There are 9 ways to get from Cardiff to Cairnryan by train, bus, car ferry, car, 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, bus
best- Take the train from Cardiff Central to Crewetrain
- Take the train from Crewe to Carlisletrain
- Take the train from Carlisle to Dumfriestrain
- Take the bus from Dumfries station to Port Rodiebus 500
11h 6mBus
cheapest- Take the bus from Sophia Gardens to Bus Stationbus 202 / ...
- Take the bus from Bristol Bus Station to Birmingham - Jennens Roadbus
- Take the bus from Millennium Point to Buchanan Bus Stationbus
- Take the bus from Glasgow Buchanan to Cairnryan Stena Terminalbus 923
14h 21m£51–85Train, car ferry
- Take the train from Cardiff Central to Chestertrain
- Take the carferry from Liverpool to Belfastcarferry
- Take the carferry from Belfast to Cairnryancarferry
16h 24m£115–239Drive 379.1 mi
- Drive from Cardiff to Cairnryancar 379.1 mi
7h 18m£95–136Train
- Take the train from Cardiff Central to Glasgow Centraltrain
- Take the train from Glasgow Central to Ayrtrain
- Take the train from Ayr to Stranraertrain
13h 26m£265–398Train to Bristol Airport, fly to Edinburgh Airport, bus
- Take the train from Cardiff Central to Bristol Temple Meadstrain
- Fly from Bristol Airport (BRS) to Edinburgh Airport (EDI)plane BRS - EDI
- Take the bus from Terminal to Buchanan Bus Stationbus
- Take the bus from Glasgow Buchanan to Cairnryan Stena Terminalbus
8h 8m£56–157Fly Cardiff Airport to George Best Belfast City Airport, train, car ferry
- Fly from Cardiff Airport (CWL) to George Best Belfast City Airport (BHD)plane CWL - BHD
- Take the train from Belfast Lanyon Place to Larne Harbourtrain
- Take the carferry from Larne to Cairnryancarferry
8h 19m£96–441Train to Bristol Airport, fly to Glasgow Airport, train, bus
- Take the train from Cardiff Central to Bristol Temple Meadstrain
- Fly from Bristol Airport (BRS) to Glasgow Airport (GLA)plane BRS - GLA
- Take the train from Paisley Gilmour Street to Ayrtrain
- Take the bus from Henrietta Street to Old Pierbus
8h 33m£78–189Train to Birmingham Airport, fly to Glasgow Airport, train, bus
- Take the train from Cardiff Central to Birmingham New Streettrain
- Fly from Birmingham Airport (BHX) to Glasgow Airport (GLA)plane BHX - GLA
- Take the train from Paisley Gilmour Street to Ayrtrain
- Take the bus from Henrietta Street to Old Pierbus
9h 15m£112–215
Bristol Airport (BRS) to Edinburgh Airport (EDI) flights
Questions & Answers
The cheapest way to get from Cardiff to Cairnryan is to bus which costs £50 - £85 and takes 14h 21m.
The fastest way to get from Cardiff to Cairnryan is to drive which takes 7h 18m and costs £90 - £140.
No, there is no direct bus from Cardiff to Cairnryan. However, there are services departing from Sophia Gardens and arriving at Cairnryan Stena Terminal via Bristol Bus Station, Millennium Point and Glasgow Buchanan. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 14h 21m.
No, there is no direct train from Cardiff to Cairnryan. However, there are services departing from Cardiff Central and arriving at Stranraer via Glasgow Central and Ayr. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 13h 26m.
The distance between Cardiff and Cairnryan is 397 miles. The road distance is 381.3 miles.
The best way to get from Cardiff to Cairnryan without a car is to train and bus which takes 11h 6m and costs .
It takes approximately 11h 6m to get from Cardiff to Cairnryan, including transfers.
Cardiff to Cairnryan bus services, operated by National Express, depart from Sophia Gardens station.
Cardiff to Cairnryan train services, operated by Cross Country, depart from Cardiff Central station.
The best way to get from Cardiff to Cairnryan is to bus which takes 14h 21m and costs £50 - £85. Alternatively, you can train, which costs £260 - £400 and takes 13h 26m.
What companies run services between Cardiff, Wales and Cairnryan, Scotland?
You can take a bus from Sophia Gardens to Cairnryan Stena Terminal via Bristol Bus Station, Millennium Point, Buchanan Bus Station, and Glasgow Buchanan in around 14h 21m. Alternatively, you can take a train from Cardiff Central to Old Pier via Glasgow Central, Ayr, Stranraer, and Port Rodie Ferry Terminal in around 13h 26m.
- Website
- easyjet.com
Flights from Bristol Airport to Edinburgh Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 15m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- £30–110
Flights from Bristol Airport to Edinburgh Airport via Belfast (Aldergrove)
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 10m
- When
- Sunday, Friday, and Wednesday
- Estimated price
- £30–110
Flights from Bristol Airport to Glasgow Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 15m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- £26–95
Flights from Bristol Airport to Glasgow Airport via Belfast (Aldergrove)
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 7m
- When
- Thursday and Friday
- Estimated price
- £26–95
Flights from Birmingham Airport to Glasgow Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 5m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- £24–75
Flights from Birmingham Airport to Glasgow Airport via Belfast (Aldergrove)
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 10m
- When
- Friday
- Estimated price
- £24–75
- Phone
- 03333 211 202
- Website
- Transport for Wales
Train from Cardiff Central to Crewe
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 34m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- £45–80
- Website
- Transport for Wales
Train from Cardiff Central to Chester
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 57m
- Frequency
- Every 3 hours
- Estimated price
- £50–85
- Website
- Transport for Wales
Train from Cardiff Central to Bristol Temple Meads
- Ave. Duration
- 57 min
- Frequency
- Every 4 hours
- Estimated price
- £13–21
- Website
- Transport for Wales
Train from Cardiff Central to Bristol Temple Meads
- Ave. Duration
- 57 min
- Frequency
- Every 4 hours
- Estimated price
- £13–21
- Website
- Transport for Wales
- Phone
- +44 1576 203874
- info@houstoncoaches.co.uk
- Website
- Houstons Minicoaches
Bus from Dumfries station to Port Rodie
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 31m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Website
- Houstons Minicoaches
- Phone
- +44 844 770 7070
- info.se@stenaline.com
- 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
Car ferry from Belfast to Cairnryan
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 22m
- Frequency
- 4 times a day
- Estimated price
- £20–36
- Website
- Stena Line
- Passenger
- £36
- Car Passenger
- £149
Want to know more about travelling around United Kingdom
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.
Related travel guides
Travelling to the UK: What do I need to know?
Read the travel guide
Want to know more about Flixbus?
Read the travel guide
More Questions & Answers
Cardiff to Cairnryan bus services, operated by National Express, arrive at Bus Station.
Cardiff to Cairnryan train services, operated by Cross Country, arrive at Glasgow Central station.
Yes, the driving distance between Cardiff to Cairnryan is 381 miles. It takes approximately 7h 18m to drive from Cardiff to Cairnryan.
There are 214+ hotels available in Cairnryan.








