🇬🇧United Kingdom · Places to discover
What to see in Cardiff?
19 places selected by the community - landmarks, nature, hidden restaurants and activities.
Landmarks & heritage
6 places
1Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 2.0Landmark
Pierhead Building
A striking red terracotta building from 1897, formerly the headquarters of Cardiff Bay's coal-exporting docks, now a symbol of the docks' renaissance. Its Flemish Gothic silhouette is the iconic photograph of the bay.
2Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0Landmark
Castell Coch
A fairytale Victorian castle perched on a wooded hill north of Cardiff, designed by William Burges for the Marquess of Bute. Less crowded than the central castle, the atmosphere here is genuinely enchanting.
3Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0Landmark
Victorian Arcades of Cardiff (Royal Arcade)
The Royal Arcade of 1858 is Wales's oldest covered shopping gallery, complete with period glazing and glazed tiles. A network of Victorian arcades unique in Europe hides behind the city centre.
4Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 2.0Landmark
Principality Stadium (Cardiff Arms Park)
The temple of Welsh rugby with a capacity of 74,000, its retractable roof a technical marvel. Even without a match, the guided tour of the changing rooms and tunnel sends shivers down any sports enthusiast's spine.
- 5
Landmark
Landmark
Senedd (Welsh Parliament)
The Welsh Parliament building designed by Richard Rogers, opened in 2006, with a glass and slate façade that is entirely transparent about democracy. Free tours of the debating chamber are a must for understanding modern Welsh identity.
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Landmark
Landmark
Bute Town and the Historic Merchants' Houses
The historic docks quarter where seafarers from across the world once lived, now undergoing full revitalisation. The Victorian façades of Mount Stuart Square stand testament to the era when Cardiff was the world's leading coal-exporting port.
Museums
1 place
- 7
Museum
Museum
National Museum Cardiff
One of the UK's finest free museums, housing an exceptional Impressionist collection—Monet, Renoir, Cézanne—bequeathed by the Davies sisters. The natural history department captivates adults and children alike.
Religious sites
1 place
8Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 2.0Religious site
Llandaff Cathedral
A Norman cathedral nestled in the village of Llandaff, now absorbed by Cardiff yet retaining its own identity. The nave houses Epstein's Christ in Majesty, a monumental work that astonishes within this medieval setting.
Castles & fortresses
1 place
9Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 2.0Castle
Cardiff Castle
A thousand-year-old castle in the heart of the city, blending Roman ruins with extravagant Victorian apartments. The Neo-Gothic interiors commissioned by the Marquess of Bute are breathtakingly lavish.
Nature
1 place
- 10
Nature
Nature
Pontcanna Fields
Expansive urban meadow between Pontcanna and Canton, where Cardiffians gather at weekends to picnic, play football, and walk their dogs. An authentic slice of local life, well away from the tourist trail.
Parks & gardens
2 places
11Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 2.0Park
Bute Park
An expansive 56-hectare park running along the River Taff, once the private gardens of the Marquess of Bute and now gifted to the city. The arboretum shelters rare species, and the riverside walks are perfect for morning strolls with the locals.
12Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 2.0Park
Roath Park
A grand 30-hectare Victorian park with a boating lake and a memorial lighthouse to Captain Scott. The adjoining botanical gardens offer a peaceful retreat away from the main tourist circuits.
Viewpoints
2 places
13Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 2.0Viewpoint
Cardiff Bay Barrage
A 1.1 km barrage that transformed the estuary into a 200-hectare freshwater lake, with unobstructed views across the Severn to Somerset's shores on clear days. The pedestrian walkway is favoured by local joggers at sunrise.
14Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 2.0Viewpoint
Fforest Fawr Forest (Garth Hill)
Wooded hillside 15 km from Cardiff offering a sweeping 360° panorama of the city, the Severn Estuary, and the Brecon Beacons. Reputedly the inspiration for the Mount Fuji in Tom Sharpe's novella, and easily reached by bus from the city centre.
Activities
4 places
15Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0Activity
Cardiff Market
Victorian market dating from 1891 spread across two levels, featuring butchers, cheesemongers, vinyl dealers and street food vendors. A vivid cross-section of Cardiff's working-class heritage, open Monday to Saturday.
16Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0Activity
Chapter Arts Centre - Canton
Independent cultural hub in Canton featuring an art-house cinema, contemporary art galleries, theatre and lively café-bar. The beating heart of Cardiff's alternative creative scene.
17Wikimedia CommonsActivity
Mermaid Quay - Cardiff Bay
Vibrant waterfront promenade in Cardiff Bay, the departure point for ferries to Penarth and barrage cruises. The perfect vantage point to witness the transformation of historic docks into a thriving modern quarter.
18Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 3.0Activity
Spillers Records
The world's oldest record shop still trading, founded in 1894 and now situated in Morgan Arcade. An independent institution where staff genuinely know their music inside out.
More to discover
1 place
19Wikimedia CommonsPlace
Clwb Ifor Bach
Legendary independent concert venue in Cardiff, the crucible of Welsh music since the 1980s. Three storeys hosting live music almost every evening and unparalleled atmosphere for discovering local talent.
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