Thinking of heading across the bridge for your next holiday? Read this first.

When it comes to booking your next break in the sun, the airport you fly from can make or break the start of your holiday. And if you're based in South Wales, you've probably asked yourself at some point:
“Should I fly from Cardiff or Bristol?”

Now, we’re not here to slate the neighbours (OK, maybe a little), but let’s just say that when it comes to cardiff vs bristol airport holidays, flying local has more perks than you might think.

First things first — getting to the airport.

• Cardiff Airport: nestled in the Vale of Glamorgan, it’s easily reached from Cardiff, Swansea, Bridgend, the Valleys and beyond. No M4 stress, no bridge tolls (RIP, but we remember), and you can be parked and at check-in before your playlist even hits track three.

• Bristol Airport: look, it’s not a million miles away. But it’s also not exactly round the corner, is it? You’re looking at up to 2 hours drive from parts of South Wales, not to mention petrol, parking, the Severn Bridge faff (still traumatic), and the fact that it somehow always seems to rain the second you get to Bristol.

Winner: Cardiff. Because who wants to start their holiday with road rage?

Let’s be honest — some airports feel like shopping centres in the Boxing Day sales. Cardiff Airport, on the other hand, is… well, calm.

• Security queues? Usually quick.

• Parking? Right outside the terminal.

• Terminal stress? Almost non-existent.

Now compare that to Bristol:

• Longer queues, especially during peak times.

• Parking shuttles, because you’re basically parking in Weston-super-Mare.

• And let’s not even start on how long it takes to find your bag.

Winner: Cardiff. You could be sipping a pre-flight pint while Bristol passengers are still looking for the check-in desk.

This is the one point where Bristol has historically had the edge. It’s a bigger airport with more airlines and more destinations. But hang on — Cardiff’s Summer 2025 schedule is stronger than ever.

Here’s what’s flying direct from Cardiff this summer:

• Spain & Canaries: Tenerife, Lanzarote, Gran Canaria, Alicante, Malaga, Ibiza, Majorca, Menorca, Reus

• Greece: Rhodes, Zante, Kos, Corfu, Crete, Kefalonia

• Turkey: Antalya, Dalaman

• Cyprus: Paphos, Larnaca

• Bulgaria: Bourgas

• Croatia: Dubrovnik

• City breaks: Amsterdam, Paris, Dublin

• And even Tunisia if you’re feeling exotic!

That’s plenty for the average sun-seeker. Plus, you can book TUI package holidays direct from Cardiff, which makes life a whole lot easier.

👉 View all holidays from Cardiff Airport here

Winner: Technically Bristol wins on quantity, but Cardiff has quality — and everything you actually want is already flying from here.

Let’s break it down.

Flying from Bristol might look cheaper on paper. But by the time you’ve:

• Paid for petrol (hello £1.60/litre)

• Added parking (some long stay at Bristol is extortionate)

• Bought a Greggs at the services because the M4 traffic made you miss dinner

• Paid for travel insurance to recover from the trauma…

…you’re probably not saving anything. Not to mention, Ryanair and Vueling also fly from Cardiff now, so you’ve got budget options locally too.

Winner: Cardiff. It’s not just closer — it’s also cheaper when you factor in the real costs.

If you’re travelling with kids, convenience is king. And Cardiff delivers.

• Fewer crowds = less stress.

• Shorter walks = happier kids.

• Friendly staff = actual human beings who don’t look like they’re two seconds from quitting.

It’s smaller, yes. But smaller can be better when you’ve got toddlers having a meltdown or a grandparent who can’t walk a mile to the gate.

Winner: Cardiff. For sanity alone.

Now let’s have a moment of pure Welsh pride.
Cardiff Airport is our airport. It employs local people. It supports the local economy. And every time you fly from here instead of Bristol, you’re doing your bit for South Wales tourism and travel.

Yes, we’re proud. No, we’re not sorry about it.

Plus, have you ever heard someone at Bristol check-in say “Alright butt, where you off to?”
Didn’t think so.

Winner: Cardiff. Because it’s not just about flights — it’s about flying local.

We get it. Bristol is bigger. It’s got a few extra routes. But when it comes down to it — Cardiff Airport is the smarter, easier, more relaxing way to start your holiday. And unless you’ve got a specific reason to cross the bridge, why would you?

✅ It’s local
✅ It’s easy
✅ It’s got everything you need
✅ And you’ll be on the beach while your mate in Bristol is still trying to find his gate

So next time you're booking a trip, have a look at your Cardiff options first. You might just save yourself money, time, and a massive headache.

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