Things to do in Cardiff

Activities, attractions and tours

Cardiff featuring street scenes, night scenes and a city
Cardiff featuring a square or plaza, modern architecture and a statue or sculpture
Bute Park which includes heritage elements, château or palace and heritage architecture
Cardiff Castle showing interior views, château or palace and art
Cardiff Castle featuring château or palace, heritage elements and interior views
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Top places to visit

1. Principality Stadium

Opened in June 1999 complete with the first fully retractable roof in the UK, it has hosted some of the world’s most famous sporting events as well as concerts featuring the biggest entertainers in show business, from Take That, One Direction and Oasis to Madonna, Rihanna and Beyoncé.
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Millennium Stadium showing a river or creek and modern architecture

2. Cardiff Castle

A 12-sided medieval keep offering panoramic views across the city from a platform at its top is at the castle’s heart, but the site is also full of later additions that capture the imagination. Fabulous mock-Gothic features, including an extravagant banqueting hall and clock tower, were added during the Victorian era.
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Cardiff Castle featuring heritage architecture, heritage elements and château or palace

3. Barry Island Beach

Sun worshippers have been flocking here since Victorian times to what is essentially a small island, though joined now to the mainland since 1896 by a small pier. The site of a Butlins holiday camp during the 1960’s, Barry Beach is perfect for families, with its signature calling card being Barry Island Pleasure Park. Come here for crowds, candy floss and sticks of rock, the scream of the rollercoaster and the thump of the dodgems.
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Aerial panorama of Barry Island, Wales, UK

4. Cardiff University

One of the UK’s major teaching and research universities, in its 2014 University Guide the Sunday Times described Cardiff as “the acknowledged leader of higher education in Wales”. The previous year it hailed it as a “powerhouse of academic and research excellence”.
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Main building of Cardiff University - Wales; Shutterstock ID 289260233; purchase_order: Comps; job: ; client: ; other:

5. Utilita Arena Cardiff

The main area of the arena is a hugely versatile space capable of staging a wide variety of events, from trade exhibitions to music concerts and stand-up shows. It is capable of holding a standing audience of 7,500 people, a number that falls to 5,000 for seated events.
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D6WYKM Aerial photograph of the Cardiff Motorpoint Arena

6. Wales Millennium Centre

The centre, opened in 2004, was designed by Jonathan Adams and is made up of slate in shades of green, grey and purple enveloped in an attention-grabbing bronzed steel shell. The roof above the main entrance is pierced by huge letter-shaped windows, beautifully backlit at night, which spell out poetic phrases.
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Wales Millennium Centre featuring signage, modern architecture and street scenes

What to do in Cardiff

Popular places to visit

Millennium Stadium showing a river or creek and modern architecture

Principality Stadium

4.5/5(198 reviews)

The spiritual home of Welsh rugby, the Principality Stadiumin Cardiff is one of the most famous sporting arenas on the planet, envied the world over for its cauldron-like atmosphere and state-of-the-art facilities.

Principality Stadium
Wales Millennium Centre showing modern architecture, a city and a square or plaza

Cardiff Bay

4.5/5(190 reviews)

Explore the waterfront in Cardiff with a trip to Cardiff Bay. Discover the top-notch restaurants and acclaimed theatre scene in this relaxing area.

Cardiff Bay
Cardiff Castle featuring heritage architecture, heritage elements and château or palace

Cardiff Castle

4.5/5(251 reviews)

Located in the heart of the city centre, Cardiff Castle is one of Wales’ most important cultural attractions. A rich history spanning 2,000 years is contained within its walls and fairytale-style towers.

Cardiff Castle
Barry Island Beach

Barry Island Beach

4/5(76 reviews)

If you’re looking for a quintessential Welsh seaside experience, look no further than Barry Beach in the picturesque Vale of Glamorgan.

Barry Island Beach
Cardiff University

Cardiff University

4/5(44 reviews)

Founded by Royal Charter in 1883 and located in the heart of the thriving Welsh capital, Cardiff University has built an international reputation for the quality of its work.

Cardiff University
Utilita Arena Cardiff

Utilita Arena Cardiff

4.5/5(59 reviews)

Cardiff Motorpoint Arena is located on Mary Ann Street in the heart of Cardiff. It was opened in 1993 and is the largest purpose-built facility for staging exhibitions and concerts in South Wales.

Utilita Arena Cardiff
Wales Millennium Centre featuring signage, modern architecture and street scenes

Wales Millennium Centre

4.5/5(210 reviews)

An architectural masterpiece, the Wales Millennium Centre is at the heart of Cardiff Bay, a wonderfully regenerated area full of striking buildings, wide open spaces and intriguing pieces of public art.

