There are 11 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 19m£56–168Fly Cardiff Airport to Dublin Airport, bus, train
cheapest- Fly from Cardiff Airport (CWL) to Dublin Airport (DUB)plane CWL - DUB
- Take the bus from Terminal 1 Zone 2 to Belfast Glengallbus
- Take the train from Belfast Grand Central to Ballymenatrain
7h 42m£47–206Train, 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 Grand Central to Ballymenatrain Re
12h 52m£139–211Train, 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 Grand Central to Ballymenatrain Re
14h 16m£165–341Train, car ferry
- Take the train from Cardiff Central to Chestertrain
- Take the carferry from Liverpool to Belfastcarferry
- Take the train from York Street to Ballymenatrain Re
15h 16m£106–212Fly 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 Lanyon Place to Ballymenatrain
5h£72–212Train 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 Lanyon Place to Ballymenatrain
5h 19m£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 Belfast Lanyon Place to Ballymenatrain
6h 17m£101–232Train 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 7m£84–194Train to Bristol Airport, fly to Dublin Airport, bus, 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 bus from Terminal 1 Zone 2 to Belfast Glengallbus
- Take the train from Belfast Grand Central to Ballymenatrain
8h 21m£53–170Drive, car ferry
- Drive from Cardiff to Cairnryancar
- Take the carferry from Cairnryan to Larnecarferry
9h 47m£124–363
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 fly and bus and train which costs £45 - £210 and takes 7h 42m.
The fastest way to get from Cardiff to Ballymena is to fly and train which takes 5h and costs £70 - £220.
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 12h 52m and costs £130 - £220.
It takes approximately 5h 19m to get from Cardiff to Ballymena, including transfers.
There are 232+ 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 Grand Central in around 12h 52m.
- Website
- easyjet.com
Flights from Bristol Airport to Belfast International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 10m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- £30–120
Flights from Bristol Airport to Belfast International Airport via Glasgow
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 10m
- When
- Friday
- Estimated price
- £30–120
Flights from Bristol Airport to Belfast International Airport via Edinburgh
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 16m
- When
- Sunday and Monday
- Estimated price
- £30–120
Flights from Bristol Airport to George Best Belfast City Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 10m
- When
- Friday and Sunday
- Estimated price
- £40–140
Flights from Bristol Airport to George Best Belfast City Airport via Glasgow
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 5m
- When
- Monday
- Estimated price
- £40–140
Flights from Bristol Airport to George Best Belfast City Airport via Edinburgh
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 15m
- When
- Monday
- Estimated price
- £40–140
Flights from Birmingham Airport to George Best Belfast City Airport via Edinburgh
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 50m
- When
- Monday
- Estimated price
- £95–180
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 Edinburgh
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 55m
- When
- Sunday
- Estimated price
- £23–100
- Website
- ryanair.com
Flights from Cardiff Airport to Dublin Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- £21–150
Flights from Bristol Airport to Dublin Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 5m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- £18–110
- Website
- aerlingus.com
Flights from Cardiff Airport to George Best Belfast City Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 25m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- £45–190
Flights from Birmingham Airport to George Best Belfast City Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 15m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- £40–130
Flights from Cardiff Airport to Dublin Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 15m
- When
- Friday to Sunday
- Estimated price
- £140–260
Flights from Bristol Airport to Dublin Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 17m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- £30–120
- 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
- £16–29
- Website
- Great Western Railway (GWR)
Train from Cardiff Central to Bristol Temple Meads
- Ave. Duration
- 52 min
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- £16–29
- Website
- Great Western Railway (GWR)
Train from Cardiff Central to Bristol Temple Meads
- Ave. Duration
- 52 min
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- £16–29
- 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 4 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
- £50–80
- Website
- Transport for Wales
Train from Cardiff Central to Bristol Temple Meads
- Ave. Duration
- 57 min
- Frequency
- Every 4 hours
- Estimated price
- £12–21
- Website
- Transport for Wales
Train from Cardiff Central to Bristol Temple Meads
- Ave. Duration
- 57 min
- Frequency
- Every 4 hours
- Estimated price
- £12–21
- 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
Train from Cardiff Central to Bristol Temple Meads
- Ave. Duration
- 49 min
- Frequency
- Once a week
- Estimated price
- £16–25
- 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 Grand Central to Ballymena
- Ave. Duration
- 49 min
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- £8–12
- Website
- Translink
Train from Belfast Grand Central to Ballymena
- Ave. Duration
- 49 min
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- £8–12
- Website
- Translink
Train from York Street to Ballymena
- Ave. Duration
- 35 min
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- £8–12
- Website
- Translink
Train from Belfast Lanyon Place to Ballymena
- Ave. Duration
- 39 min
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- £8–12
- Website
- Translink
Train from Belfast Lanyon Place to Ballymena
- Ave. Duration
- 39 min
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- £8–12
- Website
- Translink
Train from Belfast Lanyon Place to Ballymena
- Ave. Duration
- 39 min
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- £8–12
- Website
- Translink
Train from Belfast Grand Central to Ballymena
- Ave. Duration
- 49 min
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- £8–12
- Website
- Translink
Train from Belfast Grand Central to Ballymena
- Ave. Duration
- 49 min
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- £8–12
- Website
- Translink
- 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
- +353 0 1 844 7118
- info@aircoach.ie
- Website
- Aircoach
Bus from Terminal 1 Zone 2 to Belfast Glengall
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 50m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- £12–17
- Website
- Aircoach
Bus from Terminal 1 Zone 2 to Belfast Glengall
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 50m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- £12–17
- Website
- Aircoach
- 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
- Every 4 hours
- 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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