Cardiff

Cardiff is the capital and largest city of Wales, set on the south coast at the mouth of the River Taff. Its compact centre combines historic architecture, Victorian shopping arcades, a lively waterfront and one of Europe's leading event stadiums.

The city's landmarks reflect layers of Welsh and British history. Cardiff Castle, built within the walls of a Roman fort and later remodelled by the Bute family, stands beside the city centre, while Cathays Park's Edwardian civic buildings house national institutions. Cardiff Bay, once the world's busiest coal-exporting port, is now a waterfront district with the Wales Millennium Centre and the Senedd.

Districts such as Pontcanna and Roath offer independent cafés, restaurants and period streets, while Cathays is known for its student population and nightlife. Museums include National Museum Cardiff and the open-air St Fagans National Museum of History on the city's western edge.

Cardiff is a centre for public administration, financial services, media and higher education, and hosts international rugby, football and concerts at the Principality Stadium. Its food scene ranges from Welsh produce and historic Cardiff Market to global restaurants across the city centre and Cardiff Bay.

For both leisure and business travellers, Cardiff provides a compact capital with quick access to the South Wales coast, the Brecon Beacons and the wider UK.