Explore Cardiff this winter
Fancy a city break?
If you've been umming and ahing about whether to visit Cardiff this winter, we're here to help you make a decision. With exciting festive cheer, plenty of history (both of Wales and the Welsh) to learn about, Christmas shopping and Welsh delicacies to try out, there’s something to do for everyone in Cardiff -so if you've not made up your mind yet, keep on reading.
- Fly from Edinburgh to Cardiff
Get your Festive Cheer on
From the 15th of November to the 8th of January, you can enjoy the ultimate winter experience at Cardiff’s Winter Wonderland! Events will take place both on Cardiff Castle Grounds, as well as at City Hall Lawns. From ice rinks, funfair attractions, an ice bar, and food and drink, this is not an experience to miss out on. Between the 10th of November and the 23rd of December, the Cardiff Christmas Market will also be on! During the market, vendors sell products along the lines of jewellery, handmade ceramics, scented candles and even flavoured gins. And you can also find a wide variety of food and drink stalls; the perfect place to try some festive delicacies. So if you visit between these dates, you could visit both of these festive events around Cardiff!
Buy some Unique Christmas Gifts
Cardiff is also an excellent place for some unique shopping. And now that Christmas is approaching, what better time than now to purchase some gifts for loved ones? Apart from the Christmas Market, you can also find the Cardiff Central Market on Saint Mary Street, a Victorian indoor market right in the city centre. With traders selling fresh local produce, artisan coffee, vintage clothing, street food, and so much more, it is definitely a different shopping experience than any other. And the best part is that it’s all indoors, so you can easily visit during the colder months! For even more shopping, head to Royal Arcade, Cardiff’s oldest arcade and the one which became the city’s first full-scale shopping centre. With several alternative coffee shops, quirky independent clothes stores and photography shops, you will surely enjoy the unique atmosphere at Royal Arcade.
Dive into Cardiff's History
With its long history and the city being widely known for having the most castles in the world, Cardiff is an excellent destination for history buffs. The most famous castle is Cardiff Castle, but there are several others to explore. Around Christmas time, Cardiff Castle is decorated with lights, making it even more spectacular than usual, especially at nighttime! If you’d like to explore more about how the people of Wales used to live their everyday lives, a visit to St. Fagans National Museum of History is a must. It is free to enter, and at the museum, you also gain insight into the story of Wales – traditional crafts, buildings from different historical periods, woodland, and so much more! With just a 20-minute drive from Cardiff city centre, it is undoubtedly worth a visit.
Indulge in Traditional Welsh Cuisine
The beauty of Cardiff is that you can find all the food everyone needs to try whilst in Wales! Between traditional dishes served at cafes and restaurants, there is no doubt you will return home with a full belly and a happy heart. Some dishes we suggest trying are Welsh Rabbit (No bunnies are harmed in the making of this) or as it is now more commonly known; Welsh Rarebit, which is a melted cheese sauce on grilled toast with seasoning, Cawl; which is the perfect hearty broth to have to beat the winter cold, Glamorgan Sausage, which is a vegetarian sausage made out of Caerphilly cheese and leek, and Welsh Cake which is a traditional sweet bread, perfect for those with a sweet tooth!
