Cardiff

Understand

Cardiff is on the south coast of the South Wales plain, with a shoreline on the Bristol Channel. It lies at the mouth of three rivers: the Taff, the Ely and the Rhymney, with the Taff flowing through the city centre and all three reaching the sea at Cardiff Bay. Cardiff is quite a flat city, a characteristic that helped it become one of the world's leading ports for the transport of coal from the rugged south Wales Valleys. Around 12% of the residents of Cardiff speak some Welsh, and all public signs in the city are in both Welsh and English. However, as elsewhere in Wales, English is universally understood.

Visit Cardiff, Cardiff Castle, Castle St. Mar-Oct: M-F 10AM-5PM, Sa Su 9AM-5PM; Nov-Feb: M-F 10AM-4PM, Sa Su 9AM-4PM. The Visitor Information Point hosts a variety of literature including brochures, flyers and maps. (updated Jan 2024)

City

Cardiff's city centre is in the southern portion of the city just north of Cardiff Bay. It is traditionally centred at the castle, bounded to the north by the historic civic centre, large Bute park arboretum and university buildings, by the River Taff to the west, and by the Valleys and National rail lines to the east and south respectively. Growth is pushing the city centre beyond these boundaries, especially in regard to commercial office and residential provision. In particular, the area south of the original city centre towards and including Cardiff Bay has been almost completely redeveloped. A unique feature of the city is its friendly local population; you can strike up a conversation with almost anyone you meet and speak as if old friends, whether on the bus or in the queue to buy something in a shop. These brief friendly interactions throughout the day make Cardiff an ideal city for lone travellers. The city has a long history of inter-racial marriages and a thriving gay scene making it one of the most welcoming and tolerant cities in the UK. Cardiff is popular for location filming; Doctor Who has been made here since 2005, and Casualty since 2011. It also has a rich musical history, being the site of many escapades by the famous bands of the Welsh indie music movement such as Catatonia, Super Furry Animals and the Stereophonics. The stunning St. John the Baptist church, gracing the centre of the city, is food for the soul and nearby the Rummer Tavern pub one of the oldest surviving in the city is food for the spirit. Cardiff is the venue of many football and rugby games due to the state-of-the-art stadiums, and Cardiff International Arena's many events such as Comic Con Wales. The Bay area is rich with bars and restaurants and is home to the famous Wales Millennium Centre where one can see anything from comedy to ballet and opera. Cardiff is a city of life and learning having a huge student population during term time. Many graduates choose to remain due to the friendly and inclusive nature of the city. It is possible to walk, bike or ride across Cardiff almost entirely via the parks: the Earl of Bute’s lasting legacy to the people of Cardiff. Summer days see the city parks fill with sun-worshippers and snow days see them fill with people playing and snowball fighting with each other!

Getting there

Cardiff Airport

1 Cardiff Airport (CWL IATA) is the city's only airport, which lies just west of Barry in the Vale of Glamorgan. Airlines which fly into Cardiff include KLM, Ryanair and TUI. There are direct flights from cities throughout the UK and Europe, including Amsterdam, Dublin and Edinburgh. You can get from the airport into Cardiff using public transportː

Adventure Travel 304 bus direct to Cardiff International Sports Village and Cardiff Bay Rail Link 905 bus to 2 Rhoose Cardiff International Airport railway station, then Transport for Wales (TfW) train into Cardiff Central or Cardiff Queen Street stations. You can hire a car with Avis, Enterprise and Europcar from Cardiff Airport.

Further afield

Alternative, larger airports lie in England. Bristol Airport, served by easyJet, Jet2.com, Ryanair, TUI and other airlines, is 20 miles from Cardiff "as the crow flies". You can get from Bristol Airport into Cardiff using public transportː

Getting around

On foot

Cardiff is a large city with two reasonably compact central areas - the city centre and Cardiff Bay. The walk between Cardiff Central Library in the city centre and the Bay is approximately one mile along flat, roadside pavements. Llandaff Cathedral and Cardiff Metropolitan University are further out - approximately two miles from Cardiff Castle in the centre, and approximately 3.5 miles from the Bay. Attractions in the city centre are signposted. Some of the main shopping areas, including parts of St Mary's Street, The Hayes and Queen Street are pedestrianised. These wide boulevards have no access to vehicular traffic. Attractions in Cardiff Bay are also signposted. The Wales Coast Path is also signposted through the Bay. From west to east, the route covers Penarth, the Barrage, the Norwegian Church, The Senedd, the Wales Millennium Centre, Atlantic Wharf, Splott, Tremorfa and the Wentlooge Levels.

