City in Wales, United Kingdom
Cardiff
Compact Welsh capital with a central castle, waterfront bay and good rugby pubs. Easy and cheaper than English cities; sights are few, rain is frequent and nightlife centers on Mill Lane.
At a glance
- Safety4/5Safe with normal careDetails
- Monthly budget$2,910–4,100Comfortable, one person · £2,200–3,100Details
- Value for money19/100Better value than 18% of places we coverDetails
- Best time to goMay–Jul, SepWarmest: Jul, 20°CDetails
- Air quality8.5 µg/m³PM2.5 annual average (2021) · Fairly cleanDetails
- Internet184 MbpsFixed broadband, United Kingdom medianDetails
- Tap waterYes, drinkableSafe and good; Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water supply.Details
- LGBTQ+4/5WelcomingDetails
- Solo travel4/5English: spoken almost everywhereDetails
- Doctor's visit$79–132Private clinic, without insuranceDetails
- Getting aroundUberVery walkableDetails
- Cash or cardPractically cashlessContactless everywhere, including buses and market stalls.Details
Where to stay in Cardiff
Areas visitors base themselves in.
| Area | Good for |
|---|---|
| City Centre | First-timers: castle, arcades, trains, buses |
| Cardiff Bay | Waterfront cafés, Senedd, Wales Millennium Centre |
| Cathays | Student area with cheap cafés and rooms |
| Pontcanna | Cafés, Bute Park access; popular with professionals |
| Roath | Roath Park lake, local pubs, cheaper rents |
Apps that work in Cardiff
- Maps: Google Maps
- Messaging: WhatsApp
- Citymapper: Live transit routes in London and big cities
- Trainline: Rail tickets and advance fares
- Taxis: Hackney cabs can be hailed at ranks; private-hire needs booking. Book ahead on match days.
Cash, cards and tipping
What to carry and how to pay. Money in United Kingdom.
- Practically cashless Contactless everywhere, including buses and market stalls. Carry a few coins for some small stalls.
- Currency: Pound (GBP). US$1 ≈ £0.76 on 03 Oct 2026.
- ATMs: Most cash machines are free; avoid 'pay-to-use' machines in shops and always decline the machine's currency conversion.
- Tipping: Restaurants often add a 12.5% service charge; otherwise tip 10–12.5%. No tipping at pub bars; round up taxi fares.
- Paying by phone: Apple Pay and Google Pay work everywhere, including London transport with daily fare caps.
Before you go
Visa and entry
- Visa-free visitors (EU, US, Canada, Australia and others) need an ETA: £20 in the UK ETA app, usually approved within a day.
- An ETA lasts two years or until the passport expires and covers repeat visits of up to six months each; no work.
- Airlines check ETAs at boarding. Arriving from Ireland also needs an ETA unless you live in Ireland.
Emergency numbers
Police 999 · Ambulance 999 · Fire 999 · All emergencies 999
Plugs
Type G · 230 V, 50 Hz. Do I need an adapter?
SIM and eSIM
Supermarkets, newsagents and phone shops sell prepaid SIMs (giffgaff, Lebara, Three, Vodafone); £10–20 buys a month of generous data. No ID needed. eSIMs work for visitors.
More places in United Kingdom
Going to Cardiff solo?
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Sources
Prices are SoloSquare estimates; climate, air, safety and visa figures come from the sources listed. Compiled and reviewed by SoloSquare. How we compile and score this. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.