Bus Éireann city buses in Cork, Galway, Limerick and Waterford
Outside Dublin the city buses are run by Bus Éireann under the TFI brand: how the route numbers work, where the buses stop in each city centre and how to pay.
- Updated: 26 September 2026
- 2 min read
- Buses editorial team
Outside Dublin the city buses are run by Bus Éireann under the TFI brand: how the route numbers work, where the buses stop in each city centre and how to pay.
How the networks work
Each city has a numbered network of cross-city routes: 200-series in Cork, 400-series in Galway, 300-series in Limerick and 600-series in Waterford. Most routes run right through the centre from one suburb to another, so the city-centre stops on the main streets are the place to pick up almost any bus. Frequencies are typically every 10–20 minutes on the main routes in the day, less on Sundays.
The buses are green TFI-branded vehicles, and on-street signs show the route numbers stopping at each pole.
Where to catch them
In Cork the main city-centre stops are on St Patrick's Street, Grand Parade and Merchant's Quay, with the bus station at Parnell Place for regional and intercity coaches. In Galway most city routes stop around Eyre Square and on Forster Street beside the coach station. In Limerick the hub is around O'Connell Street, Henry Street and Arthur's Quay, with the bus and rail station at Colbert on Parnell Street. In Waterford the city routes use the Quay and the Clock Tower, with the bus station on Merchants Quay.
Stops on the map pages of each city show every route that calls there.
Fares and paying
All four cities have a single flat fare for any journey within the city zone, cheaper with a Leap Card than in cash, and Leap gives a daily cap and a 90-minute transfer to another bus. Tap the Leap Card on the reader beside the driver; for cash, the driver takes coins and notes and gives change where possible. Children under five travel free and there are child and student fares.
Current prices are on the “Tickets & fares” page of each city, with the source and the date they were checked.
Beyond the city zone
Some routes continue outside the city fare zone — for example to Ballincollig or Carrigaline from Cork, to Barna or Oranmore from Galway, or to Tramore from Waterford — and charge a higher fare for those sections. Tell the driver your destination when boarding so the right fare is charged.
Intercity and regional Bus Éireann coaches, and private operators such as Citylink and GoBus, leave from the bus stations and do not accept the city fares.
Useful pages
All guides