Cardiff Castle
A Norman keep on Roman foundations, with a lavish Victorian Gothic Revival apartment set in parkland in the middle of the city. Timed house tours run through the day and the castle closes on three days over Christmas and New Year.
Wales (UK)
Cardiff
Cardiff is the compact, walkable capital of Wales, a waterfront city where a Roman and Norman castle sits in the middle of the shopping streets and a rugby cathedral of roughly 74,000 seats stands beside the river.
Cardiff Castle, the Principality Stadium tour and two free national museums, the National Museum Cardiff and the open-air St Fagans National Museum of History, give a first visit its backbone, while Cardiff Bay adds the Wales Millennium Centre, the Senedd, boat trips and a barrage walk. Two more castles are an easy trip away: the fairytale Victorian fantasy of Castell Coch and the huge moated fortress at Caerphilly. Our guides show how to fit it all into one to three days and recommend five hotels, from a five-star base on the Bay to a budget stay beside Cardiff Central.
Don't miss
Cardiff Castle
A Norman keep on Roman foundations, with a lavish Victorian Gothic Revival apartment set in parkland in the middle of the city. Timed house tours run through the day and the castle closes on three days over Christmas and New Year.
St Fagans National Museum of History
A free open-air museum in parkland west of Cardiff, with historic buildings from across Wales and an Elizabethan manor house and gardens. Admission is free and winter hours are 10 to 4.
Castell Coch
A fairytale Victorian castle in the woods above Cardiff, with extravagant interiors by William Burges. Winter hours are 10 to 4, and conservation work and a closed cafe mean you should check before you go.
Principality Stadium Tour
A walk through the home of Welsh rugby, from the dressing rooms to the tunnel and the pitch edge. Tours do not run on match or event days, so check the calendar before you plan.
Things to do in Cardiff
Hand-picked: every experience here has strong traveler reviews and a verified booking link.
Principality Stadium Tour
A walk through the home of Welsh rugby, from the dressing rooms to the tunnel and the pitch edge. Tours do not run on match or event days, so check the calendar before you plan.
FreeSt Fagans National Museum of History
A free open-air museum in parkland west of Cardiff, with historic buildings from across Wales and an Elizabethan manor house and gardens. Admission is free and winter hours are 10 to 4.
3-5 hoursDetails →
FreeNational Museum Cardiff
A free museum of art, natural history and the Evolution of Wales in Cathays Park, open Tuesday to Sunday. Booking a free day ticket ahead is recommended and the museum is closed on Mondays.
1.5-3 hoursDetails →
FreeCardiff Bay
A regenerated waterfront with the Wales Millennium Centre, the Senedd, Mermaid Quay, boat trips and a barrage walk. It is free to explore and an easy bus, train or half-hour walk from the centre.
3-5 hoursDetails →
Castell Coch
A fairytale Victorian castle in the woods above Cardiff, with extravagant interiors by William Burges. Winter hours are 10 to 4, and conservation work and a closed cafe mean you should check before you go.
Caerphilly Castle
The second-largest castle in Britain, ringed by lakes just north of Cardiff, with a famous leaning tower and a restored Great Hall. Winter hours are 10 to 4 and it is closed on four dates around Christmas.
Cardiff City Highlights Guided Walking Tour
A two-hour guided walk of the city highlights from a local perspective, past the Animal Wall, Bute Park and Cardiff Market. A flexible route lets the guide focus on shops, street art or architecture.
Where to stay
Hotels we would book ourselves, from splurges to good-value bases.
$$$$voco St David’s Cardiff
Cardiff Bay (Butetown)
A five-star waterfront hotel on Havannah Street in Butetown, one minute from Cardiff Bay, with a full-service spa, indoor pool and a restaurant. This is the splurge for a stay on the water.
Check rates →
$$$Hilton Cardiff
City centre, beside Cardiff Castle
A 202-room hotel on Kingsway, a minute from Cardiff Castle, with castle-view rooms, an indoor pool, a spa and a Welsh restaurant. A strong mid-to-upper choice for sightseeing on foot.
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$$$Park Plaza Cardiff
City centre, Greyfriars Road
A four-class hotel on Greyfriars Road with an indoor pool, spa, gym and steam room, four minutes from Cardiff Castle. A polished mid-range base for walkers.
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$$The Angel Hotel
City centre, Castle Street
A traditional three-class hotel on Castle Street, across from Cardiff Castle, with a restaurant, 24-hour room service and family rooms. A characterful mid-range pick that is hard to beat for location.
Check rates →Premier Inn Cardiff City Centre Stadium
City centre, near Cardiff Central
A modern 17-floor Premier Inn on Custom House Street, four minutes from Cardiff Central, with family rooms, a lift and a restaurant. The budget base for stadium weekends and sightseeing.
Check rates →Cardiff guides
First Time in Cardiff: What to Book, How to Get Around and How Many Days
A first-timer's plan for Cardiff: what to book ahead, getting around on foot, how many days to allow, and where the castle, stadium, museums, Bay and day-trip castles fit.
Where to Stay in Cardiff: The Castle Quarter, the Station or the Bay
A practical guide to choosing where to sleep in Cardiff, with five hotels from a five-star waterfront stay on Cardiff Bay to a budget base beside Cardiff Central.