By bike

Cardiff is a flat city with network of signposted cycling routes, many "segregated" from other road traffic. There are two formal river "trails" for cyclists through Cardiff.

The Taff Trail is National Cycle Network Route 8, which is kept by Sustrans and follows the River Taffː

See

Landmarks

1 Cardiff Castle (Welsh: Castell Caerdydd), ☏ +44 29 2087-8100, fax: +44 29 2023-1417. Mar–Oct: M-F 10AM-6PM, Sa Su 9AM-6PM; Nov–Feb: M-F 10AM-5PM, Sa Su 9AM-5PM. Last entry one hour before closing time. Castle St. Cardiff Castle is a large castle whose foundations are based upon a Roman fort. In the 19th century, it was one of the homes of the Marquis of Bute. The Norman fort in the centre, the Welsh regimental museum and excavated Roman ruins are open, and tours of the Bute household are available. The Bute part of the castle is quite amazing. The interior was all done in the early 1900s in a very idiosyncratic and interesting style. There is barely an inch that is not adorned with some sort of artistic work. Yet, it is not overwhelming. The craftsmanship is well worth a look. Adult £14.50, child (age 5–16, with an adult) £10, senior/student/disabled (single carer free with each disabled ticket) £12, family ticket (2 adults and 2 children) £39, under 5s free. (updated Jan 2024) 2 The Millennium Stadium (Welsh: Stadiwm y Mileniwm), Westgate Street, CF10 1NS, ☏ +44 844 847 1881, info@principalitystadium.wales. Also known as the Principality Stadium. A 74,200-seater stadium, opened for the 1999 Rugby World Cup, and now home to the Wales national rugby team. It hosted the FA Cup Final for some years during the redevelopment of Wembley Stadium in London and is still the largest stadium in Europe with a completely retractable roof (good for those rainy days). A must see for any sport lover, tours are available online or at the ticket desk. Tours cost £16.50 for adults, £12 for children. (updated Jan 2024) 3 The Wales Millennium Centre (Welsh: Canolfan Mileniwm Cymru), ☏ +44 29 2063-6464. An outstanding piece of modern architecture, opened in 2004 by Queen Elizabeth II, the futuristic Wales Millennium Centre is host to opera, dance and West End musicals throughout the year, making it a must see for those who like theatre. Entry is free throughout the year. While entrance to the theatre is charged, free live performances take place in the foyer every lunchtime at 1PM and before shows in the evening. It hosts the exhibition about Cardiff Bay's development that used to be housed in 'The Tube'.

