Cardiff is compact, so the real choice is between the city centre and the Bay, and between a full-service hotel and a simple modern room. Our five hotels sit in three small areas. Here is how to choose. The centre is the practical option for most visitors, because the castle, the museum, the arcades and the stadium are all on foot, while the Bay suits couples and anyone who values water views over convenience.
The castle quarter: Hilton Cardiff and The Angel Hotel
These two sit within about a minute of Cardiff Castle on Kingsway and Castle Street. Hilton Cardiff is the polished choice, with 202 rooms, castle-view kings, an indoor pool, a spa and a Welsh restaurant. The Angel Hotel is the characterful mid-range choice, across the road from the castle, with a restaurant, room service and family rooms. Both are walkable to Bute Park and St David's, neither has the quiet of the Bay, and parking is limited, with a nightly charge.
Greyfriars Road: Park Plaza Cardiff
A few minutes from the castle and the New Theatre, Park Plaza offers an indoor pool, a spa, a gym and steam room, and the Laguna Kitchen and Bar. It is a good mid-range base for couples and small families who like a pool, and it has no parking, so arrive by train. Breakfast is a buffet with a surcharge, so compare rates.
Cardiff Central: Premier Inn Cardiff City Centre Stadium
On Custom House Street, four minutes from the station and close to St David's, this is the budget pick. It has family triple and quadruple rooms, accessible rooms, a lift and a restaurant, and it is a good base for rugby and concert weekends. It has no on-site parking.
Cardiff Bay: voco St David's Cardiff
This five-star hotel on Havannah Street is a minute from the water, with a full-service spa, an indoor pool and the Tir a Môr restaurant. It is the best choice for a romantic stay, and the trade-off is that the city centre is about two miles away, so you will use the Baycar 6 bus, the train or a taxi. Parking is limited and charged.
Think about arrival and parking
Most visitors arrive at Cardiff Central, which is a short walk from Premier Inn and about ten minutes from the castle hotels, so a train arrival suits all five. If you are driving, ask each hotel about parking before you book, because Park Plaza has none, Hilton Cardiff relies on off-site parking and voco St David's and The Angel Hotel charge per night. A taxi from the centre to the Bay is a short ride.
How to choose
For a first visit, choose the centre, and pick Hilton Cardiff or The Angel Hotel to be next to the castle. For value and a station location, the Premier Inn is hard to beat. For a pool and spa, Park Plaza or Hilton work well in town. For a splurge on the water, choose voco St David's. If you plan day trips to Castell Coch and Caerphilly, stay near Cardiff Central for the train, and book early for rugby, concert and Christmas weekends, when central rooms sell out.