Wales Millennium Centre
Tintern Abbey showing heritage elements, religious elements and a church or cathedral

Tintern Abbey

4.5/5(26 reviews)

The monastic ruins of Tintern Abbey are nestled in the heart of the Wye Valley area of outstanding natural beauty and can boast 900 years of history in their walls. This was the first Cistercian abbey built in Wales and only the second in Britain, and despite now being exposed to the elements, it remains one of the most stunning surviving examples of gothic architecture in the country.

Tintern Abbey
Bute Park featuring heritage elements, château or palace and heritage architecture

Bute Park

5/5(4 reviews)

One of the great city parks of the world, Bute Park is a favoured haunt of both locals and visitors alike. First landscaped in the 18th Century by legendary garden designer Capability Brown, this 130 acre park is known as the ‘Green Heart’ of Cardiff and offers a leafy habitat for exercise, picnics and recreation, not to mention a wealth of seasonal attractions.

Bute Park

Areas of Cardiff

Cardiff which includes a statue or sculpture, a city and a square or plaza

Cardiff City Centre

4/5(888 area reviews)

Gourmet restaurants interesting history and top sights from St. David's to Utilita Arena Cardiff – discover Cardiff City Centre, a destination also famous for its shopping.

Cardiff City Centre
Cardiff which includes a statue or sculpture, a city and a square or plaza

Castle Quarter

Cosy bars interesting history and top sights from Cardiff Market to St. David's – discover Castle Quarter, a destination also famous for its shopping.

Castle Quarter
Wales Millennium Centre showing modern architecture, a city and a square or plaza

Butetown

4/5(275 area reviews)

The abundant dining options and relaxing spas are top of the list for many visitors to Butetown. A stop by Wales Millennium Centre or Cardiff Bay Water Feature might round out your trip.

Butetown
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Grangetown

3.5/5(8 area reviews)

You'll enjoy the bars and live music in Grangetown. You might want to make time for a stop at Cardiff Bay or Cardiff International Sports Village.

Grangetown
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Photo by Mick Lobb (CC BY-SA)

Whitchurch

4/5(29 area reviews)

Whitchurch is popular for its ample dining options, and you might make a stop by Forest Farm Country Park, a top place to visit in the area.

Whitchurch
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Pontcanna

4.5/5(70 area reviews)

Bars, historical sites and gardens highlight some of the notable features of Pontcanna. Make a stop by Swalec Stadium while you're exploring.

Pontcanna

 

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Wills Memorial Building which includes heritage elements, a city and night scenes

Bristol

Tintern Abbey showing heritage architecture, heritage elements and a ruin

Chepstow

Newport

Newport

Photo by Stephen Keen

Porthcawl

Photo "Magor" by Mrs Blorenge (CC BY-SA) / Cropped from original
Photo by Mrs Blorenge (CC BY-SA)

Magor

Photo by Gareth Bickerton

Aberdare

Photo "Pontypridd" by John Lord (CC BY-SA) / Cropped from original
Photo by John Lord (CC BY-SA)

Pontypridd

Barry

Barry

Frequently asked questions

Is Cardiff worth visiting?
One of the most popular things to do in Cardiff is visit Cardiff Castle. Tick this leading attraction off your to-do list, then discover more of the area's culture and shopping.
How do I spend a day in Cardiff?
After you've checked off leading attractions like Cardiff Castle and Cardiff Bay Waterfront, spend the rest of your day exploring Cardiff's retail and dining scene.
What is the top tourist attraction in Cardiff?
The top tourist attraction in Cardiff is Cardiff Castle, so don't forget to add it to your sightseeing list.
Is three days enough to stay in Cardiff?
Three days in Cardiff is enough to visit the city's key attractions. Many guests book for two days on average. Cardiff Castle, Cardiff Bay Waterfront and New Theatre are highly rated sights. Want to see more? Hang around a bit longer to visit nearby hotspots such as Bristol.
Is Cardiff a walkable city?
Some top sights in Cardiff, including Cardiff Castle and Cardiff Bay Waterfront, are within walking distance. You can also discover several of the city's neighbourhoods on foot. Only 0.16 kilometres from central Cardiff is Cardiff City Centre and Castle Quarter is 0.16 kilometres away.
What are some activities to do in Cardiff with kids?
Planning what to do in Cardiff with kids has never been easier. Whether you have teenagers or little ones, there are lots of family-friendly tours and attractions to keep them happy here.

What to do in Cardiff for adults?
Cardiff City Hall and The Senedd are just a couple of the things to do in Cardiff. With plenty of activities available, there's something here for everyone to explore.
Are there free things to do in Cardiff?
One of the simplest ways to discover free things to do in Cardiff is to speak with a local tour guide. You'll get insider advice on exciting neighbourhoods, parks and other hotspots you can visit without reaching for your wallet. Cardiff Bay Waterfront is one sight that doesn't charge an admission fee.

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