city with high rise buildings under blue sky during daytime

Cardiff

Cardiff pairs a city-center castle with a waterfront district, parks and Wales’s national rugby stadium.

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Cardiff is the capital and largest city of Wales, in the southeast of the country. Cardiff Castle, the city’s main tourist attraction, stands in the center near Victorian and Edwardian arcades. Cardiff Bay is home to the Senedd, the Wales Millennium Centre and the Coal Exchange, a reminder of the city’s past as a coal port. The city’s main sights span architecture, Welsh culture, shopping and live events. Cardiff Central Market is a Victorian indoor market, and Bute Park runs north from the castle along the River Taff.

For museums, St Fagans National History Museum on the western edge of the city has dozens of historic Welsh buildings moved to the site. The Civic Centre in Cathays Park includes City Hall and the National Museum. Cardiff has a mild maritime climate that is often cloudy, wet and windy. April to June are the driest months, but rain falls on about 153 days a year. Cardiff Bay, the city center and the parks give you different areas to explore; check event dates if you plan to visit during a festival or match.

Cardiff in five

Check the stadium calendar before bookingRugby internationals and big concerts at the Principality Stadium fill the city. Room prices jump and trains are packed on those days.
Visit St Fagans for freeSt Fagans National Museum of History is an open-air museum of rebuilt Welsh buildings, with free entry. It is a short bus ride west of the center.
Landing in London or Bristol? Sort your ETA firstVisa-exempt visitors need an approved UK ETA before they travel, whether they fly into Cardiff, Bristol or London. Irish citizens are exempt.UK ETA explained
Arrive by train and leave the carTrains from London Paddington take about 2 hours and from Bristol about 1 hour, and Cardiff Central is a short walk from the castle. The center is small enough to cover on foot.
Choose Cardiff Castle or Castell CochCardiff Castle sells tickets online and sits in the center; Castell Coch is a short bus ride north, in the woods. Check opening times on each site before you go.

Things to do in Cardiff

See all attractions in Cardiff

A large building with a sky in the background

Theater · CardiffWales Millennium CentreCheck the programme and book ahead if you want to see a ticketed show.

Historic site · CardiffCastell CochBook tickets in advance, as recommended for visits.

Park · CardiffRoath ParkBring bird seed if you plan to feed the birds; bread is not suitable for them.

Free trip plannerPlan a trip to CardiffPut the places you like in Cardiff on a map, give them days, and let one button order each day. Free, with no account.Plan a trip

Need to know

Airport: Cardiff (CWL); most visitors fly to Bristol or London
Getting there: Trains from London Paddington in about 2 hours
Getting around: Walk the center; trains and buses to the Bay
Best base: City center near Cardiff Central
Time needed: 1–2 days

Weather by month

Rainy days

Best
Good
Mixed
Poor

JanuaryRain15 rainy daysHigh8°Low3°Wet, quiet
FebruaryRain14 rainy daysHigh9°Low4°Rugby season
MarchRain16 rainy daysHigh10°Low5°Rugby season
AprilPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh13°Low6°Mild
MayPartly cloudy12 rainy daysHigh16°Low9°Mild, green
JuneRain13 rainy daysHigh18°Low12°Long light
JulyRain14 rainy daysHigh20°Low14°Warmest
AugustRain14 rainy daysHigh20°Low14°Warm, busy
SeptemberRain14 rainy daysHigh18°Low12°Mild
OctoberRain16 rainy daysHigh15°Low10°Wet
NovemberRain15 rainy daysHigh11°Low7°Wet, windy
DecemberRain17 rainy daysHigh9°Low5°Christmas

Average daily high and low in Cardiff, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.

Right now in Cardiff

Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.

Feels like: 5°
Humidity: 81%
Wind: 18 km/h
Chance of rain: 0%

Cardiff

09:56 PM

Monday, November 2

GMT+0

Today12°8°0%Monday: Cloudy. High 12°, Low 8°. Chance of rain 0%.
Tue12°8°0%Tuesday: Cloudy. High 12°, Low 8°. Chance of rain 0%.
Wed11°8°0%Wednesday: Cloudy. High 11°, Low 8°. Chance of rain 0%.
Thu8°7°6%Thursday: Drizzle. High 8°, Low 7°. Chance of rain 6%.
Fri8°6°13%Friday: Drizzle. High 8°, Low 6°. Chance of rain 13%.
Sat9°6°14%Saturday: Cloudy. High 9°, Low 6°. Chance of rain 14%.
Sun9°6°12%Sunday: Cloudy. High 9°, Low 6°. Chance of rain 12%.

Updated 09:40 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com

Money

Mid-market rate1 USD = 0.7469 GBP

Amount

Converted to

GBP · British Pound

Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API

Day trips by train

Caerphilly Castleabout 20 min by trainOne of Britain's largest castles, with a leaning tower.
Castell Cochabout 20 min by busA Victorian fairy-tale castle in the woods north of the city.
Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons)about 1 hour by carPen y Fan and waterfall walks.

Before you go to Cardiff

Stays in CardiffNear Central station, walk to the castleCheck availability

Castle entry and city toursTimed entry and guided walksBook timed entry

eSIM for CardiffLive train times on match daysRead the guide

Travel insurance for WalesCover for event and rail cancellationsRead the guide

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Rules for Cardiff, checked

Check the UK entry rules for your passport on GOV.UK, including whether you need an ETA or visa before travel.Source
In Wales, drive on the left and use miles for road distances; Cardiff’s local bus network is run by Cardiff Bus and Stagecoach South Wales.
Tipping is optional in the UK. Check the bill for a service charge before leaving anything extra.

Plan around Cardiff

All of Wales

Eryri, the coast and entry rules

Read the guide Pembrokeshire Coast

Beaches and the coast path, west of Swansea

Read the guide Bath

Roman Baths, about an hour east by train

Read the guide London

Paddington is about 2 hours away by train

Read the guide UK ETA explained

Who needs one and how to apply

Read the guide Trains, buses and cars

Moving around Britain beyond Cardiff

Read the guide

Cardiff FAQ

How many days do you need in Cardiff?

One day covers the castle, the center and Cardiff Bay. Add a day for St Fagans and Caerphilly or Castell Coch.

How do I get from London to Cardiff?

Direct trains run from London Paddington to Cardiff Central in about 2 hours. Coaches are cheaper and slower.

Is Welsh spoken in Cardiff?

English is the everyday language in Cardiff, but signs are bilingual in Welsh and English across Wales.

Is Cardiff worth visiting?

Yes for a short stop: the castle, Cardiff Bay and free St Fagans fit into two days, and Caerphilly and Castell Coch are easy rail or bus trips. It is a poor choice if you want mountains or beaches, which are a long trip away.

When is the best time to visit Cardiff?

May to September has the longest light and the drier spells, and September is milder and quieter. Check the rugby and concert calendar first, since stadium days fill rooms and trains.