Staying over

Stopover guide:

Although only receiving capital status relatively recently, Cardiff is definitely the grandest of all Welsh cities, with quality attractions and shopping options. In keeping with the times, much of Cardiff has been given an overhaul, creating interesting shopping and dining areas in the city centre and along the waterfront, while its castle, Civic Centre, museums and squares are all delightful.

Attractions:

A 900-year-old structure in the city centre that has undergone substantial renovation work to leave a lavish interior fit for a king, Cardiff Castle is Cardiff’s greatest landmark.
Llandaff Cathedral dates back to the 6 th century and is furnished with fantastic stained glass windows and an opulent interior.
On a more modern note, the gigantic Millennium Stadium should not be missed by rugby fans, particularly if there is a game on.
Cardiff ’s redeveloped waterfront is perhaps the most exciting area in the city, featuring many cafés and restaurants, and a touch of maritime history.
Of the many attractions at the waterfront, Techniquest is the highlight, consisting of the Science Discovery Centre, Planetarium, Science Theatre and Discovery Room.

Eating and Shopping: the city centre, regenerated waterfront and nearby Mermaid Quay provides Cardiff’s best shopping options, the latter of which boasts an array of shops, cafés, restaurants and bars. The city centre is pedestrianised and comes with all the usual UK high street quality brand name stores as well as many unique shopping establishments.

Cathedral and Newport roads contain the bulk of Cardiff’s eateries, where you can find many establishments serving up traditional Welsh fare such as Welsh rarebit and laverbread. The waterfront area also has many international eateries, along with the city centre, which has a good complement of trendy cafés, coffee shops and bistros.

Day trips & tours: there is a glut of fantastic natural attractions on Cardiff’s doorstep that are only a short drive from the Welsh capital. Brecon Beacons National Park lies to the northwest of Cardiff and contains some lovely mountains that are ideal for walking, while the ancient Offa's Dyke Path also runs through here and on towards the intriguing Black Mountains.

For those into history, the Museum of Welsh Life at St Fagans, west of Cardiff, is Europe’s largest open-air museum and it displays dozens of intricately constructed original Welsh buildings. Barry Island lies to the south of St Fagans on the coast and features a fun park and attractions for the whole family.

Cardiff Tourist Information Centres

Cardiff Tourist Information Centre
The Old library

The Hayes

CF10 1WE

Tel: +44 292 022 7281

Fax: +44 292 023 9162
Email: visitor@thecardiffinitiative.co.uk

Visitor Centre

Harbour Drive

Cardiff

Glamorgan

Wales

CF10 4PA

Tel: +44 292 046 3833