Cardiff Activities - the best Activities in Cardiff
If you want to get active in Cardiff, you’re spoilt for choice.Whether you’re planning a trip to the city or you already live in the Welsh capital, it’s good to have a decent list of Cardiff activities to keep you entertained.
There are plenty of options in our top picks of Cardiff activities below covering everything for a weekend with your friends to stag dos, hen parties and birthdays.
VOTED cardiff's best group activity 2022
When it comes to sheer unadulterated fun, there’s nothing quite like the experience that you can get from Welsh Games, the perfect Cardiff activities venue!
From a bucking bronco sheep to water rides, gladiator-style battles, dragon races, and sumo suit wrestling, it’s got everything you need to make a hen party, stag do, birthday, or corporate event a very memorable occasion.
top activities in Cardiff
Cardiff is a vibrant city, with a huge range of activities for people of all ages. You can choose from inflatable games, water rides, adventure thrills, and festivals to make the most of your time in the Welsh capital.
Whether you're looking for a hen party, birthday, stag do, or family day out, there's something for everyone in this city.
Our guides below covers all the main Cardiff activities on offer in the Welsh capital.
Cardiff activities for all groups...
Cardiff Activities Guide
Cardiff has a lot to offer for its visitors. Its historic sites, live music scene, shopping, outdoor activities and food scene make it a fun place to visit. If you are looking for a city with all the ingredients for a perfect holiday, check out Cardiff.
Cardiff has several malls, arcades and gift shops. Most of these are Victorian or Edwardian in style. They are filled with cute boutiques and independent shops. You can also find cafes, restaurants and delis.
There is also a number of festivals in Cardiff each year. These include the Cardiff Harbour Festival and the Cardiff Festival. Also, the city has an extensive range of sporting events and concerts.
Some of the major attractions in Cardiff are Cardiff Castle, Cardiff International White Water Centre and the Wales Millennium Centre. .
Get Wet Cardiff Activities!
How about some fresh air and crazy shenanigans in a field near Cardiff? Stags, hens and birthday boys and girls come here to throw, whack, wobble, run, be twanged by a bungee and generally fall about laughing. You can do all of this at a Welsh themed games day at Welsh Games.
Sumo suits and getting wet feature at some point. There’s always a prize for the winner too, in this local take on the 1970s TV hit show It’s A Knockout. For laughs, fresh air and some stonking challenges that everyone can get involved in, this is quite probably the best of all the Cardiff activities on offer.
Another newcomer to the activity scene in Cardiff is bubble football. Level the playing field by putting all your mates inside an inflatable bubble before kick-off. Somewhere between footie and dodgems, there’s sure to be some unique manoeuvres in this crazy game.
Get Shooting in Cardiff!
No event suggestion list would be complete without the chance to run and roll about in the mud, firing paint at friends and strangers! Creep your way through military settings or a haunted graveyard, round obstacles and through the undergrowth.
Paint-balling is one of the most popular Cardiff activities for stag parties. The largest site local to Cardiff is spread over 30 acres, with a dozen game zones and plenty of obstacles, as well as trees to hide behind when it all gets a bit too exciting! For a pain-free alternative, you can opt for laser quest instead. Once you’re in the ultra-violet, fog-filled arena, it’s like starring in your very own video game.
If you want to shoot, but don’t want to be shot at, then archery and clay pigeon shooting are available too!
Go fast Cardiff Activities!
Off roading in 4x4s is great fun and a real lesson in vehicle control. You can start on the easy tracks before attempting crazy climbs, white-knuckle descents and some serious angles of lean. If you want to get a bit more in touch with the terrain, there are quad bike adventures to be had across the countryside, one of our favourite of the Cardiff activities out there.
For full-on racing, there is outdoor karting, with the chance to fly around the track at 60mph! It’s a total adrenalin rush around a 1050m circuit. If you prefer to stay indoors, then give yourself a workout on another fine circuit, complete with a flyover, slippery corners and challenging hairpin bends. And if you prefer to stick to two wheels on your wagon, then get in the zone on a mountain bike.
The terrain near Cardiff is superb for bike action. Get your buzz from grunting, bombing, bunny hopping and general bike acrobatics. There are lots of purpose built trails within easy reach of Cardiff. They’re graded a bit like ski runs, so there’s something to suit every level of biking ability.
Get High Activities!
If you’ve got a head for heights, then you’ve definitely come to the right place. The Black Mountains and Brecon Beacons are just a stone’s throw from Cardiff. Perfect for some alpine action. Also in easy reach are ultra adrenaline activities like high ropes courses, climbing and abseiling. For the ultimate in getting high, get like James Bond and enjoy a thrilling 40 mile per hour whizz along a zip wire.
