Best Things to Do in Cardiff: Top 12 Activities & Attractions (2024)

Wonder the best things to do in Cardiff? The city has a rich history and is also the youngest capital of the UK, with a spirit of innovation everywhere you look.Along with world-class museums and state-of-the-art theatres, Cardiff has more than its fair share of hidden treasures: vintage stores, independent pubs, and eateries that serve perpetually sourced Welsh cuisine. Even the 2,000-year-old Cardiff Castle brings a whole new experience, while Cardiff Bay has been transformed from a drab marina into a wildlife and watersports paradise.

From surprise journeys to exclusive culinary delights, follow us through Cardiff’s fun and charm.

As the city has grown, Cardiff Bay has undergone a dramatic redevelopment from historic docks to the modern seaside destination we know today. It’s full of restaurants, bars and the impressive Wales Millennium Centre, a world-class venue for staging plays, musicals and live performances.

Few people know that Cardiff Bay also has a nature reserve, a lush haven for birds and lovers oftranquility. The wetland reserve covers around 8 hectares and can be accessed from gravel footpaths and boardwalks, making walking in Cardiff a fantastic free activity. The reserve is rich in flora and fauna and includes a viewing area that extends out over the water, perfect for bird watching.

What would your answer be if you were asked about what to do in Cardiff? My answer is to cycle around the whole city.

Thanks to Pont y Werin, the ‘People’s Bridge,’ there is a complete4.5 milesloop around Cardiff Bay. The trail offers a lovely loop to ride or walk, connecting all of Cardiff Bay’s iconic sights, attractions, and activities.

It is designed for cyclists and walkers alike and is the perfect route for families and cyclists looking for a leisurely ride along the waterfront. If you’re tired from your journey, try one of Coffi Co’s delicious cookies or creamy cappuccinos on the way—they’re guaranteed to perk you up.

Talk about food, you must have these things to do in Cardiff:

1.Cowbridge Road’s Ansh Burger,

2.Cardiff Market’s Ffwrnes Pizzeria,

3.Canton’s award-winning curry house Purple Poppadom

4. Westgate Street’s Bar 44 Tapas Bar.

Bar 44 Tapas Bar on Westgate Street has expanded its culinary offerings with anewsister restaurant, Asador 44, on Quay Street. Asador 44 brings the unique Spanish ‘Asador style’ cooking to the Welsh capital, offering a new and exciting dining experience. To taste Cardiff’s culinary history, visit Hayes Island Snack Bar, a local landmark serving the bestbacon rolls since 1948. And explore the diverse neighbourhood restaurants, including Milkwood and Heaney’s in Pontcanna and The Heathco*ck in Llandaff, the latter being a new addition by the team behind the award-winning Hare and Hounds in Abercyn.

Cardiff is a treasure trove of culinarydelights with a wide range of locally sourced ingredients. From organic beef reared in the Vale of Glamorganto freshly caught seafood like crab, lobster, and scallops, the city offers a diverse and rich culinary experience. Whether you’re exploring the street food at the Riverside Market, held every Sunday opposite the National Stadium, or indulging in the fine dining at Michelin restaurant Nook, Cardiff takes pride in its homegrown ingredients.

Cardiff has a restaurant of some note: the Clink Restaurant. Its prison restaurant’s philosophy is to “bring the power of goodness through good food”, an award-winning rehabilitation program primarily involving Cardiff Prison inmates. The assistance they provide helps to enhance the service and cooking in the restaurant, producing top-quality dishes and afternoon teas, so it’s not just a meal but an opportunity to make a difference in lives.

Cowbridge, with its gourmet farmers’ market and beautiful castle ruins, is full of Welsh charm, and this picturesque town is just a 35-minute bus ride from Cardiff. have a trip there will be nice things to do in Cardiff.

The Bear Hotel is set in a bustling commercial area, and rooms date back to the 12th century, with warm, cosy fireplaces, high beamed ceilings, and modern, bright interiors in bedrooms. The interiors of the bedrooms are modern and bright. Nearby, Hensol Castle is a micro-distillery where you can make and bottle your gin in small batches.

