Cardiff campsites

A good place to start when visiting Cardiff has to be the magnificent Cardiff Castle, one of Wales’ leading heritage attractions and a site of international significance. Located within beautiful parklands at the heart of the capital, Cardiff Castle’s walls and fairytale towers conceal 2,000 years of history. Open seven days a week, there’s no excuse not to visit.

Discover how Cardiff turned from a small market town in the 1300's to one of the world's biggest ports in the 1900's at The Cardiff Story Museum. The fun, free and interactive galleries are in the beautiful historic Old Library building, full of stories, objects, photos and film telling the history of the people of Cardiff.

Next up is the National Museum and its free! The art galleries are home to amazing paintings, drawings and sculpture from the last 500 years including Monet, Van Gogh and Picasso. Remember to collect an activity booklet to help you explore the collections.  A firm family favourite is the Evolution of Wales gallery where you can journey millions of years through time and come face to face with dinosaurs and giant mammals like the Woolly Mammoth. Don't miss the Clore Discovery Centre where you can discover and handle hundreds of objects! 

If science is your thing then a must will be a visit to Techniquest. It aims to inspire and inform the scientists of the future. Techniquest is the UK’s longest established science discovery centre which develops and sells exhibits to similar venues all over the world.

With so much to see in Cardiff the Sightseeing Hop-On Hop-Off bus tour is a great option. Telly fans are in for a treat! Your mission, if you choose to accept, is to save civilisation as we know it on The Doctor Who Experience. The much-loved TV show is filmed in Cardiff, so you can experience all the behind-the-scenes best bits and watch as little faces light up - and that’s just one of the eleven stops.

If you would rather explore by foot then try the Cardiff Treasure Trail, a unique way to explore somewhere new and suitable for all ages. This trail consists of a 2.5 mile walk around Cardiff Bay, highlighting the best scenic and historical sights.

Adventure seekers can tee off at Treetop Adventure Golf in a themed tropical rainforest. Can you get a hole in one whilst the sounds of a raging thunderstorm try to distract you? Nothing is below par at this mini-golf course. You’ll be serenaded by singing barbershop frogs and watched by ancient gods willing for you to miss.

Weather not playing by the rules? Head on over to Superbowl UK, this place has it all. A twelve lane bowling alley, laser quest, soft play, a sports lounge bar, amusement arcade and a diner, everything you need for a fab day out.

Jump feet first into Cardiff International Pool, a 50 metre Olympic swimming pool, leisure pool and loads of fun slides. Nearby you’ll find Ice Arena Wales, an ice skating rink in the very heart of Cardiff's Sports Village boasting 2 spectacular ice pads.

If you fancy something different and love a good puzzle, head to Escape Reality Cardiff. Discover an immersive interactive gaming experience and explore a new dimension. Put your problem solving skills and teamwork to the test while having lots of fun solving hidden puzzles to escape the room before you run out of time. 

Cardiff has more green space than any other city in Europe, per head of population. The Taff Trail makes the most of former rail routes, towpaths and tramways, allowing you to walk or cycle from Cardiff Bay through 2000 acres of parkland, all the way to the moorland of the Brecon Beacons, if you really need some extra miles to work off that Sunday lunch.

Roath Park is Cardiff's most popular public park and still retains its classic Victorian atmosphere and layout. The 30 acre man-made lake is a popular facility for fishing and boating. The Scott Memorial Lighthouse on the lake is one of Cardiff's iconic images.

Or relax at Bute Park & Arboretum, an extensive area of mature parkland that forms the 'green heart' of Cardiff. At 56 hectares, Bute Park is one of the largest urban parks in Wales and comprises a broad mix of historic landscape, urban woodland, sports pitches, arboretum, horticultural features and river corridor. Bute Park offers something for everyone including the Bute Park Education Centre, 3 wonderful cafes, toilet facilities, a woodland balance trail, sculpture trail and a fitness trail.

Explore Cardiff in a different and exciting way on board the water bus. The Cardiff Boat offers a regular service between Bute Park in the heart of Cardiff City Centre and the thriving historic Cardiff Bay. Hear the history and see the sights as you relax on board with the fascinating commentary.

You won’t go short of action-packed watersports activities in rural Wales. The White Water Experience, on the other hand, is located in Cardiff Bay, near two of Wales’ most famous urban landmarks. Not that you’ll be able to appreciate the finest architectural points of the National Assembly Building and the Wales Millennium Centre as you go crashing through the rapids in a canoe or on a white water raft.

Enjoy views across the city, bay and Bristol Channel from the Barrage, with its landscaped embankment, play area and much more. Easily reached on foot or by bicycle from the Cardiff Bay Visitor Centre. Cardiff Bay is a picturesque wharf lined with shops, boutiques and cafes.

Located in a pretty village on the outskirts of the city, the remarkable National History Museum is one of the city’s most popular attractions for visitors. Over 40 buildings, from an Iron Age Celtic village to a row of ironworkers’ houses have been painstakingly rebuilt in 60 acres of beautiful gardens, with many traditional crafts and activities taking place in front of your eyes. Don’t miss the opportunity to bag a loaf of bara brith, a delicious fruitcake from the Derwen Bake House.

When you've finished exploring the capital, the nearby cities of Swansea and Newport are enticing locations to visit too, while outdoor enthusiasts will enjoy discovering the stunning Brecon Beacons National Park, which is around 25 miles away from Cardiff.