Cardiff is one of the most expensive places to visit in Wales when it comes to the cost of accommodation and parking, which isn’t surprising given that it’s our biggest and most important city.
However, there’s also another side to the capital where you can find plenty of cheap or even free activities in Cardiff, from museums to self-guided tours, and government buildings. I’ve compiled them all here for those visiting Cardiff on a budget.
1. Learn about the history of Wales at the National Museum Cardiff
Cardiff is a treasure trove of free museums. My favourite one in the city centre 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 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.
2. Take a self-guided walking tour around the city
My favourite way to get to know a new city and learn about its history is by taking a walking tour.
That’s why I’ve put two AudioWalk in Cardiff. These are self-guided walking tours that will take you around the top landmarks with an audio guide to tell you what to look for. The two tours are:
- Cardiff City Centre AudioWalk – My ultimate city walking tour, starting outside Cardiff Castle and ending near City Hall. This will take about 90 minutes to complete but you are free to take stops on the way.
ㅤ - Cardiff Bay AudioWalk – This 45-minute tour takes you around the Bay from the Norweigan Church Arts Centre to the panorama stone near Techniquest.
The self-guided tours can be found on my Wales Guidebook: AudioWalks app which is available for Apple and Android. Each tour is just £4.99 to buy which goes towards the cost of running the app. The tour uses GPS to help you navigate around the city using the on-screen map.
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.
3. Visit the open-air village at St Fagans National Museum of History
Located just a short drive outside Cardiff, St Fagans National Museum of History is a sprawling complex where you can learn about Welsh history, culture, lifestyle, and architecture.
My favourite part of this museum is the open-air village, featuring over 40 historic buildings from various periods. Some of the buildings were transported and reassembled, while others were recreated based on archaeological evidence. This includes an Iron Age roundhouse, a Tudor trader's house, and a medieval parish church.
St Fagan's Castle (more like a manor house than a castle) stands as another highlight, surrounded by stunning gardens with fountains, ponds, a vinery, and herb gardens.
Inside the main building of the museum, there are several galleries where you can learn more about the culture of Wales and the people who lived here. The museum is open daily from 9am to 5pm, and entry is free of charge, excluding the ropes course. However, you will need to pay £6 per car for a full day of parking.
If you are interested in paranormal activity, they also run occasional ghost tours at St Fagans which is one of my favourite things to do in Cardiff at night.
4. Spot birds and wildlife at Cardiff Bay Wetland Reserve
The Cardiff Bay Wetland Reserve (more commonly called the Cardiff Bay Wetlands) is a wildlife reserve on the former salt marshes in Cardiff Bay. The wetlands is home to many different types of birds including common perching birds, ducks, and swans.
It's totally free to visit, just head to St David’s Hotel, the 5-star hotel in Cardiff Bay with the roof that looks like a seabird swopping down. From here, look for the large bronze rope knot sculpture which marks the start of the wetlands trail.
Follow the path around and you’ll eventually end up at the main boardwalk which is the most scenic spot and the best place to spot wildlife. It won't take longer than 20 minutes to visit the reserve as it's relatively small.
5. See the Norman Keep in Cardiff Castle Courtyard
Cardiff Castle is the medieval castle and mansion in the heart of the capital city and is one of the top things to do in Cardiff.
Although you can’t enter the castle keep, mansion, or museum without a pricey admission ticket, what most people don’t realise is that you can go into the castle courtyard for free where you can see the Norman keep from afar and enjoy a drink from the castle café.
The café has an outdoor seating area which is perfect on a sunny day when you can soak up the atmosphere of the courtyard without paying for a ticket.
6. Walk around Bute Park
Bute Park is a stunning public park located in the heart of the city, right next to the castle. In fact, it was once part of the castle grounds before both were gifted to the city.
The park offers a tranquil oasis for visitors to relax and explore. See if you can spot the sculptures and the remains of a Blackfriars Friary that once stood here.
You can turn your visit into a game with the Love Exploring app which has quizzes and trails around the park.
Bute Park often hosts events and festivals, many of which are free to visit such as the Tafwyl festival which celebrates the Welsh language. Find out about upcoming events in Bute Park here.
