Cardiff Transport

The Cardiff local authority has done very well in providing its residents and tourists with a good public transport infrastructure that includes buses, tourist services and taxis. Hop-on/hop-off, open-top buses are the best way to see Cardiff’s major sights and offer flexible travel, while a fleet of regular buses provide transport within the town as well as to many towns and villages in the region. Taxis are metered and run 24 hours per day. In addition, eager tourists can hire bicycles and ride the numerous city trails.

Foot and bicycle transport

Cardiff is a compact city and easy to get about on foot, with many pedestrianised streets and most of the main attractions within close proximity of one another. There are also many bike tracks in and around the city and several bike rental places that are open throughout the spring and summer.

By bus

Cardiff Bus operates an extensive bus network throughout the city and is the best option for those with tighter budgets. Buses are used by tourists and locals alike and services run to even the remotest of city sights. Prices are dependent upon the amount of zones travelled and time of day. The whole of the Cardiff metropolitan area covers four zones with zone 1 encompassing the heart of Cardiff and being the cheapest.

Taxis

There are three main taxi companies in Cardiff, including Black Cabs, Capital Cabs and Premier Cabs which all operate 24 hours a day. They can either be hailed or picked up at one of the taxi ranks. The main taxi ranks can be found at the bus and train stations and outside St David’s Hall, although cabs can also be booked over the phone. Taxis are metered but double-check that the meter is started only when you are picked up.

Tourist services

The best way to see Cardiff and all its main attractions is to take one of the regular open-top, hop-on/hop-off guided bus tours. These special buses, operated by CitySightSeeing Cardiff and Guide Friday, cover the heart of the city and its surroundings and allow passengers to get on and off as many times as they choose throughout the day. Most of the big Cardiff attractions are included on the tours, including: Cardiff Castle, the National Museum of Wales, Cardiff City Hall, the Welsh national Assembly, Cardiff Millennium Stadium, and the Mermaid Quay.

From the airport

Cardiff International Airport is well connected with Cardiff by public transport, with trains running between the airport and the city every hour on the Cardiff-Bridgend line. There are also four efficient bus services and a fleet of taxis. The Airport also houses five major car hire companies and driving to the city from the airport is very straightforward. Those who have hotel reservations should check with their hotel to see if a courtesy shuttle service is in operation.