Visible Roman masonry, extensive museum collections, tours of distinctive interiors and waterside routes give Cardiff its different faces. So when planning, the first thing to decide is whether you are more interested in history and exhibitions, behind-the-scenes insights or getting active around Cardiff Bay. The options range from a focused museum visit to a ten-kilometre circuit.

Roman traces and collections in Cardiff

Cardiff Castle preserves visible Roman stonework from the Roman fortification that stood on this site in the 1st century AD. The remains give the site's history a tangible point of reference. Regular guided House Tours take visitors through the Victorian apartments daily. As availability may change, it is advisable to check the current tour schedule before your visit.

At National Museum Cardiff, you will find Wales's national art, geology and natural history collections, as well as major changing and temporary exhibitions. The Evolution of Wales gallery offers a distinctive way to explore natural history: it takes visitors on a journey through 4.6 billion years and features, among other things, dinosaurs and woolly mammoths. This brings several collection areas together in one museum, while the gallery explores the Earth's long history through specific examples.

Tours of a stadium and a cultural venue

The Principality Stadium tour includes the home and away dressing rooms and the tunnel leading into the stadium arena. It offers a look at the team rooms and the route down into the stadium. Tour details may change due to operational requirements; check the latest information before your visit.

Behind-the-scenes tours are regularly offered at Wales Millennium Centre. Special technical and architectural tours are also available. These focus on different things from the collections at National Museum Cardiff: here, the emphasis is on the spaces and the technical or architectural aspects of a cultural venue. If you are interested in construction or behind-the-scenes operations, this offers a different kind of tour from the stadium tour.

Routes and activities around Cardiff Bay

Bute Park is listed by Cadw as an internationally significant historic landscape with a Grade I designation. Around the bay, Cardiff Bay Barrage offers a flat, step-free route along the dam for walking and cycling. From there, you can enjoy views of Cardiff Bay and the Severn Estuary.

If you are looking for a circular route of a set length, you can plan to take the Cardiff Bay Barrage Coast Path: the route is 10 km long, runs around Cardiff Bay and can be used on foot or by bicycle. It crosses the Barrage and Pont y Werin and connects Penarth Marina with the International Sports Village. The dam path and the Coast Path therefore offer different points of reference for planning: the dam path is characterised by its flat, step-free route and views, while the Coast Path offers a designated circular distance and named connections.

Other experiences at the bay include waterside walks, boat trips and family attractions. Cardiff International White Water offers two-hour supervised whitewater sessions. They are suitable for complete beginners as well as experienced whitewater enthusiasts. As availability may change, it is a good idea to check the latest dates in advance.

Discover more destinations: Gabalfa, Taff's Well, Tongwynlais, Lisvane, Radyr, Pentyrch.

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