Wales is easy to reach from England and Ireland. Most international visitors fly into an English airport and continue by train or car; others arrive by ferry from Ireland.
By air
Cardiff Airport (CWL) is the only international airport in Wales, with a limited choice of routes. Many visitors use London Heathrow (about 2 hours 30 by car to Cardiff), Bristol (BRS) for the south, or Manchester (MAN) and Liverpool (LPL) for North Wales, which are roughly 1 hour 30 to 2 hours from Conwy by car.
By train
Fast trains run from London Paddington to Cardiff and Swansea, and from London Euston along the North Wales coast to Llandudno Junction, Bangor and Holyhead. Manchester and Birmingham also have direct services. Inside Wales, Transport for Wales runs most local and regional trains, including the scenic Cambrian Coast and Heart of Wales lines.
By sea
Ferries from Ireland arrive at Holyhead on Anglesey (from Dublin), and at Fishguard and Pembroke Dock in Pembrokeshire (from Rosslare).
The crossings work just as well in the other direction, so Wales and Ireland are easy to combine: Stena Line and Irish Ferries both sail Holyhead–Dublin, Stena Line runs Fishguard–Rosslare and Irish Ferries Pembroke Dock–Rosslare (routes and timetables can change, so check before booking). For the Irish side of the trip, see our Ireland travel guide.
| Route | Train | Car |
|---|---|---|
| London – Cardiff | About 2 h | About 2 h 45 |
| Cardiff – Swansea | About 50 min | About 1 h |
| Cardiff – Tenby | About 2 h 30–3 h | About 2 h |
| Cardiff – Brecon | Bus about 1 h 45 | About 1 h |
| London – Llandudno Junction | About 3 h | About 4 h 30 |
| Manchester – Llandudno | About 2 h | About 1 h 30 |
| Llandudno Junction – Bangor | About 20 min | About 25 min |
| Cardiff – Snowdonia (Llanberis) | About 4 h 30 via England | About 4 h |
| Hereford – Hay-on-Wye | Bus about 45–60 min | About 40 min |
Times are approximate; always check current timetables. National Rail and Transport for Wales journey planners cover trains, and Traveline Cymru covers buses.
Getting around
Book train tickets in advance for long journeys to get cheaper fares. Rover-style passes such as the Explore Wales Pass combine train and bus travel; check what is currently on offer. Long-distance TrawsCymru buses link towns not served by rail, and seasonal services such as the Sherpa’r Wyddfa in Snowdonia and the Pembrokeshire coastal shuttles help walkers.
Driving
Traffic drives on the left. In Wales the default speed limit on most roads in built-up areas is 20 mph, lower than in England, so watch the signs. Country roads are often narrow and single-track with passing places, so allow more time than satnav suggests. Parking in national parks fills early in summer and some car parks must be booked.
Car hire
You do not need a car in Cardiff, Swansea, Conwy or Tenby. A car is most useful in Pembrokeshire, the Llŷn Peninsula, the Brecon Beacons and for crossing mid Wales. Pick up at an airport or a city station.
Where next?
Pick a destination from the destination guides, each of which has a dedicated page on getting there.
