24 BEST Things To Do in Cardiff [2024 Guide]

As someone who spent three years living in Cardiff, it has a special place in my heart. The Welsh capital is a vibrant cosmopolitan city with a rich history from its days as one of Britain's most important ports.

Today, the city is great for tourists, with a huge number of museums, historical attractions, and several suburbs that are worth checking out, all of which I'll share with you in this guide to the best things to do in Cardiff.

Best Things To Do

1. Visit Cardiff Castle

There are few cities in Britain that have a castle right in the middle of the city, but the Welsh capital is one of them which is what makes visiting Cardiff so special.

There are lots of things to do inside the castle including visiting the Norman Keep which is still standing today, exploring the mansion and it's lavish interiors, and wandering through the castle walls which were used as air raid shelters during the World Wars.

The castle has a free app which provides information about different areas of the castle. However, for the best experience, I recommend paying a little extra for the guided house tour as they will take you to rooms that are otherwise not accessible with a regular ticket. Our guide was also extremely knowledgeable about the castle and its history.

The castle also has a museum, the Firing Line Museum, which tells you about the history of Welsh soldiers in the Queens Dragoon Guards (a regiment in the British Army) and the Royal Welsh Guards.

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2. Come face to face with dinosaurs at the National Museum Cardiff

Although there are several museums in Cardiff, my favourite is the National Museum Cardiff. It's a free museum that houses a vast collection representing the history and culture of Wales and the world.

The museum is split into several sections, the ground floors contain the natural history exhibits which will teach you about the transformation of Wales and the world over time, from the formation of Earth to the evolution of animals. This is my favourite part and will be loved by kids since it is where you'll find life-size dinosaur skeletons, wool mammoths, and whales, among other things.

The upper floors contain a series of art galleries including historic art, impressionist and modern art, contemporary art, ceramics, craft and design. They also have a temporary gallery which changes regularly. During my visit, they were showing an exhibition about 100 years of BBC Wales.

The museum is situated within Cardiff's Civic Centre, next to City Hall and Cardiff University. It's open Tuesday to Sunday, 10am to 5pm. You don't need to book ahead, just turn up when it suits you.

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Fogo’s also run an in-person walking tour every Tuesday, Saturday & Sunday at 11am. The tour lasts just over two hours, starting from The Hayes. However, advanced booking is required via their website as they can be fully booked.

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4. Explore the open-air historical museum at St Fagan's

St Fagans is another museum worth visiting, located around 20 minutes outside Cardiff by car. It's a huge complex with several different areas to explore, showcasing Welsh history, culture, lifestyle, and architecture.

My favourite part of this museum is the open-air village which has more than 40 historic buildings from different periods in Wales.

Some have been taken from other parts of the country and reassembled here, whereas others have been recreated based on archaeological evidence of what they would have looked like. These include an Iron-age roundhouse, a Tudor trader house, and a Victorian school.

Another part of the complex is St Fagan's Castle, although this is more like a manor house than other castles in Wales. Surrounding the castle are stunning gardens which include fountains, ponds, a vinery, and herb gardens.

You can also visit the indoor galleries to learn more about Welsh culture over the years. You can easily make a full day out of this with a restaurant to keep you fed and a high ropes course (extra charge).

The museum is open every day, from 9am-5pm and is totally free (except the ropes course), although you'll need to pay for parking which was £6 for a full day when I visited.

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5. Explore Cardiff Bay

Cardiff Bay is my favourite part of Cardiff to spend time in. Once a thriving port that brought wealth to the capital during the Industrial Revolution, it’s now one of the most successful regeneration projects in Britain.

It's where you'll find the Welsh Parliament buildings, the Wales Millennium Centre, and a shopping and dining district known as Mermaid Quay.

Here are some of the highlights of Cardiff Bay:

• Tour the Senedd – Explore the Welsh parliament building with a self-guided tour and see the chambers where the assembly members debate.
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• Ride the Giant Wheel – Cardiff Bay’s iconic 33m tall Ferris wheel is back.
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• Complete the Bay Trail – Walk or cycle the 10km loop around the bay.
  