4 The Welsh Parliament or Senedd Cymru. Cardiff Bay. The seat of Wales' national government and was opened on St David's Day, 1 March 2006 by Queen Elizabeth II. Visitors have a chance to see public debates from the viewing gallery or a free tour around the building, which is made out of purely Welsh materials, and was designed by star architect Richard Rogers to be eco-friendly and as open as possible. Entry is free though expect security checks on entrance. (updated Dec 2020) 5 The Norwegian Church, Cardiff Bay (next to the Assembly). It was established in Cardiff Bay to serve the large community of Norwegian sailors working in the docks. The main claim to fame of its original location is as the place where the author Roald Dahl was christened. Today it is a cafe and art gallery. 6 Llandaff Cathedral (Welsh: Eglwys Gadeiriol Llandaf), ☏ +44 29 2056-4554, office@llandaffcathedral.org.uk. In the ancient 'city of Llandaff', now incorporated into the north west of the city, and is one of the oldest religious sites in Europe. The cathedral dates from 1107 and features some spectacular architecture. After bomb damage in World War II it was very boldly restored; the huge statue of Christ in Majesty by Jacob Epstein tends to divide opinion, but is well worth a look. The cathedral school was where the famed children's author Roald Dahl was educated in the early part of his primary school life. The surrounding village is an interesting place to explore with a local coal magnate's house (Insole Court) donated to the people of Cardiff and open for visitors. The Ghost Tour has really become the thing to do in the area, making it into the Guardian's top 10 list of things to do in the UK. 7 Castell Coch (meaning the 'Red Castle' in Welsh). A fairytale castle nestled on a hill overlooking the main gateway into the valleys from Cardiff in the outskirts of the city. Imaginatively reconstruted from ruins for the 3rd Marquis of Bute, its interiors follow the same elaborate designs as Cardiff castle except on a more intimate scale and would not look out of place in Germany. Adults £7.30. (updated Sep 2019) 8 City Hall. The domed roof of City Hall topped by a dragon is one of the landmarks of Cardiff city centre. Dating from the start of the 20th century, it is built of beautiful white Portland stone and surmounted by many statues. Inside, the marble hall is dominated by statues of Welsh heroes, the main hall has large bronze chandeliers and the main debating chamber sits under the dome. Open to visitors, events may prevent you from seeing all the rooms but a must-see. (updated Nov 2016) 9 Cathays Park. Pronounced "kut-AYS, it is the prominent civic centre, comprising expensive white Portland stone buildings in a range of classical styles, all surrounding the formal gardens of Alexandra Gardens whose centre contains national war memorial of Wales. (updated Nov 2016) 10 Bute Park. More a collection of different parks that stretch continuously to the city's edge from the rear of the castle. Bute Park proper is an arboretum and former private grounds of the Bute family who owned the castle. (updated Nov 2016) 11 Pierhead building (former headquarters of the railway and port authority), Cardiff Bay, CF99 1NA, ☏ +44 300 200 6565. Sits between the ultra modern Millennium centre and Senedd as a strong contrast and link to Cardiff's glorious past. Covered in dragons and heraldry used for permanent and temporary exhibitions about Cardiff's development, and that of the docks. (updated Nov 2016) 12 Caerau Castle Ringwork. A Norman ringwork castle within an older Iron Age hillfort (as at Caer Penrhos). Much of the site has been overgrown with vegetation. (updated Nov 2016)

Museums and galleries

13 St Fagans National History Museum (Shuttle bus from Queen Street in Central Cardiff), ☏ +44 29 2057-3500. Known universally as St Fagans (pronounced "FAG-uns") after the village it's in, this is easily Wales's most popular visitor attraction. An open-air museum of vernacular buildings from all parts of Wales rebuilt, stone by stone, in the grounds of St Fagans Castle, an Elizabethan manor house. The castle gardens, dating from the 19th century, are especially beautiful. You may not be able to see everything in a single visit due to the size of the grounds. Also contains permanent indoor exhibitions on Welsh social and cultural history. Great for kids. Free; pay and display parking. (updated Jun 2026)

Do

Relax in Bute Park or in the grounds of the castle, for a break from the hustle of the city centre. Visit Cardiff Bay a truly cosmopolitan experience full of restaurants, bars and cafes. A good place for a 'passeggiata' on a Sunday afternoon. Boat rides in the Bay (permanently water-filled since the barrage was built), a few shops, and a children's playground at the far end (near the historic Norwegian church) along with beautiful views across to Penarth. Take a speed boat ride as it makes 360-degree turns in the water at 70 mph. Walk along the bay from Mermaid quay to the barrage (near Penarth) to see for yourself how the water comes into the harbour from the sea. It is a 2 km walk with the harbour on one side of the path and the sea on the other. If you don't feel like walking you can hire a bicycle (you will come across the rental company on the way) or take a ride on the road train.

