Recommendations for three days in Cardiff and three elsewhere in Wales please.

[WhaleinWales]

Visiting Cardiff for three days and then have three days elsewhere in Wales- Please can anyone recommend

A. The best things to do in Cardiff

B. Where we should go afterwards - has to be in Wales.

Adults, not into nightlife, but up for anything during the day.

Thank you.

How much time are you willing to spend travelling away from Cardiff? There's lots of things to see in North Wales but it's a 4 hour drive and the same on the train, so potentially takes a chunk out of the trip. Also what time of year?

Take a boat trip from near the castle to Cardiff Bay.
Have a look around the Senedd and the museum
The castle is well worth a visit, book onto a guided tour if you can and have welsh rarebit in the castle cafe for lunch.

When?

I second the Castle. St Fagans museum isn't too far away and it a good day out and a nice walk. The Bay area is also nice for a walk and dinner.
Tenby always gets glowing reviews for a cute beachside town. Hike in the Beacon Beacons?

When?

The Gower
Laugharne

North Wales is hard to get to from South Wales. I wouldn’t say it makes sense to combine the two.

What do you enjoy? In Cardiff there's St Fagans if you're interested in history. They've rebuilt and furnished buildings from different parts of Wales and different periods and it's free (after parking), in town there's activities like social darts, axe throwing and escape rooms, there's cafes with thousands of board games and theatres and concert venues. Also a range of walks, shopping, bars and restaurants and the famous arcade and market.

Sorry, when would help!

Second week in September, we have broad interests so up for anything, but do like to get the feel of the place so anything that is particularly notable for that area.

Castle is a great option, will definitely be doing that.

Happy driving anywhere but interesting that getting to N Wales is harder from S Wales- really want to go to Anglesey but think will do that another time.

St Fagens looks perfect - I am glad I have asked.

Some lovely beaches and walks on the Gower.

One DC was at Aberystwyth for uni, lots to see and do - outdoor focus - in that area. But as others have noted not the quickest roads. But often very scenic.

if it is still there Big Pit up in the valleys was an eye-opener, though maybe more so due to a GP being a miner.

I can answer part B.

Go to Swansea Bay! A lovely beach and great for walking. Also go to The Mumbles from there x

I would head to Southerndown, grab a coffee in one of the lovely coffee shops in the area and then wall the coastal path in the direction of St Donats.

If you do this take note of tide times and walk along the cliffs if the tide is coming in.

In Cardiff itself I would have coffee in Coffee Barker and make a booking for the evening in The Potted Pig.

I'd also jump on a train to Caerphilly to visit Caerphilly Castle for a wander for a couple of hours if thats your thing.

I agree probably better to do north and south as separate trips if you have the option. Lots of things to combine Anglesey with.

Sticking with the south, I'm another vote for Tenby/Pembrokeshire way. I've admittedly never been to Tenby in September but would imagine it's just nicely buzzy after being rammed in summer.

Zip line over the principality stadium
Cardiff castle
Castell Coch - short drive
Caerphilly castle - short drive or train
Museums - national museum and St Fagans. Big Pit if you’re up for a bit if a drive
boat ride to Cardiff bay
cardiff bay - the senddd, a show at wales millennium centre, lots of places to eat and drink, walk across the barrage
shopping - the arcades are beautiful
a show in the New theatre
train ride to Barry island

where abouts are you going to be staying?

St David's in Pembrokeshire. You can walk the coast path. There's walkers' buses, so you can do linear walks.

Second Castle Coch. It’s a proper fairytale castle. There’s the Rhondda Heritage Park Museum, everything you need to know about the mining industry and the tour guides are all ex miners. The Royal Mint is not far away either, you can go on a tour and strike your own coin.

golf fang- amazing crazy golf for adults really good fun

escape rooms can’t remember what they are called they are amazing too!

Exactly this - don’t think about mixing the two unless you’re going home to Manchester or somewhere similar afterwards.

Spend the other three days in Gower. So beautiful

Absolutely loved Castell Coch.

We've also enjoyed Big Pit

Big Pit is brilliant. Loved the whole experience so much and I really didn’t think it would be my thing

From Cardiff you could go to the Gower peninsula which is beautiful.

Or Abergavenny/Haye on Wye/Brecon area

St Fagan’s museum is well worth a visit when you’re in Cardiff

The Gower is beautiful although I remember thinking there wouldn't be a lot to do in the rain! Maybe that's not an issue at the moment though.

Brecon Becons lovely too.

Remember in Wales places that look like a short drive in theory can be longer in reality. I still use an old fashioned road atlas when driving in rural Wales - I find satnav can send you down some truly scary side roads!

St Fagan’s is brilliant. Definitely a whole day event. worth checking their website. £7 to park. Free to go in.
Cardiff city centre, the castle, the market, Bute park ( all walkable ) will easily fill another day.
Cardiff Bay then walk along the barage to Penarth. Visit the town then walk through the gardens down to the pier for chips and ice cream.

Don’t try to go too far for the other days as although the distances are short, the roads aren’t brilliant. Staying in the south, Llantwit Major is really picturesque with ancient buildings, lots of pubs and a lovely walk from the town to the beach. Rock pools when the tide is out and a decent old style cafe that you need cash for. Lots of free parking. Cowbridge town is lovely with posh clothes shops and lots of eateries. Southerndown also has a great beach and lovely walks towards Nash point lighthouse.
Also Barry island. It is tacky but worth a visit for Gavin and Stacey reminiscence, ice cream , souvenirs and coffee at Marco’s. You can walk from the lovely sandy beach round the knapp and Romilly park ( more decent coffee shops) and into Porthkerry park with its fabulous viaduct. A great day out if you have children with you.
If you do fancy West Wales then Tenby, Saundersfoot, National Botanical Gardens , St David’s are worth a week of anyone’s life. If the weather is dry, it’s great, if it rains you need to find a bar.
I hope you have a great time. I’m quite new to Wales and can’t believe how many lovely places there are here.