South Wales

Travel Guide

Bracelet Bay Beach showing rugged coastline, a bay or harbour and landscape views
Neath featuring heritage elements, a park and building ruins
Swansea showing boating, general coastal views and a sunset
Swansea showing night scenes and street scenes
Rhossili Beach which includes a sandy beach and landscape views
From short city breaksto a countryside retreat, South Wales has you morethan covered. This area of Wales shares itsborders with England and the Bristol Channel and is home to capital city Cardiffas well as the popular coastal city of Swansea.All this has helped make South Wales the home offantastic Welsh culture, sport and of course entertainment.

From coastal retreatsand spa breaks to a range of budget, boutique and luxury hotels, SouthWales has you covered, with Cardiff and Swansea both particularpopular. Indeed, there’s nothing quite like staying in a Cardiff city centrehotel when there is a Welsh rugby game at the national MillenniumStadium, perfectly located right in the heart of Cardiff.

Cardiff has everything andmore if you wish to make this city the focal point of your stay in SouthWales. With unique attractions, entertainment and shopping allwithin a short walking distance, simply hop onto one of the city’s bus toursand get exploring. An area of Wales that is equally fanatical about football asit is rugby, Cardiff plays host to many popular sporting and musical eventsthroughout the year.

For avid mountain bikers,South Wales has it all, regardless of yourability. South Wales has been a popular spot formountain bikers ever since Dafydd Davies built the first purpose built mountainbike trail in the area. Today the area has close to 600km of purpose built mountainbike trails all with unique views of South Wales.Afan Forest and Cwm Cam are two popular mountain bike centres in the area and agreat base for your mountain bike holiday in South Wales.

A little known factabout Wales is that it has more castles than any other country in Europe. Withover 500 castles, wherever you go on holiday in Wales you will not be too farfrom a castle. In South Wales there are someamazing castles to visit with Raglan Castle, KidwellyCastle and Caerphillyup there among the finest in the country. Indeed Caerphilly is well worth avisit as it is the biggest in Wales and almost completely surrounded by aseries of moats. With interactive videos to offer context and fun activitiesaround the castle, a visit to Caerphilly makes for a great family day out.

A visit to the BigPit National Coal Museum offers something different to do while visitingSouth Wales. Head underground and explore a coal mine, with knowledgeable tourguides on hand this is a truly immersive visitor experience.

Alternatively those ofyou interested in art should be sure to get along to the National Museum &Art Gallery located in Cardiff. Not only popular for its art exhibitions butalso the museums rare collection of dinosaur artefacts and a giantturtle.

If it is the coastalbreak you are after in South Wales then a trip to thecity of Swansea needs to be on your list. Here you will be able to relax on thefantastic Swansea beaches or explore the unspoilt countryside along the coast.Gower Peninsula is a special place to visit when in South Waleswith superb beaches and fantastic sites. The Peninsula was the first place inBritain to be named an area of outstanding natural beauty, a place not just forsunbathers and surfers but birdwatchers also with its many beaches circled withwoodland.

Where to stay in South Wales

Cardiff showing a square or plaza, a city and modern architecture

Cardiff City Centre

4/5(888 area reviews)

Gourmet restaurants interesting history and top sights from Principality Stadium to St. David's Hall – discover Cardiff City Centre, a destination also famous for its shopping.

Cardiff City Centre
Cardiff showing a square or plaza, a city and modern architecture

Castle Quarter

Cosy bars interesting history and top sights from Principality Stadium to St. David's Hall – discover Castle Quarter, a destination also famous for its shopping.

Castle Quarter
Swansea showing a river or creek and a bridge

Castle

4/5(231 area reviews)

Castle is known for its lively bars, and you can plan a trip to Swansea Market and Grand Theatre while you're in town.

Castle
Wales Millennium Centre showing modern architecture, a city and a square or plaza

Butetown

4/5(275 area reviews)

The abundant dining options and relaxing spas are top of the list for many visitors to Butetown. A stop by Wales Millennium Centre or Mermaid Quay might round out your trip.