• Visit Cardiff Bay Wetlands - A free-to-visit nature reserve where you can walk along the boardwalk and spot birds, ducks, and swans.

I’ve only scratched the surface here, you could easily spend an entire day down at the Bay.

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6. Catch a show at one of Cardiff's top live performance venues

One of the best evening activities in Cardiff is to catch a live show at one of the city's incredible performance venues. Schedules are always changing so here are a few of my favourite venues to check out:

• St David's Hall is the oldest venue in Cardiff and is ranked as one of the best-sounding concert halls in the world. It hosts a variety of different shows from pantomimes to music gigs, counting U2, Adele, and Sir Elton John among past performers (view listings).
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• The Wales Millennium Centre in Cardiff Bay is Wales' main performing arts venue hosting ballet, opera, and classical music performances (view listings).
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• New Theatre is a historic theatre in the heart of the city that hosts a variety of performances, including musicals, plays, comedies, and concerts (view listings).
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• Cardiff International Arena is a multi-purpose indoor arena that hosts large-scale concerts and sporting events. You will likely need to book tickets for these events well ahead of time but I wanted to include it anyway (view listings).

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7. Take a tour of BBC Cymru Wales' new headquarters

BBC Cymru Wales has recently moved to a brand new headquarters at Central Square in Cardiff city centre. This is now the centre of all broadcasting in Wales and is home to TV and radio studios.

BBC Cymru Wales is responsible for several well-known BBC dramas including Dr Who, Sherlock, and His Dark Materials (although these are filmed and produced over at Roath Lock Studios).

You can take a behind-the-scenes guided tour of the headquarters, known as BBC Cymru Wales New Broadcasting House, where you'll learn about the role of the BBC in Wales, see the newsrooms, and discover the latest cameras and augmented reality technology that is being used here.

Tours run three times per day from Thursday to Sunday and cost £13 per person. Find out more here.

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8. Wander around Cardiff's famous Victorian arcades

Cardiff has the nickname 'city of arcades' for a good reason. It's home to seven beautiful historical arcades with unusual and exquisite interiors. 

The Cardiff Victorian Arcades are well-preserved and are still thriving. Unlike Queen Street or other main shopping areas in Cardiff which are full of chain stores, the arcades are full of independent traders selling everything from vintage clothing to skateboards.

There are also lots of cute places to eat and drink, my favourites being Uncommon Ground for coffee in Royal Arcade and Barkers Tea Room for a fantastic afternoon tea in High Street Arcade (pictured above).

The must-see arcades you should visit include the Castle, Morgan, Wyndham, High Street, and Royal Arcade, which is the city's oldest arcade (source: City of Arcades).

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9. Learn about the history of the capital at the Museum of Cardiff

The Cardiff Story Museum (also known as the Museum of Cardiff) is located in the old library building in the area known as The Hayes.

The Cardiff Story Museum focuses on the history of Cardiff with a lot of exhibits about the growth of Cardiff and Cardiff Docks during the Industrial Revolution.

One of my favourite displays was a large model of Bute Town and Cardiff Bay as it would have been in the heyday of the docks. Important buildings light up and you can learn about them.

When I visited, there was a special interactive display where I was allowed to handle some of the objects while learning about them which was something different for a museum.

As well as permanent displays, they have temporary displays, one-day events, and craft sessions. The best place to find out about these things is via their Facebook page.

This is a great rainy day activity to keep in your back pocket! The museum is free to visit and open every day from 10am-4pm.

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10. Take a boat trip down the Taff

If you're planning a trip to the bay (which I absolutely recommend you do), instead of taking the bus or train, why not enjoy a slightly different mode of transport and get there by boat.

Public boat tours run from Bute Park near Cardiff Castle to Cardiff Bay every day and take about 20-25 minutes each way. There are two companies running boat services along the Taff:

• Aquabus - Services run every hour, on the hour from 10am-5pm and costs £6.
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• Cardiff Boat - The Princess Katherine (shown above) runs at half past the hour from 10.30am until 4.30pm. It costs £7 and includes an onboard commentary of the surroundings.

