Guide to Cardiff

Wales’ largest city and capital since 1955, Cardiff is everything you could ask an urban city to be. It has a vast mix of old and new culture a wide range of independent cafes, shops and restaurants, and its nightlife and live music scene makes for one barmy night out. 

As well as being the biggest, the city is the most vibrant in Wales and is the perfect starting point for those beginning there Welsh Adventure or wanting a city break. Its location and transport links also make it an excellent base for day trips to the nearby Brecon Beacons and Glamorgan Heritage coast.

Like any location in Wales, summer is by far the best time to visit, with large festivals, and outdoor dining and drinking. However, as good as Cardiff is, I would recommenced spending no more than two nights here as the real Wales lies in its mountain ranges to the North and its coastline further West. 

Things to see and do 

You won’t find too much natural beauty here in Cardiff, however you will find an abundance of history and culture alongside a wide range of chain and independent shops, cafes, bars and restaurants scattered around its Victorian arcades. 

Central Cardiff is relatively compact and with the main attractions being signposted and quite close to each other getting around on foot is very easy. You can even walk from the city centre to the bay in around 15-20 minutes. If you don’t fancy walking then the bus system covers the entire city and surrounding areas and an all-day ticket costs £3.40. 

I have listed several sights and which I believe are worthy of visiting however if you fancy more information and ideas on what to do in Cardiff head over to the Visit Wales website.

Watch some live sport 

Cardiff has a strong sporting presence and plays host to most major Welsh sporting events, mainly due to its 75,000 seater Principality Stadium which is home of the Welsh Rugby Union.

Opened in 1999 for the Rugby World Cup, the Principality has a fully retractable roof and has hosted FA Cup finals as well heavyweight boxing title fights.Match day at the Principality Stadium is one of the the city's major charms when the Six Nations (February and March) and Autumn internationals roll round. The city centre swells with over 75,000 attendees and revellers creating and extraordinary atmosphere which has to be experienced.

If you visit outside of the Six Nations and November tests or simply can’t get tickets to watch Wales play, stadium tours are available for £12.50.

Failing that consider paying a visit to watch the Cardiff Blues, one of the four professional rugby teams in Wales. They play their home games out of the Cardiff Arms Park, which is quite literally connected to the Principality stadium. If they aren’t scoring tries they’re probably conceding them so you’re guaranteed some form of entertainment. 

If you’re not interested in watching rugby then you can also check out the Cardiff Devils, a professional Ice hockey team who play in the British Elite Ice Hockey League; Cardiff City FC, the second best football team in Wales who play in the second tier of English football; and Glamorgan County Cricket Club who play there games at Sophia Gardens which regularly hosts England Cricket for international matches. 

Head down to Cardiff Bay 

Once the largest exporter of Coal in the UK, Cardiff Bay has recently been renovated from a beaten up old coal port into a modern vibrant waterfront. Serving as a low key escape from the hustle and bustle of the city centre, here you’ll find history and culture intertwined with modern restaurants and bars. 

The huge chunk of copper with writing engraved into it is Wales’ equivalent to the Sydney Opera House. The Wales Millennium Centre, to give it its real name, regularly hosts major shows, performances and major events. Next door is The Senedd, A fine bit of architecture which is the HQ for the National Assembly for Wales. The venue also doubles up as a public building, offering places to eat and drink alongside hosting regular events. 

For those who fancy stretching the legs you can take a stroll or a bike ride along the barrage which runs the length of the bay from Mermaid quay across to Penarth. It is a 2km route with the harbour on one side of the path and the sea on the other and offers some half tidy views of Cardiff Bay.

If you don’t mind going a little further afield, you can continue onwards and explore the town of Penarth – a Victorian seaside resort, nicknamed “the Garden by the Sea.” Here you’ll find the Pier Pavillion and the delectable Ocho Lounge, which is perfect for brunch and drinks. 

Go for a shop

For those seeking a bit of new clobber or want to simply do some window shopping, then Cardiff has a huge array of options. 

Nicknamed the city of arcades, Cardiff has over a kilometre of Victorian and Edwardian shopping arcades running through its streets. Here you’ll find independent boutiques, family-run coffee shops and some very tasty places to grab a bite.  

Highlights include: Spillers Records, the oldest record shop in the world; Rules of Play, a little board game shop with over 1,000 titles lining the walls; Madame Fromage, a deli that sells a wonderful selection of Welsh cheese, (who doesn’t love cheese) meat and produce; and my personal favourite The New York Deli, an American style cafe serving sandwiches thicker than your fist.

If you’re after some more well-known brands, then you have St David's shopping centre and Queens arcade smack bang in the centre of the city. 

Visit the National Museum of Cardiff 

For the history and art buffs amongst you, check out the National Museum of Cardiff. Free to enter, you’ll find natural history and the evolution of Wales on the ground floor, including a wooly mammoth skeleton. And on the second floor you’ll find an extensive art gallery displaying items from Wales and all over the world.

Stroll around Cardiff Castle and the surrounding Bute park 

Sat in the middle of the city, Cardiff Castle and its surrounding walls are pretty hard not to miss. As well of being a part of Welsh history and culture this walled fortress plays host to some major concerts ranging from Pete Tong to the Manic Street Preachers. 

Entry inside the castle grounds is £12.50 for adults, however If you don’t fancy paying consider taking a stroll around the 56-hectare Bute park.

It’s an ideal place to spend some time outdoors and you’ll to get a chance to see some of the former grounds of the castle in the process. You’ll also have a chance to spot one of 15 concrete sculptures of wild beasts which appear to be climbing from the interior of Bute Park wall out onto the street. The wall can be found to the left of the main castle entrance, facing towards the castle.

