How to Spend a Fun 48 Hours in Cardiff Weekend Itinerary
This helpful guide will help you plan a fantastic weekend in Cardiff – Britain’s youngest capital (only since 1955). Cardiff is the cool compact capital city of Wales, and there are many exciting things to do. 2 days in Cardiff is enough time to see the main sights and get a feel for what the welcoming city has to offer.
There’s so much to see in Cardiff. From learning about its history to seeing the mix of old and new architecture side by side. Also, 48 hours in Cardiff is a perfect time to sample the fantastic food on offer in the Welsh capital. It is a city for foodies with a lively dining scene.
Once a busy coal port, it has been renovated into a world-class city. Walk along the modern waterfront in Cardiff Bay, go to some museums and stroll around the many beautiful parks and Edwardian and Victorian arcades. There is no denying that it is a fun city and the beautiful green and lush landscape of Wales is on its doorstep too.
Are you interested in Cardiff attractions? Then, please read: Free Things to do in Cardiff.
How to get to Cardiff
Train: Cardiff Central Station is connected to other major UK cities. You can travel from London Paddington on the Great Western Service in 2-2hr 30-mins. There are about 60 services per day.
Air- Cardiff Airport has both domestic and international flights. For example, you can fly from Edinburgh, Amsterdam and Dublin.
Bus – National Express and Megabus services go to Cardiff from major UK cities, including London.
Car: Cardiff can be reached by crossing over the Severn Bridge from the East of England. We recommend using the car park from your accommodation to park your vehicle, as it is likely they will have special deals. For example, we stayed at the Ibis Budget, and they offered this.
How to get around Cardiff
Cardiff is flat, compact and small compared to other UK cities. It means that if you base yourself in the city centre, you can quickly get around on foot.
If you want to go to Cardiff Bay from the city centre, you can walk (20-minutes) or rent a NextBike by registering on the Nextbike App. The route is cycle-friendly, and it’s free for 30-minutes, 50p for an additional 30-minutes or £5 for 24 hours.
You can also hop on a water taxi from Bute Park to Cardiff Bay to arrive in style. It is £5 for a single adult ticket or £3 for a child. On the other hand, you can catch a train from Cardiff Queen Street station, which will only take about 5-minutes. As you can tell, there are a lot of options. You will need to decide what works for you.
When is the best time to go to Cardiff?
Truthfully, there is never a wrong time to visit. We went late summer and were blessed with fantastic weather for our two days in Cardiff. Although if you want to coincide your trip with an event, then you should consider the following options:
- Cardiff’s Big Weekend – a summer festival that lasts three days.
- The Welsh University Boat Race
- Visit for significant sporting events, e.g., when the Welsh national rugby team plays. The Six Nations are in (February and March), and there are international matches in Autumn.
- Children’s Literature Festival
- Welsh Proms
- St David’s Day Parade
- Winter Wonderland for Christmas Markets
However, if you plan to spend 2 days in Cardiff at one of these times, you should aim to book your accommodation well in advance, as Cardiff will be extremely busy.
Weekend in Cardiff Itinerary
We have split this Cardiff itinerary into things to do in the centre, at the waterfront and then further afield if you want to spend one of your days discovering what there is beyond Cardiff.
Things to do in Cardiff City Centre:
Luckily, Cardiff city centre is compact, and you will be able to walk everywhere on the Cardiff itinerary we suggest.
Cardiff Castle and Bute Park Gardens
Luckily the 11th century Cardiff Castle is right in the city’s centre, perfect for a weekend in Cardiff. The fort is Norman, but there have been many reconstructions of the castle over the 19th century. You can visit the beautiful rooms and towers or take a guided tour for a fee, or you can simply admire the grounds from outside in the public square at no cost. It is £12.50 for general admission for an adult.
Right next door, you will find one of the 330 beautiful parks and gardens that Cardiff has to offer. Did you know that 10% of Cardiff is made up of green spaces? There is also an incredible Animal Wall which was initially built-in in 1890. See how many animals you can spot!
Bute Park is an oasis where you will find picnic lovers, joggers and people looking to escape the buzz of the city centre. You can walk along the River Taff to Pontcanna, a suburb full of life and a great spot to grab a coffee if you have 2 days in Cardiff.
The Arcades
Visiting the seven arcades was one of our favourite things in Cardiff. It is no wonder Cardiff is often called the ‘city of arcades’. For example, you can head to Spillers Records in the Morgan Arcade, the oldest record shop in the world. There is also Castle Arcade, which sells vintage delights. You will also find big brands and other independent shops just outside, which is why Cardiff is so brilliant for shoppers.
The Market
One of the things at the top of your weekend in Cardiff itinerary should be to visit the Cardiff Market. The market has been in operation here for the last 400 years and is still popular, bustling and an exciting place to be. If you try one thing, it has to be a Welsh cake (or two), and you should take some home for your family. So we did, and they appreciated it!
