Wales · THINGS TO DO IN CARDIFF
Cardiff is small enough to cross on foot and hides most of its best hours behind doors — arcade cafés, a castle in the middle of the traffic, a bay that used to ship more coal than anywhere on earth. These 15 are priced, timed and clear about how far you will walk.
Small-group South Wales day trip from Cardiff with hotel pickup and a local historian, choosing Valleys castles or Swansea Bay coast.
“Gareth was very knowledgable and pleasant. The sites were beautiful and there was enough time to visit each one. Excellent tour! Thank you Gareth!”
A 45-minute boat loop from Mermaid Quay to Cardiff Bay, with recorded commentary on the barrage, locks, wetlands, and Penarth Barrage views.
“So I booked a "Cardiff Bay Boat Tour" for my father and I on September 30 for an October 29th boat tour (almost a full month in advance). The day before the tour was meant to take place, I received a message on Viator indicating that there was a scheduling conflict and the boat tour we were meant to have around the bay wouldn't be taking place and we were going to be "upgraded" to the Aquabus tour and they asked for a preference of time. I responded immediately and they confirmed the change. When we arrived the staff was friendly, though not very interactive (that's okay, not everyone is).…”
Alcotraz Prison Cocktail Experience in Cardiff: a prison-themed speakeasy with theatre and cocktail ingredients included. Bring your base spirit.
“Fun, interactive experience, even though I was solo. Lots of drinking, do I don't recommend driving after this experience. If you are staying nearby or on the train, you should be fine. It ends on time. I had half the bottle of alcohol left.”
Cardiff to West Wales in one day with Gareth: Pembroke Castle, Tenby beaches, and Laugharne Dylan Thomas. Small group, snacks included.
“The knowledge of Garreth (spelling) was amazing. Felt like I was getting a comprehensive history lesson but one filled with humor also that made it more interesting . We had the right amount of time at each location. I would definitely use this operator again for another tour. I actually left my backpack in the van and he was nice enough to drop it off to me the next morning🙏 the small group setting made it even better Sheldra Witmhoudt, New Orleans”
Ride Cardiff for about three hours with a local guide, free entry stops, Welsh cakes, and bike included for $34.72.
“We had a very nice time. Our guide was informative and helpful and flexible. It’s a great way to see a new city!”
Private English walking tour of Cardiff: Roman to Gothic Castle, markets, rugby stadium, arcades and parklands, with a friendly guide.
“Eugene was very knowledgeable and took time to answer our questions in detail. We learned a lot about the history surrounding Wales as a country and Cardiff as a city.”
Solve 16 cryptic clues on a 3 hour walking mystery through Cardiff, starting at Friary Gardens and ending with a wow reveal.
“The Cardiff Mystery Adventure Guide was great fun! We’ve completed loads of these and would definitely recommend them to other families.”
Doctor Who Cardiff City Walking Tour from Cardiff Castle to 30+ filming sites, guided and photo-friendly, ending in central Cardiff.
“Tour guide was extremely knowledgeable and friendly and approachable. I have mobility issues and use a stick and he was very considerate of this and then informed me when it would get longer periods of walking and said if I wanted I could meet my fiance at the end I could, but I chose to keep going because I found him so interesting and it was lovely to hear about different parts of the city as well as learning about different points in the Doctor Who universe. Would definitely recommend it to any Doctor Who fan.”
A private walking tour of Cardiff with a local host, tailored to your interests, from The Hayes to Cardiff Castle and Bay.
“The tour guide struggled to communicate due to her spoken English level. She was constantly struggling to find the words to explain something, but that's not the main problem. She seemed unprepared to give this tour and had very shallow knowledge of the city and its culture. The level of information she gave is equal to what you would get from the first 2 sentences of a Wikipedia article on the subject, and due to her poor English, we have to check Wikipedia constantly or read the information board of the historic buildings during the tour in order to understand anything she was talking about, if you'd like a clearer…”
Swap Cardiff crowds for cliffs, castles, beaches, and St Fagans open air history on a small-group 8 hour day trip.
“The weather was crazy, but that's the coast/Cardiff. Our guide was very friendly, thoughtful and knowledgeable.”
A small-group coastal day from Cardiff to Gower Peninsula cliffs, bays, and wild horses, with guide tips and optional scenic walks.
“Max was our guide and he was incredibly knowledgeable, friendly and helpful. The small group made the tour more enjoyable than a large tour bus. All the stops were well planned and Max gave plenty of options depending on how you wanted to spend your time so it was somewhat customizable.”
Follow Llandaff ghosts with offline VoiceMap audio from the cathedral. 35 to 50 minutes, River Taff, graveyard scares.
“It was fun. I couldn't do it at night because it was too far from my hotel and I didn't want to walk back in the dark. The cemetery was really the best part, it doesn't really need the night for atmosphere. Be careful, especially at night, when you first get to the river. It talks of taking the path past the fence, but apparently there's a new path that's been added since it was recorded that leads directly into the water.”
A small-group hike from Cardiff to six Brecon Beacons waterfalls, led by Andy and Kate with electric-vehicle transport.
“After about an hour drive from Cardiff, we set off on a lovely walk in the woods with our guides. We took a circular route. The first 3-4 miles were my favourite, bringing us through lush woodland and to a number of spectacular waterfalls. The next 3 or so miles were not as interesting as we walked along a roadway. Fortunately it was not well travelled by vehicles. The final 3 miles we were back in the woods again. The walking was harder going with ascents and descents but very pleasant. During this time we viewed and walked behind the most amazing waterfall! It’s a good idea to wear hiking…”
Small-group Cardiff day tour to Henrhyd Falls, an ancient yew, Brecon canals, and UNESCO Caerphilly Castle. Tight hikes and great guidance.
“The tour was lovely! Max(our guide) made the experience worth it. The waterfall was my favourite spot. Would highly recommend!”
Walk top Doctor Who and Torchwood filming spots across Cardiff with Eugene on a private 2.5-hour tour, ending at Roald Dahl Plass.
“Eugene was our guide & he is amazing! I didn't realize I booked a private tour, but it was amazing for my husband to chat with another huge Dr. Who fan! Eugene knows his stuff & the tour was extensive & detailed. It poured rain during our 4 hour tour but we honestly didn't care. Highly recommend!”
Every kind of day out, north coast to south.