Even if you don't want to visit Cardiff Bay, you can stay onboard the boat and come straight back again. The round trip will take around 1 hour.

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11. Go rafting, kayaking, or tubing at Cardiff International White Water

Part of Cardiff's International Sporting Village in Cardiff Bay, Cardiff International White Water (CIWW) is a man-made white water rafting centre.

It was originally built for the 2012 Olympics and is still used by professionals, but it's also open to the public where you can try your hand at a variety of water sports including rafting, kayaking, canoeing, and stand-up paddle boarding. One of the most-loved activities is tubing where you can ride around the rapids in a rubber ring for two hours.

Prices for watersports start from around £35 per person and there are activities suitable for adults and children as young as 6 years old. They have also added a new ropes course called Air Trail with climbing, zip lining, and obstacles.

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12. Get a Feel of Nature at Bute Park

Provided the weather is friendly, there is no other place a lover of nature would want to be in than Bute Park. The beautiful park stands next to the National Museum and is open to the public.

Thus, you can go in and stroll aimlessly, wondering as you view the beautiful vegetation around. You will also have a chance to explore the park's hidden wonders like the Animal Wall and the 21 sculptures (source: Bute Park).

Many locals and students visit Bute Park daily, especially during the weekends. Hence, it is a great place to get a feel of Cardiff's local life. There are cycle paths, walk paths, gardens, playing fields, cafes, and benches within the park. Thus, you can walk, ride, sit and relax, or interact with people.

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13. Mint your own coin at the Royal Mint Experience

One of my most interesting facts about Wales is that we produce coins for over 60 different currencies around the world, including our very own British pound. This is all done at the Royal Mint in Llantrisant, just a 30-minute drive from Cardiff.

You can visit the Royal Mint where you can find out about the history of coins, see how they are made, and even strike your own coin. There is also an exhibition where you can see some rare items including medals from the Olympics and Sir Isaac Newton’s notes.

I would advise that you allow around 3 hours in total for the activity. You can find out more and book a ticket here.

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14. Check out the fairy tale Castell Coch

Cardiff is home to another impressive castle, but this one doesn’t have a city centre location, it’s around 25 minutes drive away in the ancient beech woods of Fforest Fawr.

Castell Coch dates back to the 13^th century, although it lay mostly in ruins for many years until it fell into the hands of the third marquess of Bute in the late 19^th century. He commissioned his chief architect, William Burgess, to revive it. This is the same architect responsible for many of the lavish interiors at Cardiff Castle.

The English translation of it's name is 'Red Castle' which refers to the red sandstone found in the area. Castell Coch is recognisable from its fairytale-esque towers that rise from the forest. The cute scenery makes it a great activity for couples in Cardiff.

On a visit to the castle, you can explore the banqueting halls, the bedrooms, the kitchens, and climb the towers.

I also recommend that you allow extra time to explore the surrounding forest. There are several trails including the Fforest Fawr Sculpture Discovery Trail, plus you might spot some locations where popular dramas such as Merlin are filmed.

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15. Take a trip to Flat Holm Island

Flat Holm Island is a small island in the Bristol Channel, about 5 miles off the coast of Cardiff.

The island’s unique position in the channel means that it contains a lighthouse and several old fortifications. It’s also home to rare plants such as rock sea-lavender and colonies of lesser black-backed gulls, herring gulls, and great black-backed gulls. You might also spot slowworms which look similar to snakes although are harmless to humans so you don’t need to worry.

Once you arrive on the island, you can wander around by yourself or take a guided tour of the island’s history with the warden. There is also a small cafe on the island where you can buy food and drinks.

The two companies offering trips to Flatholm Island are Bay Island Voyages (departs from Cardiff Bay) and Cardiff Cruises (departs from Penarth). You’ll typically spend around 2-3 hours exploring the island.

Note that there is a £5 per person cash-only landing fee once you arrive, this is in addition to the ticket cost. This is a seasonal activity and does not run every day so I recommend planning ahead if this is something you want to do.

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16. Explore South Wales with the Wandering Bard

Cardiff is just one of many awesome things to do in South Wales which is full of historical landmarks, stunning landscapes, and quaint market towns.

