12 Famous Landmarks in Cardiff, UK (100% worth a visit)

Full List of the 12 Famous Landmarks of Cardiff

1. Cardiff Castle 
2. National Museum of Cardiff
3. St. Fagans National Museum of History
4. Cardiff Bay
5. Wales Millennium Centre
6. Principality Stadium (Millennium Stadium)
7. Bute Park
8. Llandaff Cathedral
9. Victorian Arcades
10. Cardiff Market
11. Caerphilly Castle
12. Castell Coch

So, here’s the complete list of Cardiff famous landmarks. Keep reading below to learn more about each of these places.

1. Cardiff Castle 

Located in the center of the city, Cardiff Castle is the city’s most famous monument.

Cardiff Castle is actually a set of 3 fortresses. Indeed, the castle stands on a site once occupied by a Roman fort, with some parts preserved and partially restored. The Norman Castle was added in 1090, as well as a Victorian palace in the 19th century.

If you visit the castle, you shouldn’t miss climbing the main tower (The Norman Keep) to get a view of the city, explore the castle’s basements, take a guided tour of the Castle House and the Clock Tower Tours.

2. National Museum of Cardiff

The National Museum of Cardiff is located next to the City Hall in the Civic Centre (Cathays Park).

Ham II / CC BY-SA

Founded in 1905, the National Museum of Cardiff houses the country’s archaeology, geology, art, and natural history collections. The Evolution of Wales exhibit takes visitors on a 4.5 million-year journey that includes the dinosaurs that once roamed the country. The exhibits of fossils and Bronze Age weapons are also remarkable.

The museum also houses a fine art gallery and houses beautiful collections of paintings, sculptures, and ceramics spanning 5 centuries. The museum’s collection of impressionist art is particularly noteworthy, with paintings by Picasso, Rodin, and Monet.

3. St. Fagans National Museum of History

Located in a beautiful park 6 kilometers west of Cardiff city center, the St Fagans National History Museum is one of the most popular attractions in Wales.

It’s a beautiful open-air museum similar to the Skansen in Stockholm, featuring over 40 reconstructions of authentic buildings from all over the country, from a Celtic Iron Age village to a medieval church. The blacksmith’s and clog maker’s workshops show traditional skills, and the interior galleries display traditional Welsh costumes.

This museum is like no other, allowing visitors to travel through ancient history to the present day, and offering an immersive experience.

4. Cardiff Bay

Cardiff Bay is considered one of the greatest success stories in the UK and is the largest waterfront development in Europe.

The Cardiff Bay redevelopment covers about 1,100 hectares in the former docklands area and is home to high-end housing, offices, hotels, restaurants, theaters, sports fields, and plenty of parks.

There is no shortage of things to do in Cardiff Bay. Indeed, this is where you’ll find the Pierhead, a red brick building built in 1897; Mermaid Quay with its trendy restaurants, cafes, and stores; the Senedd which houses the National Assembly of Wales; as well as the beautiful Norwegian Church. Last but not least, you will also find Techniquest, a science and discovery entertainment center with a planetarium and a theater.

5. Wales Millennium Centre

Widely considered one of the best performing arts centers in the world, the Wales Millennium Centre has become one of Cardiff’s most important cultural venues and is a must-see attraction.

Opened in 2004 on Cardiff Bay, the original project was to build a Welsh opera house. Completely made of slate, metal, and wood from the area, few buildings reflect the Welsh spirit as much as the Wales Millenium Centre.

Covering an area of almost 2 hectares, it regularly hosts some of the most varied and lively performances in Europe, including opera, ballet, dance, musical productions, comedy, and concerts.

6. Principality Stadium (Millennium Stadium)

Recently renamed Principality Stadium but still very much known as the Millennium Stadium, this stadium is a must-see place in Cardiff.

Built in 1999 on the site of the former Arms Park stadium, the Millennium Stadium is very impressive for its size and architecture. It has a capacity of 74,500 people and hosts national and international rugby and soccer games each year, including the Six Nations Tournament and the Rugby World Cup. In addition to sports events, the stadium also hosts concerts as it has already welcomed Madonna, The Rolling Stones, U2, and even Beyoncé!

