Written by Hannah McKinsey, Jake Evans, Sarah kelly
26/08/2025
Nathan J Hilton, Pexels
Caernarfon serves as a local transport hub with its central bus station and the narrow-gauge Welsh Highland Railway station, although it lacks a national mainline rail connection. The nearest mainline train station is Bangor, while Liverpool John Lennon Airport (LPL) and Manchester Airport (MAN) are the closest major international airports. For those arriving by sea, the port of Holyhead offers ferry connections to Ireland.
By Train:
The closest mainline train station is Bangor, located approximately 8-9 miles from Caernarfon.
From Bangor, local bus services (such as Arriva Bus 5C or T2) depart every 20 minutes, reaching Caernarfon Bus Station in about 30-33 minutes, with fares typically ranging from £2-£4.
A taxi from Bangor station to Caernarfon takes around 16 minutes and costs approximately £21-£26.
Train journeys from London Euston to Bangor generally take between 3 hours 20 minutes and 4 hours, with ticket prices varying from £33-£200.
From Manchester, train travel to Bangor (involving a change, often at Chester or Llandudno Junction) typically takes 2 hours 12 minutes to 3 hours 37 minutes, with fares starting from £9-£55.
Travel from Cardiff to Bangor by train takes roughly 4 hours 10 minutes to 5 hours 22 minutes, with ticket costs usually ranging from £36-£130.
By Bus:
Caernarfon's central bus station (Penllyn) provides both local and longer-distance services.
Arriva Bus services, such as the 5C, offer direct routes connecting Caernarfon with Bangor and Llandudno.
The TrawsCymru T2 bus service extends connections from Caernarfon to Bangor, Porthmadog (approximately 50 minutes), Dolgellau, Machynlleth, and Aberystwyth.
National Express also operates daily services to Caernarfon from major cities like London Victoria and Cardiff, though these can be longer journeys (e.g., London to Caernarfon via bus and train can take around 9 hours 25 minutes for £40-£75).
A particularly scenic route, the Sherpa'r Wyddfa S1 bus, runs from Caernarfon to Betws-y-Coed in approximately 1 hour 19 minutes, offering expansive views of Snowdonia National Park. An adult ticket costs £6, with a family ticket (up to 2 adults and 3 children) available for £13.
By Car:
Caernarfon is accessible via a good road network, including the A55 expressway and A487.
The drive from London takes approximately 4 hours 41 minutes (246 miles).
From Manchester, the journey by car is about 1 hour 53 minutes (105 miles).
Driving from Cardiff takes around 3 hours 49 minutes (160 miles).
Car rental services are available in Caernarfon, with daily rates starting from around $68.
By Flight:
Caernarfon does not have a commercial airport for direct flights.
The closest major international airports are Liverpool John Lennon Airport (LPL), located approximately 90 miles east (about a 2-hour drive), and Manchester Airport (MAN), which is about 95-98 miles away (around 1 hour 45 minutes by car).
Anglesey Airport (VLY) is closer, at about 24 miles, but offers limited weekday flight connections.
By Ferry:
For those traveling from Ireland, the port of Holyhead offers ferry services.
From Holyhead, passengers can take a 30-minute train ride to Bangor, followed by a 20-30 minute bus journey to Caernarfon.
The car ferry route from Dublin to Caernarfon (via Holyhead) typically takes about 4 hours 9 minutes.
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