There are 7 ways to get from Manchester to Cardiff Airport (CWL) by train, bus, rideshare, 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, line 304 bus
best- Take the train from Manchester Piccadilly to Cardiff Centraltrain Manchester Piccadilly - Cardiff Central / ...
- Take the bus from Cardiff Bus Interchange Bay 1 to Cardiff Airportbus 304
4h 42m£60–92Bus, line 304 bus
cheapest- Take the bus from Manchester, Shudehill Interchange to Bristol Bus Stationbus
- Take the bus from Bus Station to Sophia Gardensbus 202 / ...
- Take the bus from Cardiff Bus Interchange Bay 1 to Cardiff Airportbus 304
7h 19m£30–48Airport Transfer
- Take the rideshare from Manchester to Cardiff Airport (CWL)182.2 mi
4h 12mDrive 182.2 mi
- Drive from Manchester to Cardiff Airport (CWL)car 182.2 mi
4h 12m£46–66Train to Liverpool, fly
- Take the train from Manchester Oxford Road to Liverpool South Parkwaytrain
- Fly from Liverpool (LPL) to Cardiff Airport (CWL)plane LPL - CWL
9h 57m£74–171Train, line 304 bus via Birmingham
- Take the train from Manchester Piccadilly to Birmingham New Streettrain
- Take the train from Birmingham New Street to Cardiff Centraltrain
- Take the bus from Cardiff Bus Interchange Bay 1 to Cardiff Airportbus 304
5h 46m£76–125Fly from Manchester Airport
- Fly from Manchester Airport (MAN) to Cardiff Airport (CWL)plane MAN - CWL
5h 2m£68–146
Manchester to Cardiff Airport (CWL) by train and bus
Comparing Your Travel Options
The cheapest way to get from Manchester to Cardiff Airport (CWL) is to bus and line 304 bus which costs £30 - £50 and takes 7h 19m.
The fastest way to get from Manchester to Cardiff Airport (CWL) is to drive which takes 4h 12m and costs £45 - £70.
No, there is no direct bus from Manchester to Cardiff Airport (CWL). However, there are services departing from Manchester, Shudehill Interchange and arriving at Cardiff Airport via Bus Station, Sophia Gardens and Cardiff Bus Interchange Bay 1. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 7h 19m.
The distance between Manchester and Cardiff Airport (CWL) is 187 miles. The road distance is 183.2 miles.
The best way to get from Manchester to Cardiff Airport (CWL) without a car is to train and line 304 bus which takes 4h 42m and costs £55 - £95.
It takes approximately 4h 42m to get from Manchester to Cardiff Airport (CWL), including transfers.
Manchester to Cardiff Airport (CWL) bus services, operated by FlixBus, depart from Manchester, Shudehill Interchange station.
The best way to get from Manchester to Cardiff Airport (CWL) is to bus and line 304 bus which takes 7h 19m and costs £30 - £50. Alternatively, you can fly, which costs £65 - £150 and takes 5h 2m.
Manchester to Cardiff Airport (CWL) bus services, operated by FlixBus, arrive at Bristol Bus Station.
Yes, the driving distance between Manchester to Cardiff Airport (CWL) is 183 miles. It takes approximately 4h 12m to drive from Manchester to Cardiff Airport (CWL).
What companies run services between Manchester, England and Cardiff Airport (CWL), Wales?
You can take a bus from Manchester, Shudehill Interchange to Cardiff Airport via Bus Station, Sophia Gardens, and Cardiff Bus Interchange Bay 1 in around 7h 19m. Alternatively, KLM and easyJet fly from Manchester Airport (MAN) to Cardiff Airport (CWL) twice daily.
- Website
- klm.com
Flights from Liverpool to Cardiff Airport via Amsterdam Schiphol
- Ave. Duration
- 10h 40m
- When
- Monday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- £65–370
Flights from Manchester Airport to Cardiff Airport via Amsterdam Schiphol
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 35m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- £60–340
- Website
- ryanair.com
Flights from Liverpool to Cardiff Airport via Dublin
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 5m
- When
- Friday
- Estimated price
- £60–120
Flights from Liverpool to Cardiff Airport via Alicante–Elche
- Ave. Duration
- 13h 35m
- When
- Wednesday and Friday
- Estimated price
- £60–120
- Website
- aerlingus.com
Flights from Liverpool to Cardiff Airport via Dublin
- Ave. Duration
- 13h 10m
- When
- Thursday to Saturday
- Estimated price
- £60–320
- Phone
- 03333 211 202
- Website
- Transport for Wales
Train from Manchester Piccadilly to Cardiff Central
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 12m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- £55–90
- Website
- Transport for Wales
- Phone
- +44 345 600 1671
- [email protected]
- Website
- TransPennine Express
Train from Manchester Oxford Road to Liverpool South Parkway
- Ave. Duration
- 38 min
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- £8–14
- Website
- TransPennine Express
- Phone
- 03457 125 678
- Website
- East Midlands Railways
Train from Manchester Oxford Road to Liverpool South Parkway
- Ave. Duration
- 36 min
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- £12–18
- Website
- East Midlands Railways
- Phone
- +44 800 200 6060
- [email protected]
- Website
- Northern Trains Limited
Train from Manchester Oxford Road to Liverpool South Parkway
- Ave. Duration
- 52 min
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- £9–17
- Website
- Northern Trains Limited
- Phone
- +44 3447 369 123
- [email protected]
- Website
- Cross Country
Train from Manchester Piccadilly to Birmingham New Street
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 32m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- £35–55
- Website
- Cross Country
Train from Birmingham New Street to Cardiff Central
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 55m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- £45–70
- Website
- Cross Country
_(2).jpg "Train Exterior")
- Phone
- +44 (0)345 528 0253
- Website
- Avanti West Coast
Train from Manchester Piccadilly to Birmingham New Street
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 34m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- £27–45
- Website
- Avanti West Coast
- Phone
- 0345 646 0707
- Website
- First South & West Wales
Bus from Cardiff Bus Interchange Bay 1 to Cardiff Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 20m
- Frequency
- Every 20 minutes
- Estimated price
- £3
- Website
- First South & West Wales
Bus from Cardiff Bus Interchange Bay 1 to Cardiff Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 20m
- Frequency
- Every 20 minutes
- Estimated price
- £3
- Website
- First South & West Wales
Bus from Cardiff Bus Interchange Bay 1 to Cardiff Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 20m
- Frequency
- Every 20 minutes
- Estimated price
- £3
- Website
- First South & West Wales
Rome2Rio's guide to FlixBus
Contact Details
- Phone
- +49 30 300 137 300
- [email protected]
- Website
- Flixbus
Bus from Manchester, Shudehill Interchange to Bristol Bus Station
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 55m
- Frequency
- 5 times a day
- Estimated price
- £20–30
- Website
- Flixbus
- Phone
- +44 (0)3717 81 81 81
- Website
- National Express
Bus from Bus Station to Sophia Gardens
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 15m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- £6–12
- Website
- National Express
.jpg "Bus Exterior")
- Website
- https://www.mozio.com
Rideshare from Manchester to Cardiff Airport (CWL)
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 12m
- Frequency
- On demand
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
Booking & Getting There
There are 1779+ hotels available in Cardiff Airport (CWL).
Check out Blablacar's carpooling service for rideshare options between Manchester and Cardiff Airport (CWL). A great option if you don't have a driver's licence or want to avoid public transport.