Cardiff Travel Guide | Lets Fly Cheaper

A city of optimism, Cardiff is a city shaped by the richest man in the 19th century, the third marquess of BUte, John Patrick Crichton-Stuart. He left a legacy of great architecture that can be seen in the Cardiff Castle and the Civic Center. While keeping this legacy intact, this city is slowly transforming itself and going with the 21st century.

The Cardiff Castle was once a location of medieval ruins that the Bute family changed into landscaped grounds and kitsch. This family was also responsible in making Cardiff the world's biggest coal port. In line with this, they also got the Pierhead Building built. It is a red brick French Gothic Renaissance building that was made to stir maritime traffic. You can also see the Llandaff Cathedral, another one of the famous architectural sites in Cardiff. It is a beautiful church built on the location of a monastery founded by St. Tielo. The symbol and center of the regeneration of Cardiff Bay is the Wales Millennium Centre. It is deemed an architectural masterpiece of different colors of stacked Welsh slate and a bronzed steel shell.

The Coal Exchange was the center of the Welsh coal trade. In 1908, the first check for one million pounds was written by a coal merchant. Today, arts and performances are housed and hosted in this building. Café and shops can be found in the harbor of Cardiff at the Mermain Quay. During the Cardiff Festival, a carnival takes place here and samba bands and dance troupes abound. This is a great place for shopping and taking a leisurely stroll. Don't forget to see the Goleulong 2000 Lightship. This is located near the Norwegian Church on the harbor. It houses the Christian center where you can find a bookshop, café and exhibitions. You can also check out the little cabins and climb the lighthouse to get a view of Cardiff.

Above the shopping street in the city center is the Gothic lantern tower of the Church of St. John the Baptist. It is a 15th century parish that shows stonework on the outside that is so delicate you'd think it was filigree. Elegant arches adorn the inside of the church and this is a great spot to get some quiet time from the hustle and bustle of the street.

Climate: Like Wales, Cardiff's weather is basically unpredictable. It can be wet and windy, cloudy and gray, or downright sunny. The rainy season start in October and goes through till winter so the best time to go to Cardiff is in the summer or spring. The days are long and warm in summer but there can be a lot of travelers sightseeing as well. If you want to avoid the crowds, go in spring.

Transportation: You can rent a car, motorcycle or bicycle to get to notable places in Cardiff. You can also take the official black taxi to get around Cardiff. They can be hailed in the street, ordered by phone or you can go to the taxi stops located outside the train station, Duke Street, or at the corner of Greyfriars Road and Park Place. There are buses that also cover different destinations in and around Cardiff.

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Travel Guide - Cardiff

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