There are 9 ways to get from Cardiff to Athlone by train, ferry, car, car ferry, bus, or plane
Select an option below to see step-by-step directions and to compare ticket prices and travel times in Rome2Rio's travel planner.
Train, ferry
best- 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 Ic / ...
11h 36m€135–216Fly 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 43m€44–228Drive, car ferry
- Drive from Cardiff to Liverpoolcar
- Take the carferry from Liverpool to Isle of Man Douglascarferry
- Take the carferry from Isle of Man Douglas to Dublin Terminal 1carferry
- Drive from Dublin Terminal 1 to Athlonecar
11h 39m€102–453Train, ferry, bus
- Take the train from Cardiff Central to Holyheadtrain
- Take the ferry from Holyhead to Dublin Ferryport B+Iferry
- Take the bus from Heuston Station to Arcadiabus 763
12h 52m€183–389Train to Bristol Airport, fly to Dublin Airport, train
- 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 19m€51–197Train 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 Grand Central to Dublin Connollytrain
- Take the train from Dublin Heuston to Athlonetrain
9h 17m€94–251Fly Cardiff Airport to George Best Belfast City Airport, train
- Fly from Cardiff Airport (CWL) to George Best Belfast City Airport (BHD)plane CWL - BHD
- Take the train from Belfast Grand Central to Dublin Connollytrain
- Take the train from Dublin Heuston to Athlonetrain
8h 40m€107–290Train, train to Exeter, fly to Dublin Airport
- Take the train from Cardiff Central to Bristol Temple Meadstrain
- Take the train from Bristol Temple Meads to Exeter St Davidstrain
- Fly from Exeter (EXT) to Dublin Airport (DUB)plane EXT - DUB
- Take the train from Dublin Heuston to Athlonetrain
9h 12m€124–347Train to Bristol Airport, fly to Ireland West Airport Knock, train
- Take the train from Cardiff Central to Bristol Temple Meadstrain
- Fly from Bristol Airport (BRS) to Ireland West Airport Knock (NOC)plane BRS - NOC
- Take the train from Claremorris to Athlonetrain
8h 37m€86–268
Cardiff to Athlone by train, ferry, foot, and tram
Questions & Answers
The cheapest way to get from Cardiff to Athlone is to fly and train which costs €40 - €230 and takes 6h 43m.
The fastest way to get from Cardiff to Athlone is to fly and train which takes 6h 43m and costs €40 - €230.
The distance between Cardiff and Athlone is 613 km.
The best way to get from Cardiff to Athlone without a car is to train and ferry which takes 11h 36m and costs €130 - €220.
It takes approximately 11h 36m to get from Cardiff to Athlone, including transfers.
There are 74+ 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 Holyhead, walk to Holyhead Ferry, take the ferry to Dublin Ferryport B+I, walk to The Point, take the vehicle to Heuston, walk to Dublin Heuston, then take the train to Athlone. Alternatively, you can take a vehicle from Cardiff to Athlone via Liverpool, Isle of Man Douglas, and Dublin Terminal 1 in around 11h 39m.
- Website
- easyjet.com
Flights from Bristol Airport to Belfast International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 10m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- €35–150
Flights from Bristol Airport to Belfast International Airport via Glasgow
- Ave. Duration
- 3h
- When
- Thursday and Friday
- Estimated price
- €35–150
Flights from Bristol Airport to Belfast International Airport via Newcastle
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 50m
- When
- Friday
- Estimated price
- €35–150
- Phone
- 03333 211 202
- Website
- Transport for Wales
Train from Cardiff Central to Holyhead
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 49m
- Frequency
- Every 4 hours
- Estimated price
- €90–150
- Website
- Transport for Wales
Train from Cardiff Central to Holyhead
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 49m
- Frequency
- Every 4 hours
- Estimated price
- €90–150
- Website
- Transport for Wales
Train from Cardiff Central to Bristol Temple Meads
- Ave. Duration
- 57 min
- Frequency
- Every 4 hours
- Estimated price
- €15–24
- Website
- Transport for Wales
Train from Cardiff Central to Bristol Temple Meads
- Ave. Duration
- 57 min
- Frequency
- Every 4 hours
- Estimated price
- €15–24
- Website
- Transport for Wales
Train from Cardiff Central to Bristol Temple Meads
- Ave. Duration
- 57 min
- Frequency
- Every 4 hours
- Estimated price
- €15–24
- Website
- Transport for Wales
Train from Cardiff Central to Bristol Temple Meads
- Ave. Duration
- 57 min
- Frequency
- Every 4 hours
- Estimated price
- €15–24
- Website
- Transport for Wales
- Phone
- +353 91 564 164
- info@citylink.ie
- Website
- Citylink
Bus from Heuston Station to Arcadia
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 50m
- Frequency
- Every 4 hours
- Estimated price
- €14–20
- Website
- Citylink
- Phone
- +44 844 770 7070
- info.se@stenaline.com
- Website
- Stena Line
Ferry from Holyhead Ferry to Dublin Ferryport B+I
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 15m
- Frequency
- Every 4 hours
- Estimated price
- €30–50
- Website
- Stena Line
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