If you don’t like rugby, stop by the stadium anyway. The building is interesting and mosaics are representing different countries on the sidewalks on the west side.

7. Bute Park

Spread over 53 hectares in the heart of the city, Bute Park is the largest park in Cardiff.

Athena’s Pix / CC BY

Named after the famous Bute family who did so much for the city, the park is crossed from north to south by the River Taff that flows into Cardiff Bay.

Filled with blooming trees in the spring and orange leaves in the fall, its colors will seduce you in any season. Take the time to explore all its nooks and crannies, stroll along the water’s edge and enjoy a picnic on sunny days to the sound of the birds. Don’t miss the Sculpture Trail, a path dotted with 20 sculptures.

8. Llandaff Cathedral

Located opposite the bay, in the Llandaff district north of Cardiff, Llandaff Cathedral is well worth a visit.

Founded in the early 12th century by the Normans on the site of an ancient church, Llandaff Cathedral is one of the finest examples of religious buildings in Wales. The main part of the cathedral dates from the 13th century, while the northwest tower was rebuilt in the 15th century.

Although severely damaged during the last war, it has since been restored and houses many beautiful features, including a statue of the Christ in Glory by Jacob Epstein above the nave.

9. Victorian Arcades

Located downtown in the Castle Quarter, the Victorian Arcades are filled with charm, stores, and restaurants of all kinds.

The Cardiff Victorian Arcades are 4: the Royal Arcade (the oldest), High Street Arcade, Castle Arcade, and Duke Street Arcade. Initially built to house the stores of the merchants of the time (tailors, apothecaries, fortune tellers…), the arcades have been modernized to now accommodate more than 80 independent businesses.

Walking through the arcades will give you peace, and allow you to travel back in time to the Victorian era. You’ll find good restaurants, but also vintage stores and cute cafes. If you’re looking for souvenirs to take home, these arcades are a good place to get them.

10. Cardiff Market

Located just a short walk from Cardiff Castle and the arcades, Cardiff Market is an attraction in its own right and a must-see in the city. 

Housed in an impressive Victorian building, Cardiff Market exists since the early 18th century and has been in its current location for at least 200 years. It’s one of the cheapest places in the city to get food, including Welsh traditional dishes.

But that’s not all! You can buy fresh products but also flowers, clothes, souvenirs, and even second-hand books and comics. Upstairs, walk through the shelves of vinyl, cassettes, and music CDs, a real trip back in time for music lovers.

11. Caerphilly Castle

Located only 12 kilometers north of Cardiff, in the heart of the Rhymney Valley, Caerphilly Castle is the second largest castle in the UK after Windsor Castle.

Caerphilly Castle was built in the 13th century by the Normans. After falling into decline in the 16th century due to some troubling events, the castle was acquired by the Bute family in the 18th century who carried out extensive restoration work.

The castle has the most elaborate defense system of all British castles combined. Expanded several times, it has two impressive drawbridges, huge ramparts, circular towers, and a moat. But its main feature is definitely the Leaning Tower that visitors can see from afar. 

12. Castell Coch

Nestled in the Tongwynlais Forest in South Wales, Castell Coch looks like something out of a fairy tale book.

Also known as the “red castle”, Castell Coch is a Gothic castle with rounded towers built on the ruins of an 11th-century medieval castle. The present castle was built in the second half of the 19th century by the famous architect William Burges, the same architect who designed Salisbury Cathedral and Cardiff Castle. The castle was occupied by the Marchioness of Bute until she died in 1950.

The interior of the castle is richly decorated and there is no time to get bored during the visit. In the background of the castle, you have the Fforest Fawr, a beautiful forest famous for the wood hyacinths visible in spring.

Map of Cardiff Famous Landmarks

To get the free map of the best landmarks of Cardiff, simply click on the image below to open it in Google Maps. Then click on the “star” icon to save it to your own maps.

More Landmarks in Wales

Want to discover more landmarks in Wales? 

👉 Check out this post: Full Guide of the Most Famous Landmarks in Wales

For more, you can also check all our UK guides.

I hope you’ve found all the information you needed to make your Wales bucket list through these posts. Don’t hesitate to comment below if this is the case, I would be very pleased to read your feedback!

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