Cardiff - Cardiff

Cardiff is the capital and the most important city of Wales.

To know

Geographical notes

Cardiff sits at the mouth of the River Severn, the longest in UK and second in importance only to Thames. Also close to the city are the smaller River Taff and the Bristol Channel, all connected to the River Severn.

When to go

The best time to visit Cardiff is late spring, when the heat allows you to enjoy the most that this magnificent city has to offer and some attractions such as mini-cruises on the river are open. This does not mean, however, that Cardiff does not deserve to be visited the rest of the year; its particular geographical position means that Cardiff has a mild climate all year round with little rainfall despite being in a notoriously rainy region.

Background

The etymology of the name Cardiff dates back to the period of Roman domination and precisely to the name of the fortification that stood in this area. Its first endonym was Caerdydd which means, in fact, "Fortress" (caer) on the river Taff (dydd). During the first century AD, in fact, the Romans built a camp here, which later became a fortress. The Norman Robert Fitzhamon then built the first village on this embankment in 1090. In 1147 Cardiff obtained the status of a city.

Until the nineteenth century, however, the city had no more than 1000 inhabitants and only from 1830 began to observe a demographic increase, largely due to the exploitation of the coal deposits in the valley.The port was built in 1839 by the marquises of Bute, who also owned the coal mines. As a result of this industrial and commercial activity, the population began to grow to make Cardiff an important industrial center in the region. When the demand for coal fell sharply in the twentieth century, Cardiff suffered the consequences as you can imagine.

Cardiff, however, maintained its prestige and in 1955, when Wales was granted autonomy, it became its capital. Over the last decade, Cardiff has undergone a significant renovation culminating in the construction of the Millennium Center (photo of the banner above ) which serves as the event hall, of the Millenium Stadium (1999) and of the Welsh Assembys (2005), or the parliament.

How to orient yourself

How to get

By plane

Just 16 km southwest of the city center is the 51.396667-3.3433331 Cardiff International Airport (IATA: CWL), Vale of Glamorgan. . The airport connects Wales with major international destinations such as Paris, Vancouver, Edinburgh, Lighthouse or AmsterdamThe second most important airport, that of Bristol, is about 75 km away and connects Wales very well to the main European and especially German cities.

By car

Cardiff is located on the freeway , which crosses the entire South of England and Wales flowing from East to West London and reaching the cities of Swansea and Llanelli. From the M4, a good connection with other cities is represented by the which makes the cities of Liverpool, Manchester, Exeter and Birmingham easily accessible.

On the train

Cardiff is right on the connecting main line London to Fishguard, the Welsh town connecting point with Ireland through the port of Rosslare. Cardiff is a major rail hub on this line and therefore many trains travel. Among the main companies we point out the First Great Western which connects Cardiff to London Paddington station and the Trains Wales arrives which instead connects the city to Piccadilly.

By bus

Among others, even choosing a bus trip would not be a mistake. The Welsh capital, in fact, has a dense network of car connections and a well-stocked fleet of cars. Many buses of all kinds leave from the central station: city, regional, national etc ... We point out only the three main ones of the most important English company, there National express:

• 201: South Wales, Bristol, London Heathrow Airport
• 322: Nottingham, Leicester; Birmingham, South Wales
• 509: Direct Cardiff-London

By bike

From Cardiff also begins the Taff Rail, an 88 km long cycle path that connects the capital to the city of Brecon.

How to get around

Within the city and especially in the historic center and along Queen Street, it is very convenient to get around on foot. On the riverside of the River Taff you can take beautiful walks or, alternatively, you can take advantage of the cycle paths for a pleasant bike ride from the Sophia Gardens to the Bay. The central station is also within walking distance of the city center, and is just 500 meters from the Docks.

By public transport

The city has a large number of bus covering the entire urban area through a dense network of lines. Tickets cost around £ 1.70. Tours for tourists also depart from here, tickets cost around £ 8.00.

By taxi

Finding a taxi or booking one in advance in Cardiff won't be difficult at all. The main taxi services are listed below:

• Capital, 44 29 2077 7777
• Delta, ☎ 44 29 2020 2020
• Celtic, ☎ 44 29 2045 2045
• Dragon Metro, 44 ​​29 2033 3333

Note that even if the majority are black, this is not an obligation. In principle, you will be able to recognize a taxi by the yellow number plate on the rear of the vehicle.

By car

There are not many people who travel by car within Cardiff but, if you decide to do so, it may be useful to keep in mind the Castle Mews, the North Road and the Sofia Gardens as points of reference where it is easy to park. On the A48 near Pentwyn there is a Park & ​​Ride where you can switch between public transport and cars.

With guided tours

In addition to many private companies that organize city tours, in Cardiff it is possible to buy a ticket for a mini canal cruise which will allow you to visit Cardiff by water.