At near-by Penarth, cruise the Bristol channel during summer months to the likes of North Devon, Gower Peninsula and even occasionally Pembrokeshire on the paddle steamers Balmoral and Waverly. Penarth to Ilfracombe is particularly spectacular, taking in the massive cliffs of North Devon. Next to Cardiff Airport, Barry is a port-town, which has a theme park, casino and heritage railway. With the closure of the docks, it has attracted more attention thanks to a beautiful beach and a popular BBC series, called Gavin & Stacey. The amusement park on Barry Island contains several funrides. Go on the Taff Trail, some of the sights close to the city centre are breathtaking and the tranquility offers a great contrast to the busy city centre. Go to the Brecon Beacons. 40 minutes drive from Cardiff, this Welsh National Park is a scenic retreat from the hustle and bustle of the city, offering activities such as climbing, paragliding, sailing and many more. Go for a pint of Cardiff-made Brains beer in one of the city centre pubs on a match day at the Millennium Stadium. Canyoning Wales, Cardiff (Via A470), ☏ +44 845 057 3588. 9AM-9PM. Blue Ocean Activities & Adventure offer fantastic trips around Wales, whether up the mountains canyoning or gorge walking. Blue Ocean Adventure offer full safety gear, training and support. Tour de France arrives in town on Su 4 July 2027. This is the end of Day 3, racing 223 km from Welshpool. Check local media for road closures. Next day they transfer to France.

Sports

International Rugby is played at Millennium Stadium in city centre. Wales play several internationals here each year. The most keenly followed are the Six Nations series against England, Scotland, Ireland, France and Italy in February and March each year: these sell out well in advance. Cardiff Rugby (formerly Cardiff Blues) play club rugby union at Cardiff Arms Park. They play in the United Rugby Championship (formerly Pro14), the predominantly Celtic professional super-league. Cardiff RFC play in Super Rygbi Cymru, the amateur top tier in Wales, also at Cardiff Arms Park. Football: Cardiff City ("The Bluebirds") were promoted in 2026 so they play soccer in the Championship, the English second tier. Their stadium (capacity 33,300) is a mile west of city centre near Ninian Park railway station. Cardiff MU - the Metropolitan University - play in Cymru Premier League. That's the top tier within Wales, but mostly amateur and on a par with England's fifth tier National League. They play at Cyncoed Campus Stadium, capacity 1600, three miles north of city centre. Cricket: Glamorgan County Cricket Club play in Division One of the County Championship. Also here are Welsh Fire (Tân Cymreig) men's and women's teams playing in The Hundred short game. The stadium Sophia Gardens also occasionally hosts international matches; it's in the park half a mile north of the castle. Ice hockey: Cardiff Devils play in Elite Ice Hockey League, the game's top tier. Their home rink is Ice Arena Wales. Horse riding: Cardiff Riding School, Pontcanna fields, Fields Park Road. Rowing and canoeing: Llandaff rowing club, Bridge Road, Llandaff.

Shopping

Nicknamed the City of Arcades, Cardiff is a great place for shopping in style and the Victorian arcades are worth a visit in themselves. They have lots of little shops, food markets, etc. Up-market home stores include Banana Custard (for kids). Queen St, St Mary's Street and The Hayes are the major pedestrianised shopping streets which all branch off the castle, so it is easy to walk from shop to shop without fear of traffic. Queen Street has most of the usual lineup of Marks and Spencer, Topshop and River Island. The Hayes has been refurbished along with the massive St David's Shopping Centre that has drawn in a few big names such as Hugo Boss and the biggest John Lewis outside of London. St Marys street, the original shopping street of Cardiff has gradually declined, firstly after Queen Street was pedestrianised when the street saw a shift towards restaurants, bars and clubs, and then during the councils year long trial of closing the street to traffic. St Mary's Street is now pedestrianised for most of its length, with work still ongoing but it's worth a look as most of the city's grandest buildings are along its length with the large and oldest department store in Wales (Howells by House of Frasier), imposing entrance to the Central Market and elaborate entrances to the arcades being particular high points.

