Cardiff

A capital city

Cardiff, the capital city of Wales, is just an hour from Swansea and is a great place to visit.

CITYSIGHTSEEING CARDIFF

We think the best way for you to see Cardiff is by taking one of the hop on-hop off sightseeing buses which leave from outside Cardiff Castle every hour (every 30 minutes in peak season). From an open-top double decker bus, you will visit all the main attractions of the city and once you have paid for your ticket, you can get on and get off the bus as many times as you like.

The CitySightseeing Cardiff bus has 10 stops including Cardiff Castle, Mermaid Quay, Techniquest, the Millennium Stadium and Wales Millennium Centre.

For timetables and more information visit the CitySightseeing Cardiff website.

CARDIFF CASTLE

Located in the heart of the city centre, Cardiff Castle has a history of over 2000 years. The castle has been home to Romans, Normans and wealthy business men. Every month Cardiff Castle also organises visitor events. More details are available here.

CARDIFF MILLENNIUM STADIUM

Built in 1999 to host the Rugby World Cup, Cardiff Millennium Stadium is the national stadium of Wales and home to the Welsh national rugby union and football teams. It is the second largest stadium in the world with a roof and has a capacity of 74,500 people. The stadium is also host to many other large sporting and music events. International stars like Madonna, U2 and Robbie Williams have all appeared here.

In the London 2012 Olympics the stadium will host at least eight football matches. We recommend that you take a tour of the stadium and walk in the footsteps of the greats of rugby, football and music. Find out more about these stadium tours here.

CARDIFF BAY AND MERMAID QUAY

Close to the city centre is Cardiff Bay, Europe’s most exciting waterfront development. You can get there by the Citysightseeing bus or by water taxi.

Cardiff Bay is home to many exciting visitor attractions, including Techniquest Science Discovery Centre, the Wales Millennium Centre (a stunning international arts centre) and the Senedd, home of the Welsh government, the Welsh Assembly. If you are a fan of science-fiction, you’ll love the Dr Who exhibition – many recent Dr. Who TV episodes have been filmed in Cardiff and around Cardiff Bay. The Dr. Who exhibition is located inside the Red Dragon Centre, a leisure and entertainment centre where you can eat, drink, watch films at the multi-screen cinema or go ten-pin bowling.

Mermaid Quay is an enjoyable destination for shopping, eating and relaxing on the waterfront. It’s the perfect place to relax and have lunch or dinner. The cuisine is truly international with Indian, Oriental, Turkish, Italian, American, and French food on offer. Bon appetit!

You can find out more about the above attractions at Cardiff Bay and Mermaid Quay websites.

SHOPPING ST. DAVID’S SHOPPING CENTRE AND THE CARDIFF ARCADES

The popularity of the huge indoor mall of St. David’s Shopping Centre has made Cardiff one of the top five shopping destinations in the UK. From brand chains like Marks and Spencer to designer stores and boutiques, you will have plenty to spend your money on!

Cardiff is also famous for its beautiful Victorian and Edwardian shopping arcades. These are covered shopping passages, often with a glass roof, where you can find smaller, independent shops. The arcades are one of Cardiff’s special features and are well worth a visit.

For more information about Cardiff, we recommend you visit the Visit Cardiff website.