Ride rapids at Cardiff International White Water

Fortunately for those who are more adventure inclined there are plenty more exhilarating things to do in Cardiff beyond exploring its culture & history.

If you’re into your water sports consider visiting Cardiff International White Water. Located in the Cardiff International Sports Village on the west side of Cardiff Bay, it offers a wide variety of experiences and programs for professional and amateur adventurers alike.

The site was purpose built for the 2012 Olympics and its unique, man-made 250-meter course can be adjusted to recreate any experience, whether it's a gentle family rafting trip or a full-on grade 5 river rapid. 

In addition to white water rafting you can also go surfing and bodyboarding on an artificial wave. For more info head over their website.

Head west to the Glamorgan Heritage Coast

This 14 mile segment of dramatic coastline stretching from Aberthaw to Porthcawl is situated 10 miles West of Cardiff and is lined with steep cliffs, secluded coves, and spectacular coastal views.

The drawing point of this stretch of coastline are its dramatic prehistoric like coastal cliffs which you can walk right up to the edge of. This coastline is perfect for a coastal walk and highlights of the coastline include Dunraven bay (Southerndown beach as its referred to by locals), Nash point, popular with photographers and Ogmore by the sea. 

Away from the coast you’ll find a mix of rolling hills, country lanes, bustling markets and fascinating churches and castles.

If you’re looking for a sandy shore to spend the afternoon on at then continue heading west towards Porthcawl. Here you’ll find several beaches including Rest Bay, popular with surfers when the swell picks up, Trecco bay and Newton Bay.

You can reach the heritage coast and via car in around half an hour from Cardiff. There is also an extensive range of local bus services which travels around the area.

Go for a hike in the Brecon beacons

The Brecon beacons encompasses some of the finest scenery in South Wales. It my not be the highest or most rugged mountain range in Wales but if you’re looking for Jaw dropping waterfalls, spectacular hilly hikes, beautiful bike trails or some sensational star gazing then this is the national park for you.  

The park boundary is only a 45 minute drive from Cardiff and the waterfalls make for a fantastic day trip if the weather isn’t playing ball. You can find my guide to the Brecon beacons below.

Places to Eat & drink 

I’ve never been big on fancy or pretentious diners (I’m basically a tight arse) instead I much prefer humble, hearty meals (especially Thai) that will fill you up and not leave a dent in your pocket.

I have asked my good friend, doctor, and Cardiff resident, Luke Treharne for his opinion on some places to eat and drink coffee, and those listed below were his suggestions (so blame him if they’re shite). Everyone has their own taste and opinions on where to eat so I’m not going to tell you that these are the best or are the ‘must visit’ locations, but are simply those worth checking out

Coffee 

• Quantum coffee Roasters - Quality coffee situated in Cardiff Bay 

• Uncommon ground -  An independent, family owned, coffee bar situated in the Royal Arcade

• Brodies Coffee Co - An independent coffee shop situated Gorsedd Gardens 

• Coffee Barker - A firm favourite with Cardiff Blues players, this cosy little establishment is situated in the high street arcade serves quality coffee and some half tidy jacket potatoes

Cheap eats 

• New York Deli - Serves American style sandwiches, bagels and subs thicker than your fist

• Ffwrnes Pizza - a top notch Pizzeria located upstairs in Cardiff Central Market.

• Franks Hotdogs - High quality hot dog stall located in Cardiff Market. 

• Fresh the Baguette Bar - Baguettes and Salad bowls which are quite simply banging 

• The Mount Stuart - A Wetherspoons pub with a large terrace offering epic views over the bay 

Something completely different 

If you want something completely different you can eat a meal at a working prison. The Clink, based out of Her Majesty's Prison Cardiff, is a charity incentivised restaurant who’s workers are all serving prisoners. The programme aims to challenge perceptions about inmates and has been shown to reduce reoffending by 41%. Not only is it an effective initiative but it’s also been named amongst the top restaurants in the Wales.

Places to drink 

Cardiffs nightlife is one of its highlights and with the city having the most pubs per square foot than anywhere else in Britain, it’s bound to have a watering hole to suit your acquired taste. The average price for a pint varies between £1.90-4.50 depending on how high end you want to go.

St Marys street is a good starting point, closed to traffic on a Friday and Saturday night, the street is awash with bars and nightclubs. On the nearby side streets you’ll also find the Brewery Quarter and several independent bars, including Tiny Rebel Brewery and Kong’s.

If you’re after live music, consider checking out Brewhouse in the Brewery quarter, Live lounge and Clwb Ifor Bach. An extensive venue and events list, including gigs and live bands can be found at What's on in Cardiff guide.

Located between the bay and the city centre on Dumbbells road you’ll find The Depot, a renovated warehouse which hosts the infamous Bingo Lingo, a bonkers party style bingo hall which is definitely worth visiting , every Friday night alongside various pop up events. 

For those who are slightly more pretentious and want to go into the early hours of the morning, Mill lane is the location for you. 10 Mill lane says open until stupid o clock, and for some stupid reason have regularly found myself stumbling out here at an ungodly hour as the sun is coming back up. 

If you’re looking for something a little more low key, then Cardiff Bay has serval upscale bars and cocktail lounges away from the chaos of the city centre. It’s also home to Cardiff best live comedy venue in the form of the Glee Club. 

Those seeking a late night feed should definitely stop by ‘Chippy Lane’ just off St Marys Street. Caroline street, as its officially called, is lined with several kebab house and chip shops perfect for a calorific end to the evening.