Lodge on the Lake is only 10 kilometers from the city but offers complete isolation and tranquility. Nestled on the shores of Lake Cefn Mable, famous for its fishing, cycling, and hiking, this lodge is just a short walk from Cefn Mable Farm. Each day offers a new adventure, from breakfast on the lake-view balcony in the morning to stargazing in the private hot tub at night.

If you are interested in history, things to do in Cardiff Wales are various. Step back at the National Museum Cardiff or St fa*gans National History Museum in Cathays Park. The National Museum Cardiff is a treasure trove of world art, housing renowned exhibitions such as Tim Peake’s spacecraft and masterpieces by Grayson Perry and Francis Bacon. Its permanent collection boasts a diverse range of world-class art and history, from a captivating dinosaur exhibition to a stunning array of Impressionist paintings.

On the outskirts of Cardiff is the St. fa*gan’s National History Museum. This unique open-air museum provides fascinating insights into the Welsh story and allows visitors to discover their roots.

The museum has reconstructed over 50 historic buildings across Wales, including a Victorian school, a medieval church, traditional stores, and a workers’ college.

You can follow the museum’s social media channels for new events, talks, and exhibits.

Bute Park, a green oasis in the heart of the city, is not just a park. It’s a gateway to adventure. Starting from the city centre, with a castle at one end, the park seamlessly connects to the Blackweir and Pontcanna fields. Here, you can embark on endless walks along its trails, bask in the shade of its trees, or follow the meandering path of the River Taff.

Steeped in history, Bute Park was gifted to thepeople of Cardiff by the Marquess of Bute in 1948. Since then, it has become a beloved spotfor locals and visitors. The park offers a variety of amenities, including walking and cycling trails, fitness features, sculptures, and the iconic Animal Wall, a masterpiece by architect William Burgess.

As you approach the main entrance to Bute Park (across from the Holiday Inn) in Cardiff’s city centre, you’ll notice the Pettigrew Peter’s Tea Room in the old castle cottage. It’s a great place to stop and enjoy afternoon tea after a walk in the park. This is definitely one of the top things to do in Cardiff.

The park is known for its arboretum collection, with over 3,000 individually catalogued tree species and lots of wildlife to keep your eyes peeled for.

Head to the Secret Garden Café in the city centre for a delicious brunch, vegetable salad or hot chocolate to warm you up on your walk.

Stroll along the banks of the River Taff and through Blackweir Forest, andyou’ll forget you’re in the heart of the capital city. Perfect for walkers, joggers and kickers.

Get out of the city centre and check out the outskirts of Cardiff – the locals know where the best places to eat, drink and walk are.

Pontcanna, just west of the city centre, is a great place to grab a coffee or lunch and admire the colourful (and spacious) townhouses.

This leafy suburb boasts a range of independent shops and cafes, including Ground Bakery, a new business opened by MasterChef star Thomas Simmons in Pontanna. This small, well-organised place serves sandwiches, soups, and stews, as well as excellent toast and quiches. On lazy weekend mornings, the Plantain Deli is a favourite for coffee and brunch, as is Hardlines for home-brewed coffee.

A few steps away is Insole Court, a beautiful mansion preserved by the community, which is open to visitors and has a lovely cafe.

Whitchurch Village has long been a popular suburb of Cardiff with plenty of cafes, pubs and shops. You can even get authentic chips at Cooper’s Cafe, a traditional cafe in the centre of Whitchurch Village.

Wellfield Road is another busy suburb with independent shops, cafes and restaurants. Savour delicious pasta and pizza at La Dolce Vita, tasty kebabs at Troy Meze Bar and reasonably priced charity teas at St. Andrew’s Coffee Court.

Another fun things to do Cardiff is go to the Principality Stadium. This majestic structure, dominating the city’s skyline, is a beacon that draws in visitors from all over. It’s not just a sports arena but a symbol of Cardiff’s vibrant culture and a testament to the city’s love for rugby, as seen during the Six Nations and autumn internationals.