On boat

The water bus^{[link not working]} they connect Cardiff city center to the Cardiff Bay district and from there to Penarth at approximately one hour intervals.

What see

Almost all tourist attractions are located in the city center or in the neighborhood Cardiff Bay.

• 51.481764-3.1822071 Cardiff Castle (in the city center), ☎ 44 029 2087 8100, fax: 44 029 2023 1417. ₤ 11.00, with guide ₤ 14.00. Reductions for students.. March-October 09: 00-17: 00, November-February 09: 00-16: 00. Much of what is visible today dates back to the Victorian age and in particular to the architect Wiliam Burges. Although there are traces of settlements on the site since the Roman age. In the 19th century, the castle was the residence of the Marquesses of Bute. 
• 51.478597-3.1819632 Millennium stadium. 6.50 £. This is a huge stadium for 74,200 visitors, which opened in 1999 for the Rugby World Cup. It now houses the national rugby and football teams and is the largest stadium in the world that has a fully removable roof. 
• 51.464842-3.1631833 Millennium Center. Wonderful piece of modern architecture, it was opened in 2004 during an inauguration attended by the queen herself. The Millennium Center is an event hall designed for Opera, dance and any kind of musical or cultural event. The visit to the structure is free and if the entrance to the events can be paid, the rehearsals and performances held in the foyer at 13:00 every day and just before the shows in the evening are not. Today the building also houses an exhibition on the development of Cardiff Bay. 

• 51.464443-3.1614214 Parliament of Wales (The National Assembly for Wales or the Senedd). free but pay attention to the security checks at the entrance.. The Welsh Assembly Building was inaugurated on 1st March 2006 by the Queen, on St David's day. Visitors have the opportunity to admire the objects kept in the gallery and to take a guided tour around the building which was built only with Welsh raw materials and was designed by Richard Rogers in an eco-friendly style. 
• 51.4614-3.16195 Norwegian Church (Cardiff Bay). The church was built to accommodate the large number of Norwegian sailors in Cardiff who worked at the port. Here, it is said, the writer Roald Dahl was baptized but today the building serves only as a café-restaurant and art gallery. 

• 51.495724-3.2179566 Llandaff Catteral (Llandaff Cathedral) (Llandaff suburb). In the ancient town of LLandaff, now a district of Cardiff, this church is one of the oldest buildings in Wales. Its foundation dates back to 1107. It was severely damaged by the bombings of the Second World War but thanks to a prompt intervention it was immediately restored. Here is the huge statue of "Christ in Majesty", the work of Jacob Epstein. 

• 51.535807-3.2546337 Coch Castle (Castell Coch). 3,60 £. This fairytale castle stands on a hill which offers a splendid view over the valley and the city of Cardiff. It was rebuilt when it was already reduced to rubble by the third Marquis of Bute. 

• 51.464443-3.1614218 Cathays Park. For the locals it is the "most beautiful park in the world". Regardless of whether this is true or not, its location, nestled in the Alexandra Gardens and its proximity to major architectural monuments, make it a unique place to admire the city. It is highly recommended to go there in spring when all the plants are in bloom and the park offers a wonderful spectacle for both sight and smell. In the park there are also the main monuments to the fallen in war. 
• 51.484901-3.1783559 City Hall (close to Cathays Park). This palace is the true symbol of Cardiff. Its construction dates back to the 20th century and was built in Portland stone and decorated with countless statues both inside and on the facade. There are statues of the greatest heroes of Wales. You cannot leave Cardiff without visiting it. 

Museums and Galleries

• 51.486744-3.27323610 St Fagans National History Museum, ☎ 44 029 2057 3500. free. One of the best and best known museums in Wales. In 2011 the magazine Which? he named it "favorite attraction for UK tourists". The building was converted from the Castle of St. Fagans, an Elizabethan fort that can still be admired. The surrounding gardens are from the 19th century. 

• 51.485899-3.17754911 National Museum Cardiff (in Cathays Park), ☎ 44 029 2039 7951. It is the most important museum. In addition to Cardiff's archaeological and historical remains, the works of Rodin, Monet, Renoir and Van Gogh are permanently exhibited here. Children can visit the dinosaur section and the interactive section on the evolution of Wales. 
• 51.462671-3.16817212 Techniquest, Stuart Street, ☎ 44 029 2047 5475. £ 7 (adults), £ 5 children. With over 160 exhibits on science and technology, this museum describes both adults and children. It is also used as a planetarium for Cardiff University astronomy students. 

