Explore The Best 8 Tourist Attractions of Cardiff in 2 Days Trip

December 28, 2021 Mustafa Natalwala 1532 Views

Cardiff is the national capital city of Wales. Some of the best things to do in Cardiff, Wales is exploring castles, historical museums, art galleries, welsh cuisine, beaches and islands. The history of human settlement in the region goes back to 6,000 BCE. The city was occupied by several tribes, most dominant of which was a Celtic British tribe called Silures. The remains of this civilizations can be found at Cardiff tourist attractions like the National Museum and city’s history museum. The region was then occupied by Roman Empire followed by Normans and English. These periods saw construction of the legendary castles which are considered the best places to visit in Cardiff.

The city has numerous castles including the second largest castle of UK. Cardiff castle, Caerphilly Castle and Castle Coch are the most popular places to see in Cardiff. Many of these castles were built under roman regime and hold about 2000 years of history within their walls. Another major aspect of Cardiff sightseeing is the Doctor Who experience. You see the studio and locations where the famous series was filmed. The city also has historical buildings, houses and cathedrals to explore.

As for outdoor activities in Cardiff, you can go to landscape and nature reserves like Cardiff Wetland Reserve, Cardiff Bay, Bute Park and such. You can check more such places in the sections below under nature and outdoors section.

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Table of Contents

Visit The Best 8 Tourist Attractions in Cardiff in 2 Days (Trip Itinerary)

Day 1

1. Llandaff Cathedral

This cathedral is dedicated in St. Peter and St. Paul. The cathedral began construction in the 12th century and subsequent layers were added in years to come. It is among best places to visit in Cardiff to witness medieval architecture. You will need about half an hour to explore this cathedral.

2. Bute Park

This park is spread over 130 acres and used to be back garden to the Cardiff castle. The park is the venue for several fun things to do in Cardiff, Wales. You will find woodlands, cafes, river and sports field. You will need at least an hour to explore this park.

3. National Museum Cardiff

This museum focuses on several aspect of Welsh history including geography, politics, culture, archeology, art, zoology, botany and so on. It is one of the most important Cardiff tourist attractions to visit. You will need about 2 to 3 hours for this museum.

4. Cardiff Castle

The castle was first established first in the 50s under roman empire and holds over two thousand years of history. It is one of the most popular Cardiff attractions. It is known for its impressive architecture and great legacy. You will need about 2 hours to explore this castle.

5. Cardiff Bay

This is the most popular waterfront areas in the city. Shopping, dining, entertainment and recreation are among the best things to do in Cardiff Bay. This place is also has some of the best views in the city. You can easily spend a couple of hours here. You can also go for a boat tour at Cardiff Bay

Day 2

1. Caerphilly Castle

This 13th century castle is the largest one in Wales and the second largest in the united kingdom. It is one of the most impressive things to see in Cardiff. You will need about 2 hours to explore this castle.

2. Castell Coch

Also known as the Red Castle, this impressive structure was built in the 12th century. This castle is known for its gothic revival architecture and is a major highlight of Cardiff sightseeing. The castle also has opulent regal interiors hailing from different time periods. You will need about 2 hours to explore this castle.

3. St. Fagans National Museum of History

This open air museum focuses on the history and culture of the people of Wales. It is among the most interesting places to go in Cardiff. The museum also has 40 original structures which were brought from around the country and rebuilt here. You will need about 3 hours to explore this museum.

If you are looking for more top things to do in Cardiff travel, check out the section below. We have compiled an exhaustive list of places and activities you can explore in and around the city.

Things to do in Cardiff

Monuments, Museums & Historical Places to Visit in Cardiff

Cardiff Castle
National Museum
St. Fagans National Museum of History
Caerphilly Castle
Castell Coch
Llandaff Cathedral
National Trust
Museum of Cardiff
Norwegian Church Arts Center
Medieval Village
City Hall
Pierhead Building
St. Fagans Castle
Martin Tinney Gallery
Artes Mundi
Animal Wall
Firing Line Cardiff Castle Museum of the Welsh Soldier
St. Lythans Burial Chamber
Crown Building
Tinkinswood Burial Chamber
St. John Baptist City Parish Church
Tommy Cooper Statue
Nantgarw China Works and Museum
Cardiff Central Library
Ianto’s Shrine
Saint Teilo’s Church
St. David’s Metropolitan Cathedral
Off the Wall Art Gallery
Cardiff Transport Preservation Group
Old Bishop’s Palace
Wales National War Memorial
Barry Castle
Insole Court
Oakdale Workmen’s Institute
Morgraige Castle
Caerau Fort
Barry War Museum

