Wales’ Capital Culture: 13 Things to Do in Cardiff
Being the capital city of Wales, there are things to do in Cardiff that will give you the best experience of Welsh culture.
I was born and raised in Cardiff City and I’m going to give you 13 activities to try to show you the very best of the ‘diff. Take these insider tips for Cardiff from a local’s perspective for Wales’ capital culture.
You can visit for a day trip from London or part of a week itinerary for Wales but I would recommend that you spend a weekend in Cardiff to enjoy the lushness of it!
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How I Would Describe Cardiff
I like to think of Cardiff as a mini version of London… but better. Okay, England has Her Majesty Liz but Wales is home to Sir Tom Jones and Gareth Bale.
Cardiff has everything you want right in the centre and most of Cardiff attractions are within walking distance. Cardiffians are so friendly and you’ll always catch a smile from a local!
I absolutely love Cardiff and think it’s such an underrated UK city. Maybe people just haven’t known the best places to go in Cardiff to get a local and Welsh experience. Well, read this Cardiff travel guide for an off the beaten path place in the UK.
Let’s get to Wales’ Capital Culture!
How to Get to Cardiff
Cardiff is located in South Wales and is accessible by car, bus, train and plane.
- Cardiff International Airport is about 30 minutes from the centre and there are taxis, rental cars and trains to get you to Cardiff. From the airport there are shuttle buses that take you to the train station called ‘Rhoose’ and from there is one direct line to ‘Cardiff Central’. This costs about £6. Taxis can vary and cost almost as much as £40 but can take you directly to your accommodation.
- You can use coach services such as National Express or Megabus to get to Cardiff from other major cities. A Megabus ticket from London to Cardiff can cost as little as £5!
- Train services run throughout the entire UK but these can be pricey but the comfort level is much better.
Where to Stay in Cardiff
When you spend a weekend in Cardiff, you want to be in the heart of the action because unless you’re going on day trips outside of the city, you won’t need to use transport to get around.
Therefore, I would recommend staying in the centre of the city or staying in Cardiff Bay. I always use booking.com to book my stays around the world and they have a range of places to stay in Cardiff.
For budget accommodation in the heart of the capital, get a room at Bunkhouse hostel.
If you’re looking to stay somewhere with a touch of luxury, check in to the Park Plaza on Greyfriars Road or Marriott Hotel near Mill Lane. Both Greyfriars Road and Mill Lane are top attractions in Cardiff for shopping, restaurants and nightlife.
Things to Do in Cardiff: The List
- Cardiff Castle
- Taste Welshcakes
- Cardiff Bay
- Theatres
- Cardiff Museum
- Pub Grub
- Cardiff Market
- Coffee at Big Moose
- Roath Park
- Game at Principality Stadium
- Clwb Ifor Bach
- Chippy Lane
- St Fagans
Cardiff Castle – History in Cardiff Centre
Jumping right in for the history side of Cardiff’s culture, Cardiff Castle is located in the heart of the city centre and dates back to 3rd century Roman Fort and later built by Norman invaders.
Entry is £14.50 for adults and lower for concession tickets. You can go on tours of the castle inside rooms and learn the history of the last 2000 years.
Taste Welsh Cakes – Wales’ Capital Culture in a Snack
You can’t visit Cardiff and not try Welsh cakes. They are baked little lushness traditionally topped with raisins and sugar in circles.
I have one favourite company for Welsh cakes who make them just like homemade ones called Fabulous Welshcakes located opposite Cardiff Castle and in Cardiff Bay.
Cardiff Bay Trip
Cardiff Bay also known as Cardiff Docks is a historical ship dock and once was one of the busiest coal ports in the world. Cardiff Bay is a diverse area of Cardiff just 15 minute walk from the centre and now one of the largest waterfront developments in Europe.
I was born and lived in Cardiff Bay until I was about 10 and I really hold the place close to my heart with its nostalgia and comfort it brings me and I’d love for you to enjoy it too.
I could write a whole blog post on Cardiff Bay (and I probably will) but for a few ideas you could: get an ice cream and stroll around, visit the Norwegian Church (where Roald Dahl was baptised), go on an exclusive Doctor Who filming locations trip, tour the seat of the Welsh Assembly, have a laugh at the Glee Club or watch a musical in Wales Millennium Centre. If you want to know what to do in Cardiff, the Bay has lots of answers.
Additionally, you can visit the Barrage just a short walk from the Bay to Penarth.
Theatres
Wales Millennium Centre is the biggest theatre in Cardiff and this is where the West End shows do their UK tour but there are other theatres you can catch shows at too.
You could try the Sherman Theatre in the student area of Cathays, Chapter Arts Centre in Canton or the New Theatre in the city centre, close to an architectural view of the grand City Hall.
Read Next: 20 Phrases You Only Hear in South Wales
National Museum Cardiff
Also close to city hall is the National Museum Cardiff. For art, natural history and touring exhibitions. You can visit the museum for one of the free things to do in Cardiff.
One of the great things is that there are things to do for free in Cardiff such as the museum and it’s great to visit on a rainy day.
Pub Grub
Okay, one of the staple parts of British Culture is enjoying drinking culture and cheap pub grub!
Pub Grub is usually cheap and easy slap-up meals such as pies, fish and chips or burgers in a local pub, washed down with cheap pints. This is a great way to experience local culture of Cardiff.