With the Wandering Bard’s tour of South Wales, you can check off several of these attractions in one day, all with the help of your local guide who is also a historian and native Welsh speaker.

You’ll be picked up right in the middle of Cardiff outside the Hilton Hotel and will spend the day with a small group of up to 8 people visiting Caerphilly Castle (shown above), Tintern Abbey, and the town of Chepstow.

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17. Cycle the Taff Trail

Cardiff is a very cycle-friendly city with lots of options for hiring bicycles and several great routes to choose from depending on your ability. My favourite route is the Cardiff Bay Trail (mentioned earlier) which is a flat 10km (6 mile) route that’s great for beginners.

For something more challenging, Cardiff sits at the end of the Taff Trail, an 88km (55 mile) walking and cycling trail that runs from the Brecon Beacons to Cardiff Bay.

The full Taff Trail is a strenuous route, so a moderate alternative is to cycle along the Ely Trail to St Fagan’s and then join the Taff Trail back to Cardiff. Find out more about this 29km (18 mile) route here.

If you want to create your own route, this map shows lots of cycling routes in the city or you can join an organised cycling event with Lets Ride, an initiative from British Cycling.

If you need to hire a bicycle, I recommend heading to Pedal Power who have two locations in Cardiff and offer proper mountain bikes or e-bikes starting with prices around £20 per day.

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18. Have a night out on St Mary’s Street

It would be wrong of me to talk about things to do in Cardiff without mentioning its nightlife. The city has many bars, restaurants, and nightclubs. Some of these are very obvious but the gems are often a little more hidden.

Most of the traditional nightlife centres around St Mary’s Street which is where you’ll find cocktail bars, speakeasies, rooftop bars, nightclubs, and more. A couple of bars I recommend are The Alchemist for its bewitching cocktails and classy décor, The Botanist for its rooftop terrace, and Coyote Ugly for partying.

When I visit Cardiff, I prefer to go out on a weekday as it's a bit less hectic than the weekends when locals from the surrounding areas descend on the city. Don't worry, it's still very lively mid-week due to it being a big student city.

For some more niche evening activities, the board games café Chance’N’Counters is open until later most evenings or you can play arcade games at Kongs or NQ64. There’s also a thriving craft beer scene in Cardiff with Zerodegrees and the Mad Dog Brewery Taproom.

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19. See Cardiff from the Hop-on Hop-off bus

Cardiff is a relatively small city so getting around on foot is very doable. However, if you’d rather sit back and let someone else drive you around, the hop-on hop-off bus might be a better way to discover the city.

You can take to the open-top bus (or sit inside if it’s raining) and let the wind flow through your hair while you learn about the city from an audioguide. There will be the opportunity to get off and enjoy some of the attractions along the way and resume your journey with the next bus.

There are two companies offering hop-on hop-off buses around Cardiff, these are City Sightseeing and Tootbus. Both are a similar price, although I’d recommend Tootbus as they have more stops and you get two days to use the pass instead of one.

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20. Visit Roath Park

Cardiff has many beautiful parks, but one of my favourites is Roath Park where you'll find manicured gardens, tree-lined paths, and the huge Roath Lake which is home to ducks and swans.

There are playgrounds equipped with slides, swings, and climbing frames. During the summer, you can rent a pedal boat to go out on the lake.

You can also visit the Roath Park Conservatory, a Victorian glasshouse showcasing exotic plants and hosting captivating exhibitions.

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21. Try Welsh Cakes at the iconic Cardiff Market

Cardiff Market has been an iconic venue in the city since Victorian times. The building used to be the city gaol and is where executions took place, but its days of capital punishment are long gone and it's now a great place to find unique gifts, fresh produce, and delicious food.

Spread across two floors, the market is home to over 60 different traders selling everything from second-hand books and records to unique hats and handmade cards.

But for me, it's the food that makes the market. Some of my favourite stalls include Cardiff Bakestones, which sells some of the best Welsh cakes in the city, and Kreme of Cardiff, a brand-new stall selling desserts ranging from doughnuts to cheesecake.

