Cardiff Travel Guide

City Facts

Location

Southeast Wales (Cymru), United Kingdom.

Time Zone

GMT (GMT + 1 from last Sunday in March to last Sunday in October).

Electricity

220 volts AC, 50Hz; square three-pin plugs are standard.

Average January Temperatures

4.5°C (40°F).

Average July Temperatures

16°C (61°F).

Average Annual Rainfall

1,065mm (41.9 inches).

Language

Welsh (Cymraeg) is a much older language than English, closely related to ancient Celtic languages such as Cornish and Breton. Although nearly everyone in Wales speaks English, Welsh is being actively promoted. Children are taught Welsh in school and the Welsh Language Act (1993) legislates that Welsh and English have equal standing in the public sector in Wales. Both languages will be used in the new National Assembly. Many street and shop signs in Cardiff (Caerdydd) are bilingual, cash point machines offer a choice between English and Welsh, and many organisations answer the phone in Welsh, then English. Foreign visitors (including those from other parts of the UK) are not expected to speak Welsh but attempts to pronounce the ‘ll’, ‘ch’ and ‘rh’ are well received. Information is provided by Link Line to Welsh (tel: (0845) 607 6070), and the Welsh Language Board (tel: (029) 2022 4577; fax: (029) 2022 7577; e-mail: ymholiadua@bwrdd-yr-Iaith.org.uk; web site: www.netwales.co.uk/byig/). Phrases Yes – Ie or ydw No – NaHello – HeloGoodbye – Hwyl or da bo chiPlease – Os gwelwch yn ddaThank you – DiolchCheers! – Iechyd DaMy name is … – Fy enw i yw …How are you? – Sut ydych chi (formal) / Sut mae (informal) I’m very well – Dw i’n dda iawnI feel ill – Dw i’n teimlo’n sâlHow much does it cost? – Faint ydi hwn?Do you speak English? – A ydych chi’n siarad Saesneg?I don’t speak Welsh – Dydw i ddim yn siarad CymraegI don’t understand – Dwi ddim yn deallWhere is …? – Ble mae …?Entrance – MynedfaExit – AllanfaDanger – PeryglOpen – Ar AgorClosed – Ar gauToilets – ToiledauDoctor – MeddygHotel – GwestyRestaurant – BwytyBeer – CwrwWine – GwinMenu – BwydlenToday – HeddiwTomorrow – YforyMonday – Dydd LlunTuesday – Dydd MawrthWednesday – Dydd MercherThursday – Dydd IauFriday – Dydd GwenerSaturday – Dydd SadwrnSunday – Dydd SulOne – UnTwo – DauThree – TriFour – PedwarFive – PumpSix – ChwechSeven – SaithEight – WythNine – NawTen – DegTwenty – Dauddeg / UgainThirty – TridegForty – PedwardegFifty – PumdegSixty – ChwedegSeventy – SaithdegEighty – WythdegNinety – NawdegOne Hundred – CantOne Thousand – Mil

Cost of Living

Special Events

Six Nations
February/March
International annual rugby contest.
Millennium Stadium
Website: www.rbs6nations.com

WorthingtonCupFinal
Early March
Culmination of the world’s oldest football competition.
Millennium Stadium

RugbyLeagueChallengeCupFinal
Late April
Millennium Stadium

FACupFinal
May
The annual culmination of the oldest football competition in the world.
Millennium Stadium
Website: www.thefa.com

CardiffSingeroftheWorld
Late June
St David’s Hall
Website: www.bbc.co.uk/cardiffsinger

Everyman Open Air Theater Festival
July-August
Theater performances.
St Fagans National History Museum
Website: www.everymanfestival.co.uk

Cardiff International Food & Drink Festival
July
Tastings, demonstrations and food shows.
Cardiff Bay
Website: www.cardiff-festival.com

WelshPromenadeConcert
Mid July
Classical music.
St David’s Hall
Website: www.welshproms.co.uk

Admiral Cardiff Big Weekend
August
The UK’s biggest free outdoor musical festival.
Cardiff Civic Center
Website: www.cardiff-festival.com

Cardiff MAS Carnival
August
Three-day carnival celebrations at various venues in the city center.
Website: www.cardiff-festival.com

Mermaid Quay Cardiff Harbour Festival
August
Family festival with nautical theme.
Cardiff Harbour
Website: www.cardiff-festival.com

Brecon Jazz Festival
August
International jazz festival attracting international stars.
Brecon, not far from Cardiff
Website: www.breconjazz.co.uk

LesbianandGayMardiGras
September
One of the biggest of its kind in the UK.
Cooper’s Field, just behind Cardiff Castle
Website: www.cardiffmardigras.co.uk

InternationalFestivalofMusicalTheater
October-November
Various venues
Website: www.cardiffmusicals.com

CardiffFilmFestival
Late November
Chapter Arts Center and UCI
Website: www.cardifffilmfestival.co.uk

Wales Rally GB
December
The UK leg of the World Rally Championship.
Welsh valleys and the Millennium Stadium
Website: www.walesrallygb.com

CalennigChristmasandNewYearCelebrations
December-January
Various venues in the city center

The Royal National Eisteddfod (website: www.eisteddfod.org.uk), the largest annual festival of competitive music making and poetry writing in Europe, takes place alternately in North and South Wales in early August each year.

A good source of information about events in Cardiff can be found on the council’s website: www.cardiff.gov.uk/eventscalendar.