Transportation in Bristol
Bristol is a compact city with many of its sights located in or near the city centre and around the Harbourside. Many of the city's restaurants, bars and theatres are also concentrated in the city centre with the Harbourside a focal point in the evening. Clifton, just a short bus or taxi ride away, can be explored easily on foot. Several more attractions are to be found here and a good choice of small bars and restaurants catering to all budgets.
Read more about transport from and to the airport
Taxi
Taxis are a popular, but not cheap, option late at night. You'll also need to be prepared to queue for some time if trying to get one on a Friday or Saturday evening at one of the many taxi ranks across the city. Alternatively pre-book a taxi before setting out.
Bus
Buses are plentiful in and around Bristol, with a good cross-city service as well as routes out of Bristol. The most useful bus route is the one from the railway station which goes to the city centre before continuing to Clifton. The City Sightseeing bus follows a set route from March to October.
Foot
Bristol is an ideal city for exploring on foot, with a pedestrianised shopping area and walks around the Harbourside. Clifton has narrow streets to explore as well as the wide open space of the Downs with views over the Avon Gorge.
Boat
Travelling on the small boats of the Bristol Ferry Boat Co is a fun way to see the city from a different perspective at a leisurely pace. Two routes travel from the city centre to Temple Meads railway station and to Hotwells, both calling at the ss Great Britain.
Rent your car
The M4 and M5 motorways make Bristol easy to reach, but navigating the city centre requires a GPS or up-to-date map. There’s some on-street parking and city centre car parks including the new Cabot Circus car park, as well as park-and-ride sites on the outskirts with buses into the centre.
Transportation Tips
A FirstDay bus tickets allow you to hop on and off city buses all day and a Multi Stop ticket allows you to do the same on the ferry.
