There are 10 ways to get from Cardiff to Ballymena by train, plane, ferry, bus, car ferry, 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 Belfast International Airport
best- Take the train from Cardiff Central to Bristol Temple Meadstrain
- Fly from Bristol Airport (BRS) to Belfast International Airport (BFS)plane BRS - BFS
5h 31m£56–168Train, 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 Connolly to Belfast Grand Centraltrain Ic
- Take the train from Belfast Great Central to Ballymenatrain
13h 3m£138–210Train, ferry, bus
- Take the train from Cardiff Central to Holyheadtrain
- Take the ferry from Holyhead to Dublin Ferryport B+Iferry
- Take the bus from Dublin Busaras Bus Station to Grand Central Station Stand 11bus X1
- Take the train from Belfast Great Central to Ballymenatrain
14h 28m£164–340Train, car ferry
- Take the train from Cardiff Central to Chestertrain
- Take the carferry from Liverpool to Belfastcarferry
- Take the train from Yorkgate to Ballymenatrain
15h 27m£106–211Fly 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 Lanyon Place to Ballymenatrain
5h 45m£67–222Train 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 Lanyon Place to Ballymenatrain
5h 31m£66–186Train to Birmingham Airport, fly to George Best Belfast City Airport, train
- Take the train from Cardiff Central to Birmingham New Streettrain
- Fly from Birmingham Airport (BHX) to George Best Belfast City Airport (BHD)plane BHX - BHD
- Take the train from Lanyon Place to Ballymenatrain
6h 28m£100–221Train to Birmingham Airport, fly to Belfast International Airport
- Take the train from Cardiff Central to Birmingham New Streettrain
- Fly from Birmingham Airport (BHX) to Belfast International Airport (BFS)plane BHX - BFS
6h 18m£83–193Train, train to Liverpool, fly to George Best Belfast City Airport
- Take the train from Cardiff Central to Crewetrain
- Take the train from Crewe to Liverpool South Parkwaytrain
- Fly from Liverpool (LPL) to George Best Belfast City Airport (BHD)plane LPL - BHD
- Take the train from Lanyon Place to Ballymenatrain
7h 27m£96–254Drive, car ferry
- Drive from Cardiff to Cairnryancar
- Take the carferry from Cairnryan to Larnecarferry
9h 47m£125–366
Cardiff to Ballymena by train, foot, ferry, taxi, and bus
Comparing Your Travel Options
The cheapest way to get from Cardiff to Ballymena is to train and fly which costs £55 - £170 and takes 5h 31m.
The fastest way to get from Cardiff to Ballymena is to train and fly which takes 5h 31m and costs £65 - £190.
The distance between Cardiff and Ballymena is 333 miles.
The best way to get from Cardiff to Ballymena without a car is to train and ferry which takes 13h 3m and costs £130 - £210.
It takes approximately 5h 31m to get from Cardiff to Ballymena, including transfers.
There are 220+ hotels available in Ballymena.
What companies run services between Cardiff, Wales and Ballymena, Mid and East Antrim, Northern Ireland?
There is no direct connection from Cardiff to Ballymena. 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 Belfast International Airport (BFS), walk to Belfast International Airport, take the bus to Antrim Buscentre, walk to Antrim, then take the train to Ballymena. Alternatively, you can take a train from Cardiff Central to Ballymena via Holyhead, Holyhead Ferry, Dublin Ferryport B+I, Dublin Connolly, and Belfast Great Central in around 13h 3m.