Events and parties

• Cardiff Children's Festival (Cardiff Castle). Free admission. Every year. Child-friendly festival. Many activities and team games are organized for children, all in the historic setting of the castle. 
• Parade of S. David (St David's Day Parade). It is the parade dedicated to the patron saint, St. David (1 March). For those used to Italian processions and parades, it will be a radically different experience ... taking part is believing. 
• Six Nations Rugby, Millennium Stadium. February March. International Rugby competition between Wales, England, Ireland, Scotland, France and Italy. 
• The Big Weekend (The big week). last week of July. It is the most attended event of the year. Thousands of events and parades on every street in Cardiff. Each night ends with a fireworks display. 

What to do

• Stroll and relax in Bute Park or beautiful Cathays Park
• Take a boat trip along the river.
• Taf valley quads, Pontypridd Nr. Cardiff (Via A470), ☎ 44 29 2083 1658. 09:00-21:00. Cardiff offers a variety of outdoor activities for all ages; They range from driving quads to archery to short excursions into the surrounding nature. 

Shopping

Cardiff is a great place to shop. The Victorian-style shopping malls are themselves must-see attractions. Queen Street, St Marys Street and The Hayes, which are the main pedestrian streets, are home to the largest and most interesting shops. perfect place for anyone looking for something typical Welsh, be it a souvenir, an animal, a spice or food.

How to have fun

Night clubs

Cardiff is one of the cities with the most nightclubs in the whole of Great Britain: the city has in fact the greatest density of pubs, bars, clubs and restaurants than any other city in the UKIn the city center, St Mary street, Greyfriars road and Mill Lane are the most popular and crowded areas during the evenings. Mermaid Quay is a lesser known solution for spending warm summer nights.

The busiest evenings with more events are obviously those on Fridays and Saturdays, but for an updated list of events, consult the website [1].

The main premises are:

• Cardiff Cottage, 25 St. Mary St, ☎ 44 29 2033 7195. (except weekend days and public holidays). 
• The Old Arcade, 14 Church St, ☎ 44 29 2021 7999. A beer in this traditional pub costs £ 1.50-3.50. 
• Zero Degrees, 27 Westgate St, ☎ 44 29 2022-9494. Famous for its beer, it has a TV on which football matches are shown. The restaurant also serves pizza. 
• Y Mochyn Du, Sophia Close CF11, ☎ 44 29 2037-1599. Y Mochyn Du is located in Sophia Gardens, Pontcanna, at theInstitute of Sport is Glamorgan's county cricket ground. Half traditional pub with excellent beer, half brasserie with bar food. The pub is also popular with the Welsh-speaking community, so the staff are mostly bilingual. 
• A Shot in the Dark, 12 City Rd, ☎ 44 29 2047-2300. 
• Cadwaladers, St Davids 2, Red Dragon and Mermaid Quay. Famous for coffee and ice cream. Visit the pub site to print discount coupons. 

Where to eat

In Cardiff you will be able to taste the most diverse foods by moving only a little. If you find a typical Welsh place on the High Street like The Potted Pig, just move to River Street to try some very special Indian food at Madhav's. Remember to book in restaurants, especially on weekends, when most places are full.

Moderate prices

• 51.47762-3.1779471 The Prince of Wales, St. Marys Street, 81-83. located in a large shopping center, this place offers a truly varied menu. 
• 51.485015-3.1573132 Canteen on Clifton Street, Clifton street, 40. Excellent restaurant for vegetarians and vegans. The menu changes every two weeks. 

• Garland's Eatery and Coffee House, 4 Duke Street, ☎ 44 2066 6914. Nice and cheap place in pure Welsh style 

Average prices

• 51.489132-3.2007293 Italian Café food, 83 Pontcanna Street, ☎ 44 029 2023 2226. Excellent Italian restaurant. Almost compulsory booking. 

• 51.482624-3.1975084 Ichiban, 201 Cowbridge Rd E, ☎ 44 029 2066 8833. This is just one of a number of fantastic Japanese restaurants in town offering tasty oriental menus at medium prices. 

• Mina, 43 Crwys Road (buses 38 or 39 stop right in front), ☎ 44 77 6349 1937. Good Lebanese restaurant; small, family-friendly and excellent menus. 

• ffresh, Bute Pl, (Cardiff Bay), ☎ 44 29 2063-6465. Restaurant and bar, offering a wide range of excellent dishes and drinks. 

• Tenkaichi, 236 City Rd, ☎ 44 78 3142-1199. Tenkaichi offers its customers authentic Japanese food. Excellent are the fresh noodles and sushi. The wine list is also noteworthy. 

• The Goat Major, 33 High Street, ☎ 44 29 2033-7161. This pub serves great 'bar food' in an authentic Welsh atmosphere. To try is the Welsh fagots (meat inside a kind of puff pastry) with pepper-based sauce (peppercorn gravy). 