The market is open 8am-5pm, every day except Sundays.

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22. Follow in the footsteps of Gavin and Stacey on Barry Island

If you fancy taking a day trip out of the city, you can head to the iconic Barry Island which has shot to fame since it was the setting for the hit TV series Gavin and Stacey.

The large sandy beach is perfect for relaxing and you can even rent out one of the colourful beach huts for the day. Nearby, Barry Island Pleasure Park is home to 17 different rides and amusements including the classic Ferris wheel, dodgems, and a log flume.

Of course, Gavin and Stacey fans will want to join the guided tour where you’ll be driven around by Dave’s coaches to see filming locations from the show. Find out full details of the official Gavin and Stacey tour here.

I would also recommend checking out Barry Goodsheds, a brand-new sustainable high street full of independent food, drink, and retail vendors. My full Barry Island visitors guide has more information about the best things to do.

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23. Catch a rugby match at the Principality Stadium

The Principality Stadium in Cardiff came into existence in 1999 and immediately became the centre of Welsh Rugby. The magnificent stadium, formerly the Millenium Stadium, can take 74,500 cheering fans, creating an incredible atmosphere during live games. 

If you visit Cardiff and are lucky enough to be around for a match day, I highly recommend getting a ticket for an unmissable experience. Especially during the Six Nations matches which are held here during February and March. Find out about upcoming fixtures here.

When there aren't any matches on, you can take a guided tour for a behind-the-scenes look at the Wales' biggest sporting stadium. You can visit the changing rooms, the press conference area, and walk through the tunnel into the pitch.

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24. Visit the oldest surviving record shop in the world, Spillers Records

Cardiff is home to Spillers Records, which has been operational since 1894 and claims to be the oldest record shop in the world. If you are a music fan, this place is one to visit.

Originally located in Cardiff's High Street, it moved to its current location in the historic Morgan Arcade in 1912.

It is a shrine of some sort for everything rock 'n' roll. Scattered across the small shop is an extensive collection of vinyl records, CDs, and cassettes. From rock and pop to jazz and classical, there's something for everyone..

The walls are adorned with vintage decor and a range of merchandise collected over the years. They also host live gigs and DJ sets from time to time.

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Where To Stay in Cardiff

In my opinion, Cardiff Bay is the best area to stay in Cardiff. It’s the most modern and safe part of the city and is home to several luxury hotels that tend to be better value than the high-end hotels in the city centre.

Voco St. David's Cardiff (£££) - My top pick in Cardiff Bay is the iconic Voco St. David's hotel which has an onsite spa and a great view of Cardiff's skyline. It's a five-star hotel, but you can still get some great deals, especially mid-week.

If you'd rather have the convenience of staying in the city centre itself, I recommend the area around Cardiff Castle, known as Castle Quarter.

Most of the hotels around here have excellent views, plus you can easily walk to the main shopping area, the Civic Centre, where you’ll find the National Museum Cardiff, and Bute Park which is the sprawling green park next to the castle.

The Angel Hotel (££)- The Angel Hotel is a fancy yet affordable hotel in a prime location in Castel Quarter, right next to Cardiff Castle.

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Related Questions

Is Cardiff Worth Visiting?

Yes, Cardiff is worth visiting because there are so many different activities to do, from the historic castle in the centre of the city to the regenerated Cardiff Bay and a ton of museums across the city, many of which are free.

How Long Should I Spend in Cardiff?

Most people visiting Cardiff spend a weekend there, however, two days isn't enough time to experience everything that the capital has to offer. I would recommend spending at least 4 days in Cardiff, this will give you time to visit all of the museums and explore different areas of the city without rushing.

Is It Expensive To Visit Cardiff?

Yes, Cardiff is one of the more expensive places to visit which isn't surprising given that it's the capital of Wales. Hotel prices vary depending upon the time of year and time of week so they can be anywhere between £80-£300. The other major cost will be parking if you are travelling by car, this can easily cost £25 per day for a secure car park. However, there are plenty of free things to do in Cardiff including free museums, walking trails, and tours.