- Website
- easyjet.com
Flights from Bristol Airport to Belfast International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 11m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- £30–120
Flights from Bristol Airport to Belfast International Airport via Newcastle
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 5m
- When
- Tuesday, Friday, and Thursday
- Estimated price
- £30–120
Flights from Bristol Airport to Belfast International Airport via Glasgow
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 10m
- When
- Thursday and Friday
- Estimated price
- £30–120
Flights from Bristol Airport to Belfast International Airport via Edinburgh
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 2m
- When
- Friday, Monday, Saturday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- £30–120
Flights from Bristol Airport to George Best Belfast City Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 10m
- When
- Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- £40–140
Flights from Birmingham Airport to George Best Belfast City Airport via Edinburgh
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 10m
- When
- Saturday
- Estimated price
- £95–240
Flights from Birmingham Airport to Belfast International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 5m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- £23–100
Flights from Birmingham Airport to Belfast International Airport via Glasgow
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 5m
- When
- Thursday
- Estimated price
- £23–100
Flights from Liverpool to George Best Belfast City Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 50 min
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- £30–110
- Website
- aerlingus.com
Flights from Cardiff Airport to George Best Belfast City Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 25m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- £45–180
Flights from Birmingham Airport to George Best Belfast City Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 18m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- £40–120
- Phone
- +44 (0)345 7000 125
- gwr.feedback@gwr.com
- Website
- Great Western Railway (GWR)
Train from Cardiff Central to Bristol Temple Meads
- Ave. Duration
- 52 min
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- £15–29
- Website
- Great Western Railway (GWR)
Train from Cardiff Central to Bristol Temple Meads
- Ave. Duration
- 52 min
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- £15–29
- Website
- Great Western Railway (GWR)
- Phone
- 03333 211 202
- Website
- Transport for Wales
Train from Cardiff Central to Bristol Temple Meads
- Ave. Duration
- 57 min
- Frequency
- Every 3 hours
- Estimated price
- £12–21
- Website
- Transport for Wales
Train from Cardiff Central to Holyhead
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 49m
- Frequency
- Every 4 hours
- Estimated price
- £75–130
- Website
- Transport for Wales
Train from Cardiff Central to Holyhead
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 49m
- Frequency
- Every 4 hours
- Estimated price
- £75–130
- Website
- Transport for Wales
Train from Cardiff Central to Chester
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 57m
- Frequency
- Every 3 hours
- Estimated price
- £45–80
- Website
- Transport for Wales
Train from Cardiff Central to Bristol Temple Meads
- Ave. Duration
- 57 min
- Frequency
- Every 3 hours
- Estimated price
- £12–21
- Website
- Transport for Wales
Train from Cardiff Central to Crewe
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 34m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- £45–75
- Website
- Transport for Wales
Train from Cardiff Central to Bristol Temple Meads
- Ave. Duration
- 49 min
- Frequency
- Once a week
- Estimated price
- £16–25
- Website
- Cross Country
Train from Cardiff Central to Bristol Temple Meads
- Ave. Duration
- 49 min
- Frequency
- Once a week
- Estimated price
- £16–25
- Website
- Cross Country
Train from Cardiff Central to Birmingham New Street
- Ave. Duration
- 2h
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- £45–70
- Website
- Cross Country
Train from Cardiff Central to Birmingham New Street
- Ave. Duration
- 2h
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- £45–70
- Website
- Cross Country
- Phone
- 0818 294 015
- Website
- Iarnród Éireann (Irish Rail)
Train from Dublin Connolly to Belfast Grand Central
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 8m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- £13–19
- Website
- Iarnród Éireann (Irish Rail)
- Flexible
- £13–19
- Phone
- +44 28 9066 6630
- Website
- Translink
Train from Dublin Connolly to Belfast Grand Central
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 8m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- £17–25
- Website
- Translink
Train from Belfast Great Central to Ballymena
- Ave. Duration
- 49 min
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- £8–12
- Website
- Translink
Train from Belfast Great Central to Ballymena
- Ave. Duration
- 49 min
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- £8–12
- Website
- Translink
Train from Yorkgate to Ballymena
- Ave. Duration
- 35 min
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- £8–12
- Website
- Translink
Train from Lanyon Place to Ballymena
- Ave. Duration
- 39 min
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- £8–12
- Website
- Translink
Train from Lanyon Place to Ballymena
- Ave. Duration
- 39 min
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- £8–12
- Website
- Translink
Train from Lanyon Place to Ballymena
- Ave. Duration
- 39 min
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- £8–12
- Website
- Translink
Train from Lanyon Place to Ballymena
- Ave. Duration
- 39 min
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- £8–12
- Website
- Translink
- Phone
- +44 333 311 0039
- contact.wmr@wmtrains.co.uk
- Website
- West Midlands Trains
Train from Crewe to Liverpool South Parkway
- Ave. Duration
- 33 min
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- £8–23
- Website
- West Midlands Trains
- Phone
- +44 (0)345 528 0253
- Website
- Avanti West Coast
Train from Crewe to Liverpool South Parkway
- Ave. Duration
- 27 min
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- £10–16
- Website
- Avanti West Coast
- Phone
- +44 28 9066 6630
- Website
- Translink
Bus from Dublin Busaras Bus Station to Grand Central Station Stand 11
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 50m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- £4
- Website
- Translink
- Belfast urban network
- £4
- 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
- £27–40
- Website
- Stena Line
Car ferry from Liverpool to Belfast
- Ave. Duration
- 8h
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- £36–100
- Website
- Stena Line
- Passenger
- £36
- Car Passenger
- £139
- Phone
- +353 818 300 400
- info@irishferries.fr
- Website
- Irish Ferries
Ferry from Holyhead to Dublin Ferryport B+I
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 30m
- Frequency
- 5 times a day
- Estimated price
- £65–190
- Website
- Irish Ferries
- Phone
- +44 01304 44 88 88
- customer.services@poferries.com
- Website
- P&O Ferries
Car ferry from Cairnryan to Larne
- Ave. Duration
- 2h
- Frequency
- Every 4 hours
- Estimated price
- £25–220
- Website
- P&O Ferries
- Passenger Standard
- £25–45
- Passenger Car
- £130–220
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