Cardiff, the capital of Wales, is an important tourist destination in the UK. Traditionally it was an industrial city, but was redeveloped in an effort to boost tourism and the efforts have paid off well. Located along the Bristol Channel, it has always been a major port city in the region.
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The Cardiff Castle is essentially the heart of this city. This is a pretty old castle and a picturesque one. This place is an artistic pleasure and one must visit here to have a look at the intricate artwork. Tourists ought to visit the Millennium Stadium, which is the largest rugby stadium in entire Europe. Any time is a good time for sports lover to visit this place and enjoy a game of rugby.
The Wales Millennium Center is a fine example of modern architecture at its best. It has a futuristic design and is host of theater performances almost everyday. The National Assembly and Norwegian Church are located quite close to each other. Tourists can enjoy the lovely architecture of these buildings and even witness public debates in the National Assembly, free of cost.
One ought to visit the Cardiff Bay Visitor Center for enjoying exhibitions and displays, mainly centered on the Cardiff Bay which is the largest port in the world. Other places of interest in and around the city include Doctor Who exhibition, Llandaff Cathedral, Castell Coch, City Hall and Pierhead building.
Some of the major attractions are located in the city center and can be covered easily. The city has a good public transport system which can be made use of for visiting its length and breath. Visitors can enjoy a unique experience by traveling between Cardiff Bay and Millennium Stadium in the waterbus that runs on River Taff during summer season.
There are a number of museums and galleries in the city as well that are worth visiting. The prominent ones include St Fagans National History Museum, National Museum of Wales and The Cardiff Museum. These museums provide an insight into different aspects of history of the city. Techniquest is a museum based on science and technology and great for a family visit.
Tourists can also enjoy a number of activities in and around the city. Visit to the Cardiff Bay is essentially a must for every visitor. It is full of cafes, restaurants and bars. Enjoying boat rides, especially speed boat rides, is pretty popular among visitors. They can even have a view of the water gushing from sea into the harbor at the Mermaid quay.
Cruise rides are also available at Penarth to Gower Peninsula, Pembrokeshire and North Devon. There are numerous spectacular places along the cruise which ought not to be missed. Brecon Beacons is the place to enjoy sailing, paragliding, climbing etc. At the same time, do not miss the famous Cardiff beer in any one of the numerous pubs in the city!
A number of festivals are organized here throughout the year, especially in the summer months. The prominent festivals in the city include Cardiff Children's Festival, St David's Day Parade, The Big Weekend, The Welsh Proms, The Welsh Boat Race and Winter Wonderland. The Big Weekend is certainly the biggest festival of the city and thousands of people enjoy carnival theme events at this time.
