Cardiff (Caerdydd)

The Welsh capital isn't typical of the rest of Wales, but many travellers find themselves passing through to make transport connections and inevitably end up spending some time exploring the city.

Cardiff's main attraction is the castle, which dominates the city centre and there are also some good museums. The Millennium Waterfront at Cardiff Bay is a new development that is home to the Welsh National Assembly as well as several other attractions.

Practical Information

Cardiff Tourist Information Centre

16 Wood Street, Cardiff

Bus 8, 9, 9A, 12, 12A, 13, 17, 18, 21, 23, 24, 25, 27, 28, 29, 29B, 30, 30D, 44, 45, 49, 50, 57, 58, 60, 61, 62, 92, 93, 94 Train Cardiff Central

Tel (029) 2022 7281

Website www.visitcardiff.com

Open 10am-5pm daily

Cardiff Bay Tourist Information Centre

The Tube, Harbour Drive, Cardiff

Bus 7, 8, 35, 89, Bay Express.

Tel (029) 2046 3833

Open Jan-Feb Mon-Fri 9.30am-5pm, Sat-Sun 10.30am-5pm; Mar-Oct Mon-Fri 9.30am-5pm, Sat-Sun 10.30am-6pm; Nov-Dec Mon-Fri 9.30am-5pm, Sat-Sun 10.30am-5pm.

American Express

3 Queen Street, Cardiff CF10 2AE

Train Cardiff Queen Street

Tel (029) 2064 9301

Open Mon-Fri 9am-5.30pm, Sat 9am-5pm

Coming & Going

AIR

Cardiff Airport (tel (01446) 711 111; website www.cardiffairportonline.com), 20km southwest of the city centre has flights to destinations throughout the UK and Europe. Budget airlines that use this airport include bmibaby (tel (0870) 264 2229; website www.bmibaby.com), which flies to Alicante, Belfast, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Jersey, Malaga, Milan (Bergamo), Munich, Palma, Paris and Toulouse and Ryanair (website www.ryanair.com), which flies between Cardiff and Dublin.

Bus routes 95, X91 run between the airport and the city centre every 30 minutes during peak periods and hourly in the evenings and on weekends. The 40-minute journey costs £2.70.

BUS

Cardiff Central Bus Station near Central Station on Wood Street handles local buses and also National Express services to Birmingham, Manchester and London. There are also a number of regional bus companies that operate bus and coach services throughout Wales.

HITCHHIKING

The M4 is the motorway that runs east west through Cardiff. This is the route that you'll take if you're headed to east to England or west to Swansea and Pembrokeshire. The easiest way to get to the M4 is to first hitch a ride on the A48, which is the most direct route from the centre of Cardiff to the M4.

The A470 is the most direct route going north to the Brecon Beacons National Park, but some travellers find it best to take a train to Merthyr Tydfil to bypass most local traffic and hitch from there.

No matter which direction you're going, the Gabalfa interchange where the A470 and the A48 meet is a good hitching spot; but this spot does have a problem with a lot of suburban traffic. Take bus 8, 21, 23, 24, 35, 37, 53 or 53A to get to the interchange.

TRAIN

Cardiff has good rail connections to destinations in England and south Wales.

London (Paddington and Waterloo) is less than two hours away and trains run every half hour. Trains to England are run by Central Trains (tel (0121) 654 1200; website www.centraltrains.co.uk), Virgin Trains (website www.virgintrains.co.uk) and Wessex Trains (website www.wessextrains.co.uk). Most of the services within Wales are run by Arriva Trains Wales (website www.arrivatrainswales.co.uk).

Local Transport

Cardiff's public transport system is comprised of buses and a suburban train network.

Cardiff Bus (tel (029) 2066 6444; website www.cardiffbus.com) runs most bus services although other companies operate some services.

The Bay Express bus is a handy route that runs between Cardiff bay and the city centre. This bus runs every 10 minutes and fares are 60p one-way or £1.10 return.

Arriva Trains Wales (website www.arrivatrainswales.co.uk) runs Cardiff's suburban train network, which extends as far as Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney.

There are a number of travel passes that allow unlimited travel around Cardiff.

Rider Tickets

These tickets allow one day's unlimited bus travel in the Cardiff area.

The City Rider costs £3.30 and allows travel on Cardiff Bus services in Cardiff.

The Network Rider pass allows you to travel further afield on services operated by Cardiff Bus and other bus companies that include Newport Transport and Stagecoach South Wales. The Network Rider costs £5.

Multiride Tickets

Multiride tickets are similar to the Rider tickets but they offer bus travel for weekly, monthly, quarterly and annual periods. They are geared to commuters but are a handy option if you're planning on spending a while in the Cardiff area. A one-week pass for bus travel in the Cardiff and Penarth areas costs £11.20.

