Cardiff Travel Essentials

• Cardiff has a maritime climate, with mild, fairly wet winters and moderately warm summers.
• Average temperatures range from 3ºC in winter to 20ºC in summer.
• Most rainfall occurs from October to January, yet you can expect a few rainy days even in summer. 
• The warmest time of the year is from May to October. It’s also the best time to visit Cardiff.
• July to October, is peak tourist season. Hotel and flight prices rise accordingly.

• Primary language: English
• Plug Type: G
• Electricity: 220-240 V
• Currency: Pound sterling (£)
• International Dialling code: +44 29
• Emergency telephone number: 999

Cardiff Airport

Cardiff airport sits near the village of Rhoose, about 10 miles southwest of the city centre. It’s the busiest airport in Wales. The airport hosts a single terminal that features a few dining and shopping options as well as facilities such as banking and currency exchange services. There are several transfer options to reach central Cardiff:

• A taxi to the city centre takes around 20-30 minutes and costs roughly £30-40. The taxi rank can be found just outside of the arrivals exit.
• The bus T9 - The Cardiff Airport Express Bus Service takes around 30-40 minutes and costs roughly £5-10. The bus stop is right in front of the terminal. It’s the cheapest way to get to downtown Cardiff.
• The shuttle bus to Rhoose train station then the train take around 40-45 minutes and costs roughly £8-10. The bus stop is right in front of the terminal.
• Car rental agencies can be found in and outside the terminal. 

Cardiff Central Railway Station

As its name implies, Cardiff Central railway station is located in the city centre. It’s the largest of the 20 stations in Cardiff and the busiest train station in Wales. It hosts plenty of facilities, including food shops, ATM machines and public Wi-Fi. From here, you can get to your hotel by bus, taxi or hired car.

The most pleasant way to explore Cardiff is on foot. The city is rather compact and features historical landmarks and attractions such as Cardiff Castle, Cardiff Bay and the National Museum within walking distance of the city centre. Downtown Cardiff is also home to a good choice of dining and shopping options.

For longer journeys, the public transport services are as efficient as they’re affordable. The bus network throughout the city centre is run by Cardiff Bus.

• You can download their application on your mobile phone to purchase tickets. It will save you some money on bus fares.
• The price of a single journey starts from £1.90.
• The price of a 1-day ticket starts from £3.80.
• If you travel with your family, the Family Day-to-Go ticket is a good option. For £8.50, 2 adults and up to 3 children can travel on the bus network in Cardiff and Penarth zones for 1 day.

• Many taxi and black cab companies operate in Cardiff. The most popular of them include Dragon Taxis (+44 (0)2920 333 333), Capital Cabs (+44 (0)2920 777 777), and Premier Cars (+44 (0)2920 555 555).
• A dozen taxi ranks can be found across the city, mainly at the train stations and near to city attractions.
• Taxis can be hailed on the street unless a taxi rank is nearby. 
• Standard taxi fares start from £2.50 for the first 100 yards then £0.20 per subsequent 195 yards. Rates are higher at night and on special days such as bank holidays, Christmas and New Year.
• Payment of the fare by credit card is usually possible but it’s better to ask the driver before getting in.
• Uber and local taxi companies’ apps can be used to hail a taxi in Cardiff.

Cardiff features a bike sharing scheme run by Nextbike. It offers a cool way to explore the city on clear days. All you need to do is to download the app for free. The price to use a bike starts from £1 per 30 minutes to a maximum of £10 per 24 hours. Over 20 docking stations can be found throughout the city.