Connolly
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 13m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- €20–28
- Website
- https://www.translink.co.uk/
- Phone
- 08717 81 81 81
- Website
- nationalexpress.com
Bus from Sophia Gardens to Upper Park Road
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 45m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- €9–18
- Website
- https://www.nationalexpress.com/en
- Phone
- 0818 15 15 15
- Website
- expressway.ie
Bus from Rosslare Europort to Waterford Bus Station
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 25m
- Frequency
- Every 4 hours
- Estimated price
- €15–21
- Website
- https://www.expressway.ie/
- Phone
- +353 1 836 6111
- Website
- buseireann.ie
Bus from Rosslare Europort to Waterford Bus Station
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 56m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- €9–14
- Website
- https://www.buseireann.ie/
Bus from Waterford Bus Station to Athlone Station
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 5m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- €19–28
- Website
- https://www.buseireann.ie/
- Phone
- +44 844 770 7070
- info.se@stenaline.com
- Website
- stenaline.dk
Ferry from Holyhead Ferry to Dublin Ferryport B+I
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 30m
- Frequency
- 4 times a day
- Estimated price
- €65–95
- Website
- https://www.stenalinetravel.com/
Car ferry from Cairnryan to Belfast
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 15m
- Frequency
- Every 4 hours
- Estimated price
- €35–50
- Website
- https://www.stenalinetravel.com/
- Phone
- +353 818 300 400
- info@irishferries.com
- Website
- irishferries.com
Ferry from Pembroke Dock to Rosslare Harbour
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 1m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- €40–50
- Website
- https://www.irishferries.com/uk-en/Travel-to-Ireland
- Car
- €190–220
- On Foot
- €40–50
Want to know more about travelling around Ireland
Rome2Rio's Travel Guide series provide vital information for the global traveller. Filled with useful and timely travel information, the guides answer all the hard questions - such as 'How do I buy a ticket?', 'Should I book online before I travel? ', 'How much should I expect to pay?', 'Do the trains and buses have Wifi?' - to help you get the most out of your next trip.
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