And relax…
Tired just reading the above, and looking for some more sedate Cardiff activities? Then why not try a cocktail making class for some relaxed refinement. Learn the craft, create and mix your own before sampling. Choose from several excellent venues and include food too, for a great start to a party!
Just one more delectable Cardiff activity to digest…chocolate making. Mmmmmm. Imagine a couple of hours rolling, shaping and making your own chocolates to present to someone special, or just let yourself go mad and scoff all your creations yourself!
So roll up, roll up and come to Cardiff, for so much more than just its castle!
Get on your bike!
For those looking for a more leisurely activity, you can visit Cardiff Cycle Tours. Located near the Principality Stadium, this tour offers a relaxing way to explore the city. Its guides will point out major attractions, and help you discover hidden gems.
Cardiff Hen Activities
Wales’ largest city, and, of course, its capital, Cardiff, is the ideal place to visit for a special occasion.
A bustling city with a lot going on, it holds the Welsh hospitality and friendliness that the UK’s other capital cities lack… and, on the whole, it’s cheaper to visit too! If you’re planning a trip to the Welsh capital (known as Caerdydd in Welsh), there’s plenty of Cardiff hen do activities to choose from.
Wales isn’t known for its fantastically exotic weather, so we recommend planning an itinerary of indoor and outdoor activities for your happy hens to avoid putting a dampener on your weekend. Sun isn’t guaranteed but if anything is with Cardiff activities, it’s a laugh... or two or three!
Compete amongst yourselves at Welsh Games
A Welsh themed novelty extravaganza, the Welsh Games is one of the highest rated activities in Cardiff for hen parties. A day-long activity containing nine crazy games that are more amusement than athletic, you will battle, bounce and bat your way to victory… all in fancy dress amongst extremely Welsh sheep-covered mountains.
Book in advance and let the team know of any special requirements; they’ll adapt your trip to meet your needs.
Balance aboard Stand Up Paddle Boarding
Rather than getting your hair wet in Cardiff Bay, Stand Up Paddle Boarding makes for a great active experience that gives a full body work-out alongside lots of laughs and a new perspective on the city… from the water!
Participants stand up on paddle boards and use a canoe-type big paddle to move about. It requires some balance and a sense of adventure, and is best done in groups of four or more.
Get boozy on a Cardiff Bay Boat Party
Extend your hen party by taking it on to the water with one of the most vibrant and rawkus activities in Cardiff! Party boats include fully-functional bars, DJs and dance floors, so make for an on-the-water nightclub experience amongst other tourists and locals alike.
There’s a variety of boat parties available and after a couple of cocktails, you’ll ease into the flow of the waves. Choose from a selection of different boat routes and party durations.
Shake and stir at a Cocktail Making Masterclass
Mix things up at a cocktail making masterclass under the tuition of an expert mixologist. Choose your bride-to-be’s favourite cocktail and learn how to recreate it, with some shaking, some stirring and some ingredient juggling thrown in!
Of course, once the class is over you can relax and enjoy the fruits of your labour, and private areas in the bar are available for your party to continue into the evening. Cocktail making is one of the most popular Cardiff hen do activities, so you may need to book in advance.
Take Afternoon Tea in style
What could be more British than a spot of tea? Take some time out from your hectic hen activities in Cardiff and relax for a few hours over tea, sandwiches and cake. Choose from a variety of afternoon tea venues and menus, catering for all across the city.
The ideal pick of Cardiff hen do activities for those looking to take some time out or enjoy some quality time with older wedding guests, afternoon tea is a classic – and lines your stomach nicely for less-relaxing heavier activities later on! Upgrade your afternoon tea with a glass or two of bubbly and try some Welsh rarebit amongst the sandwiches for a local touch.
Get artistic at Life Drawing
Admiring the human form is, well, an art form, and taking part in a private life drawing class is one of favoured Cardiff hen do activities amongst groups. Get as serious or as silly as you like (the models won’t mind, they’re very experienced!) and sketch up a treat.
Often requests can be made as to the model you’ll meet, so consider finding a lookalike to someone in the Bride-to-be’s life to really spice things up. No artistic experience or skill is needed – just an appetite to try – and you can combine giggles and cultural gentility with this great hen do activity!
Puzzle solve in an Escape Room
Put your wits to the test and get intellectual in the puzzle solving game that is an Escape Room.
Rooms are themed and need a small team (usually of 4) to work together to solve a mystery and gain the code or key required to (you guessed it!) escape the room.
Solve the puzzles and get out within 60 minutes or risk being locked in forever… who can do it quickest?
