There are 9 ways to get from Cardiff to Carlow by train, 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 Carlowtrain Re / ...
11h 42m€125–229Fly 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 Carlowtrain
6h 49m€37–242Train, ferry, bus
- Take the train from Cardiff Central to Pembroke Docktrain
- Take the ferry from Pembroke Dock to Rosslare Harbourferry
- Take the bus from Rosslare Europort to Bunclodybus 132
- Take the bus from Bunclody to Carlowbus 484
12h 10mBus, ferry
- Take the bus from Sophia Gardens to Upper Park Roadbus 112
- Take the ferry from Pembroke Dock to Rosslare Harbourferry
- Take the bus from Rosslare Europort to Bunclodybus 132
- Take the bus from Bunclody to Carlowbus 484
13h 15mTrain 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 Carlowtrain
7h 4m€53–182Train to Birmingham Airport, fly to Dublin Airport, train
- Take the train from Cardiff Central to Birmingham New Streettrain
- Fly from Birmingham Airport (BHX) to Dublin Airport (DUB)plane BHX - DUB
- Take the train from Dublin Heuston to Carlowtrain
8h 6m€99–232Train 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 Great Central to Dublin Connollytrain
- Take the train from Dublin Heuston to Carlowtrain
9h 24m€82–197Train 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 Great Central to Dublin Connollytrain
- Take the train from Dublin Heuston to Carlowtrain
9h 3m€87–225Train, 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 Carlowtrain
8h 56m€128–393
Cardiff to Carlow by train, ferry, foot, and tram
Questions & Answers
The cheapest way to get from Cardiff to Carlow is to fly and train which costs €35 - €250 and takes 6h 49m.
The fastest way to get from Cardiff to Carlow is to fly and train which takes 6h 49m and costs €35 - €250.
The distance between Cardiff and Carlow is 573 km.
The best way to get from Cardiff to Carlow without a car is to train and ferry which takes 11h 42m and costs €120 - €230.
It takes approximately 11h 42m to get from Cardiff to Carlow, including transfers.
There are 103+ hotels available in Carlow.
What companies run services between Cardiff, Wales and Carlow, Ireland?
There is no direct connection from Cardiff to Carlow. 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 Carlow. Alternatively, you can take a train from Cardiff Central to Carlow via Pembroke Dock, Pembroke Dock, Rosslare Harbour, Rosslare Europort, and Bunclody in around 12h 10m.
- Website
- ryanair.com
Flights from Bristol Airport to Dublin Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 5m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- €23–110
Flights from Cardiff Airport to Dublin Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 5m
- When
- Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- €23–190
Flights from Birmingham Airport to Dublin Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 5m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- €24–85
- Website
- aerlingus.com
Flights from Bristol Airport to Dublin Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 20m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- €40–150
Flights from Birmingham Airport to Dublin Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 12m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- €22–110
Flights from Exeter to Dublin Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 20m
- When
- Monday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- €50–220
- Website
- easyjet.com
Flights from Bristol Airport to Belfast International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 11m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- €28–110
Flights from Bristol Airport to Belfast International Airport via Edinburgh
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 5m
- When
- Monday and Friday
- Estimated price
- €28–110
Flights from Bristol Airport to George Best Belfast City Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 5m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- €35–150
- Phone
- 03333 211 202
- Website
- tfw.wales
Train from Cardiff Central to Holyhead
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 53m
- Frequency
- Every 4 hours
- Estimated price
- €100–180
- Website
- https://tfw.wales/
Train from Cardiff Central to Pembroke Dock
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 21m
- Frequency
- Every 4 hours
- Estimated price
- €50–95
- Website
- https://tfw.wales/
- Phone
- +353 1 836 6222
- info@irishrail.ie
- Website
- irishrail.ie
Train from Dublin Heuston to Carlow
- Ave. Duration
- 1h
- Frequency
- Every 3 hours
- Estimated price
- €8–12
- Website
- https://www.irishrail.ie/en-ie/
- Flexible
- €8–12
Train from Belfast Great Central to Dublin Connolly
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 13m
- Frequency
- Every 3 hours
- Estimated price
- €15–22
- Website
- https://www.irishrail.ie/en-ie/
- Flexible
- €15–22
- Phone
- +44 3457 000 125
- gwr.feedback@gwr.com
- Website
- gwr.com
Train from Cardiff Central to Pembroke Dock
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 8m
- Frequency
- Once a week
- Estimated price
- €60–120
- Website
- https://www.gwr.com/
Train from Cardiff Central to Bristol Temple Meads
- Ave. Duration
- 46 min
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- €19–40
- Website
- https://www.gwr.com/
Train from Bristol Temple Meads to Exeter St Davids
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 36m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- €35–75
- Website
- https://www.gwr.com/
Train from Cardiff Central to Bristol Temple Meads
- Ave. Duration
- 49 min
- Frequency
- Once a week
- Estimated price
- €22–35
- Website
- https://www.crosscountrytrains.co.uk/
Train from Cardiff Central to Birmingham New Street
- Ave. Duration
- 2h
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- €60–90
- Website
- https://www.crosscountrytrains.co.uk/
Train from Bristol Temple Meads to Exeter St Davids
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 5m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- €45–65
- Website
- https://www.crosscountrytrains.co.uk/
- Phone
- +44 28 9066 6630
- Website
- translink.co.uk
Train from Belfast Great Central to Dublin Connolly
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 13m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- €20–28
- Website
- https://www.translink.co.uk/
- Phone
- +353 1 836 6111
- Website
- buseireann.ie
Bus from Rosslare Europort to Bunclody
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 8m
- Frequency
- Once a week
- Estimated price
- €8–12
- Website
- https://www.buseireann.ie/
- Phone
- 0818 42 41 41
- Website
- locallinkckw.ie
Bus from Bunclody to Carlow
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 10m
- Frequency
- On demand
- Website
- https://locallinkckw.ie/
- Phone
- 08717 81 81 81
- Website
- nationalexpress.com
Bus from Sophia Gardens to Upper Park Road
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 45m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- €21–55
- Website
- https://www.nationalexpress.com/en
- 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
- €9–35
- Website
- https://www.stenalinetravel.com/
- Phone
- +353 818 300 400
- info@irishferries.com
- Website
- irishferries.com
Ferry from Pembroke Dock to Rosslare Harbour
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 1m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- €16–45
- Website
- https://www.irishferries.com/uk-en/Travel-to-Ireland
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.
Related travel guides
Travelling to the UK: What do I need to know?
Read the travel guide






































