Cardiff city guide

Introduction Cardiff is both the political and the cultural capital of Wales. It is located in southern Wales. It is included in the Eurocities network of the European cities and has become an important tourist destination in recent years. Having a shoreline on the Bristol Channel and being situated on the coast of south Wales plain, Cardiff is a picturesque city. Apart from beautiful landscape and gardens, the important historic sites are what make Cardiff an attractive town. It isn’t the pale industrial city any more. Cardiff is a lively city now, especially when it hosts Welsh sporting events in its new Millennium Stadium. As the attractions are generally outdoor oriented, it is best to visit Cardiff during spring. Attractions Cardiff Castle The castle is located in the city centre, very close to the Bute Park. It is a fine piece of Gothic architecture with a beautiful courtyard. Interior design is even more impressive with colorful paintings. There are peacocks wandering in the grounds that are surely worth seeing. The entrance fee to the grounds is 3.75 GBP while admission to the castle in accompaniment of a guide is 7.50 GBP. Gorsedd Park This charming park is surrounded by the Cardiff Civic Centre buildings of City Hall, the Law Courts and the National Museum of Wales. The park has countless colorful flowers all around. There are also statues of important figures like Lloyd George. You can take some nice photos especially at night when the City Hall is illuminated. Bute Park Bute Park is a green area that offers many activities to its guests. The area is suitable for a nice picnic. There are also an arboretum, recreation grounds, flower gardens worth seeing and some ruins including the Standing Stones. The Glamorgan County Cricket Club, the Welsh Institute of Sport, a riding school and Sophia Gardens are located in the garden, too. Millennium Stadium The stadium is located in the city centre of Cardiff, across the road from the castle. It was opened in 1999. It is known to have the first retractable roof in the UK. You can explore the changing rooms of the football players and also the players’ tunnel. Apart from the sports events, it also hosts music events. The seating capacity of the stadium is 74.500. Cardiff Bay

The Cardiff Bay area is a popular promenade. The bay has some of the highest tidal ranges in the world. There are many restaurants, cafes and bars that you can go and enjoy the beautiful view of the bay. There are also street entertainers and shows around the bay on summer Sundays. Cardiff Indoor Market This market is quite popular among ardent shoppers. From groceries to umbrellas, you can find almost anything you need at this market. It is like a huge tunnel between St. Mary’s Street and The Hayes. There is also an informing display about the market on the balcony. The Cardiff Market has been there since the 14th century! The market is open from Monday to Saturday between 8 am to 5.30 pm.

Dining and where to eat As Cardiff is both the capital and the largest city of Wales, it has a wide range of restaurants, cafes and fast food restaurants which have attractive offers to satisfy every budget. There is a great number of Italian, French, Greek, Indonesian, Turkish and Moroccan restaurants throughout Cardiff. Caroline Street is the address of the cheapest dishes, take away- food and kebab shops, so it is a quite popular street especially at nights. ASK To have a great dinner in Cardiff, all you have to do is just “ask”. ASK is a nice Italian restaurant where you can find all kinds of pizza along with pasta. Added to this is the friendly service. The restaurant is located at 24 Wyndham Arcade, Mill Lane. An average dinner costs about € 7- € 10. Diner 77 This is a small American restaurant. It is located at 77 Pontcanna Street. Apart from the delicious cuisine including steak, chicken and ribs, there are also good meal options for vegetarians. The restaurant has been run by a family since 1977. As it may be crowded, it is a good idea to book in advance. (Prices are about the average.) The Kismet The Kismet is a very nice Indian restaurant for those who like Indian cuisine and those on a budget. It is located at 24 City Road. Try the Indian buffet till early evening just for £ 2.95! The buffet includes rice, Indian bread; curry sausages, chicken on the bone and some veggie dishes. If you would prefer a three course meal, you can have it for about £ 6.95. Haze Haze is the right address to try some Welsh cuisine. It is located in the Old Library, the Hayes- opposite St. David’s Hall. There is a wide selection of food- including Welsh produced cheese, spirits, liqueurs and seafood. The restaurant is open from Tuesday to Saturday, between 10 am and 4 pm. (Prices are less expensive than the average.) Bars and nightlife St. Mary’s Street is the heart of nightlife in Cardiff. Many pubs, bars and clubs are focused on the street. Charles Street is the second address of fun at Cardiff nights. Visit especially the Brewery Quarter on St. Mary’s Street which is a relatively new place assertive on the field of entertainment. Here are some of the clubs you can try when in Cardiff: Oceana Oceana is situated off Queen Street, near New Theatre. This nightclub is located in a two story- building. It has three dance floors, one of which is located on the ground floor, the rest being upstairs. The bar downstairs is open till 2 am. After that time, you can go upstairs to the nightclub for free! Clwb Ifor Bach This is a Welsh club situated in the heart of Cardiff, between Cardiff Castle and Westgate Street Multi-storey car park. There are three dance floors, a bar and a live band in the club. Entrance fee is quite reasonable- around £ 3. Transportation to and in Cardiff Cardiff is mainly served by Cardiff International Airport which is about 12 miles from the city. You can use the regular bus services to get to the airport from the city centre. Apart from the bus service, rail service is also available and quite convenient to use. Take the train to the Rhoose Cardiff International Airport Railway Station which is close by. Shuttle buses from the local rail lines to the airport are also frequently used. To go to the main city centre attractions, the easiest way is to use Cardiff Central Railway Station. There are about 22 train stations in Cardiff. Besides the inter-Wales services, there are also frequent trains to Manchester and Birmingham. This makes access to Cardiff from the nearby cities even easier. Cardiff Festival This is an annual festival held every weekend between July and August. This is a big event which generally includes a Children’s festival, Cardiff International Food and Drink Festival, MAS Carnival and a lot more. Do not miss this event when you are in Cardiff.