In addition to attracting thousands of sports fans—it hosted the Champions League final in 2017—it also has a strong reputation as a music venue, with Ed Sheeran, Take That, and Beyoncé among the big names who have performed here.

You can rock out without a sporting event, thanks to the stadium music circuit. As a 74,000-seat venue, it has also hosted boxer Anthony Joshua.

Over the last decade, a vast shopping centre, St David’s, has dramatically changed shopping in Cardiff. And its beautiful Victorian arcades make it stand out from the rest of the city. These charming arcades boast over 100 independent cafes, bars and shops in the city centre.

Walk through the arcades, and you’ll find 150 years of Welsh retail history coming together under the roofs of classic Victorian and Edwardian buildings and modern elements.

These arcades are home to cafes like The Plan in Morgan Arcade and Madame Froage in Castle Arcade and delis like Fresh in Royal Arcade, where people queue outside the door every lunchtime.

With its array of independent shops, quirky cafes, and the distinction of being the world’s oldest record shop, the Arcade is an absolute must-see in Cardiff. When you are bored or do not know what things to do in Cardiff city centre, why not go to St. Davis and venture into this maze of history and top-quality food? you’ll find an excitement that is simply irresistible!

Cardiff Castle is a fantastic historical attraction and home to various events, concerts, and festivals. Thanks to the famous Castle Key, which has been awarded to the people of Cardiff since 1947, Cardiff residents have free access to the castle.

For those who live orwork in the city, the process of acquiring a Castle Key is straightforward. This key, valid for three years, not only provides free entry to the attraction but also offers a 10 per cent discount in the gift shop and Keep Terrace’s kitchen and bar. Visitors from outside Cardiff can easily purchase tickets from Ticketsource.

While the public square isopen to all, the true essence of Cardiff Castle can only be experienced by ticket holders. These tickets,valid throughout the day, unlock the opportunity to climb the majestic Norman Keep, explore the Castle Apartments, discover the Roman remains, visit the Frontier Military Museum, and even step into a wartime refuge.

The castle itself is an assortment of medieval and Victorian Gothic architecture and is fun to explore. Be prepared to climb the steps of Norman Keep, which are steeper than steep but offer glorious views of the city from the top.

On the edge of Cardiff is Garth Hill, a small hill between the neighbourhoods of Llantwit Fardre and Pentyrch. Gass Hill can be seen from almost the whole of Cardiff city and the Taff Vale, and on a sunny, clear day from as far as Weston across the Bristol Channel in south-west England.

Walkers can walk to the trip point at the top of Garth Hill. The Garth Hill Walk is a trail of about 6 kilometres that takes you to the summit of the 1,007-foot Garth Hill. Rather than a mountain, it is a hill where Hugh Grant’s 1995 film the Englishman Who Went Up a Hill But Came Down a Mountain was filmed.

There are several starting points for this strenuous hill walk, and many walkers either start at Tufts Well or the village of Gwaelod-y-garth.Thisis one of the most challenging days in Cardiff, so you’ll need decent hiking gear, a map or super handy apps.

Historic Sites:Cardiff Castle is one of the city’s most famous historic attractions, visited by thousands of tourists every year, and the National Museum Cardiff is a rich source of art and crafts, symbolising the city’s history.

Cultural Diversity:Cardiff is a very inclusive city with a wide range of festivals and events and a rich gastronomic offer, brought together by people from different parts of the country.

Passion for sport:The Principality Stadium hosts significant events such as rugby matches and concerts, so Cardiff is passionate about year-round sports.

Green space:Cardiff has yet to abandon trees and grass as a modern city. It still has many parks and green spaces, such as Bute Par and Roath Park, which bring tranquility and beautiful outdoor spaces to the city’s residents.

Excellence in Education:Cardiff is home to exceptional schools like Cardiff University, which attracts students seeking a top-notch education. Students and teachers create a vibrant learning environment.