13 Best Sights in Cardiff, Wales

The largest and most impressive fortress in Wales, and one of the few still to be surrounded by its original moat, Caerphilly must have been awe-inspiring at the time of its construction in the 13th century. Built by an Anglo-Norman lord, the concentric fortification contained powerful inner and outer defenses. It was badly damaged during the English Civil War (check out the leaning tower), although extensive renovations have restored much of its former glory. The original Great Hall is still intact, although a £10-million restoration project on it is currently ongoing. Once inside the main entrance, on the far left, there's a replica of a trebuchet—a giant catapult used to launch rocks and other projectiles at the enemy. Additionally, an interesting collection of modern interpretive sculptures has been placed around the castle, both inside and outside. To celebrate the town's famous cheese, a free festival, the Big Cheese, is usually held here every year at the end of July; however, it will take place in the town center until the castle's restoration is finished. Caerphilly is 7 miles north of Cardiff.

A mishmash of styles, from austere Norman keep to over-the-top Victorian mansion, Cardiff Castle is an odd but beguiling place, located right in the middle of the city. Take the tour of the Victorian portion to discover the castle's exuberant side. William Burges (1827–81), an architect obsessed with the Gothic period, transformed the castle into an extravaganza of medieval color for the third marquess of Bute. The result was the Moorish-style ceiling in the Arab Room, the intricately carved shelves lining the Library, and gold leaf murals everywhere. Look for the painting of the Invisible Prince in the Day Nursery; at first glance it's just a tree, but stare long enough and a man takes shape in the branches. Note the not-so-subtle rejection of Darwin's theory of evolution, represented by monkeys tearing up his book around the library's doorway. Fans of military history shouldn't miss "Firing Line," an exhibition tracing the history of Welsh regiments. The vast castle grounds are the setting for open-air cinema and music concerts in the summer. A visitor center houses the ticket office, a gift shop, and a café. Tours, including of the clock tower, are held on certain dates year-round; check the website for schedule and booking information. To the west of the castle entrance is a wall topped with all kinds of animal sculptures, much loved by generations of kids.

Perched on a hillside is this fairy-tale castle, built on the site of a medieval stronghold in the 1870s, about the time that the "Fairy-Tale King" Ludwig II of Bavaria was creating his castles in the mountains of Germany. This turreted Victorian fantasy wouldn't look out of place among them. The castle was another collaboration of the third marquess of Bute and William Burges, who transformed Cardiff Castle. Burges created everything, including the whimsical furnishings and murals, in a remarkable exercise of Victorian-Gothic whimsy.

This splendid neoclassical museum in Cardiff's civic center houses the National Museum of Art and the National Museum of Natural History. It is renowned for its exquisite collection of impressionist and modern art, featuring many of the art world's major players as well as one of the world's best collections of British silverware. This is also the main venue of the biennial Artes Mundi, the United Kingdom's largest contemporary arts prize. The Evolution of Wales gallery, showing the country's history from the Big Bang onward, uses inventive robotics and audiovisual effects. Kids, however, will be more interested in the dinosaurs and the enormous, 9-meter (29-foot) skeleton of a humpback whale that washed ashore near Cardiff in 1982.

On 100 acres of gardens, this excellent open-air museum celebrates the region's architectural history with a collection of farmhouses, cottages, shops, chapels, a school, and a 16th-century manor house. Of special note are the string of ironworkers' cottages, each reflecting a different era from 1805, 1855, 1925, 1955, and 1985, from the decor to the technology to the gardens. The museum's most recent addition is the Vulcan, a 19th-century pub moved here brick by brick from Cardiff Bay; it serves specially created craft beer. Craftspeople work at the museum using traditional methods; most of the work is for sale. Galleries display clothing and other articles from daily life, and special events highlight local customs. The native animal breeds are popular with kids.

Perhaps the most potent symbol of Cardiff's 21st-century rebirth, this regenerated district is a 10-minute bus ride on the Baycar from Canal Street. It's the location of Senedd Cymru, the Welsh Parliament, and Wales Millennium Centre, as well as a good selection of restaurants and bars. Don't miss the Norwegian Church Arts Centre, where children's author Roald Dahl was baptized; you can also take a boat trip around the bay. It was from Roath Dock in 1910 that Captain Robert Falcon Scott and his crew left aboard the SS Terra Nova for their ill-fated British Antarctic Expedition.

In a suburb that retains its village feeling, you can visit this cathedral, which was repaired after serious bomb damage in World War II. The cathedral includes the work of a number of Pre-Raphaelites as well as Christ in Majesty, a 15-foot-tall aluminum figure by sculptor Jacob Epstein (1880–1959). To get here from Cardiff, cross the River Taff and follow Cathedral Road for about 2 miles. Buses 24, 25, 62, and 63 from Cardiff Bus Interchange by Cardiff Central train station stop in Llandaff.

This well-executed museum tells the story of Cardiff and its people from the city's medieval origins to the present day. There's a particularly interesting exhibit on the old docks (now Cardiff Bay), one of the biggest ports in the world in the early 1900s. It's also worth a visit to see the building itself, formerly the Cardiff Free Library, which was built in the 1880s and is now a recognized historic building; note the lovely green ceramic tiles.

Located within the remains of one of only three permanent Roman fortresses in Britain (built AD 75), this fascinating museum looks at all aspects of Roman life, and includes an exquisite collection of gemstones and a coffin complete with male remains. Of particular note are the ruins of the amphitheater, the baths, and the only Roman barracks on view in Europe. The reconstructed Roman garden is particularly attractive. Caerleon is 4 miles northeast of Newport.

Topped by a distinctive redbrick clock tower, the Victorian Gothic Pierhead contains a good exhibition on the history of Cardiff Bay, then known as Tiger Bay, and the former docks. They have an occasional but eclectic program of public events here, including art exhibitions, talks, and debates; call or check the website for the upcoming schedule.

A large science-discovery center for children, Techniquest has 160 interactive exhibits, a planetarium, and a science theater. Regular events include science experiments, films about how stars are born and die, and sessions specially themed for toddlers.

Bought by the National Trust in 2011, Tredegar House is one of the grandest stately homes in Wales. Highlights of the self-guided tour include the grand baroque Jacobean New Hall and the enormous Victorian kitchens, both restored to their former glory. Don't miss the lavish Victorian Side Hall, lined with portraits of the Morgan family, which owned Tredegar until the 1950s. The grounds include immaculately laid-out formal gardens and an orangery. Tredegar is just outside Newport, 12 miles northwest of Cardiff.

Inviting comparisons to Bilbao's Guggenheim, Cardiff's main arts complex (known locally as "The Armadillo" for its coppery, shingled exterior) is an extraordinary building, inside and out. The materials used in the construction are intended to represent "Welshness." (Slate is for the rocky coastline, for example, while wood is for its ancient forests.) The massive words carved into the curving facade read "In These Stones Horizons Sing" in English and Welsh. Inside there's a maritime feel, from the curving wooden stairs to balconies evoking the bow of a ship. A broad range of cultural programs takes place on the various stages, from ballet and opera to major touring musicals. There are often free daily musical performances in the foyer along with cafés, bars, and a shop selling Welsh gifts.