Car Hire Cardiff Airport

Cardiff is just 30 minutes’ drive from the airport, depending on traffic, meaning you can be exploring the city’s sights in almost no time at all.

If you’re planning on exploring more of Wales, or just heading out for a day trip, the M4 goes east to Newport and west to Port Talbot, Swansea and on to Llanelli. Those wanting to head further afield can also follow it across the River Severn to Bristol and south-west England.

Three rivers converge here, with the Taff splitting the city in half from Cardiff Bay. There are numerous crossings, including on the A4160, A4161 and further north on the A48. Many of the main attractions lie on or near the banks of the Taff, including Cardiff Castle, Principality Stadium (also known as the Millennium stadium) and Llandaff Cathedral.

The A470 is another key thoroughfare that will help you get your bearings. Its southern end is next to Cardiff Castle, St. David’s Hall and the main shopping areas, before it takes you north, running parallel to Blackweir Fields and the Feeder Canal Trail.

There can be congestion on the roads when travelling at rush hour, so you may wish to avoid travelling at peak times. There are also pedestrian areas inside the city to be aware of, where you’ll need to park nearby to fully explore. You’ll find numerous NCP car parks in the city, with paid street parking also available.

As with the rest of the UK, driving in Wales is on the left-hand side of the road. Speed limits are typically 20mph (32km/h) or 30mph (48km/h) in town and cities, rising to 70mph (112km/h) on motorways, but you should always check signs for the route that you are on.

Cardiff is rich in history, but also strides forward with a vibrant nightlife, spectacular contemporary buildings and popular TV connections with the likes of Doctor Who. The rugged but inviting coastline also beckons, while a short drive north takes you through Wales’ famous landscapes up to the Brecon Beacons.

Storm back into the past

Cardiff Castle tells a lot of tales. At its core is an old Norman keep, but even that isn’t the beginning of the story. An earlier Roman fort was erected here almost 2000 years ago. From here the Romans – and the Normans after them – could keep a watchful eye over both land and sea.

The third chapter begins with the Bute family, who took control of the castle in 1766 and added many of the neo-Gothic elements that remain today.

Enter the castle and you can see much of the interior, although a guided tour is more revealing, as you’ll learn the stories as you explore the banqueting hall with its majestic fireplace, gaze up at the clock tower and wander through the grounds. There’s even a medieval trebuchet, for a glimpse into the warfare methods of the past.

Explore the thoroughly modern city

Cardiff has a thriving cultural life, not least when it comes to the Millennium Centre, which opened in 2004 at a cost of more than £100 million. It’s a striking building that celebrates Welsh heritage through its use of local slate covered in a gleaming bronze carapace.

Inside the National Dance Company, Welsh National Opera, orchestras, theatres and more ply their trades, meaning there’s always something going on. Even if you’re not stopping for a show, drop by to admire the exterior with its dramatic windows spelling out a poem in both Welsh and English. The surrounding area throngs with bars and restaurants, as well as locations used for filming both Doctor Who and its Torchwood spin-off.

Sports fans will flock to the Principality Stadium, meanwhile, opened in 1999 and home to football, rugby and huge music concerts.

Discover the wonders of Wales

Wales is home to some superb attractions, with many only a short distance away from Cardiff Airport.

Drive an hour east, past Newport, to reach the spectacular, haunting ruins of Tintern Abbey. It fell foul of Henry VIII’s war against the holy orders in the 16^th century, but much of what stands dates from the late 13^th. It has been a muse for poets and painters, but also stands as a sign of the religious grandeur of the past.

Closer is Caerphilly, worth a day trip to see the huge castle – one of the largest in the UK. You may have seen it in ‘Merlin’ on television, surrounded by moats and water that once made it a fierce stronghold. It too came into the ownership of the Bute family, who rescued it from falling into ruin. Take a tour, and make sure you pick up some of the local cheese that has made the area so famous.

For a scenic stroll, the Brecon Beacons lie an hour or so’s drive to the north, and provide a beautiful, rolling backdrop in which to walk and take in some fresh country air.

Enjoy all the sights and sounds of this fantastic city and the landscape beyond, when you hire a car at Cardiff Airport.