Cardiff travel guide
Cardiff Tourism | Cardiff Guide
You're Going to Love Cardiff
With a population of 302,139, Cardiff is the largest city in Wales, United Kingdom by the number of inhabitants. It is one of the most popular cities to visit in the country. Cardiff deserves at least 2 full days for you to see its main sights.
Activities & attractions in Cardiff
Where to Eat in Cardiff
If you’re looking for affordable options, The Ivy Cardiff (69/70 St David’s) and The Ivy Asia, Cardiff (84/85 St.David's Shopping Centre) are great picks. For delicious green meals, Gaucho - Cardiff (The Hayes) and Silures (55 Wellfield Rd) are recommended spots to get vegetarian or vegan food in Cardiff.
When to visit Cardiff
Looking for warm weather? Then head to Cardiff in July, when the average temperature is 64.4 °F, and the highest can go up to 71.6 °F. The coldest month, on the other hand, is December, when it can get as cold as 39.2 °F, with an average temperature of 39.2 °F. You’re likely to see more rain in January, when precipitation is around 3.5″. In contrast, April is usually the driest month of the year in Cardiff, with an average rainfall of 2″.
How to Get to Cardiff
Plane
When flying to Cardiff, you’ll arrive at Cardiff Airport (CWL), which is located 9 miles from the city center. The shortest flight to Cardiff from the United States departs from New York and takes around 16h.
Train
AccesRail is the most popular train carrier serving Cardiff, followed by Great Western Railway. The train journey from Cardiff to London takes 1h 52m and costs around $43 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Glasgow, expect to pay about $203 for a 6h 20m trip. Located 0.6 miles from the city center, Cardiff Cathays, Gwent is the busiest station in Cardiff. Another popular train station is Cardiff Central, located 0.3 miles from the center.
Car
Another option to get to Cardiff is to pick up a car rental from London, which is about 131 miles from Cardiff. You’ll find branches of GREEN MOTION and Europcar, among others, in London.
Bus
Several bus lines operate bus routes to Cardiff, including National Express, Megabus and FlixBus. From Bristol, the bus ride to Cardiff takes 70 miles and will cost you around $8. From Birmingham, the ticket costs about $18 for a journey of 145 miles. The most popular bus station is Cardiff Malthouse Avenue, located 5 miles from downtown Cardiff. Cardiff Gate is also a commonly used station, and is 5 miles from the city center.
Airlines serving Cardiff
Where to stay in Cardiff
Average rates range from around $122 per night for a double room in a 3-star hotel to $141 and up for a 5-star experience. If you’re on a budget, well-reviewed accommodations include Cardiff Sandringham Hotel and Ibis Budget Cardiff Centre.
Where to stay in popular areas of Cardiff
Most booked hotels in Cardiff
Renting a car in Cardiff
Renting a car in Cardiff costs $52 per day, on average, or $103 if you want to rent if for 2 days.
You’re likely to save money by renting your car at the airport: locations in the city are, on average, 38% more expensive than at Cardiff Wales.
Expect to pay $7.19 per gallon in Cardiff (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your rental car, filling up the tank will cost between $86.31 and $115.08. Compact (Class Compact Wagon or similar) is the most popular car type to rent in Cardiff, while also 79% cheaper than other types, on average.