Cardiff Airport Guide

sleeping in cardiff airport — (photo courtesy of a guest reviewer / August 2023)

Whether you have a layover, overnight sleepover or you are just quickly passing through, our Cardiff Airport Guide is a great place to start planning your visit. Here, you’ll find information on services and facilities available inside the airport – including details about airport lounges, WiFi, mobile charging points, lockers, 24-hour food options, nearby hotels, and everything in between.

I bumped into some homeless people who took me under their wing. – Robert

CWL Airport Overview

To help you plan your layover or overnight sleepover, here is a quick run-down about what to expect during your time at Cardiff Airport.

What to Expect

Cardiff Airport (code: CWL) has a small but recently modernized terminal that serves a range of international, low-cost, and charter flights. Facilities are limited to a restaurant, a few cafes, and some duty-free shops and newsstands, though none are open 24 hours. WiFi is free for two hours. For added comfort, economy class passengers can pay to enter an airport lounge. See Airport Lounges in the guide below for location and access information.

Sleeping in Cardiff Airport

Overnight campers can expect some seating, though it’s not exactly comfortable. Bring a sleeping bag or travel mat if you’d prefer to sleep on the floor. The airport is reportedly quiet overnight. For uninterrupted sleep, nearby hotels offer shuttle service. See the Airport Hotels section below for more info.

Read the latest traveller airport reviews for more tips. For more airport information, continue scrolling down to explore more in our Cardiff Airport Guide.

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Airport Hours

Cardiff Airport is open 24 hours.

Rest & Relaxation Zones

There are no dedicated sleeping areas, quiet areas or rest zones. If this information has changed, click here to update this guide.

Cots

The airport does not provide cots to stranded travellers. If this has changed, click here to update the guide.

Airport Hotels

If sleeping in the airport sounds like a nightmare, there are hotels near Cardiff Airport:

Holiday Inn Express Cardiff Airport – Mid-range hotel adjacent to the terminal.
Celtic International Hotel Cardiff Airport (0.7 mi) Mid-range hotel with airport transfers available.
The Old Barn (1.1 mi) Bed and breakfast.

Airport Lounges

Pay-per-use, Single Visit Passes & Lounge Memberships

Regardless of what class of service you are flying, there is a lounge that you can enter by paying at the door, purchasing a lounge pass, or using a lounge membership program.

51° Executive Lounge – Location: Airside, after Security, follow signs to the Executive Lounge on the first floor near Gate 2. Hours: 4:00 AM – 9:00 PM. Showers: No. Dedicated Rest Zone: No. Sleep Facilities: No. Lounge Access: Pay at the door (£25 per person) • Prepaid lounge passes • Lounge membership programs • Credit card rewards programs • Complimentary entry for eligible business class and frequent flyer passengers on participating airlines.

Food & Drinks

Food outlets operate in line with flight schedules, with limited late-night availability.

Landside: Caffi Cwtch • Costa Coffee
Airside: Costa Coffee • The Beer House

Drinking Water
Information is unavailable. Does the airport have water fountains or water bottle refill stations? Click here to update this guide.

Luggage Storage & Lockers

Unavailable. If this is incorrect, click here to update this guide.

Mobile Charging

Free mobile charging is available near the internet kiosks.

Showers

Unavailable. If this is incorrect, click here to update this guide.

WiFi/Internet

Free WiFi is available for up to two hours.