Nature & Wildlife Tourist Spots in Cardiff

Severn Estuary
Garth Hill
Forest Fawr
Montanha Caerphilly
Cosmeston Lakes
Cardiff Bay Wetlands Reserve
Roath Park Lake
Cefn Onn Park
Sirhowy Valley Country Park
Howardian Local Nature Reserve
Glamorganshire Canal
Craig yr Allt

Entertainment & Leisure Tourist Spots in Cardiff

Wales Millennium Center
Principality Stadium
Techniquest
Cardiff Bay Barrage
Chapters Arts Centre
Barry Island Pleasure Park
Cosmeston Lakes Country Park
Treetop Adventure Golf
Cefn Mably Farm Park
Victoria Park
Forest Farm Country Park
The Ameilia Trust Farm
Oakwood Theme Park
Cardiff Aqua Park
Smugglers Cove
Tenpin Cardiff Nantarw
Alexandra Gardens
Hollywood Bowl Cardiff
Welsh Hawking Center

Shopping in Cardiff

Cardiff Market
Queens Arcade
Pontcanna Market
Royal Arcade
Morgan Arcade
Duke Street
High Street
Splott Market
Capitol Shopping Center
Roath Market
Mermaid Quay
Craft Folk
Castle Arcade
Wyndham Arcade
Cardiff Market
Dominions Arcade

Beaches & Islands in Cardiff

Barry Island
Flat Holm Island
Whitemore Bay
Jackson’s Bay
Cardiff Ski and Snowboard Center
Sully Island
Barry Beach

Offbeat Places, Tours, & Adventure in Cardiff

Axe Throwing
Hiking
River Rafting
Swimming
Kayaking
Boat Ride

Sightseeing in Cardiff

Cardiff Bay
Bute Park
Roath Park
The Senedd
Mermaid Quay
Porthkerry Country Park
Roald Dahl Plass
Llandaff Fields
Thompson’s Park
Barry Island Beach Huts
Hailey Park
Sophia Gardens
Heath Park
Walnut Tree Farm Park
Pontcanna Park
GWR Water Tower
Alexandra Park

Food, Dining, Restaurants, & Street Food in Cardiff

Bella Italia
Fly by Night
The Coconut Tree
The Alchemist
The Irie Shack
Pieminister
Cedar Tree Farm
Las Iguanas
Juno Lounge
The Ivy
Milkwood
Duchess of Delhi
Mia Porto Due
Vegetarian Food Studio
The Hellenic Eatery
The Red Dragon Center
Le Monde
Steak of the Art
Turtle Bay
Curado Bar
Old Havana
Mowgli Street Food
Pasture
Mansion House

Where to Stay in Cardiff?

Here we have listed Top Rated Luxurious, Mid-Range and Budget Hotels in Cardiff. Here we suggest you can stay in below listed any Hotel as per your requirement.

Luxurious Hotels

Mid-Range Hotels

Budget Hotels

Custom Tours Package in Cardiff

How to Reach Cardiff?

By Air

The Cardiff International Airport receives direct flights from Edinburgh, Aberdeen, Anglesey, Glasgow, Alicante, Doha, Palma de Mallorca, Amsterdam, Dublin, Paris and so on. You also get seasonal flights to visit Cardiff from Burgas, Ibiza, Paphos, Naples, Dubrovnik, Dalaman and more. The airport is connected to the city by busses and cabs.

By Road

Cardiff is connected to several cities in UK by buses and trains. However, if you plan to explore Cardiff landmarks by road you can use routes M4, A470, A48, or A4161.

By Water

The waterbus service is connected to Cardiff castle, Millenium Stadium, Butetown, Grangetown, Cardiff Bay, Cogan and Penarth.

Image Reference

Llandaff Cathedral – Michael D Beckwith / Flickr
Bute Park – Jon Candy / Flickr
National Museum Cardiff – Ham II / Wikimedia Commons
Cardiff Castle – Joshua Miranda / PixaBay
Cardiff Bay – Richard Szwejkowski / Flickr
Caerphilly Castle – Sa Cao / PixaBay
Castell Coch – James Stringer / Flickr
St Fagans National Museum of History – John Cummings / Wikimedia Commons