Wales is a beautiful country to explore and its capital Cardiff makes a great base for a holiday. Whilst on a Cardiff holiday you experience a bustling capital full of great places to visit with high quality and varied accommodation options.
Your Cardiff holiday options, for things to do, are endless and you will be truly spoilt for choice. The bustling, coastal city has a rich maritime history to uncover. In the 19th Century the medieval castle was extensively renovated and now boasts sumptuously decorated rooms ripe for exploration. The impeccably tended grounds provide a welcome solace and contrast to the busy town centre. Definitely worth a visit!
One very popular place to visit is the Museum of Welsh Life. This natural history museum is one of the best open-air museums in Europe with St Fagans Castle at its centre. Welsh traditions are brought to life here, with livestock farming and demonstrations of historic farming tasks taking place all day for visitors to enjoy. There are also several events, from festivals to music and dance, to celebrate the rich history and culture of Wales.
If you are looking for more modern pursuits on holidays in Cardiff, this city is a world-class centre for shopping. With its mixture of typical high street shops and more luxurious and up-market boutiques, there is something for everyone. Mermaid Quay is a trendy shopping area on the waterfront featuring designer shops and restaurants that provide fine cuisine from around the world.
As well as the more modern shopping areas, you will find plenty of historic ones. The oldest shopping area in the city is the Royal Arcade, which dates back to 1858. Wyndham Arcade dates back to Edwardian times and is just one of several Edwardian shopping arcades that you can visit while enjoying your holidays in Cardiff.
It is easy to indulge in cultural pursuits on Cardiff holidays. The city is home to the Millennium Centre, which has become a showpiece arts venue. This landmark venue hosts a great number of artistic and cultural events including literary festivals, dance exhibitions, music and theatre. There are always events going on so it is recommended that you check the schedule when you are visiting. The contemporary architecture of the building was inspired by the coastal cliffs nearby, as well as the Opera House in Paris which makes for a stunning and unusual looking building.
Evenings on Cardiff holidays are never dull. The nightlife in the town is renowned for being very lively with many stag and hen parties arriving in the town each weekend. The very heart of the city's nightlife is St Mary Street, which is home to some of the most popular bars and clubs. Being a university town, many of these places are typically busy until the very early hours. If you are looking to spend your evenings somewhere slightly quieter, try the Mocka Lounge on Mill Lane which tends to have a slightly older and trendy crowd or the Copa bar on Wharton Street which serves a number of continental beers in a more relaxed atmosphere.
Cardiff holiday options for accommodation range from self-catering bed and breakfasts to luxurious boutique hotels. Most are well maintained and friendly as well as being located conveniently close to the city centre. There are lots of options for visitors on a tight budget, all are comfortably furnished and come with mod cons. The more luxurious five star hotels in the city bristle with elegance and sophistication. Many of them include spa facilities as well as gymnasiums and facilities for business travellers and include Wi-Fi and meeting rooms. You will find a number of hotels that can provide rooms with beautiful coastal views across the bay. A number of the hotels have larger hotel rooms so that families are also well catered for.