1 The Hayes. This area in the southern city centre underwent a massive transformation in the 2010s, which included the construction of the £675-million St Davids shopping centre extension, and the largest John Lewis department store outside of London. A new public library was built at the opposite end of the street to the original library, which is now a museum about Cardiff known as the 'Old Library'. Here modern architecture contrasts beautifully with the historic shops and arcades on the opposite side of the street, which has quickly become the cities higher end of the market shopping street. (updated Apr 2020) 2 Central Market, St Mary Street. Established in 1891, the market has an eclectic collection of stalls: arts, crafts, food, souvenirs, and even pets. A highlight is the small bakery with various flavours of fresh, inexpensive Welsh cakes (including vegan options). (updated Mar 2022) Queen Street, St. Mary's Street and The Hayes are the main shopping streets in Cardiff city centre. Queen Street houses the likes of Marks and Spencer, Boots and many other stores with entrances to the modern St Davids and Queens Arcade shopping centres, which also have entrances on the Hayes. Combine the old St Davids shopping centre, larger modern extension, John Lewis and Queens arcade and they make up one of the largest indoor shopping centres in the UK. St. Marys Street is home to a large 'Howells' or House of Fraser store, numerous arcades that house one-off shops with many of the arcades having entrances on the Hayes. There are many tourist-oriented shops in front of the Castle and inside the Arcades so have a look around where you can find many Welsh souvenirs and gifts there. Fish from Ashton's stall in the atmospheric indoor market, off the Hayes, Church Street or St Mary St. Cheese from Madame Fromage in the Castle Arcade. Music from Spillers Records, the oldest record shop in the world, is in the Morgan Arcade. In addition to selling music, it is the city's main location for buying tickets for alternative music concerts. Spillers was founded in 1894 by Henry Spiller at its original location in Queen’s Arcade.

Eat

It can be very difficult to book a table in the better restaurants on a Friday or Saturday evening. As a rule of thumb Mermaid Quay and the city centre are jam packed full with a varied contrast of eateries allowing you to experience many different tastes within a small area. Vegetarian options are easy to find, and vegan options reasonably so. In the centre see Cafe Minuet (Marcello's) in Castle Arcade, The Potted Pig on High Street. In Riverside try Madhav's for unusual vegetarian Indian food. In the Bay avoid all the chains at Mermaid Quay and look at Mr G's Soul Kitchen for Caribbean. In Canton try La Cuina (Catalan food) on Kings Road. Head to City Road for a massive variety of world cuisines.

Budget

There are lots of small eateries with reasonable, plentiful and quite tasty takes on the Full English breakfast, sandwiches, fish and chips, etc. Also, there is the Brewery Quarter, which contains a few well known and different restaurants. Also there are small cafes in the Indoor Market offering typical cafe food from toast to full roast dinners. prices typically range from 50p to £4. good deal for a quick fix.

1 The Prince of Wales, 81–83 St Mary Street, CF10 1FA, ☏ +44 29 2064-4449. A great city centre location offering great food all day at some good prices considering its very central location. This is a typical Wetherspoon pub. However less central Wetherspoons outlets are cheaper. (updated Feb 2023) 2 Blue Bell, 33 High Street, CF10 1PU, ☏ +44 29 2151-0043, info@bluebellcardiff.co.uk. Friendly pub with some Welsh dishes on the menu. Good vegetarian and vegan options. £9–15 (March 2022). (updated Feb 2023) 3 The Rummer Tavern, 14 Duke Street, CF10 1AY. Su-Th 11AM-11PM, F Sa 10AM-midnight. Famous as the oldest pub in Cardiff still running! Friendly pub with tasty food and drink at very reasonable prices. Live music events, rugby and football events and karaoke Wednesday evenings. Sunday roasts and Christmas bookings. £4.15 to £7.25 for a pint (Dec 2022). (updated Feb 2023) 4 Vegetarian Food Studio, 115-117 Penarth Road, Grangetown, ☏ +44 29 2023-8222, enquiries@vegetarianfoodstudio.co.uk. Indian restaurant with an entirely vegetarian and vegan menu. Bring your own drink. (updated Feb 2023) 5 Crumbs Kitchen, 33 Morgan Arcade. Great range of veggie and vegan food. (updated Feb 2023) 6 Dorothy's Fish Bar, 39-40 Caroline St. Fish&chips (updated Feb 2023) 7 Fresh the Baguette Bar, 32 Royal Arcade. (updated Feb 2023) 8 The New York Deli, 4-6 Duke Street Arcade. (updated Feb 2023) In the city centre you can also find the chain restaurants Tortilla, Greggs (bakery), Wok to Walk and Franco Manca. 9 Pillars, 29 Queen Street, Cardiff, CF10 2AH, ☏ +44 29 2039-5074. 8:30 am - 4 pm. Restaurant.. Unfussy self-serve eatery offering breakfast, homestyle meals, sandwiches, jacket potatoes & pies. (updated Apr 2024)

