South Wales is a diverse part of the country, home to some of Wales' biggest and most vibrant cities but also the doorstep to majestic castles and stunning coastlines.
Having spent time both living in the area as a local and experiencing it as a tourist, I've put together this epic list of the 18 best things to do in South Wales, from iconic towns and cities, to must-visit waterfalls.
Map of Things To Do in South Wales
This interactive map shows where each of the activities can be found in South Wales.
1. Visit Cardiff, the Capital of Wales
Cardiff is the capital city of Wales and home to enough activities to keep anyone busy for days on end. Of course, right at the heart of the city is Cardiff Castle which is a must-visit. You can enter the courtyard for free but I would advise going into the paid areas and taking one of the guided tours.
Some of the other things to do in Cardiff include exploring the Victorian arcades, learning about Welsh culture and history thanks to several free museums in Cardiff, eating local cuisine at Cardiff Market, and exploring the city's vast parks.
My favourite area of Cardiff to spend time is down at Cardiff Bay. Here, you can take a boat trip around the bay, visit the Senedd (home of the Welsh government), or enjoy a variety of restaurants and bars at Mermaid Quay.
See my full guide to the best things to do in Cardiff for more activities in the capital.
2. Explore Waterfall Country in the Brecon Beacons
Straddling the border between Mid and South Wales is an area of the Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons) National Park known as Waterfall Country. This is because it has a high concentration of waterfalls in one area where several rivers run through the gorges of the rugged terrain.
Some of the most popular waterfalls in Waterfall Country include Henrhyd Falls, which is known for featuring as the Batcave entrance in The Dark Knight Rises, and the four waterfalls that make up the Four Falls Trail. This is a circular family-friendly walking route that's popular with locals and tourists.
However, my favourite one is Melincourt Falls, shown above. It's just outside of waterfall country which is why it goes under the radar. It's easy to reach via a pleasant 8-minute walk from the car park and is one of the most impressive waterfalls in South Wales.
If you'd like a local to lead the way, I can recommend taking Andy's Eight Waterfall Hiking Tour where experienced guide Andy will take you to secluded waterfalls across the area and fill you with knowledge along the way.
3. Explore Wales' waterfront city, Swansea
Swansea is Wales's second-largest city and is often known as the waterfront city because of its location right next to the coast. On the edge of the city is a 5-mile-long stretch of golden sand at Swansea Beach.
The city rose to fame thanks to the copper industry that once flourished here. Although its industrial days are long gone, it's left a noticeable mark on the city and you can learn about its heritage in museums such as the National Waterfront Museum and the Swansea Museum, both of which are free.
The city is infamously the birthplace of Dylan Thomas, one of Wales' most celebrated poets. You can learn about him at the Dylan Thomas Centre or spot many statues around the city dedicated to his work. Other things to do in Swansea include exploring the parks, seeing the remains of Swansea Castle, and visiting the enormous indoor market.
In the evening, Swansea really comes alive. Nightlife centres around Wind Street which is one of the top nightlife streets in Wales. Here, you'll find every type of bar from cocktail bars to hidden speakeasies.
4. Visit the small towns and pristine beaches along the Gower Peninsular
Just a stone's throw away from Swansea is the Gower Peninsular which is a paradise for nature lovers and outdoor enthusiasts. I recommend taking a road trip to explore the small villages, such as Mumbles, as well as the coastlines which are easily the best in South Wales.
The peninsular is also home to several blue flag beaches such as Langland Bay, Caswell Bay, and Port Eynon. This means they are recognised for outstanding quality, cleanliness, and sustainability.
Two of the most famous places on the Gower is Three Cliffs Bay, which was voted as one of the best beaches in the world by TripAdvisor
One of the most popular activities to do in the Gower Peninsula is exploring the small villages dotted along the coastlines, such as Mumbles. This charming seaside town is full of independent shops, cafes, and restaurants, as well as a picturesque pier that is perfect for a leisurely stroll.
5. Go coasteering
[image-missing src="https://walesguidebook.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Coasteering-Swansea-Gower.jpg"]
South Wales is home to some of the best coasteering spots in the country, especially along the Gower Peninsular which I mentioned earlier.
Coasteering involves exploring the coast by scrambling over rocks, swimming through coves and deep water, and even jumping off cliffs for those brave enough. It's similar to canyoning which is popular in Mid-Wales, only along the coastline instead of through gorges.
You cannot do this by yourself and must use a tour operated who will provide safety gear and a qualified guide. Rip N Rock, Savage Adventures, and Anturfit are all tour companies offering coasteering in the Gower. Don't be worried if you're a beginner, the guides can always tailor the experience to your level, just let them know.
6. Visit the ruins of Tintern Abbey
Tintern Abbey is a ruined monastery in South Wales near the border with England. It was founded by Walter de Clare, Lord of Chepstow in 1131 and was once a bustling community of monks but it has now laid in ruins for almost 500 years.
As well as wandering the ruins, it's worth visiting the on-site museum which houses many artefacts that were found during the excavations of the abbey. Here, you'll be able to learn about the history of the abbey and the Cistercian order of monks who called it home.
