Should I spend 1, 2, or 3 days in Cardiff?

Should you spend 1, 2, or 3 days in Cardiff?

Not sure how much time you'll need in Cardiff, UK? Most people spend one to three days in Cardiff during their visit. After all, the green city will let you tour the famous sights and museums, soak up the big city atmosphere, take advantage of the local nightlife, and admire the wonderful scenery.

Cardiff is the capital city of Wales. It has a long history with many local castles that you can explore. It's grown from a small town to the largest city in Wales and today it is a fun place to wander.

Do you have one or two days to visit Cardiff? Here's our comprehensive breakdown of how much time you might need for your trip along with some suggestions for things to do.


Is one day enough time in Cardiff?

One day is usually not enough time to experience the green city of Cardiff, so you may find yourself somewhat rushed. You don't want to miss the chance to tour the famous sights and museums, soak up the big city atmosphere, take advantage of the local nightlife, and admire the wonderful scenery. So, you'll likely want more than one day, as many tourists set aside one to three days for their visit. However, if your schedule is tight, we have a handful of recommendations to make the most of your journey.

How to spend a day in Cardiff

Don't miss the Cardiff Castle during your trip to Cardiff, as it's one of this destination's most well-known attractions. You should make sure to set aside enough time to see it.

This city is very popular for nightlife. After the sun goes down, head out to one of the many popular venues around town. The nightlife scene is all about fun and most of the activities are driven by the large and diverse student population.

Is a weekend (two to three days) enough time in Cardiff?

A weekend offers a good amount of time to enjoy much of what Cardiff has for visitors. In addition to the museums and landmarks and big city activities, visitors can enjoy the beautiful scenery, shopping, and local culture. By staying a night or two, you'll be able to take advantage of the most interesting activities found here.

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How to spend 2 days in Cardiff

Having a weekend (two to three days) in Cardiff will provide you with more time to take in the best activities in the city.

This city offers some good museums and historic landmarks, so it's worth your time to spend a day exploring a few of them. Pick the ones that appeal to you the most and get started. The most notable landmark of the city is the famous and well-preserved Cardiff Castle. Visitors also enjoy seeing the Victorian arcades, museums, and cathedrals around town.


A few tour suggestions include:

  • Gin Tour at Hensol Castle Distillery ($32)
  • Llanberis, Conwy and Caernarfon Castle: A Self-Guided Driving Tour of Snowdonia ($15)
  • One Amphitheatre, Tintern Abbey And Three Castles From Cardiff ($198)

Cardiff is known to be such a beautiful destination, so just exploring and taking it all in should be one of the top things to do on your list. The city has more parks and green space than you'd expect from a place with such an industrial history.


A few tour suggestions include:

  • Small Group Walking Tour Cardiff City ($38)
  • Private Doctor Who Walking Tour of Cardiff ($191)
  • Doctor Who Cardiff Walking Tour ($22)

More Info

If you're looking for more information about Cardiff, we have even more advice to help you plan your journey.

Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.

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