There are different ways to reach the country: car, train, bus, ferry, and of course, plane. Wales has one main airport, but several others in England can provide convenient entry points with direct train connections.
Once inside the country, you have options to move around with different public transports, mainly trains and buses. The important thing to know, if you want to use public transport, is that some areas are more easily accessible than others. Notably, travelling north to south along the west coast can be particularly challenging. Your itinerary and the number of destinations you plan to visit will greatly influence your travel choices.
Needless to say, you also have the option of using your own vehicle, or rent one.
In this article, we explore everything you need to know about travelling to and around Wales.
Entering Wales
Identification
If you are travelling from England or Scotland by car or train, you won’t need to show your ID as there are no border controls between Wales and these two countries.
However, you will need a photo identification document if you plan to travel within the UK by air or by ferry from Ireland and Northern Ireland. Nationalities other than Irish or British will require a passport.
If you are visiting from outside the UK, you will need a valid passport. Note that the entry rules for tourists apply to the entire United Kingdom. Depending on the country you’re visiting from, you may require additional documents. If unsure, check the official UK Visas and Immigration support page.
Arriving By Plane
Cardiff Airport is the only major domestic and international airport in Wales. There are direct flights from Belfast (Northern Ireland), Edinburgh (Scotland), various European countries, as well as connecting flights to other continents.
Cardiff Airport is convenient if you aim to visit South Wales. Otherwise, larger airports in England may be closer to your destination and offer a wider range of flights and options. For instance:
- Manchester Airport is close to North Wales (two hours’ drive to Holyhead or the Snowdonia National Park, with train connections available). Liverpool Airport is smaller but is also an option.
- Birmingham Airport connects easily to mid and North Wales, with a direct train line all the way to the West coast and to the North.
- Bristol Airport, southeast of Cardiff, is another option.
You can also land at one of London’s airports if you find it more convenient, then continue the journey by road, train, or coach.
Arriving By Ferry
From Ireland (Dublin or Rosslare), you can take a ferry to Holyhead in the North or to Pembroke/Fishguard in the South. Some ferries are faster than others, with the quickest one to Holyhead lasting 2 hours and 15 minutes. The ferries operate every day, and some will let you bring your car with you.
You can check the prices and find more information on websites such as Direct Ferries or directly on the ferry company websites: Stena Line and Irish Ferries (you need to select Travel To Britain).
Arriving By Coach
Coaches are an option, mainly if you are travelling to the bottom half of the country.
National Express offers various destinations to Wales.
From London or Birmingham, you can travel to Cardiff, Swansea, and Pembrokeshire in the South, as well as Newtown and Aberystwyth further north. There is a direct route between London/Birmingham and Aberystwyth (Line 409), although other journeys may require a change or two.
Note that the Manchester to Llandudno (North Wales) connection (Line 175) ceased to operate in July 2024.
Other companies, such as Megabus and Flixbus, have coaches from London or Bristol to Cardiff and Swansea in the South.
Arriving By Train
European travellers can jump aboard the Eurostar from Brussels, Paris, or Lille to London and continue their journey by road, train, or coach.
From London Paddington station, there are good rail connections to South Wales via the Great Western Railway service (Cardiff, Swansea, Carmarthen, Pembroke).
From Birmingham Airport, there is a direct connection to the west coast (Aberystwyth, Pwllheli) and the North (Holyhead) with Transport for Wales.
From Manchester Airport, there are direct trains to Bangor (North West) and all the way to Pembrokeshire in the South via Transport for Wales.
Travelling around Wales (Public Transport)
Your movements inside the country will heavily influence which mode of transport is more convenient for you. There are plenty of options with public transport, but some areas are better served than others.
Travelling by Train
There are 16 train lines running in the country, providing a good array of options depending on your destination. The easiest way to plan your journey is to use the Transport for Wales website. A mobile app for iOS and Android devices is also available.
Trains allow you to travel “vertically” (North to South) as well as “horizontally” between East and West. For example, you can take a direct train from Cardiff (Southeast) all the way to Holyhead (Northwest). There are no high-speed trains in Wales, so a journey like that will last almost five hours.
The app is the best way to purchase your tickets, as small stations may not have a ticket office or an automatic ticket machine. The alternative is to buy the ticket from the train conductor once you are on board. Needless to say, if you can plan your journey in advance, you will pay less. Children under 11 years old travel for free, while those 11-16 years old travel for free during off-peak times.
