Cardiff, United Kingdom

Cardiff packs a genuine medieval castle into its city center, alongside a redeveloped bay area and a compact, walkable core that's easy to see in a day or two. Fast rail links to London and the rest of South Wales make it a convenient short stop within the UK.

Top attractions

• •Cardiff Castle, right in the city center
• •Cardiff Bay and the Wales Millennium Centre
• •Principality Stadium, especially on a rugby match day
• •St Fagans National Museum of History, an open-air museum just outside the center
• •Cardiff Market, a Victorian indoor market

Practical tips

• •The T9 Traws Cymru bus runs every 20 minutes between the airport and both Cardiff city center and Cardiff Bay; alternatively, a shuttle bus connects to Rhoose station for an onward train into Cardiff Central.
• •Rugby international match days fill the city center and push hotel prices up sharply — check the Principality Stadium fixture list before booking.
• •Welsh place names and much of the signage are bilingual English/Welsh — don't be surprised by the different-looking name on road signs and stations.

Frequently asked questions