Take a Short Break in Cardiff

Cardiff, the capital city of Wales teems with great architectural landmarks in its many gothic castles and cathedrals. If you are a tourist looking to enjoy your vacation in this place, you will surely appreciate this vibrant developing city. It is continuously changing but many of its traits as a small town still stand out.

The city boasts of bustling town, great shops, and a lot of historical sites. In Wales, you must drive your rental car (if you’re a tourist) to Cardiff too see The National Museum, National Assembly for Wales, the Metropolitan Cathedral, Wales Millennium Centre, the Cardiff Bay barrage and Coal Exchange.

There are a lot of options for accommodations, which can suit any kind of budget – hotels, aparthotels, bed and breakfasts, guesthouses, inns, or motels. For a more outdoorsy kind of vacation and adventure, you also can choose from many self-catering cottages, apartments, villas, cabins, lodges, or mobile homes.

Everyone will surely enjoy the heritage coastline of Cardiff what with its beaches, cliffs, and breathtaking mountain views. Enjoying nature the Cardiff way could be the best one you’ll have because you also will learn a lot of lessons in history, which this city is very full of.

A lot of activities are in store from cheap to really extravagant. Campsites and caravan parks also provide accommodations to guests. Some of the many activities you can do while in Cardiff are:

•    Boating/Sailing
•    Canoeing
•    Cycling
•    Fishing
•    Golf
•    Hang Gliding
•    Mountain Biking
•    Motorsports
•    Parachuting/Paragliding
•    Skydiving
•    Surfing
•    Water Skiing
•    Windsurfing

Traveling to new places mean exploring their food too. Eating should be fun too with restaurants that serve Italian, French, Indian, and Thai. There are cafes, bars, pubs, and pizza parlors too.

Visit Cardiff Castle

Contact Details
Tel: +44(0)29 2087 8100
Fax: +44(0)29 2023 1417

cardiffcastle@cardiff.gov.uk
www.cardiffcastle.com

In the heart of the capital city is Cardiff Castle, a truly remarkable site with a history that spans over 2,000 years. Roman soldiers slept here …. noble knights held court here … and The Butes, a family with wealth beyond comprehension resided here. Episodes of great creativity, re-modelling and radical re-creation have punctuated the history of this site. The most extraordinary legacy is the extravagant transformation of Cardiff Castle into a gothic fantasy, executed by the eccentric architect Burges for the 3rd Marquess of Bute, who by the 1860s was reputed to be the richest man in the world. Within gothic fairytale towers are opulent interiors, rich with murals, stained glass, marble, gilding and elaborate wood carving. Each breathtaking room has its own special theme, including Mediterranean gardens, Italian and Arabian decoration. Opening in spring 2008, is the new Interpretation Centre which will offer visitors a totally new experience of Cardiff Castle; stretches of an original Roman Wall have been exposed and an innovative film presentation will offer an enthralling introduction to the site. And from the open- air roof terrace, the panoramic views of the Castle, Norman Keep and skyline of the city are simply breathtaking. A new shop and the cafe will be the perfect place to relax and soak up the atmosphere of this historic site. Inspired by the film introduction, visitors can collect a hand –held audio guide and explore the Castle grounds - at their own pace – taking them along the battlement walls to the North Gate and the Norman Keep. Audio guides will be available in several languages. Guided Tours of the Castle Apartments The guided tour of the lavish Victorian Castle apartments, led by the highly knowledgeable castle guides will continue to be at the core of any visit to Cardiff Castle. Curator Tours For groups with a particular interest in fine and decorative arts and the work of architect William Burges, a guided tour with the Curator is the perfect way to discover more about the spectacular decoration of the Castle. An illustrated talk is followed by the specialist guided tour – allow approx 2 hours.

Facilities

Local to Cardiff: Yes
Free Admission

Groups Admitted: Yes
Free Admission for Groups

Suitable for Family
Educational Visits
Car Parking
Coach Parking
Coach Driver Admitted Free
Credit Cards Accepted
Disabled Facilities
Partially Disabled Facilities

Toilets

Disabled Toilets

Visually Impaired Facilities
Guide Dogs Allowed
Guided Tours
Meeting Rooms