There are 10 ways to get from Cardiff to Athlone by train, plane, ferry, car ferry, bus, or car
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 Meads
- Fly from Bristol Airport (BRS) to Dublin Airport (DUB)BRS - DUB
- Take the train from Dublin Heuston to Athlone
7h 7m€72–187Fly Cardiff Airport to Dublin Airport, train
cheapest- Fly from Cardiff Airport (CWL) to Dublin Airport (DUB)CWL - DUB
- Take the train from Dublin Heuston to Athlone
6h 57m€55–333Train, ferry via Dublin
- Take the train from Cardiff Central to Holyhead
- Take the ferry from Holyhead Ferry to Dublin Ferryport B+I0
- Take the train from Dublin Heuston to AthloneIc / ...
12h 6m€154–252Train, car ferry, bus
- Take the train from Cardiff Central to Holyhead
- Take the car ferry from Holyhead to Dublin Terminal 1
- Take the bus from Crampton Quay to Arcadia763
13h 47m€137–260Drive, car ferry
- Drive from Cardiff to Holyhead
- Take the car ferry from Holyhead to Dublin Terminal 1
- Drive from Dublin Terminal 1 to Athlone
9h 1m€118–160Train to Birmingham Airport, fly to Dublin Airport, train
- Take the train from Cardiff Central to Birmingham New Street
- Fly from Birmingham Airport (BHX) to Dublin Airport (DUB)BHX - DUB
- Take the train from Dublin Heuston to Athlone
8h 10m€83–263Train to Bristol Airport, fly to Belfast International Airport, train
- Take the train from Cardiff Central to Bristol Temple Meads
- Fly from Bristol Airport (BRS) to Belfast International Airport (BFS)BRS - BFS
- Take the train from Great Victoria Street to Dublin Connolly
- Take the train from Dublin Heuston to Athlone
9h 51m€92–221Fly Cardiff Airport to George Best Belfast City Airport, train
- Fly from Cardiff Airport (CWL) to George Best Belfast City Airport (BHD)CWL - BHD
- Take the train from Great Victoria Street to Dublin Connolly
- Take the train from Dublin Heuston to Athlone
9h 37m€94–306Train, ferry
- Take the train from Cardiff Central to Holyhead
- Take the ferry from Holyhead to Dublin Ferryport B+I
- Take the train from Dublin Heuston to AthloneIc / ...
13h 14m€134–212Train, ferry, bus
- Take the train from Cardiff Central to Fishguard Harbour
- Take the ferry from Fishguard Harbour to Rosslare Harbour0
- Take the bus from Rosslare Europort to Dublin Busáras132
- Take the train from Dublin Heuston to AthloneIc / ...
14h 22m€89–195
Cardiff to Athlone by train, foot, car ferry, and bus
Questions & Answers
The cheapest way to get from Cardiff to Athlone is to train and fly which costs €70 - €190 and takes 7h 7m.
The fastest way to get from Cardiff to Athlone is to fly and train which takes 6h 57m and costs €55 - €340.
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 via Dublin which takes 12h 6m and costs €150 - €260.
It takes approximately 7h 7m to get from Cardiff to Athlone, including transfers.
There are 71+ 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 Bristol Temple Meads, take the shuttle to Bristol Airport, walk to Bristol Airport (BRS) airport, fly to Dublin Airport (DUB), walk to Dublin Airport Terminal 2 Zone 21, take the line 782 bus to Heuston Station, 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, Ringsend Road, Heuston Station, and Dublin Heuston in around 12h 6m.
- Website
- ryanair.com
Flights from Bristol Airport to Dublin Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 5m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- €29–110
Flights from Cardiff Airport to Dublin Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 5m
- When
- Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- €30–190
Flights from Birmingham Airport to Dublin Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 5m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- €29–110
- Website
- aerlingus.com
Flights from Bristol Airport to Dublin Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 20m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- €35–130
Flights from Cardiff Airport to Dublin Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 10m
- When
- Thursday
- Estimated price
- €170–430
Flights from Birmingham Airport to Dublin Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 12m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- €24–120
Flights from Cardiff Airport to George Best Belfast City Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 25m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- €55–250
- Website
- easyjet.com
Flights from Bristol Airport to Belfast International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 11m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- €28–120
Flights from Bristol Airport to Belfast International Airport via Edinburgh
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 5m
- When
- Monday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- €28–120
Flights from Bristol Airport to Belfast International Airport via Newcastle
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 15m
- When
- Friday
- Estimated price
- €28–120
- Website
- klm.com
Flights from Cardiff Airport to George Best Belfast City Airport via Amsterdam Schiphol
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 45m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- €110–600
- Phone
- +44 3457 000 125
- gwr.feedback@gwr.com
- Website
- gwr.com
Train from Cardiff Central to Bristol Temple Meads
- Ave. Duration
- 48 min
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- €14–30
- Website
- https://www.gwr.com/
Train from Cardiff Central to Bristol Temple Meads
- Ave. Duration
- 49 min
- Frequency
- Once a week
- Estimated price
- €10–22
- Website
- https://www.crosscountrytrains.co.uk/
Train from Cardiff Central to Birmingham New Street
- Ave. Duration
- 2h
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- €30–110
- 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
- Phone
- 03333 211 202
- Website
- tfw.wales
Train from Cardiff Central to Holyhead
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 52m
- Frequency
- Every 4 hours
- Estimated price
- €80–150
- Website
- https://tfw.wales/
Train from Cardiff Central to Fishguard Harbour
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 40m
- Frequency
- 3 times a day
- Estimated price
- €25–45
- Website
- https://tfw.wales/
- Phone
- +44 28 9066 6630
- Website
- translink.co.uk
Train from Great Victoria Street to Dublin Connolly
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 13m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- €19–28
- Website
- https://www.translink.co.uk/
- Phone
- +353 91 564 164
- info@citylink.ie
- Website
- citylink.ie
Bus from Crampton Quay to Arcadia
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 55m
- Frequency
- Every 4 hours
- Estimated price
- €14–20
- Website
- https://www.citylink.ie/
- Phone
- +353 1 836 6111
- Website
- buseireann.ie
Bus from Rosslare Europort to Dublin Busáras
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 45m
- Frequency
- Once a week
- Estimated price
- €17–25
- 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 15m
- Frequency
- 4 times a day
- Estimated price
- €60–90
- Website
- https://www.stenalinetravel.com/
Car ferry from Holyhead to Dublin Terminal 1
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 15m
- Frequency
- 4 times a day
- Estimated price
- €41–95
- Website
- https://www.stenalinetravel.com/
- Passenger
- €41
- Passenger Car
- €160–220
Ferry from Fishguard Harbour to Rosslare Harbour
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 30m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- €35–110
- Website
- https://www.stenalinetravel.com/
- Phone
- +353 818 300 400
- info@irishferries.com
- Website
- irishferries.com
Car ferry from Holyhead to Dublin Terminal 1
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 15m
- Frequency
- 4 times a day
- Estimated price
- €44–49
- Website
- https://www.irishferries.com/uk-en/Travel-to-Ireland
Ferry from Holyhead to Dublin Ferryport B+I
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 30m
- Frequency
- 5 times a day
- Estimated price
- €40–50
- Website
- https://www.irishferries.com/uk-en/Travel-to-Ireland
- Car
- €190–200
- 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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