Itineraries for Your Trip to Cardiff
How to Spend 1 Day in Cardiff
Cardiff might not be the first place you think to visit in the UK—given the popularity of the English capital, London, and the Scottish capital, Edinburgh—but you’d be doing the region a disservice if you skipped the Welsh capital on your next visit. I should know—I spent three of the best years of my life living there, as an undergrad at Cardiff University.
In my opinion, this small and walkable city, just a 4-hour drive from London, is actually one of the best places in the UK to explore independent businesses, deep-rooted culture, historic attractions, and gorgeous landscapes just a stone’s throw from the center. Here’s how to spend one day in Cardiff.
Cardiff is one of the wettest cities in the UK, so come prepared for potential downpours year-round.
If you only have time for one thing, make it a visit to Cardiff Castle—it’s situated right in the city center.
Start your morning early with breakfast in the city center—there are plenty of coffee and brunch spots to choose from, but be sure to sample a Welsh cake for a touch of local flavor. Then, take a customizable private tour with a local to maximize your limited time in the city and see the sights that interest you most; exploring Cardiff Castle, one of the must-see attractions in the capital, is always a good idea. Conveniently, there are plenty of start times and durations to choose from, though the 2-hour option is ideal for a 1-day Cardiff itinerary.
Make sure your morning’s activity is wrapped by 11am, and join a tasting tour through Cardiff’s well-preserved, 19th-century Victorian arcades—there are several to explore in the city—just before lunchtime rolls around. Not only will you get to learn more about the historical buildings themselves, but you’ll also sample several different bites (plus wine!), which means you won’t have to worry about lunch reservations. Plus, time for shopping in Cardiff’s arcades ensures any souvenirs are taken care of, too. After your tour, walk off the food with a stroll through leafy Bute Park.
One of the best things to do in Cardiff for first timers is taking a nightlife tour to visit some of the top after-hours locations that make this city one of the UK’s coolest destinations. Live music is almost always a given here, while craft breweries abound, too—check out Tiny Rebel, near the Principality Stadium, for some local brews. Alternatively, catch a show down at the Wales Millennium Centre in Cardiff Bay; a self-guided audio tour will help you learn more about the surroundings before or after your evening out, and there are also plenty of bars and restaurants to choose from.
