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When I crossed over the water from England, I couldn’t believe my eyes. Bright sunshine, blue skies – in Wales?!
It made a nice change from the grey clouds, wind, and rain that you’re usually greeted with on arrival.
I remember smiling when I saw the Red Dragon sign and the words ‘Croeso y Cymru’ or Welcome to Wales.
It is always comforting to me as my family is Welsh and since I was a kid, I would shout when I saw the Red Dragon on the signs and we would have competitions to see who would spot it first!
One of the friendliest cities in the world which is over this side of the country is Cardiff.
It has oodles of shops, sightseeing, and character. I love coming here for a shopping trip or a mini city break as there’s just so much to do and take in!
Here’s a quick Cardiff travel guide to make the most of your time in the wonderfully Welsh capital.
How to travel to Cardiff in the UK
Although Wales is attached to England, the south is divided by the River Severn. So, if you’re approaching my car from London, you will need to cross the Severn Bridge!
There are two bridges, the old and the new. The new can be accessed via the M4 and the old can be accessed via the M48 – both, lead to Cardiff.
There are National rail links from London Paddington directly to Cardiff and the National Express coaches will also go here and drop you off in Central. It all depends on your budget.
There is currently NO toll charge for the Wales Bridge!
Wales travel tips – Do they speak a different language in Wales?
There’s not too much difference as you cross over from England, apart from that there’s usually more rain and sheep!
The British pound is still currency here in Wales, so you don’t need to worry about that.
The language however you will notice is slightly different. Although only around 20% of the entire country speaks Cymraeg, you will see it plastered everywhere!
The road signs, attractions, and even shop names have Welsh there.
It does almost look like someone went mad with a keyboard and decided to create a language blind but, it is a beautiful language nonetheless.
Most Cardiff residents are fluent in English and love to chat with you, so you shouldn’t have any issues speaking to people.
The top things to do in Cardiff
There are so many attractions to get stuck into in the Capital of Wales, alongside being able to shop til’ you drop and enjoy a lazy afternoon by the Bay.
You shouldn’t need more than a few days here so it’s perfect for a weekend. Here are some of the highlights;
- Cardiff Castle – a Medieval Castle turned into a Victorian Mansion! It’s the highlight of the city and must visit
- Go shopping on the high street – there are so many little boutiques here, but also the main high street brands
- Cardiff Bay – my favourite stop of all! Here there’s a whole wealth of things to do including the Welsh Parliament Building and Cardiff Opera House.
Where and what to eat in Cardiff
I decided to go authentically Welsh on my trip and ate…Shake Shack. Ha! The meat is technically from Welsh farms but I know I cannot justify it – oops!
I was dying to try one though and wanted to see what all the fuss was all about. It was on another level of awesome.
If you’re looking for some traditional Welsh food to try while you’re here, I would highly recommend trying the national dish Cawl (a broth), Lamb, Rarebit (posh cheese on toast), and Welsh cakes.
My Nan always makes Welsh cakes which I eat fresh from the oven and they’re such a scrummy treat!
But here’s a picture of my Shake Shack, if you’re interested!
What to buy in Cardiff
There’s so much to see and do here in modern Wales but there are a few traditional delights, one being the Welsh love spoon.
Beautifully hand-carved, each spoon has different symbols meaning different things.
Anchors are for safe travels on long journeys, a horseshoe is for luck, a cross for religion, bells for marriage, a lock for security etc.
They are great for a souvenir or decorating your home.
Day trips from Cardiff
If you are planning on staying a while, there are tonnes of places to visit around Cardiff in South Wales within a short driving distance.
You could go to the Wye Valley and visit Tintern Abbey, walk the famous Transporter bridge in Newport, explore the Brecon Beacons national park, go to countless Castles and enjoy some amazing walks. Wales is your oyster.
So, that’s my mini Cardiff travel guide
Cardiff is such a lively Capital city with so much to do, you’ll be spoiled for choice.
It’s a city steeped in history and tradition. You’ll see a Welsh flag on every corner, find dragons everywhere on nearly everything and meet the friendly locals.
I wouldn’t expect the sun to put his hat on though, it’s usually quite wet!
