Cardiff, Wales
The Welsh capital is a vast open space with plenty of opportunities for recreation and exploration during any length visit. Cardiff has plenty to offer both young and old, and is an inviting city for tourists with a variety of interests. Here are five essential activities for visitors to the South Wales city...
Stroll around the Bay
Cardiff’s Bay has consistently had strong links with commerce through its bustling port, but since the early 1990’s there have been many more reasons to visit the city’s expanding area. The Wales Millennium Centre, Pierhead Building and Senedd (the latter of which is the National Assembly for Wales building) are standout attractions, but there are also plenty of restaurants and bars in the vicinity of Mermaid Quay which make visiting on an evening a good decision. Just a short walk away by the Bay is the Red Dragon Centre which houses several popular chain restaurants, a multi-screen cinema and a casino.
A walk to either side of the arched Bay provides spectacular views of the redevelopment and gives a real sense of how Cardiff has grown into one of the United Kingdom’s most popular tourist locations.
Conquer the Castle
At the centre of the Welsh capital is a medieval castle which made an appearance as early as the 3rd century. An imposing brick wall surrounds the beautiful parkland area Sofia Gardens, but the structure doesn’t stop an enjoyment of the beautiful green space during a summer’s afternoon. The South Gate Tower is the entry point for castle visitors who can enjoy a walk around the grounds and a guided tour for a small fee. Climbing to the top of the castle provides excellent views of the city and offers a spectacular panoramic view of the buildings inside the castle wall.
Visit the Seaside Sanctuary of Penarth
From the modern piers of Cardiff Bay it is worth taking a short trip either round or across the water to the suburb of Penarth which is viewable from the city itself. The steep streets, pretty shops and Victorian surroundings of Penarth are well worth a visit whether you reach them by foot or by boat. Despite its proximity to Cardiff, Penarth has an atmosphere of its own with an ornate pier and a picturesque beachfront. The village’s beauty lies in its simplicity, and as a perfect relaxation point away from the city centre hustle and bustle.
Shop till you drop
Cardiff’s large and ever-expanding city centre makes it a perfect place to shop at any time of the year. High street stores in the Welsh capital are very diverse and offer a great range of choice with many visitors choosing to head towards the Saint David’s Centre for a vast shopping experience to cater for every need. The huge retail development is at the heart of the city centre and currently stacks up inside the top twelve in terms of size in the UK. With over 200 shops, St David’s receives around 30m visitors each year who undoubtedly leave with bags-a-plenty. It is by no means the only venue in Cardiff available for shopping, but packing both shops and restaurants under one roof, it is definitely the most popular.
Hear the Millennium Roar
On the banks of the River Taff sits Cardiff’s Millennium stadium, widely revered as one of the most atmospheric sports facilities in the world. From 2001 to 2007 during the redevelopment of Wembley Stadium in London, the Millennium hosted all of the FA’s major competitive finals and earned a reputation for itself as one of the best days out in the football calendar. The stadium’s prior and post use for football’s biggest occasions has been as the home of Welsh rugby where 75,000 passionate home fans pack themselves into the ground to watch the team play.
The Millennium Stadium also plays host to the Welsh national football team and played a role in London’s successful hosting of the 2012 Olympics by hosting group and knock-out stage games.
Cardiff’s Bay has consistently had strong links with commerce through its bustling port, but since the early 1990’s there have been many more reasons to visit the city’s expanding area. The Wales Millennium Centre, Pierhead Building and Senedd (the latter of which is the National Assembly for Wales building) are standout attractions, but there are also plenty of restaurants and bars in the vicinity of Mermaid Quay which make visiting on an evening a good decision. Just a short walk away by the Bay is the Red Dragon Centre which houses several popular chain restaurants, a multi-screen cinema and a casino.
A walk to either side of the arched Bay provides spectacular views of the redevelopment and gives a real sense of how Cardiff has grown into one of the United Kingdom’s most popular tourist locations.
Conquer the Castle
At the centre of the Welsh capital is a medieval castle which made an appearance as early as the 3rd century. An imposing brick wall surrounds the beautiful parkland area Sofia Gardens, but the structure doesn’t stop an enjoyment of the beautiful green space during a summer’s afternoon. The South Gate Tower is the entry point for castle visitors who can enjoy a walk around the grounds and a guided tour for a small fee. Climbing to the top of the castle provides excellent views of the city and offers a spectacular panoramic view of the buildings inside the castle wall.
Visit the Seaside Sanctuary of Penarth
From the modern piers of Cardiff Bay it is worth taking a short trip either round or across the water to the suburb of Penarth which is viewable from the city itself. The steep streets, pretty shops and Victorian surroundings of Penarth are well worth a visit whether you reach them by foot or by boat. Despite its proximity to Cardiff, Penarth has an atmosphere of its own with an ornate pier and a picturesque beachfront. The village’s beauty lies in its simplicity, and as a perfect relaxation point away from the city centre hustle and bustle.
Shop till you drop
Cardiff’s large and ever-expanding city centre makes it a perfect place to shop at any time of the year. High street stores in the Welsh capital are very diverse and offer a great range of choice with many visitors choosing to head towards the Saint David’s Centre for a vast shopping experience to cater for every need. The huge retail development is at the heart of the city centre and currently stacks up inside the top twelve in terms of size in the UK. With over 200 shops, St David’s receives around 30m visitors each year who undoubtedly leave with bags-a-plenty. It is by no means the only venue in Cardiff available for shopping, but packing both shops and restaurants under one roof, it is definitely the most popular.
Hear the Millennium Roar
On the banks of the River Taff sits Cardiff’s Millennium stadium, widely revered as one of the most atmospheric sports facilities in the world. From 2001 to 2007 during the redevelopment of Wembley Stadium in London, the Millennium hosted all of the FA’s major competitive finals and earned a reputation for itself as one of the best days out in the football calendar. The stadium’s prior and post use for football’s biggest occasions has been as the home of Welsh rugby where 75,000 passionate home fans pack themselves into the ground to watch the team play.
The Millennium Stadium also plays host to the Welsh national football team and played a role in London’s successful hosting of the 2012 Olympics by hosting group and knock-out stage games.