Cardiff, United Kingdom

As the capital of Wales, the city takes huge pride in promoting all things Welsh. Friendly and cosmopolitan, Cardiff celebrated in 2005 its centenary as a city and its 50th year as Wales' capital. Brand new buildings intermingle with classic architecture, giving the feel of a city that is going places. Visitors are pleasantly surprised by the vibrant waterfront, thriving cultural scene, excellent restaurants and good shopping.

Getting to and around Cardiff

The Cardiff International Airport has regular direct flights from UK and European destinations. Those who prefer to travel via London's Airports are able to continue their journey to Cardiff by high-speed InterCity train or coach.

Cardiff is right on the national motorway system. The M4 runs through the north of the city, making London a comfortable drive away. From the Midlands, the North of England and Scotland it is a straightforward drive via the M6, M5 and M50/M4. From the South and South West of England the approach is by M5 and M4. Access from West Wales is by M4.

For those who prefer public transport, National Express operates frequent coach services to Cardiff from cities throughout the UK. The main bus station is off Wood Street, on the southwestern side of the city centre. Across the forecourt is Cardiff Central train station, for all intercity services as well as many suburban and Valley Line services

High-speed InterCity trains link most cities with Cardiff. The journey time from London Paddington to Cardiff is under two hours and leaves every 30 minutes. Regional railways operate modern trains direct to Cardiff from Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool, Nottingham, Bristol, Southampton, Exeter, Torbay and Portsmouth.

Cardiff is compact enough to negotiate almost entirely on foot, as even the bay is within thirty minutes’ stroll of Central Station. If you prefer the comfort of a bus tour, the City Sightseeing Bus is a great way to explore the city centre and bay. The bus stops at major attractions and you can hop on and hop off when you like. Information and passes are available from the counter next to the tourist office on Wood Street.

There is a water taxi service which operates from the Bay to the city centre and Penarth.

Cardiff Highlights

Historic South Wales is strewn with castles and Cardiff has its fair share; most notably the elaborate Cardiff Castle located in the centre of the city. The 2,000-year-old fortress and habitation dates from Roman times through the Norman Conquest and the Waterloo campaign. The Norman Keep and the Arab Room, with their elaborate tablets and wall paintings, boast magnificent examples of mural art.

On the northern edge of Cardiff, set in the wooded hillside, is the fairytale turreted Castell Coch (Red Castle), once a ruined 13th century fortress. Like Cardiff Castle, it was rebuilt and transformed in the late 1870s by William Burges for the third Marquess of Bute. It features a working portcullis and drawbridge and lavish decor.

Cardiff Bay has transformed beyond recognition, from its past as the world's largest coal exporting port to a modern waterfront with a wealth of attractions and leisure facilities. The bay has been turned into a vast freshwater lake with the introduction of a barrage. No visit to Cardiff is complete without a cruise on the Bay’s waterfront, the rivers Taff and Ely and along the barrage embankment.

Cardiff’s art facilities are exceptional. The National Museum and Gallery tells the story of Wales and reflects the nation's place in the wider, international sphere. There is a wonderful sculpture collection, including works by Rodin and the prolific Welsh artist Goscombe John. The National Museum's pride is a dazzling collection of Impressionist paintings (the largest collection outside France) including works by Cézanne, Monet and Degas.

The Civic Centre features an impressive, tree-lined area of gleaming white Portland stone buildings reflecting the wealth that the coal and steel industries brought to the city in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The dragon-topped, domed City Hall is the centrepiece of the complex. It includes a series of statues of male Welsh heroes, including Llywelyn ap Gruffudd, St David, Giraldus Cambrensis and Owain Glyndwr. Cathays Park, a large rectangle of lawns and flowerbeds, forms the centrepiece for the buildings of the civic centre.

The magnificent Millennium Stadium has become an iconic symbol not only of Cardiff but of Wales as a whole. Built to a tight deadline in order to be ready for the Rugby World Cup of 1999, the stadium has hosted sporting matches of every description as well as an array of huge rock gigs and other musical events. A tour includes walking the players' tunnel, visiting the dressing rooms, VIP areas and a rugby museum.

The Museum of Welsh Life at St Fagans is one of Europe's leading open-air museums, a living village representing Wales through the ages. Its 100 acres of parkland feature a unique collection of re-erected buildings include an elegant mansion house, humble quarryman's cottage, farmhouse, a terrace of six cottages, a chapel and a toll-house. Within the buildings working craftsmen provide displays of traditional skills. The museum gives a good insight into the life in Wales.

The Welsh capital has long held the reputation of being a shopping paradise. The Edwardian and Victorian arcades that lead off St Mary Street house a unique array of designer boutiques and specialist stores. High Street shops and department stores are also well represented.

Outside of Cardiff, there is plenty to see on a day-trip. Castles are everywhere, from small stone keeps of the early Welsh princes and the mighty Carreg Cennen to Edward I’s fortresses such as Beaumaris, Caernarfon and Harlech. Passage graves and stone circles (such as on Holy Island) offer a link to the pre-Roman era when the priestly order of Druids ruled over early Celtic peoples. Great medieval monastic houses, like ruined Tintern Abbey, are easily accessible. If you don´t have your own transport, the tourist office will advise on available day tours.

All these attractions are enhanced by the beauty of the wild Welsh countryside. The backbone of the Cambrian Mountains terminates in the soaring peaks of Snowdonia National Park and the ridges of the Brecon Beacons. Both are superb areas for walking, as is the Pembrokeshire Coast in the southwest. Much of the rest of the coast remains unspoiled, though long sweeps of sand are often backed by traditional British seaside resorts, such as Llandudno in the north or Tenby in the south.