Visiting Wales
Capital city culture, castles and coast
South Wales is full of contrasts. Spend time in Cardiff, explore castles and industrial heritage, head into the valleys or escape to the beaches and clifftops of the southern coast. It is a region where a city break, a family day out and a countryside walking holiday can all fit into the same trip.
Use this guide to start planning your days out. We have picked six places and experiences to get you going, with official visitor information linked where available. Check opening details, access information and local conditions before travelling.
Historic places, landscapes, coastal experiences and ideas for a day out while you are staying in the region.
Explore Cardiff Castle in the city centre, browse the arcades and museums, then head down to Cardiff Bay for waterfront walks, restaurants and cultural venues. Cardiff is a good base for combining city attractions with easy trips into the surrounding countryside.
Official visitor information →St Fagans brings Welsh life and history together through historic buildings, craft demonstrations and everyday stories. One of its most talked-about additions is The Vulcan Hotel, the former Cardiff pub carefully dismantled and rebuilt at the museum. It is presented as it looked in 1915. One Cardiff regular might say the toilets work now and there is no fighting, so it is not quite the same Vulcan.
Official visitor information →Head inland for mountain scenery, waterfalls, reservoirs, caves and market towns. The park offers everything from gentle riverside paths to challenging hill walks, with Pen y Fan among its best-known summits. Check route conditions and parking before setting out.
Official visitor information →Discover one of the largest castles in Britain, surrounded by extensive water defences. Its towers, great hall and leaning south-east tower make it a memorable stop for anyone interested in Welsh medieval history.
Official visitor information →At Blaenavon, explore the story of coal mining and the people who worked underground. The museum offers an opportunity to learn about Wales’s industrial past, with an underground tour available subject to availability and visitor requirements.
Official visitor information →Discover the coastline around Southerndown, Dunraven Bay and Llantwit Major, where limestone cliffs, beaches and open views make for a rewarding day out. It is a lovely area for short coastal walks, beach visits and exploring the Vale of Glamorgan.
Official visitor information →The Wales Coast Path follows the South Wales Coast and Severn Estuary, linking coastal towns, waterfront paths, wetlands and historic places as it heads towards Chepstow. Around the Vale of Glamorgan, look out for cliff-top views, sheltered bays and the rugged Glamorgan Heritage Coast.
Relevant sections: South Wales Coast and Severn Estuary.
Explore the official Wales Coast Path website →Make a break of it. Here are a few properties from the current Cottage in Wales listings, matched to this region using county and location information.
Showing up to six of 130 matching properties in the current feed. The selection may change as accommodation providers update their listings. Check property details and availability with the provider before booking.
From Bannau Brycheiniog and its waterfalls to the Wales Coast Path and the Glamorgan Heritage Coast, South Wales has walking for all sorts of breaks. Explore our walking holidays page for more ideas.
Explore walking holidays in Wales →