Butetown
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Grangetown

3.5/5(8 area reviews)

You'll enjoy the bars and live music in Grangetown. You might want to make time for a stop at Cardiff Bay or Cardiff International Sports Village.

Grangetown
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Pontcanna

4.5/5(70 area reviews)

Bars, historical sites and gardens highlight some of the notable features of Pontcanna. Make a stop by Swalec Stadium while you're exploring.

Pontcanna
The Angel Hotel
The Angel Hotel
3 out of 5
Castle Street, Cardiff, Wales
The price is €70 per night from 16 Mar to 17 Mar
€70
includes taxes & fees
16 Mar - 17 Mar
Stay at this 3-star eco-certified hotel in Cardiff. Enjoy free WiFi, breakfast (surcharge), and 24-hour room service. Our guests praise the breakfast and the ...
8.4/10 Very Good! (2,263 reviews)
"I like the Angel as its walkable for cardiff central train station, and very close to the shops. The rooms are clean and adequate. It was very disappointing that the lift wasnt working for the 2 days that we stayed. And that the shower was over a bath. But we didn't say on booking that we needed ..."

Reviewed on 12 Mar 2025

The Angel Hotel
The Parkgate Hotel
The Parkgate Hotel
4 out of 5
Westgate Street, Cardiff, Wales
The price is €112 per night from 16 Mar to 17 Mar
€112
includes taxes & fees
16 Mar - 17 Mar
Stay at this 4-star spa hotel in Cardiff. Enjoy free WiFi, a full-service spa, and breakfast (surcharge). Our guests praise the breakfast and the restaurant ...
9.2/10 Wonderful! (1,662 reviews)
Aesthetics
"I loved the aesthetics and the facilities. Spa was the greatest deal. Would come again"

Reviewed on 11 Mar 2025

The Parkgate Hotel
Celtic Manor Resort
Celtic Manor Resort
5 out of 5
Chepstow Road, Coldra Wood, Newport, Wales
The price is €135 per night from 20 Mar to 21 Mar
€135
includes taxes & fees
20 Mar - 21 Mar
Stay at this 5-star luxury hotel in Newport. Enjoy free WiFi, 2 indoor pools, and a full-service spa. Our guests praise the breakfast and the helpful staff in ...
8.2/10 Very Good! (1,185 reviews)
"everything about our stay was wonderful!!"

Reviewed on 6 Mar 2025

Celtic Manor Resort
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.
The Spires Serviced Apartments Cardiff
The Spires Serviced Apartments Cardiff
3 out of 5
10 Cathedral Rd, Cardiff, Wales
Stay at this 3-star apartment in Cardiff. Enjoy free WiFi, parking (surcharge), and laundry facilities. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the clean rooms ...
9/10 Wonderful! (252 reviews)
Great value, central location.
"Great location. Clean and comfortable room with very easy access arrangements. Very good communication with owners."

Reviewed on 6 Feb 2025

The Spires Serviced Apartments Cardiff
Arcadia - 1 Bedroom Apartment - Tenby
Arcadia - 1 Bedroom Apartment - Tenby
4 out of 5
Warren St, Tenby, Wales
Stay at this 4-star apartment in Tenby. Enjoy free WiFi and cable TV channels. Popular attractions Tenby Beach and St Mary's Church are located nearby.
7.6/10 Good! (5 reviews)
Tenby’s great, host was non responsive.
"We loved our stay in Tenby and the apartment met our needs, unfortunately the host never responded to any contact and gave us incorrect check-in details."

Reviewed on 2 Feb 2025

Arcadia - 1 Bedroom Apartment - Tenby
Newport Student Village - Campus Accommodation
Newport Student Village - Campus Accommodation
4 out of 5
Usk Way, Endeavour House, Newport, Wales
Stay at this 4-star apartment in Newport. Enjoy free WiFi, a 24-hour front desk, and laundry facilities. Popular attractions Friars Walk Newport and Newport ...
8/10 Very Good! (179 reviews)
"The accommodation is secure and clean and everything local the room was typical student accommodation but more than adequate for our stay mattress was to soft for my liking but overall 👍"

Reviewed on 20 Dec 2024

Newport Student Village - Campus Accommodation
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

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