Cardiff Castle
Cardiff, Wales
Key facts
- Operator
- Cardiff Council
- Condition
- Intact
- Access
- Staffed, ticketed
- Nearest station
- Cardiff Central, 0.4 miles (straight-line)
Pinpoint
Castle St, Cardiff CF10 3RB
Telephone 029 2087 8100
Possible Opening Hours*
*Opening times change. Always check the official website before you travel.
| Monday | 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
| Tuesday | 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
| Wednesday | 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
| Thursday | 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
| Friday | 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
| Saturday | 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
| Sunday | 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
A Norman motte-and-bailey keep wrapped in William Burges's Victorian Gothic fantasy interiors, plus WWII air-raid shelter tunnels cut beneath the walls - three very different eras stacked on one city-centre site.
Who to know
William Burges · the architect of the Victorian Gothic fantasy interiors
Worth the trip
The wartime tunnels, which reviewers describe as genuinely unsettling thanks to the darkness and sound effects, not just a museum walk-through.
Before you go
The grounds and coffee shop area are free to enter without a castle ticket, so it's worth a look even on a tight budget or schedule.
Most reviewers describe Cardiff Castle as beautifully preserved and rich in history, with the decorated interiors and the included audio guide singled out as highlights, and the central location makes it an easy add to a city visit. The wartime tunnels also come up as a memorable, atmospheric feature, though one visitor found the military museum less engaging than the rest of the site. Staff are praised for being upfront about which parts of the castle aren't wheelchair accessible, which a couple of reviewers appreciated even though it limited what they could see.
Norman keep, Victorian Gothic apartments, wartime tunnels
“Visited the castle with my friend who uses a wheelchair. Staff were extremely helpful in explaining what parts of the castle are accessible before we purchased tickets.”- Eva Crowe, visitor review
Practical notes from visitors
Quoted from individual Google reviews, not verified with the operator - treat as a steer, not gospel, and check before you travel.
- Guided tours
- “You can listen to the audio guide while you see everything and it makes your experience super rich.” - Amanda
- Terrain & accessibility
- “Visited the castle with my friend who uses a wheelchair.” - Eva Crowe
Plan your visit
- Combine this with
- Castell Coch is only 4.9 miles away - worth pairing into the same day. See Castell Coch →
- Tickets & opening times
- Check current prices and hours on the operator's own site before travelling - details change more often than any directory can track: https://www.cardiffcastle.com
- Data checked
- Ratings, review counts and the visitor-note quotes above were drawn from publicly available Google reviews. Castles change hands and adjust hours faster than any directory can track in real time.
Common questions about Cardiff Castle
Where is Cardiff Castle?
Cardiff Castle is in Cardiff, Wales, at Castle St, Cardiff CF10 3RB.
Do you need a ticket to visit Cardiff Castle?
Yes - Cardiff Castle is a staffed, ticketed attraction run by Cardiff Council. Ticket prices and opening hours change through the year, so check the official site before travelling.
What is the highlight of visiting Cardiff Castle?
The wartime tunnels, which reviewers describe as genuinely unsettling thanks to the darkness and sound effects, not just a museum walk-through.
Is Cardiff Castle a ruin or still intact?
Cardiff Castle is largely intact - Norman keep, Victorian Gothic apartments, wartime tunnels.
