The Welsh capital: a castle in the city centre, free national museums and a redeveloped bay
Cardiff (Caerdydd) is the capital and largest city of Wales, on the Bristol Channel at the mouth of the River Taff. Visit Cardiff describes it as compact, flat and largely pedestrianised, with many of the main sights no more than about a 15-minute walk apart: Cardiff Castle, the Principality Stadium, the Victorian arcades and Cardiff Market are all in the centre.
North of the castle, the Edwardian civic centre of Cathays Park holds City Hall and the National Museum; to the south, Cardiff Bay has the Senedd and the Wales Millennium Centre on a freshwater lake. West of the river are the restaurants of Pontcanna and the cathedral village of Llandaff, and on the edge of the city St Fagans National Museum of History and Castell Coch.
Areas
Each area has its own mini guide with 51 sights, places to eat and drink, and where to stay across the city.
The castle, the national stadium, a Victorian market and the arcades, all within a short walk
Open the mini guide →
The redeveloped docklands: the Senedd, the Millennium Centre and a freshwater bay
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The Edwardian civic centre and National Museum, then student Cathays and leafy Roath Park
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Restaurant streets, riverside parkland, a cathedral village and the castles and museum beyond
Open the mini guide →Sights
A sight from each area. Every area guide lists the rest, with directions and official links.
Roman walls, a Norman keep and Victorian interiors in the city centre; the castle site describes 2,000 years of history.
National arts centre for Wales in Cardiff Bay, on a site of 7.5 acres (3 hectares).
Free museum and art gallery, with exhibitions from contemporary art to dinosaurs, part of Amgueddfa Cymru - Museum Wales.
Church in Wales cathedral and parish church in Llandaff, and the seat of the Bishop of Llandaff.
National stadium of Wales, with a retractable roof and a usual capacity of 73,931, a short walk from Cardiff Central.
Home of the Senedd (Welsh Parliament), the elected body that makes laws for Wales, on the Cardiff Bay waterfront.
Park with a 30-acre (12-hectare) lake, 1.3 miles (2.1 km) around, on reclaimed bogland north-east of the centre.
Free open-air museum of Welsh life with historic buildings, a farm and parkland on the outskirts of Cardiff.
1 / 12Animal attractions, railways, science centres, beaches and caves from our Cardiff guide, grouped by type. We hold no age ratings or child prices: check each place’s own site for age limits, height rules and family tickets.
TechniquestScience centre, Cardiff BayPractical help: travelling with children and where to stay in Cardiff.
Itineraries
Short routes that stitch the areas together.
Getting there
Cardiff has its own airport, direct trains from London and the rest of Britain, coaches and the M4. Always check the operator for current times, fares and disruption.
Visit Cardiff says Cardiff is less than two hours from London by train, with services every 30 minutes; National Rail lists a fastest time of 1 hr 45 min from London, 47 min from Bristol and 3 hr 12 min from Manchester. Great Western Railway runs from London, Bristol, Bath and the south coast, Transport for Wales runs within Wales and from Manchester, and CrossCountry runs hourly from Birmingham and Nottingham.
Visit Cardiff says Cardiff Airport is in the Vale of Glamorgan, 13 miles west of the city, with direct flights from cities including Edinburgh, Belfast, Dublin, Paris and Amsterdam, and public transport to the city.
Visit Cardiff lists National Express services from London, along the M4 corridor, from Birmingham and from Heathrow, Gatwick and Bristol airports, FlixBus services, and a daily TrawsCymru service from mid Wales.
The M4 runs along the north of the city; Visit Cardiff puts central London about a three-hour drive away, and lists car parks in the centre, Cardiff Bay and the neighbourhoods.
Times are the fastest listed by National Rail on 3 November 2026; some journeys take longer or need a change.
Visit Cardiff says the centre is compact, level and largely pedestrianised, and that Cardiff Bay is within walking distance.
Boats run between a stop in Bute Park near the West Gate and the dock in front of Mermaid Quay and the Pierhead Building.
Transport for Wales trains link Cardiff Queen Street with Cardiff Bay; Cardiff Bus covers the city and takes app, contactless or exact-cash fares.
Visit Cardiff recommends the traffic-free Taff Trail and lists Pedal Power bike hire in Pontcanna and Cardiff Bay.
Transport for Wales.Transport for Wales Rail lists Advance, season, single, return, flexible and off-peak tickets, sold online, in its app or at stations, with no booking fees. Its site also promoted a £1 bus fare for children and young people (as shown on 1 November 2026).TfW ticket types (opens in new tab)
Best time to go
Cardiff works all year: the castle, museums, arcades and market suit wet days. Big rugby, football and concert days fill the centre, so check the stadium calendars before booking a room.
Parks such as Bute Park and Roath Park come into flower, and the Six Nations rugby can bring big match days to the city centre.
The best months for Cardiff Bay, the barrage and boat trips, and for the open-air St Fagans museum.
Quieter streets outside match days, and autumn internationals at the Principality Stadium; museums and the arcades suit wet days.
Short days, but the castle, the free museums and the covered market and arcades keep a visit busy.
Day trips
Ideas for a day away from Cardiff. Check the operators for times and tickets.
A 13th-century castle built by Gilbert de Clare and surrounded by large artificial lakes, a short journey north of Cardiff.
cadw.gov.wales →
A real coal mine with underground tours, run by Amgueddfa Cymru, which says entry is free.
museum.wales →
Ruined Cistercian abbey on the Welsh bank of the River Wye, founded in 1131 as the first Cistercian house in Wales.
cadw.gov.wales →
The Britlens Wales guide covers the Bannau Brycheiniog, Gower and Swansea, Pembrokeshire, Eryri and the north coast.
Wales guide →FAQ
Two to three days covers the castle and city centre, Cardiff Bay, the National Museum and either St Fagans or Llandaff. One day is enough for the centre and the Bay.
National Rail lists a fastest time of 1 hr 45 min, and Visit Cardiff says trains run every 30 minutes. Check Great Western Railway or National Rail for current times.
Walk, take a Transport for Wales train from Cardiff Queen Street to Cardiff Bay, take a Cardiff Bus, or ride the waterbus from Bute Park to Mermaid Quay.
National Museum Cardiff, St Fagans National Museum of History and the Museum of Cardiff are free to enter; special exhibitions may be charged. Cardiff Castle charges for entry.
The Wales guide has a short Cardiff overview for touring Wales. This city guide covers Cardiff in more depth, with four areas and more places to eat and stay.
Nearby places
Our closest other guides, by straight-line distance between centres. Road and rail distances are longer: check a journey planner.
Photos from Wikimedia Commons, used under the licences shown. All photo credits
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