You can see the train network map here.
There are also special passes that can be convenient for travellers. For example, the Explore Wales Pass costs £109 (adult) or £54.50 (child) and allows you to take any train anywhere. It is valid for four days within an eight-day period and also works on select bus operators. There are similar passes for North or South Wales, as well as Family and Group Ticket options. Please note that the passes cannot be purchased online but only at Transport for Wales ticket offices. See the TfW website for the latest updates and offers.
In addition to the TfW trains, there are many narrow gauge steam railways operating in the country. However, these are mainly tourist attractions rather than a fast mode of transport, and tickets are much more expensive than those for regular trains.
Overall, trains can be a good solution, but there is one limitation to be aware of: the coastline on the west side is not as well served as the east side. Any direct train that goes North to South or vice versa will take the east side route through Shrewsbury and part of England. There isn’t a complete line that goes all the way down the west side following the coast, so depending on your travel needs, you will have to accept a longer journey by train or take a mix of buses and trains, which can make the journey even longer.
Another negative is that trains can have delays or get cancelled. In such cases, a replacement bus is usually available to take you to your destination or the nearest station where another train will be available.
Travelling by Bus
On average, buses are a good solution for medium and short journeys. Longer journeys are possible, such as travelling from Cardiff (Southeast) to Bangor (North), but it will take a whole day with a few changes and a big headache if you miss a connection due to delays.
There are various services available, such as TrawsCymru and regional companies like Lloyd Coaches. The Traveline Cymru website is where you can plan your journey. An app is also available.
Areas in South, West, and North Wales have seasonal bus services during the summer months to reduce traffic and help locals and tourists get to short destinations:
- Free shuttle bus in the Waterfall Country (Brecon Beacons)
- First Cymru services in South and West Wales
- Dee Valley Picturesque Bus service linking Llangollen and the surrounding villages to popular local attractions, including the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct, Horseshoe Falls, and the Horseshoe Pass
Additionally, there are national park services such as the Sherpa’r Wyddfa in Eryri (Snowdonia) and the Coastal Buses in Pembrokeshire. These are specifically designed to reduce traffic.
Travelling by Car
If you are just travelling to a main spot and staying local, with only a few short day trips, you should be able to take advantage of what public transport has to offer.
However, if your itinerary is more dense or you plan to visit as many areas as possible, travelling from North to South and back, then I won’t deny it: a car is the most convenient way to explore Wales. It will get you to remote locations quicker and easier. There are still areas where I would recommend taking a local bus, such as in Snowdonia during the summer months when the number of cars can become a problem, but otherwise, a car is undeniably a great way to explore the country. It also allows you to improvise without worrying about timetables and connections.
If you like driving, you’ll also want to consider that Wales offers stunning roads, not just along the coast but also when travelling north through mountains and national parks. There’s a reason why many bikers and car enthusiasts come to Wales to enjoy inspiring roads with gorgeous landscapes in the background.
If you live in the UK, chances are you’ll visit with your own vehicle. If you come from abroad, you’ll want to rent one. The most convenient place to rent a car is at the airport or in a major city. There are smaller local rentals in other parts of the country, but choice and flexibility might be more limited.
Remember that we drive on the left side of the road here in Wales.
The cost of fuel is around £1.54 per litre for diesel and £1.48 per litre for petrol, as of June 2024.
There are no tolls, except at specific locations like the Penmaenpool Toll Bridge near Dolgellau, which is a small wooden bridge allowing light vehicles to cross the estuary rather than taking a longer route. The money helps maintain the bridge.
What about travelling on an electric car?
The number of charging points in Wales has increased considerably in the past couple of years. You can check ZapMap for a better idea.
With a bit of planning, travelling in Wales with an electric car is feasible because the country is relatively small compared to others like England. Therefore, range anxiety should not be a major concern, provided the car has a good and long-lasting battery. However, keep in mind that charging stations are relatively new, and if you look for feedback online, you may find reports of chargers not working or operating at a slower speed than advertised. Additionally, there is more than one network, which will require you to subscribe to different services.
Travelling with a Camper Van
Wales is a popular destination for camping, whether you go with your own van or rent one.
There are many campsites in the South, West, and North parts of the country, catering to all tastes, whether you want to see the sunset over the sea or enjoy the cool breeze of woods and mountains.
Visit Wales is a good place to start; it has a comprehensive list of companies in Wales where you can rent camper vans, as well as an exhaustive list of campsites.
