Parks and the outdoors in Cardiff

Parks and the outdoors in Cardiff

1. See

   Bute Park

   More a collection of different parks that stretch continuously to the city's edge from the rear of the castle. Bute Park proper is an arboretum and former private grounds of the Bute family who owned the castle.

2. See

   Cathays Park

   Pronounced "kut-AYS, it is the prominent civic centre, comprising expensive white Portland stone buildings in a range of classical styles, all surrounding the formal gardens of Alexandra Gardens whose centre contains national war memorial of Wales.

3. Eat

   Giovanni's

   Very long-established and popular Italian restaurant. Two in the city centre (The Hayes and Park Place) and another in Cardiff Bay.

4. Eat

   Ichiban

   This is a wonderful Japanese restaurant offering excellent value noodle, curry and sushi dishes. A short bus or taxi ride from the city centre, or a 20-30 minute walk.

5. Eat

   Mina

   Highly-regarded and very good-value Lebanese restaurant in the Cathays area; small, family-run and very friendly. Can get busy, especially at weekends: booking recommended. About 25 minutes' walk from city centre, or take Cardiff Bus number 38 or 39, which stop outside the door.

   £20-30

6. See

   National Museum Cardiff

   An excellent collection of artworks and natural history exhibits. The art collection is particularly noted for the collection of 19th-century French works assembled by Gwendoline and Margaret Davies, heiresses to a fortune made in exporting coal. This is of international importance and includes works by Rodin, Monet, Renoir and Van Gogh. Children love the dinosaurs and mammoths in the Evolution of Wales section. £6.50 charge for the museum car park.

   Free admission

7. Drink

   Pen & Wig

   Pleasant traditional pub with beer garden at the northern edge of the city centre, offering a wide choice of draught real ales.

8. See

   St Fagans National History Museum

   Known universally as St Fagans (pronounced "FAG-uns") after the village it's in, this is easily Wales's most popular visitor attraction. An open-air museum of vernacular buildings from all parts of Wales rebuilt, stone by stone, in the grounds of St Fagans Castle, an Elizabethan manor house. The castle gardens, dating from the 19th century, are especially beautiful. You may not be able to see everything in a single visit due to the size of the grounds. Also contains permanent indoor exhibitions on Welsh social and cultural history. Great for kids.

   Free; pay and display parking

9. Eat

   Park House Restaurant and Wine Bar

   Upmarket fine dining restaurant with an extensive wine list.

   £80-90

Listings from the Wikivoyage guide to Cardiff (CC BY-SA 4.0).