High prices

• Castell Restaurant, ☎ 44 (029) 2064 9200. Angel Hotel restaurant; traditional Welsh cuisine and breathtaking views. 

• Tempus Restaurant, ☎ 44 (029) 2045 4045. Luxurious restaurant in Cardiff Bay, renowned for its seafood dishes. 

Where stay

Although Cardiff has a good number of hotels in each category, keep in mind that if there is some international event in the city like the rugby league, it will be almost impossible to find a free room unless you book well in advance.

Moderate prices

• Wedal Road Youth Hostel, Wedal Road, 2. 19 £. 20 minutes walk from the center, it is the cheapest place to sleep. The hostel is really well organized and a rich breakfast is included. You will need to get a YHA membership card. 

• The River House Backpackers, 59 Fitzhamon Embankment, Riverside, Cardiff, Wales, CF11 6AN, ☎ 44 029 2039 9810. £ 18 per night in common rooms. Simple but clean and well organized hostel. The staff are highly helpful and welcoming and the location is great, being opposite the Millennium Center. 
• Cardiff Caravan Park, Cardiff Caravan Park, Pontcanna Fields, Cardiff CF11 9XR, ☎ 44 29 2039-8362, fax: 44 29 2039-8362. Friendly staff, you can rent bikes on site. 

Average prices

• Park Inn Hotel Cardiff, ☎ 44 029 2034 1441. Good hotel in the city center 

• Express By Holiday Inn Cardiff Bay (15 minutes walk from the center), ☎ 44 29 2044 9000. 

• Holiday Inn Cardiff Central, Castle Street, Cardiff, CF10 1XD, ☎ 44 0871 942 9094. Check in: 14:00, check-out: 12:00. Good hotel within easy reach of the city center and major attractions. 

• ^{[link not working]}Austins Guesthouse - Cardiff, 11 Coldstream Terrace, ☎ 44 029 2037 7148, @[email protected]. Small hostel close to the castle and River Taff. 

• Cardiff Marriott Hotel, Mill Ln (one block from the train station), ☎ 44 29 2039-9944. The hotel has an internet connection in all rooms but at a cost of £ 15 and parking for guests. 

• Lincoln House Hotel, Cathedral Rd, ☎ 44 29 2039-5558. traditional converted townhouse on the outskirts of Cardiff. 

High prices

• St. David's Hotel and Spa, ☎ 44 029 2045 4045. This is a great choice for those who can afford it and want a little more than just a place to sleep. The hotel faces the bay and therefore enjoys an excellent view. It is located just 5 minutes from the cosmopolitan area of ​​the city. 

• Park Inn Cardiff North, ☎ 44 029 2058 9988. Quiet and cozy accommodation within easy reach of the Castle and Millennium Center as well as Cardiff Bay. 

• Gelynis Farm B&B, Morganstown, Cardiff., Morganstown (five miles from Cardiff), ☎ 44 029 2084 4440, @[email protected]. £ 45-75 per room per night. 4-star farmhouse and B&B 

• Cardiff Hilton, 1 Kingsway, ☎ 44 29 2064-6300. Hotel for the more expensive stays, it is located in front of the castle with a beautiful view over the whole city center. 

• Radisson Blu Hotel Cardiff, Meridian Gate, Bute Terrace (In the city center, 5 minutes walk from both the bus and train stations.), ☎ 44 29 2045-4777. 

Safety

Cardiff is a fairly safe city and certainly much more so than other major UK cities. The only significantly widespread crime is car theft, although tourists can do without a car as public transport services work very well. If you really need to park your car outside at night, you can turn to one of the many guarded car parks in the city that are cheap and, in return, are absolutely safe.

There are no real red light districts in Cardiff, although the Adamsdown area is to be avoided in the evening and late afternoon in winter as it is known as a prostitution area. If you drive in these areas in the evening, it is very likely that you will be stopped by the police who can check your documents or simply invite you to leave.

The only real danger in Cardiff is the violence caused by alcohol, especially in very crowded pubs. When you are in a club and see people drinking, avoid offending or being grumpy. In general, avoid the neighborhoods of Adamsdown, Splott, Butetown, and Riverside and Bute Park which do not have adequate lighting in the evening.

How to keep in touch

Keep informed

• The Western Mail, newspaper printed in Cardiff but with national distribution.
• South Wales Echo the local newspaper.
• Capital FM is the main radio station in the area, it transmits information of local importance, from news to weather, traffic and good music.
• Nation Radio 106.8 & 107.3 FM. other local radio station.
• ITV Wales News. Broadcast from Cardiff Bay-
• What's on in Cardiff?. Cardiff online blog.

Around

Other projects

• Wikipedia contains an entry concerning Cardiff
• Commons contains images or other files on Cardiff
• Wikinews contains current news on Cardiff

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