Drink

Cardiff is one of top nights out in Britain having the most pubs per square foot than anywhere else in the country. It has many late night pubs, bars, clubs and restaurants. In the city centre, St Mary's Street, Greyfriars Road and Mill Lane are especially lively and offer a variety of establishments to suit all tastes. Mermaid Quay is a lively, albeit smaller option to spend a warm summer night. Cardiff is a place to drink, favoured by stag and hen parties from all over the UK. St Mary St contains many pubs and shops and becomes wild and exciting on Friday and Saturday nights. There are numerous clubs only a block short walk from Central Station that are bumping into the wee hours. An extensive venue and events list, including gigs and live bands can be found at What's on in Cardiff guide. For a quieter drink, seek out:

1 Cardiff Cottage, St. Mary's St, CF10 1AA, ☏ +44 29 2033-7195. (except weekends and matchdays). 2 The Old Arcade, 14 Church St, ☏ +44 29 2021-7999. Drinks in these venues, and other traditional pubs may vary from around £1.50-3.50 for a beer. 3 Zero Degrees, 27 Westgate St, CF10 1DD, ☏ +44 29 2022-9494. Microbrewery has a utilitarian feel but fantastic beer brewed onsite, TVs with sport and excellent pizzas. 4 Pen & Wig, 1 Park Grove, CF10 3BJ (northern edge of the city centre), ☏ +44 29 2037-1217, penandwig.cardiff@stonegatepubs.com. Pleasant traditional pub with beer garden at the northern edge of the city centre, offering a wide choice of draught real ales. (updated Aug 2020) Fly By Night, 11 High Street. Upmarket wine bar serving a decent selection of wines by the glass or bottle. (updated Aug 2020) 5 Gin and Juice, 6 Castle Arcade, CF10 1BU (off Castle St), ☏ +44 29 2022-1556. Gin bar offering a wide choice for all palates. (updated Aug 2020) 6 The Head of Steam, 18-19 Church St, CF10 1BG, ☏ +44 29 2037-2582, cardiff@theheadofsteam.co.uk. Modern pub offering an extremely large selection of draught real ales and craft beers. (updated Aug 2020) Prego Italian Wine Bar, 23 High Street, ☏ +44 29 2132-1231, relax@pregocardiff.co.uk. Casual Italian-style cafe-bar offering a range of Sclavia and other wines, lager and coffees as well as a small selection of food such as paninis and pizzas. (updated Aug 2020) 7 Tiny Rebel Cardiff, 25 Westgate Street, CF10 1DD. The Cardiff taproom of the award-winning local Tiny Rebel brewery. (updated Sep 2025)

Sleep

It can be very difficult to find rooms available or within a sensible price when the Millennium Stadium is hosting events, especially when Wales play in rugby or football, so plan around the dates or plan early as it will be much cheaper.

Camping

Cardiff Caravan Park, Pontcanna Fields (on the opposite bank of the Taff from Bute Park), ☏ +44 29 2039-8362, fax: +44 29 2039-8362. Central camp site . Friendly staff. Bike hire on site, also very limited family room, but wide choice of food & drink within walking distance.