More Airport Information

More Services, Facilities & Things To Do On A Layover

Accessibility – Facilities are available to assist travellers with reduced mobility, including designated parking spaces, changing rooms, reserved seating, and help/call points throughout the terminal.
ATMs / Cash Machines – Need cash? ATMs are available. Fees may apply, so check your bank’s fee schedule and daily withdrawal limits if travelling internationally. Machines dispense Pounds Sterling, with some also offering Euros.
Baby Care Facilities – Baby Care rooms are available in the Departures Lounge and Arrivals Hall. Baby food and warming facilities are available landside at Caffi Cwtch.
Baggage Trolleys – Baggage trolleys are available. A £1 or €1 coin is required but refunded upon return.
Currency Exchange – There are currently no foreign exchange facilities available.
Duty-Free & Shopping – Duty-free shopping is available through Reserve & Collect and World Duty Free. WHSmith newsstands are available landside and airside in the Departures Lounge.
Information Desk – Airport staff are available to assist travellers. If no staff are visible, assistance can be requested using customer call points located throughout the terminal.
Meeting Room – Meeting rooms are available, with capacities ranging from 12 to 30 people.
Pharmacy – Well Pharmacy is available airside, with hours aligned to the daily flight schedule.
Postal Services – A mailbox is located outside the terminal for posting letters and postcards. Stamps can be purchased landside at WHSmith near the check-in area.
Multifaith Room – A multifaith prayer room is available in the Check-In Hall, opposite the Special Assistance Desk. Ablution facilities are available landside on the level above the Check-In Hall.
Smoking – A designated smoking area is located airside near Gate 2.

Airlines

Cardiff Airport is served by the following airlines: BHAir • Eastern Airways • Freebird KLM • Qatar Airways • Ryanair • TUI • Transun • Vueling • Wizz Air.

Airport Transportation: Getting To/From The Airport

Bus

The T9 (Cardiff Airport Express Bus) offers convenient, economical and comfortable bus service between Cardiff Airport and the city center. Buses depart every 20 minutes in the Summer and 30 minutes in the Winter. Buses drop off and pick up passengers in front of the passenger terminal. Fares start from £5 per person, also payable in Euros. For schedules, fares and ticket sales, visit the Traws Cymru website.

Car Rentals

On-site car rental agencies include Enterprise, Europcar and Avis. Hours of operation vary between the agencies, but all are open seven days a week with reduced hours on Sundays.

Compare car rental prices on Expedia

Hotel Shuttles

See Airport Hotels above.

Shuttle

FlightLink Wales offers door-to-door private and shared-ride airport shuttle service between Cardiff Airport and destinations within South Wales. Service is also available to some of the UK’s major airports, including Heathrow, Gatwick, Birmingham and Manchester. Service must be pre-booked. For fares and reservations, visit the FlightLink Wales website.

Train

Cardiff Airport is in Rhoose, and a rail link connects Cardiff Central and Bridgend. The trains run every hour from Monday to Saturday and every two hours on Sundays. A shuttle bus service from the Airport to the train station is available for passengers. The shuttle bus takes approximately ten minutes and costs £1 each way.

For routes, schedules and fare information, visit the Traveline Cymru website.

Security & Safety

Sleeping in any airport can include a certain level of risk, especially when travelling alone. It’s important to take certain precautions to ensure your safety and the security of your valuables. Here are a few tips:

Safety First. It’s a good idea to know where the security office is located and look for video cameras where you plan to sleep. You can also ask the security personnel for advice on the safest places to spend the night.
Don’t Seclude Yourself. If you’re travelling alone, we recommend you stay near other travellers or close to security. This will help you feel more secure and deter potential thieves.
Hide Your Valuables. It’s also important to hide your valuables. Don’t leave them out in plain view, as this could make you a target for theft. Additionally, if you are a deep sleeper, you may want to padlock your bag to something or sleep with your bag up against a wall to make it harder for someone to access zippers and pockets. We have received reports of sleepers who woke up without their phones and laptop bags. The travellers were left with just their headphones and laptop bag strap.
Stay Alert. It’s best to stay alert and awake if you feel unsafe or uncomfortable. Drink coffee or other caffeinated beverages to help you stay awake, and remember that you can always catch up on sleep during your flight. These simple precautions can help you enjoy a safe night at the airport.

Last updated: 2026-02-09

This guide is for informational purposes only to assist with your planning. All information, including rates and hours, is subject to change at any time without notice. The information in this airport guide is based on information collected and/or received from the airports, lounges, hotels, transportation providers, and their websites. We are not representatives of any of the above-mentioned service providers. To report errors or to add/update any items mentioned in the guide: update the airport guide or write a review.