The abbey is located in the Wye Valley which is an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty so be sure to spend some time exploring the surrounding countryside during your visit. There are plenty of hiking trails to explore and you might even spot some of the local wildlife!
Tours Wales provided a day-long tour where they will pick you up from Cardiff train station and take you to Tintern Abbey along with the ancient Roman remains of Caerleon and Caerwent, and several charming towns and villages along the way too.
7. Go wine tasting at Llanerch Vineyard
You might be surprised to learn that Wales has a thriving wine-making industry thanks to a cooler climate that produces crisp-tasting wines. The country is home to over 30 vineyards and one of the oldest ones is found in South Wales, called Llanerch Vineyard.
The grapes grown here produce around 10,000 bottles of their Cariad wines each year, including white, rose, and sparkling. They only make enough wine to sell at their onsite bar and restaurant so you'll have to visit and try it.
They also run vineyard tours which include a wine tasting. Having done the tour myself, I can highly recommend it as one of the most informative and engaging tours of its kind. You'll learn how to taste wine in their Tasting Lodge before heading out into the vineyard to see how the grapes are grown.
The tour also includes three very generous glasses of Cariad wine and a free gift to take home too. See my full review of Llanerch Vineyard for more information.
8. Brave the world's fastest seated zip line at Zipworld Tower
Zipworld are known for offering adrenaline-fuelled activities in North Wales, however, they have recently opened a site in South Wales too, called Zipworld Tower, which is home to the world's fastest seated zipline.
Nicknamed Phoenix, the zip line allows four people to simultaneously zip across the old mining site at Tower Colliery site in Aberdare, with the two stretches spanning a total of 1.5km and reaching speeds of up to 70mph (113kph).
That's not all on offer here, they also have a two-seater roller coaster, an adventure course with 55 different obstacles, and an additional mini zip line course which is great for kids and those that might not want to attempt the big one. As with all of their sites, there's an on-site restaurant so you can make a full day out from it.
9. Explore the largest castle in Wales, Caerphilly Castle
As someone who loves castles, nature, and cheese, it shouldn't come as much of a surprise that Caerphilly is one of my favourite places to visit in South Wales.
Just 11km (7 miles) north of Cardiff, the Welsh town is renowned for its castle which is the largest in Wales, and second largest in the UK, after Windsor Castle. The walls, towers and gatehouses of Caerphilly Castle cover more than 120,000m2, plus it has the unique 'leaning tower of Wales' which out-leans the tower of Pisa.
As well as the castle, there are plenty of other great things to do in Caerphilly such as climbing Caerphilly Mountain (the easiest mountain you'll ever climb) and visiting the Tudor manor house at Llancaiach Fawr.
The town is cheese crazy. You should try some of its famous Caerphilly Cheese, I recommend heading to Caerphilly Visitor Centre where there is a small cafe selling cheese sandwiches (or you can buy an entire block). Each year, Caerphilly hosts The Big Cheese Festival which includes the Great Cheese Race where participants race each other while carrying Caerphilly cheese.
10. Visit the open-air historical museum at St Fagans
St Fagans National Museum of History has easily earned its place among the best things to do in Wales because it showcases our rich heritage and cultural traditions in a way that no other museum can.
My favourite part of St Fagans is the open-air village which has more than 40 historic buildings from different periods of time which are open for you to explore. Some have been taken from other parts of Wales and reassembled whereas others have been recreated based on archaeological evidence of what they would have been like. These include an Iron-age roundhouse, a Tudor traders house, and a Victorian school.
There is much more to the museum including St Fagan’s Castle (which is more like a manor house than a castle) with its impressive gardens and the indoor galleries all about Welsh culture from the traditional Welsh dress to the national football team.
The museum is free to visit, although you'll need to pay for parking. Being mostly outdoors, it's perfect for those with dogs and is sure to keep children of all ages occupied. I would recommend spending the best part of a day here to explore everything the museum has to offer.
11. Have a lush time visiting Barry Island
Barry Shot to fame as the filming location of the BBC sitcom Gavin and Stacey. The town is best known for Barry Island where you'll find a large sandy beach, Barry Island Pleasure Park with fun fair and amusement arcades, plus the iconic colourful beach huts you can rent.
But my absolute favourite thing to do in Barry is visiting Barry Goodsheds (shown above). This 'sustainable high street' is made from shipping containers and old train carriages which house independent shops selling gifts, homeware, and clothing. They also have an incredible range of street food vendors with everything from Greek food to pizza.
If you're a fan of Gavin and Stacey like me, you can explore the filming locations by taking a Gavin and Stacey filming locations tour where you'll be escorted around the town onboard Dave's Coaches to discover the famous spots.
12. Visit the fairytale-esque Castell Coch
It wouldn't be a true list of activities if we didn't include at least a few castles and a must-visit castle in South Wales is Castell Coch. Also known as the Red Castle, Castell Coch sits within Fforest Fawr on the outskirts of Cardiff.
