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Journey Information
There are 9 intercity buses per day from Cardiff to Swansea. Traveling by bus from Cardiff to Swansea usually takes around one hour and 12 minutes, but the fastest FlixBus bus can make the trip in just one hour and 5 minutes.
| Distance | 34 mi (55 km) |
| Shortest duration | 1h 5m |
| Cheapest price | $2.90 |
| Trips per day | 9 |
| Most frequent service | FlixBus |
| Bus lines | 3 |
What bus companies travel from Cardiff to Swansea?
There are 3 bus lines from Cardiff to Swansea available for you to search and compare on Wanderu. With 7 daily trips, FlixBus usually has the most buses running on any given day. Here are some time and price comparisons for all the available options:
| Bus | Daily Trips | Avg. Time | Avg. Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| FlixBus | 7 | 1h 12m | $5.48 |
| Megabus | 3 | 1h 14m | $10.13 |
| National Express | 4 | 1h 12m | $11.88 |
First launched in Germany in 2013, FlixBus has become one of the largest intercity bus companies in Europe. Its fleet travels through nearly every country in Europe, including the U.K. FlixBus operates an average of 7 trips from Cardiff to Swansea, and usually makes the trip in about 1 hours and 12 minutes. On your trip, you'll enjoy Wi-Fi and live GPS, as well as restrooms, air conditioning, and power outlets.
Founded in 2003, Megabus UK was created to provide travelers with greener, more straightforward and smarter travel. The carrier has routes all across the United Kingdom in England, Scotland, and Wales. The Megabus UK fleet, easily distinguishable by its dark blue and yellow colors, has free Wi-Fi, outlets and charging ports, onboard restrooms, and 20 kg luggage allowances on each bus.
National Express is probably the UK's best-known bus company, offering intercity services to London, Manchester, Southampton, and Edinburgh. Onboard the single and double-decker vehicles, travelers enjoy a good amount of legroom – roomier than airlines have in coach class – alongside WiFi, restrooms, and air conditioning.
Frequently Asked Questions
The bus takes an average of one hour and 12 minutes to cover the 55 kilometers from Cardiff to Swansea. However, the fastest bus only takes an hour and 5 minutes. You'll have just enough time for a small nap on this relatively short bus trip. Keep in mind that your actual bus may arrive earlier or later than scheduled, depending on whether there is more or less traffic than usual.
With many people traveling in the middle of the week, Wednesday is the busiest day of the week for bus travel. If you are planning to travel on a Wednesday, you should make sure to book tickets well in advance as they may sell out.
On the other hand, Thursday is typically the least busy day for bus travel on this route. If you’re looking for a little extra space, a Thursday ticket is the way to go.
The first bus leaves at 1:00am and the last bus leaves at 10:00pm. To see the times for all buses from Cardiff to Swansea, enter your specific travel dates in the search bar.
There are 9 scheduled buses that travel from Cardiff to Swansea every day, so you have a decent number of options to choose from. Furthermore, all of these are direct buses which you can take the entire route from Cardiff to Swansea without transferring.
Need more travel options? Consider taking the train from Cardiff to Swansea; ticket prices start at $9.19.
City Information
Cardiff
Image credit: Unsplash
Image credit: Unsplash
Image credit: Unsplash
Cardiff is the capital of Wales, as well as its largest city. Although the city was initially founded as a Roman fort, Cardiff has glided effortlessly into the 21st century, offering tourists a diverse mix of old and new.
Looking to explore the city's history? Cardiff Castle at the heart of the city makes for an exciting day out, where visitors can learn about the fascinating 2,000 years of history that the castle represents.
If the castle gets you in the mood to explore more history, the St Fagans National Museum of History will surely satisfy your historical appetite. As one of Europe's leading open-air museums, the museum offers historical attractions that detail history back to the Celtic era.
For those seeking a more modern experience, Cardiff boasts a fantastic selection of shops and cafes, with Cardiff Central Market as the top choice for retail therapy.
Cardiff has excellent transport links, making it an easy place to visit no matter where you're coming from. Cardiff Airport provides access for visitors traveling from off the island, while high-speed rail services make access to and from London simple. Cardiff Central Station also offers direct routes from Bristol, Bath, Manchester, Nottingham, as well as other main cities and towns.
Swansea
Image credit: Unsplash
Image credit: Pixabay
Image credit: Pixabay
Swansea is a coastal city in the southwest of Wales. With its sweeping coastline and diverse city, this historically industrial town has so much to offer. A visit to Swansea would be incomplete without a visit to one, or all, of its magnificent beaches and peninsulas. Swansea Bay makes a great picnic stop on a warm day, with its soft sand, blue waters, and plentiful ice cream parlors.
The Gower Peninsula, famous for being the U.K.'s first Area of Outstanding National Beauty, provides a great place to experience the real Wales, with its dramatic limestone cliffs, wild moors, and diverse ecology; it's definitely worth the short car drive from the city.
If the weather drives you indoors, then visit the National Waterfront Museum to learn about the industrial and maritime history of Wales. Swansea is also home to a large indoor market where you can explore independent retailers' goods and indulge in the many local delicacies on offer.
With its major road links and park-and-ride car parks, Swansea is easy to reach by car. Direct trains also run from many major cities, including London and Manchester, via the Great Western Railway. National Express and Megabus also provide frequent bus services to the city.
Station Information
Where does the bus leave from in Cardiff?
Main departure station: Cardiff Royal Welsh College of Music
Buses to Swansea leave from 4 stations in Cardiff.
All bus stations in Cardiff:
Cardiff Royal Welsh College of Music
North Rd 330
Cardiff University
2 Sophia Cl
Where does the bus arrive in Swansea?
Image credit: philipweaver
Link to image attributionMain arrival station: Quadrant Bus Station - Stand A
Local and long-distance buses to Swansea stop at the Quadrant Bus Station adjacent to the Quadrant Shopping Center. Inside the mall, a wide variety of stores and restaurants can accommodate any travel-day desire, from bubble tea to an entirely new outfit. There is some seating inside the building, facing the glass wall where exits lead to boarding areas. National Express and Megabus buses operate routes to destinations like London and Bristol from Swansea. Many of the top sights in Swansea are within a 10-minute walk of the bus station, including Swansea Castle, Swansea Museum, and the National Waterfront Museum.
Bus stations in Swansea:
Quadrant Bus Station - Stand A
Get around town with Moovit
Need a return trip from Swansea to Cardiff?
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