There are 5 ways to get from Cork to Athlone by train, bus, 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
best- Take the train from Cork to Portlaoisetrain 217 / ...
- Take the train from Portarlington to Athlonetrain Re / ...
4h 14m€24–35Train, bus
cheapest- Take the train from Cork to Thurlestrain 217 / ...
- Take the bus from Thurles Station to Golden Islandbus 850
4h 51m€23–32Drive 205.8 km
- Drive from Cork to Athlonecar 205.8 km
2h 29m€34–50Bus
- Take the bus from Cork Bus Station to Limerick Colbert Stationbus 51
- Take the bus from Limerick Colbert Station to Athlone Stationbus 72
5h 8m€29–42Bus via Kilmartin Centre
- Take the bus from Cork Anderson's Quay to Henry Streetbus 251
- Take the bus from Limerick Arthur's Quay to Kilmartin Centrebus Ul06
5h 48m€32–48
Cork to Athlone by train
Questions & Answers
The cheapest way to get from Cork to Athlone is to train and bus which costs €22 - €35 and takes 4h 51m.
The fastest way to get from Cork to Athlone is to drive which takes 2h 29m and costs €30 - €50.
No, there is no direct bus from Cork station to Athlone station. However, there are services departing from Cork Bus Station and arriving at Athlone Station via Limerick Colbert Station. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 5h 8m.
No, there is no direct train from Cork to Athlone. However, there are services departing from Cork and arriving at Athlone via Portlaoise and Portarlington. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 4h 14m.
The distance between Cork and Athlone is 261 km. The road distance is 205.8 km.
The best way to get from Cork to Athlone without a car is to train which takes 4h 14m and costs €24 - €40.
It takes approximately 4h 14m to get from Cork to Athlone, including transfers.
Cork to Athlone bus services, operated by Expressway (Bus Éireann), depart from Cork Bus Station.
Cork to Athlone train services, operated by Iarnród Éireann (Irish Rail), depart from Cork station.
The best way to get from Cork to Athlone is to train which takes 4h 14m and costs €24 - €40. Alternatively, you can bus, which costs €28 - €45 and takes 5h 8m.
What companies run services between Cork, Ireland and Athlone, Ireland?
You can take a train from Cork to Athlone via Portlaoise and Portarlington in around 4h 14m. Alternatively, you can take a bus from Cork Bus Station to Athlone Station via Limerick Colbert Station in around 5h 8m.
- Phone
- +353 1 836 6222
- info@irishrail.ie
- Website
- irishrail.ie
Train from Cork to Portlaoise
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 40m
- Frequency
- Every 3 hours
- Estimated price
- €16–23
- Website
- https://www.irishrail.ie/en-ie/
- Flexible
- €16–23
Train from Portarlington to Athlone
- Ave. Duration
- 51 min
- Frequency
- Every 2 hours
- Estimated price
- €6–9
- Website
- https://www.irishrail.ie/en-ie/
- Flexible
- €6–9
Train from Cork to Thurles
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 12m
- Frequency
- Every 2 hours
- Estimated price
- €11–17
- Website
- https://www.irishrail.ie/en-ie/
- Flexible
- €11–17
- Phone
- +353-57-8692168
- lo@locallink.ie
- Website
- locallinklaoisoffaly.ie
Bus from Thurles Station to Golden Island
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 39m
- Frequency
- 4 times a week
- Estimated price
- €11–16
- Website
- https://locallinklaoisoffaly.ie/
- Phone
- 0818 15 15 15
- Website
- expressway.ie
Bus from Cork Bus Station to Limerick Colbert Station
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 45m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- €16–23
- Website
- https://www.expressway.ie/
- Phone
- +353 1 836 6111
- Website
- buseireann.ie
Bus from Limerick Colbert Station to Athlone Station
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 23m
- Frequency
- 3 times a day
- Estimated price
- €12–19
- Website
- https://www.buseireann.ie/
- Phone
- +353 91 564 164
- info@citylink.ie
- Website
- citylink.ie
Bus from Cork Anderson's Quay to Henry Street
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 45m
- Frequency
- Every 4 hours
- Estimated price
- €13–18
- Website
- https://www.citylink.ie/
- Phone
- 071 9641059
- Website
- westlinkcoaches.ie
Bus from Limerick Arthur's Quay to Kilmartin Centre
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 25m
- Frequency
- 5 times a week
- Estimated price
- €16–24
- Website
- http://www.westlinkcoaches.ie/
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More Questions & Answers
Cork to Athlone bus services, operated by Expressway (Bus Éireann), arrive at Limerick Colbert Station.
Cork to Athlone train services, operated by Iarnród Éireann (Irish Rail), arrive at Portlaoise station.
Yes, the driving distance between Cork to Athlone is 206 km. It takes approximately 2h 29m to drive from Cork to Athlone.
There are 40+ hotels available in Athlone.