Cardiff National Museum
To learn about Wales’ past, you must stop off at Cardiff National Museum for 48 hours in Cardiff. We particularly enjoyed the Evolution of Wales exhibition and seeing the woolly mammoth’s skeleton. It is like two museums in one, as on the second floor you can see fantastic artwork and collections from Wales and beyond whilst on the first, you can learn about botany and geology.
Principality Stadium
Home to the Welsh Rugby team, Principality Stadium should be on your list for 2 days in Cardiff itinerary. The Welsh are proud of their rugby team and rightly so with this 74,500 seater stadium. You can opt to go on a Stadium tour to see where the magic happens. Alternatively, coincide with your trip when the national team is playing.
Things to do in Cardiff Bay:
Whether you decide to walk, cycle or get the water taxi, the former docks are a worthwhile place to visit for 48 hours in Cardiff. You can see some impressive renovated buildings, such as the red-bricked Pierhead Building built in 1897 and take a beautiful stroll around a freshwater lake.
Wales Millennium Centre
The Wales Millennium Centre is a beautiful building built from Welsh materials. It is the place to come for arts, opera, events and productions, and they sometimes offer free shows in their lobby. If you’re wondering what the Welsh words on the front mean, it can be translated into English as “Creating truth like glass from the furnace of inspiration”. Next to it is the Senedd, where you can go and see debating in action for free in the National Assembly of Wales. The building is pretty unique, too and if you want to go on a guided tour, remember to book in advance.
Walk around the bay.
You can go on a 2km walk along with the barrage from Mermaid Quay to Penarth. This Cardiff Bay walk offers views of the sea and the harbour. If it is a sunny day, there is nothing better than walking around with an ice cream in hand. You can also cycle and rent a bike if you are short on time for your weekend in the Cardiff itinerary.
Norwegian Church
Once a church was built for Norwegian sailors; you can visit the Norwegian Church is now an arts centre and cafe. It is also the spot where Roald Dahl was christened, so if you visit, you can expect to see something about the famous author for your 48 hours in Cardiff. The best selling children’s author was born in Cardiff to Norwegian parents. His parents regularly worshipped at this church, which is pretty cool!
Boat Trip
There are numerous operators you can go on a boat trip with. Walk down to Mermaid Quay, and you will find the many services on offer. A popular one is the Mermaid Quay waterbus, which shows off the transformation of Cardiff Bay. There is also the Open Boat Daffodil, which is a non-stop sightseeing cruise, or there is a faster high-speed boat which you can go on too. A boat trip is a must-do for 2 days in Cardiff.
Things to do outside of Cardiff City:
If this is your second time in Cardiff, or if you simply love the great outdoors, history or castles like us, then we recommend heading out of the city to see the beautiful nature that surrounds it.
Brecon Beacons National Park
We love visiting the Brecon Beacons, and it is one of our favourite national parks in the UK. There is a range of walks for different abilities, beautiful landscapes and enchanting waterfalls. Luckily, you can reach some of the best and most popular spots in just over an hour’s drive from Cardiff. It means if you are spending 48 in Cardiff, you can spend a morning, afternoon or evening in the national park on your Cardiff itinerary. Please read our guides for some Beacons inspiration:
Gorge Walking in the Brecon Beacons
A Guide to the Four Waterfalls Walk
St Fagans National Museum of History
Set over a stunning 100 acres of parkland, you can see Welsh history come to life at St Fagan’s. It is only five miles out of the city centre, and this free exhibition will allow you to see buildings from different periods of Welsh history. You can see a school, terraced housing, and a church, to name a few.
Castell Coch
Another option only five miles away from the city centre is Castell Coch, a fabulous Gothic castle. The location is stunning as it is in the hills of Tongwnlais and has beautiful interiors. Wales is famous for castles, and Cardiff certainly has its fair share. Therefore at least some of your 48 hours in Cardiff should be spent in one or admiring one.
Where are the best places to eat and drink in Cardiff?
In the Arcades, try:
- Baker’s Tea House
- New York Deli
- Madame Fromage
- The Plan
- Coffee Barker
In Cardiff Market, we ate at the Greenery, which served beautiful Thai food, but there are many affordable options, so walk around and see what appeals to you.
Head to City Street for international cuisine, where you can get dishes from all over the world.
We especially loved the cocktails and food at the Coconut Tree for some fresh tapas-style Sri-Lankan dishes. Yum.
Try Cardiff Bay for a waterfront dining experience, and stop at Fresh if you fancy some Welsh delights.
Cardiff proudly has more pubs per square mile than anywhere else in the UK. So we recommend walking around and finding one that you like. Then, if you’re still undecided, head to St Canna’s Ale House for a locally brewed beverage or the Pen and Wig or The Cambrian Tap for a friendly pint.
There you have it, the best weekend in Cardiff itinerary. Let us know what you get up to on your 48 hours in Cardiff because we are keen to discover more on our next visit.
Are you exploring Wales? Then please check out our other Wales guides:
The best things to do in Tenby
The best things to do in St Davids
The best things to do in Aberystwyth
Photo Credits: averagelives.com