This castle is what’s known as a folly meaning it was built in the Victorian era but was constructed to look like an original medieval castle. Designed by the architect William Burges the interior of the castle was decorated with extravagant furnishings and looks very similar to Cardiff Castle if you've visited.
This is a paid attraction but it's great value for money. I particularly enjoyed the audio tour which is included with the entrance ticket. It gave lots of information about each room in the castle and pointed out features in the designs that I would have otherwise missed.
To make a full day out of it, the forest around it has lots of trails you can walk around including the popular sculpture discover trail and three bears cave walk. You might recognise some of the locations inside the castle and the surrounding forest from popular TV shows filmed in Wales including Sherlock, Robin Hood, and Dr Who.
13. See where all British coins are made at the Royal Mint Experience
Did you know all of the UK's coins are made in South Wales? You can visit the Royal Mint Experience in Llantrisant and see for yourself. On a tour of the facility, you'll learn how they make British coins along with 70 other currencies from around the world.
After the tour, there's a huge exhibition about the history of the Royal Mint and how coins evolved. During out tour, many people skipped this part but I'd encourage you to allow a good 90 minutes for your visit so that you can explore this interesting museum.
You can also see some of the other things made her including war medals, Olympic and Paralympic medals, and the Royal seal.
The cost of the guided tour is included in the admission fee, you can book tickets online here. At the end of the tour, we got to strike our own coins (extra cost). This was slightly underwhelming as you just press a button, but it's a nice souvenir to take home nonetheless.
14. Walk along the Glamorgan Heritage Coastline with Vale Trails
The Vale of Glamorgan is one of the most picturesque parts of South Wales, not least along its coastline where the Wales Coastal Path runs alongside rugged cliffs and dramatic views to sea.
The local tourism board have put together several great walking routes, known as Vale Trails, that will help you discover the county. There are 10 Vale Trails, each taking between 2 and 4 hours and with options for different fitness levels, you can find all the information here.
I have tried several of the trails, but my favourite is Vale Trail 2 which runs along coastline, across farmland, and includes several iconic landmarks such as Nash Point Lighthouse (shown above) and St Donat’s Castle. Keep in mind that this part of South Wales receives a sea breeze even on warm days, so pack plenty of layers.
15. See the rarest plants on the planet at the National Botanical Gardens for Wales
The National Botanic Garden of Wales is home to the world’s largest single-span glasshouse, measuring 110m by 60m wide
Whilst the focus is on the plants, this is a family attraction so there are plenty of activities to keep the family entertained. These vary by season but might include exhibitions, campfires, den building and wildlife safaris. I recommend you also check their 'What's on?' section for special events.
It's also home to the British Birds of Prey Centre which houses more than 20 birds such as hawks, falcons kites and buzzards. You can learn about these fascinating animals and see training demonstrations.
16. Visit an Old Coal Mine at the Big Pit National Coal Museum
The Big Pit National Coal Museum is a must-visit for anyone interested in the history of mining in Wales. The museum is located in a former coal mine and offers visitors the opportunity to take a tour of the underground tunnels which are located 300m below the surface.
The museum also has a number of interactive exhibits which tell the story of the Welsh mining industry, from its humble beginnings to its decline in the late 20th century. Plus, the museum is entirely free of charge so you have no reason to miss it.
17. Go Underground at the National Showcaves Centre for Wales
The National Showcaves Centre for Wales is located at the southern end of the Brecon Beacons National Park and is home to some of the most impressive caves in the UK.
Some of the most popular caves at the centre are Dan-yr-Ogof, which is known for its stunning stalactites and stalagmites, and the Cathedral Cave, where you'll find a 40ft high waterfall.
The centre offers tours of the caves which last around an hour and a half, and you'll get to see some incredible rock formations as well as learn about the history of the area. There's also a dinosaur park, a museum, and a kid's play area.
18. Visit the Victorian stately home at Tredegar House
Tredegar House is a magnificent National Trust property with over 500 years of history. It was once the home of the Morgan family who were very wealthy and also slightly eccentric. Today, you can visit the property which has been furnished exactly how it would have been back in Victorian times.
What made this such a great experience was the knowledgeable volunteers who really bought the story of the Morgan family alive. Telling tales about their crazy party and the unusual animals that also lived with them.
There are plenty of activities for children too including puppet shows and dressing up making this an excellent family activity. There is also a huge lake outside which you can walk around (you don't need to buy a ticket for this).
Whilst Newport, I also recommend visiting Newport Wetland Reserve which has several family-friendly walking trails and is a great place to see wild birds.
Related Questions
Where is South Wales?
South Wales (also known as South-East Wales) includes the counties of Cardiff, Swansea, Neath Port Talbot, Blaenau Gwent, Bridgend, Caerphilly, Merthyr, Monmouthshire, Newport, Torfaen, RCT, and the Vale of Glamorgan. In this guide, I may also share some activities that straddle the border with West and Mid-Wales.
Published: 24 May 2022 · Last updated: 23 August 2023