Twerk it up at a Dance Class
Much like the occasional fitness class we all throw ourselves into every January, dance classes are definitely more fun when done with a pal – so combining them into your hen weekend is ideal!
Select a style from hundreds available and learn to strut your stuff in salsa, breakdance in street or point your toes in ballet. Don’t forget the fancy dress!
Spin and swirl Ice Skating
Ice Skating is often thought of as a Christmas activity, but in terms of Cardiff hen do activities, it’s available year-round at the Viola Arena!
The winter sports arena plays host to two Olympic-sized ice rinks, one of which is used as an ice hockey pitch. You can turn up or book ahead to try your skills on the white stuff… Dancing On Ice, here you come!
Booking may be required for larger groups – contact the Viola online to discuss.
Cardiff Stag Activities
Stag dos can very easily become a bit ‘same-y’ – with the same type of nights out, same type of day games and same trips repeated over and over. If you’re arranging a stag, you need it to stand out and be something different, so at least it’s memorable (bar the influence of any drinks, of course).
The key is variety; offering plenty of activities on an itinerary that will appeal to everyone; all ages and abilities. We recommend the Welsh capital for exactly this reason: Cardiff stag do activities are unrivalled for variety, hospitality and FUN.
The public transport links into Cardiff are good and there’s plenty of hotels and Airbnbs in the area that accept stag parties. Some activities may need booking in advance; particularly for larger groups; so have a good Google and give places a call to arrange!
Get competitive at Welsh Games
Imagine It’s A Knockout meets the Olympics meets… Wales. The Welsh Games are a hillarious Welsh themed activity full of crazy games that are amusing and as athletic as you want them to be, with no minimum athletic ability requirement.
These Inflatables and multi-activities make for a brilliant tournament of fun that’s themed with leeks, sheep and rarebit. Yaki da! The Welsh Games are the highest-rated of the stag do activities in Cardiff.
Sink or swim while White Water Rafting
A true adrenaline rush, white water rafting will bond your group of stags in a way no other activity can manage – although you’re likely to get very, very wet. You’ll need to work as a team to stay afloat. White water rafting isn’t for everyone; it’s a fairly extreme sport; but it’s one of the most exciting Cardiff activities on offer for stags in the city.
Bounce about at Bubble Football
Bubble Football is one of the most popular activities in Cardiff for groups, and if you’ve ever seen children taking part in a bubble sport, you’ll know why – it looks great!
Participants wear a large plastic ‘bubble’ that covers everything from their hips upward and then they play football… with hilarious consequences. You’ll need to book bubble football in advance as it requires equipment and a specialist venue: this is not suitable for a concrete street pitch!
Drink and dance Coyote Ugly style
Ever seen the film Coyote Ugly? Cardiff is one of a select few cities around the globe with a real Coyote Ugly bar: so there’s a place to eat, drink and dance along the bar!
A great bar-restaurant hybrid for a meal, the place really transforms at night, so there’s no need to move on elsewhere. Book a table in advance to avoid disappointment.
Everybody go Surfing… Surfing Cardiff Bay!
That’s how the song goes… right? Stag activities in Cardiff aren’t known for their exoticism, but despite you being in a capital city and not quite at a beach, you can still give surfing a go at the Cardiff indoor surfing wave.
Under the tutelage of an expert instructor, you can start from scratch or surf the wave if you’re a bit more experienced.
Get wet Gorge Walking
Activities in Cardiff often bypass the area’s natural beauty, but gorge walking allows your stag group to really immerse themselves within it.
Gorge walking is the exploration of a river or stream over rocks and natural obstacles – it’s wet, it’s a work-out, and it’s wild. Cardiff stag do activities don’t come much more adventurous than this… just factor in time for a quick disco nap afterward!
Experience the need for speed by Speed Boating
A great compromise for those who feel the need for speed but don’t want to get soaked through, speed boating on the Bay is one of the top Cardiff activities on offer for stag parties.
You’ll need to book in advance, but can choose from a variety of trip durations and packages to suit all. Buckle up, boys, this is the Bay… and it’s breakneck stuff!
Get fabulous at a Drag Show
Perhaps a more unusual pick from the Cardiff stag do activities available, a drag show makes for a fabulous night out that’s a little different from your standard pre-drinks and club ‘do’. Experience the eleganza extravaganza for real and catch Cardiff’s Queens in a night of song, dance and comedy. Be prepared to be picked on though – stags are fresh meat for drag queens, and the groom-to-be could be in for a very good night!
Speed up Quad Biking
Topping of the hitlist of Cardiff stag do activities comes quad biking. Buckle up and race around on four wheels across a specialist outdoor track of humps, lumps and bumps.
Wear clothes as padded around your groin as you can and prepare to race, speed and scream throughout.