7. Explore Cardiff’s Victorian arcades
Cardiff's Victorian arcades are a cherished part of the city's heritage that were built during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. These arcades feature stunning Victorian architecture and intricate detailing, transporting visitors to a bygone era.
The arcades have become a haven for independent businesses, with many unique and eclectic shops popping up inside, including bakeries, art shops, clothing stores, and more.
A couple of notable establishments to look out for as you explore the different arcades include Barker Tea House (High Street Arcade), Wally’s Delicatessen (Royal Arcade) and Spillers Records, the oldest operating record shop in the world (Morgan Arcade).
8. Cycle across the barrage on the Cardiff Bay Trail
One of my favourite ways of exploring the beautiful views of Cardiff Bay is by taking the bay’s 10km trail. Many people do not realise that Cardiff Bay is actually a lake thanks to the Cardiff Bay Barrage which acts like a large dam to retain water in the bay.
There is a path across the barrage so you can complete the circular route, known as the Cardiff Bay Trail, on foot or by bicycle (my preferred option). The path takes you on a journey through the heart of the bay, past some of its most iconic landmarks, statues, and stunning waterfront views.
If you don’t have your own bicycle, You can also pick up a pay-as-you-go OVO bike or e-bike from one of the stations around Cardiff Bay
If you don’t have access to a bicycle, you can hire one for the day from Pedal Power, although keep in mind their Cardiff Bay branch is seasonal. Alternatively, look out for the green OVO bikes at the stations by Voco St Davdid’s and Roald Dahl Plas. These are pay-as-you-go with prices starting at just £1.
Depending upon your fitness level, the bay trail will take around 2 hours to walk or 30 minutes to cycle. You can find a full route map along with points of interest along the way here.
9. Discover the city’s past at the Cardiff Story Museum
The Cardiff Story Museum is another free museum in Cardiff, located in the old library building in the central area known as The Hayes.
This museum focuses on the history of Cardiff and particularly its growth during the industrial revolution thanks to the Bute family.
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.
10. Find the Sculpture Trail at Fforest Fawr
Fforest Fawr is a picturesque woodland about 20 minutes outside of Cardiff by car. The forest is characterised by ancient trees, lush vegetation, and diverse wildlife. It’s best known as the home of Castell Coch, a fairytale-like castle that you can visit (free if you are a CADW member).
However, I’m including Fforest Fawr here because it also contains several waymarked trails you can follow including the free sculpture trail.
The sculpture trail is designed to keep children engaged during the route as they hunt for the large wooden sculptures. The trail ends with a panoramic view across the valley and mountains.
Other trails in Fforest Fawr include the Three Bears Cave walk which takes you near the iconic cave that’s been used as a filming location in several TV shows such as Dr Who and Sherlock.
The start point for all of these trails is at the Fforest Fawr car park where there are information boards with maps of each route.
11. Eat local food at 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 free to visit and home to over 60 different traders selling everything from second-hand books and records to unique hats and handmade cards, all at great prices.
The highlight has to be the local food, especially Cardiff Bakestones, who sell some of the best Welsh cakes in Cardiff, and Kreme of Cardiff, a brand-new stall selling desserts ranging from doughnuts to cheesecake.
12. Tour the heart of Welsh democracy at the Senedd
The Senedd is an iconic building in Cardiff Bay that’s home to the elected Welsh Government. They make the laws that govern Wales as part of its devolution settlement with the UK.
The Senedd is a completely open building that anyone can enter for free.
Inside, you can explore the public galleries, view a timeline of Wales’ devolution history, check out the latest exhibition, and enjoy a coffee in the Oriel on the second floor.
There are no public guided tours available, however, what most people don’t know is that there’s a free self-guided audio tour which will teach you about everything from democracy in Wales to all the sustainable features of the building.
Speak to reception when you arrive and they can provide you with equipment to listen to the tours or you can listen using your own device, the tours are on Soundcloud here.
Tip: The Pierhead Building (that’s the red-brick building next door to the Senedd) is also part of the Welsh Government complex and is free to visit too. Although there’s only a small exhibition inside.
Published: 6 July 2023