Mid-range

Cardiff Marriott Hotel, Mill Ln (within a block of the train station, right across from at least ten clubs), ☏ +44 29 2039-9944. It has reasonably comfortable rooms (not yet with the Marriott upgraded beds). They have high speed internet connections in the rooms, but the fee is £15/day for the service. The staff is friendly and helpful. Also, they have a small multi-storey car park for the hotels guest. The River House Backpackers, 59 Fitzhamon Embankment, Riverside (just opposite Millenium Stadium), ☏ +44 29 2039-9810. Used to be a boutique hostel. Free breakfast and wifi internet are included. Very hospitable owners and staff. Dorm beds around £18 per night. (updated Jun 2026) Park Inn Hotel Cardiff, Mary Ann St, ☏ +44 29 2034-1441. Comfortable hotel in the city centre. Express By Holiday Inn Cardiff Bay, Longuiel Close, ☏ +44 29 2044-9000. Clean hotel in Cardiff Bay, 15-min walk from the centre. Holiday Inn Cardiff Central, Castle St, ☏ +44 870 400 8140. Minutes from most attractions in the city centre. Lincoln House Hotel, Cathedral Rd, ☏ +44 29 2039-5558. Traditional converted townhouse on the outskirts of Cardiff city centre. 1 Austins Guesthouse - Cardiff, 11 Coldstream Terrace, ☏ +44 29 2037-7148, austins@hotelcardiff.com. Small friendly B&B in the city centre, 300 yards from the Castle and overlooking the River Taff. The Angel, The Angel Hotel1S2, ☏ +44 29 2064-9200. (updated Jul 2015) 2 New House Country Hotel, Thornhill CF14 9UA, ☏ +44 29 2052-0280. Comfy hotel in Georgian manor in hills above Cardiff, dog-friendly. B&B double £130. (updated Jun 2020) Hotel Indigo, Dominions Arcade CF10 2AR, ☏ +44 871 942 9104. Stylish city centre hotel, part of IHG group, no dogs. B&B double £140. (updated Jun 2020) 3 Clayton Hotel Cardiff, St Mary Street, CF10 1GD, ☏ +44 29 2066-8866, info.cardiff@claytonhotels.com. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: noon. Quiet hotel with reliable wifi and luggage storage available. Extensive buffet breakfast costs £10 if booked in advance, £13 the morning of. (updated Mar 2022)

Stay safe

Cardiff is quite a safe city, and certainly safer than most other major cities in the UK, with the centre having less overall crime than much smaller cities like Gloucester, Northampton and Derby, and far less than in the centre of London, Birmingham, Liverpool or Leeds. However, Cardiff has a relatively high rate of car theft crime rates. Make sure you remove all valuables from your vehicle, especially from show; and don't park at night in badly-lit streets in inner-city neighbourhoods such as Adamsdown, Splott, Riverside or Butetown. If you do need to leave a car overnight, several of the city-centre car parks offer cheap rates for all-night parking and are completely safe. Cardiff seems not to be plagued with a prominent red light district akin to many of the similarly-sized cities in England. However, areas such as Ocean Way in Adamsdown may be wise to avoid in the nights and early evenings in winter, as the area is known for prostitution. Anyone caught curb crawling is likely to be stopped and questioned by police, although more often than not, you will just be told to move on. Alcohol-related violence is common in parts of Cardiff, especially on the weekends in the clubs and bars concentrated around St Mary Street and Greyfriars Road, so take extra caution to avoid offending anyone. (Cardiff Bay is usually less raucous at these times and attracts much less trouble.) In addition, as in any city, there are areas to avoid after dark: again, these include Adamsdown, Splott, Butetown, and the southern half of Riverside. Bute Park is largely unlit at night so also best avoided.

Go next

Map of places with Wikivoyage articles nearby

The Vale of Glamorgan, to the southwest of Cardiff contains the Victorian seaside towns of Penarth and Barry. Cowbridge is a picturesque town to the west. St Donat's Castle is one such attraction, a well-preserved 15th C. fortified house, with additions over the centuries. Fonmon Castle is also impressive, while ruined Ogmore has a lovely setting. Comeston Lakes is another beautiful place, with a well maintained country park. The superb Glamorgan Heritage Coast, around 10 mi west of Cardiff, stretching from Llantwit Major to Ogmore-by-Sea, the majestic liassic/carboniferous cliffs provide sparkling views across the Bristol channel, and the small little back roads (particularly the road to ogmore-by-sea) provide some of the most spectacular driving routes in Wales. Penarth - A Victorian seaside resort, now a suburb south of Cardiff. Known as "the Garden by the Sea”, it has a beautiful, historic pier. And Cosmeston Medieval Village, a "living history" medieval village in nearby Lavernock. The Brecon Beacons and the town of Brecon are to the north. Try taking the train to Newport, and then a bus to Caerleon and visiting the Roman amphitheatre there. It is quite well preserved and gives a real feel for how the Romans would have used the space. It is possible to visit Hereford as a day trip, using either train or car. Chepstow and Tintern, attractive ancient towns with staggering stone ruins on the border with England Swansea and the spectacular Gower Coast is 45 miles to the West. Easy access by train, bus, or private car.

More pictures of Cardiff

From this destination's category on Wikimedia Commons. Each photograph is credited to its own author under its own licence.