What makes Cardiff so special is its mix of old and new culture, its vibrant food scene, its major events and the beautiful countryside on its doorstep. Enjoy!

map of Wales showing the cities.

Map of the cities in Wales, including the capital city Cardiff in South Wales

Arts and culture

Cardiff is a city full of culture. National Museum Cardiff houses the largest collection of Impressionist art outside Paris as well as works spanning over 500 years of art history. The Museum of Cardiff tells the tale of the city from its 1300s origins to present day. For alternative culture head to Chapter Arts Centre in Canton – a hive of independent film, art, theatre and creativity.

Exterior of National Museum Wales, Cardiff.
A couple looking at a small statue, with a painting behind them, and a large sculpture to the side in the foreground

National Museum Cardiff, South Wales

Waterlilies by Monet

National Museum Cardiff

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Cardiff
Landscape of the attractions at Cardiff Bay seen from the water.

Museum of Cardiff

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Cardiff
Landscape of the attractions at Cardiff Bay seen from the water.
Welcome to Chapter | Croeso i Chapter

Chapter Arts Centre

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Cardiff
Landscape of the attractions at Cardiff Bay seen from the water.

Shopping

Weaving through the city is nearly a kilometre of arcades, dating back to Victorian and Edwardian times. Inside you can find independent shops, family-run cafes and cute boutiques. Highlights include Hobo's for vintage clothing, Rules of Play for board game enthusiasts and the world’s oldest record shop, Spillers Records. You can find high-end stores and well-known brands in the large modern shopping centre, St David's, just five minutes from the arcades. If you fancy a food walking tour around the diverse shopping arcades of the city then Loving Welsh Food provide a City of Arcades Testing Tour. There's the free City of Arcades history and culture guided walking tour with Fogo’s Free Tours, which operates a 'pay as you feel' basis after the tour. For more ideas, check out our specific guide to shopping in Cardiff.  

Cardiff Tasting Tour

Loving Welsh Food

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Cardiff
Landscape of the attractions at Cardiff Bay seen from the water.
Cardiff Walking Tour

Fogo's Free Tours

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Cardiff
Landscape of the attractions at Cardiff Bay seen from the water.
Couple shopping in Morgan Arcade, Cardiff.

Shopping in Cardiff's Victorian arcades, South Wales

Cardiff Bay 

This area of the city was hugely significant in the 1900s, being the main way of transporting coal from South Wales to the rest of the world. It has since been reinvented into a waterfront escape from the city's bustle. Wales Millennium Centre is the country's equivalent to the Sydney Opera House, hosting shows, performances and major events inside a spectacular architectural delight. The Senedd, home to the National Assembly for Wales, and the Pierhead are nearby, as is the Norwegian Church in which the legendary author Roald Dahl was baptised. Why not check out our guide to Cardiff Bay to make the most of your visit?

Wales Millennium Centre

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Cardiff
Landscape of the attractions at Cardiff Bay seen from the water.
Senedd

Senedd

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Cardiff
Landscape of the attractions at Cardiff Bay seen from the water.
A view of Cardiff Bay from the water showing buildings and a big wheel

Cardiff Bay, South Wales

Cardiff Castle 

Originating from Roman times, Cardiff Castle sits right in the middle of the city. It had a major transformation during the 19th century, where the rooms were decorated in an ornate Gothic style by William Burges. There are plenty of things to see and do at Cardiff Castle. For example, a tour of the interior shows you the luxurious gold and marble furnishings, floral carvings and elaborate décor.

A food safari

The city offers a world of food experiences to suit all tastes. Visit City Road in Roath or Cowbridge Road East in Canton for authentic international cuisine at fair prices. Highlights include for Bangkok Cafe Thai food and Mina for Lebanese cuisine. Mill Lane in the city centre has fancy bars for cocktails, and there are a number of good restaurants on High Street and St Mary’s Street, such as The Potted Pig.

Take a trip down Womanby Street to Tiny Rebel, famous for its beer made in a small brewery based near Cardiff. Don't forget Cardiff Indoor Market and the Cardiff Farmers’ Markets in Riverside, Roath and Rhiwbina for a wide range of tasty goods from some of the best food producers in Wales.

Cardiff Castle Summer Room

Cardiff Castle

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Cardiff
Landscape of the attractions at Cardiff Bay seen from the water.
Cardiff Market - Trinity Street Entrance

Cardiff Market

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Cardiff
Landscape of the attractions at Cardiff Bay seen from the water.
Trader and customer at a stall in Cardiff Market
The beautiful market hall from 1891, Cardiff.
A selection of baked goods including pancakes and Welshcakes

Cardiff Indoor market, South Wales

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