Buying bus tickets
We want to help you get where you’re going easily. We’ve put together this guide to help you find the best bus pass or one day price for your trip.
For most bus services in Wales, you can buy your ticket from the driver with cash or contactless payment. Some operators let you buy your tickets in advance on their website or app.
If you need specific bus fare information, please visit your bus operator’s website. You’ll also find contact details there if you need to get in touch with them.
Bus ticket offers and discounts
There’re some great savings to be made right across Wales when you travel by bus.
Multi-operator tickets
If you need a weekly bus and train pass or tickets for more than one operator, we have options to help you save money. Check out the links below for further information on what’s available.
| PlusBus | A discount bus pass for unlimited bus travel around the whole urban area of a rail-served town or city. Buy PlusBus with your train ticket. |
| Rovers and Rangers | Get unlimited travel for one day on our trains and some bus services within specified parts of our network. |
| Network Rider | A daily or weekly ticket valid on services run by several bus operators across South-East Wales. |
| Sherpa'r Wyddfa | A day pass that allows you to hop on and off the bus that serves Eryri National Park, throughout the day. |
| 1bws | This gives you access to 27 bus operators and nearly 200 bus routes across North Wales. You can travel easily without worrying about what bus to get on. |
| Cardiff International Airport Integrated Ticket | One integrated ticket connecting our trains to Rhoose Cardiff International Airport station with the 905 Adventure Travel bus from the station to Cardiff International Airport. You can also benefit from a Weekly, Monthly or Annual Season ticket to help lower your travel costs. |
| Combined bus-rail ticket between Maerdy and Cardiff | In partnership with Stagecoach, we've launched a combined bus-rail ticket. This helps you travel seamlessly on any Stagecoach bus between Maerdy and Porth, and on our trains between Porth and any railway station in Cardiff. You can buy the ticket on the bus or train, depending on where you’re starting your journey. It’s available as a Return for £10 and a Weekly for £31.50. |
| Combined rail and TrawsCymru bus tickets | You can save money on selected journeys with our combined rail and TrawsCymru bus tickets. Instead of using different apps, websites and sellers to buy your separate train and bus tickets, you can now purchase one ticket to cover your journey on both rail services and selected TrawsCymru routes. *compared to rail-only journeys |
| Powys Rover Ticket | Get unlimited travel for the day on participating bus services - including our TrawsCymru T4, T6, T12 and T14 services. |
| West Wales Rover Ticket | Get unlimited travel for the day on most local bus services in Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire. |
Save money with tap on, tap off
On some bus services, you can pay for your journey by ‘tapping on’ and ‘tapping off’ with a contactless payment card or device. This can save you time and help you find the best bus tickets for your budget. Prices and terms and conditions are likely to vary depending on the operator you’re travelling with. Please check with them before you travel.
Prices and terms and conditions are likely to vary depending on the operator you’re travelling with. Please check with them before you travel.
| Cardiff Bus | Fares are calculated based on how many journeys you make and where you travel on the day. Tapping on and off for one journey will amount to a single adult fare for that trip. Making multiple journeys in one day will cap your fare at the price of an adult day ticket. |
| 1bws | This ticket is available across North Wales. It lets you travel on almost any bus across the region using just one ticket for the whole day at just £7.50, or the whole week at £32.00. The offer covers an area from the Llŷn Peninsula to Chester and from Anglesey to Aberystwyth. |
| Arriva Cymru | This tap on, tap off scheme is part of the North Wales pilot but is also available at different rates in Bangor, Menai, Chester Plus, Wales, and Wrexham Zones. All journeys within the zones will be capped at the zone rate. |
| First Cymru | When you tap on and off for one journey, a single fare is calculated based on the direct distance you’ve travelled. If you make additional journeys through the day, the price for these will be discounted. Fares are capped so you’ll never pay more than £6 each day. The day cap reduces in price the more you travel. |
| Stagecoach South Wales | Your pay-as-you-go bus fare is calculated based on how many journeys you make. If you travel across multiple zones, you'll hit the daily or weekly price cap for all zones in South Wales. |
TrawsCymru tickets
Find affordable tickets for longer distance bus services in Wales and explore our breathtaking landscapes in a greener way.
| TrawsCymru Day Ticket | Get unlimited travel for the day on the T1, T1C, T2, T3, T4, T5, T6, T7, T8, T10, T11, T12, T14, T22, T28, 43, X43, and the 460. |
| Hywel Dda Tickets | We’ve teamed up with Hywel Dda University Health Board to offer discounted bus travel for health board staff. |
Other bus discounts
Aged 16-21? Get mytravelpass
If you’re aged 16-21 and resident in Wales, you could get approximately 1/3 off your bus fares with mytravelpass.
You can use it any time of day and any day of the week that your bus operates, including weekends and bank holidays.
Get more information about the pass: https://traws.cymru/en/mytravelpass-16-21-year-olds
Apply for your pass: https://mytravelpass.tfw.wales/
You can also download and print an application form to send in the post or call 03002 002 233 to get an application form and freepost envelope sent to you.
Are you eligible for a Wales Concessionary Travel Card?
If your primary address is in Wales and you’re aged 60 or over, or meet the Welsh Government’s disability eligibility criteria, you can travel for free on most bus services in Wales. You can also get discounted or free travel on many rail services.
Visit our Concessionary Travel Card portal to find out more.
Bus travel FAQs
We know you might have more questions about how bus travel works in Wales. Here are some of the things our customers ask us most often.
Can I use my contactless card on the bus?
Yes, most bus operators in Wales now accept contactless payments. You can buy your ticket directly from the driver or use 'tap on, tap off' sensors where they’re available. Just remember to use the same card or device for every journey to make sure you get the best price cap.
What happens if I forget to 'tap off'?
If you forget to tap off at the end of your journey, you'll be charged the full single fare to the end of that bus route. It’s easy to forget, so we recommend making it part of your routine as you get up to leave. If you think you've been overcharged, please get in touch with our customer service team.
Can I use my TfW train ticket on a bus?
In most cases, train and bus tickets are separate. However, if you have one of our 'Rovers and Rangers' passes, like the Explore Wales Pass, you can enjoy unlimited travel on both our trains and most bus services across Wales. This is a great way to explore further without needing multiple tickets.
Are dogs allowed on the bus?
We want everyone to have a comfortable journey. While guide dogs are always welcome, other dogs are usually allowed at the driver’s discretion. They must be kept on a lead and shouldn't sit on the seats. Please check with your specific bus operator before you travel, as their individual rules may vary.
I’ve lost my Concessionary Travel Card. What should I do?
Don't worry, we can help you get a new one. The quickest way is to log into your account on our website and request a replacement. If you need a hand with this, you can also call us on 03003 034 240.
Can I get a refund if my bus is cancelled?
If your journey is disrupted or a service is cancelled, you may be entitled to a refund. Because bus services are run by different companies, you’ll usually need to contact the operator you bought your ticket from directly to arrange this.