Capital Card

The Capital Card is the best deal since it combines both bus and train travel. It is available in daily, weekly, monthly and annual passes to a range of destinations that extend into the surrounding countryside. Most visitors to Cardiff will find the £4.30-4.80 one day off peak passes the best value.

Cardiff Welcome Card

The Cardiff Welcome Card gives you unlimited bus travel in Cardiff and Penarth for one, two or three days. This pass also comes with a book of discount coupons that give you discounts off various attractions around Cardiff. The Welcome Card costs £7 for one day, £11 for two days and £15 for three days.

Accommodation

Cardiff Backpackers

98 Neville Street, Riverside, Cardiff CF11 6LS
Tel (029) 2034 5577

Cardiff YHA

2 Wedal Road, Roath Park, Cardiff CF14 3QX
Bus 28, 29, 29B
Tel (029) 2046 2303

Nomad Hostel

11 Howard Gardens, Roath, Cardiff CF24 0EF
Train Queen Street
Tel (029) 2025 6826

NosDa Hostel & Budget Accommodation

53-59 Despenser Street, Riverside, Cardiff CF11 6AG
Tel (029) 2037 8866

Riverhouse Backpackers

59 Fitzhamon Embankment, Riverside, Cardiff CF11 6AN
Tel 07855 050508

Sights

CITY CENTRE

Cardiff Castle

Cardiff Castle claims 2000 years of history and it features medieval fortification dating from soon after the Norman Conquest. Despite the castle's impressive history, most of what you see was built in the 19th century under the direction of John Patrick Crichton-Stuart, the third Marquess of Bute, and his architect William Burges. The modifications created an awe-inspiring structure that has dominated the city ever since. The castle's grounds are home to ducks, geese and peacocks and the interiors are lavishly opulent.

Castle Street, Cardiff

Tel (029) 2087 8100

Website www.cardiffcastle.com

Admission to castle and grounds £6 (£4.85 students); admission to grounds only £3, (£2.45 students)

Open Jan-Feb 9.30am-5pm daily (last admission 4pm); Mar-Oct 9.30am-6pm daily (last admission 5pm); Nov-Dec 9.30am-5pm daily (last admission 4pm)

National Assembly

The National Assembly features a visitors' centre with interactive displays that explain the Welsh political process. It is possible to observe the National Assembly when it is in session (usually Tue-Wed).

Pierhead Building, Cardiff Bay

Bus 7, 8, 35, Bay Express Train Cardiff Bay

Tel (029) 2089 8200

Website www.wales.gov.uk/assemblybuilding/

Admission free

National Museum & Gallery

This excellent National Museum features natural history and science exhibits and the gallery has the largest Impressionist art collection outside France.

Museum Avenue, Cathays Park, Cardiff

Tel (029) 2039 7951

Website www.nmgw.ac.uk/nmgc/

Admission free

Open Tue-Sun 10am-5pm.

OUTSIDE THE CITY CENTRE

Caerphilly Castle

The largest castle in Wales is located in Caerphilly, about 10km north of the city centre.

Castle Street, Caerphilly

Tel (029) 2088 3143

Website www.caerphillycastle.org

Admission £3

Open Jan-Mar Mon-Sat 9.30am-4.30pm, Sun 11am-4pm; Apr-May 9.30am-5pm daily; Jun-Sep 9.30am-6pm daily; Oct-Dec Mon-Sat 9.30am-4.30pm, Sun 11am-4pm.

Castell Coch

The fairy tale style Castell Coch dates from the 13th century but was embellished by the third marquess of Bute and William Burges in the 19th century. It boasts a serene setting in the Taff Valley 8km north west of the city centre.

Tongwynlais, Cardiff

Train Taff Wells

Tel (029) 2081 0101

Admission £3(£2.50 students)

Open 1 Jan-31 Mar Mon-Sat 9.30am-4pm, Sun 11am-4pm; 1 Apr-1 Jun 9.30am-5pm daily; 2 Jun-28 Sep 9.30am-6pm daily; 29 Sep-26 Oct 9.30am-5pm daily; 27 Oct-31 Dec Mon-Sat 9.30am-4pm, Sun 11am-4pm

Museum of Welsh Life

This big open-air museum features over 30 buildings complete with staff in traditional costume. The museum provides a good introduction to traditional Welsh culture. It is located 6.5km west of the city centre.

St Fagans, Cardiff

Bus 32, 320

Tel (029) 2057 3500

Website www.nmgw.ac.uk/mwl/

Admission free

Open 10am-5pm daily

Llandaff Cathedral

Llandaff Cathedral was bombed in World War II and is comprised of a number of architectural styles but has a tranquil setting by the River Taff, 3km north of the city centre. It was founded in 560, and its history stretches back further than most other cathedrals in Britain.

Cathedral Green, Llandaff, Cardiff

Bus 25, 33, 33A, 62

Tel (029) 2022 5877

Website www.llandaffcathedral.org.uk

Admission free