Try Prince of Wales pub for an authentic, city-centre, rough and ready pub grub experience!
Related Post: Street Food at Cardiff’s Depot
Cardiff Market
Cardiff’s indoor market has been around since 1700’s and retains that original, working class atmosphere. Here is where you’ll find local culture at its best with all walks of life, the proper Cardiff accents and just a buzzing hustle and bustle.
I remember coming here almost every Saturday with my mum or nan for an egg roll and it has always had the same smells.
Your arrival is overwhelmed with the smell of fresh fish then overtaken by rusty bannister and stairs either side mixed with sounds of sizzling fry ups and traders shouting that day’s fruit deals.
Shopping in Cardiff is in abundance with lots of options. The best places for shopping in Cardiff would be St David’s Centre, Queen Street and of course, Cardiff Market.
Coffee at Big Moose
I’d like to think that part of every culture is a want to help others. The UK is currently facing a high number of homelessness and Cardiff is no exception. If you’re in the city and stop for a coffee break, go to Big Moose where profits are all reinvested to good causes.
To read more go to their website here.
Roath Park
Roath Park is a big area just on the outskirts of the centre but still in walking distance. Here you can enjoy a bit of nature in the gardens. There is also the big Roath Park Lake where you can rent a rowing boat and feed the swans.
For the nature escape in the dead centre, head to Bute Park instead.
Principality Stadium
Formally, and to locals, known as Millennium Stadium, the principality stadium is the home of great Welsh sport and concerts. The Champions League final was held here in 2017 and the Spice Girls came in 2019.
If you’re in Cardiff during the Rugby Six Nations (Feb/March), get some tickets for a game in the stadium. If you can’t get tickets, then make sure you’re outside to hear the rendition of Mae Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau (Welsh national anthem) and in Cardiff for the best atmosphere in the city. This is Welsh culture at its finest. We love rugby and more importantly, we love our national anthem.
Welsh singing and the Welsh language are vital to our culture in Cardiff and visiting the stadium on game days especially will give you the very best experience.
You can also go to Cardiff Arms Park for local Rugby games or of course, the home of the Bluebirds: Cardiff City Stadium.
Clwb Ifor Bach aka Welsh Club
Nightlife in Cardiff is known for being lively and a good night out. It’s way smaller than the likes of London, Bristol and Birmingham but fun none the less.
With the likes of the Student Union, Buffalo, Mocka Lounge, Peppermint and Live Lounge, there are lots of places to party and all within walking distance of each other. Head to Greyfriars Road, Mill Lane or Womanby Street to find some of the best.
Clwb Ifor Bach aka Welsh Club aka Clwb is something I’d recommend for a weekend in Cardiff. There’s lots of floors playing different types of music and regularly has DJ’s/raves happening to suit your needs. It stays open into the daylight hours when Cardiff is about to wake up.
Womanby Street on which Clwb is located is a great site to see itself with street art, food carts and locals.
Chippy Lane
This one lane in Cardiff is infamous, legendary, unmissable for things to do in Cardiff at night. Every person who has lived in Cardiff will know exactly where this place is, it’s ingrained in our culture.
Chippy Lane (real name is Caroline Street) and referenced in the famous Gavin & Stacey show, is in the heart of the nightlife action and does what it says on the tin: a lane full of chip shops. But these are the good chips you can find in Cardiff after a night out or a day at the Stadium and there are plenty of taxis waiting outside this hotspot at 2am.
I’ve seen that Caroline Street has falsely been called ‘chippy alley’ or ‘chip street’ … take it from a local, it is called chippy lane and when you say otherwise, we know you’re an out-of-towner.
St Fagans
St Fagans National Museum of History is a re-erected, and restored, old Welsh village. Here you can learn about the story of Wales, its history and old way of life as well as partake is workshops and get a true insight to Welsh culture and heritage.
Found on the outskirts of the centre, this is one of the Cardiff attractions you’ll need public transport to reach. There is a train station near St Fagans but using a car / taxi is easier.
Another free thing to do in Cardiff but you do have to pay for parking here.
This Cardiff & Vale Guided Tour visits St Fagans, the Castle, the Bay and 9 other places of interest!
More Cardiff Things To Do
- Visit Events like Street Food Nights and Bingo Lingo at Cardiff’s Depot.
- Doctor Who Exhibition
- Day Trips to Caerphilly, Barry, South Wales Valleys, Pen Y Fan
- Walk the Taff Trail
- Llandaff Cathedral
- White Water Rafting
- International Pool
- Castell Coch is a fairytale castle near Cardiff
- Techniquest Centre
- Cardiff Storey Museum
- Brecon Beacons is not far which has many mountains, waterfalls, hikes and reservoirs
- Eat a meal at the prison’s restaurant: The Clink
If you want to book a guided day tour of Cardiff (with Covid measures in place), you can book a tour with Viator here.
There are more things to do in Cardiff, of course, but these I think are the highlights and perhaps the best way to visit Cardiff and experience the Welsh culture when travelling the UK. I hope you now have a good idea for what to do in Cardiff and when you arrive, don’t be put off by the Welsh signs everywhere! 😉
Thanks / Diolch for reading my Cardiff travel guide.
UK Blog Posts:
- What is British Culture?
- When to Visit Wales
- London’s V&A Museum: A Guide
- West Wales Weekend Trip
- Gavin and Stacey Guide for Filming Locations
- Checking In: A Log Cabin in Taunton
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