Day 1 Cardiff City Centre

A visit to Cardiff Castle is a must. Its a medieval fortress with a history spanning over 2,000 years. There are guided tours through the opulent Victora in Gothic interiors designed by architect William Burgess. There are other exhibits and the Norman Keep to explore.

From the castle you can take a picnic to Bute Park with its amazing arboretum including the highest number of “champion trees” in any UK public park (a champion tree is the tallest or largest recorded in the British Isles). Alternatively cross the road in front of the castle and start to explore the Edwardian and Victorian Arcades where over 100 independent shops, restaurants and cafes sit within the beautiful architecture. You could join a tour with Loving Welsh Food.

To find out more about the history of Cardiff visit the Museum of Cardiff. Near to this is the Principality Stadium, the home of Welsh rugby. Here they offer tours and also zip wire experiences. In this part of the city you can also join a tour of the BBC Wales Studios, and get a behind the scenes look at tv production.

To end the day a visit to the National Museum Cardiff is a must. It houses an extensive collection of art, natural history, and archaeology, and is home to one of Europe’s best collections of Impressionist paintings.

Day 2 Cardiff Bay

Cardiff Bay is the largest waterfront in Europe. It was a busy coal port but now with the barrage it is a stunning place to explore. There are lots of interesting building and artworks remembering key points from thepast, including the Merchant Seafarers’ War Memorial and the Enormous Crocodile which reminds us that Roald Dahl was born in Cardiff. There is a great trail to explore with or without a guide.

Key buildings to visit include the Senedd, the Wales Parliament Building, the Wales Millenium Centre and the Norwegian Church. Children also love Techniquest.

In the afternoon why not hope on a boat trip. Either a quiet trip around the Bay, or a speedboat adventure. You can also book a boat trip into the Severn Estuary and visit Flatholm, an island with a fascinating past and a wealth of wildlife.

‍

Cardiff's Cultural Scene

If you want some ideas for the evening with your group then Cardiff has a great cultural scene. New Theatre, Wales Millennium Centre and Chapter Arts Centre host events throughout the year. There are also major music events at various venues including in the Castle and at Principality Stadium, and smaller music venues like Tramshed Cardiff and Clwb Ifor Bach.

Use a Guide

A guide will bring any visit to life. Check out Best Wales Guides or here are some other ideas.

• Fogo’s Free Tours: Features a city centre tour (Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, Sunday) starting at the John Batchelor Statue and a Cardiff Bay tour.
• Invisible Cities: Social enterprise tours, including "Poetry, Protest and Place" and city history tours led by locals.
• Doctor Who Walking Tour: A two-hour guided tour exploring filming locations in the city center, starting at Cardiff Castle
• Cardiff Dark Side Tour: Focuses on the city's hidden history of crime, executions, and ghosts.

‍

‍