Christmas in Cardiff 2022
Are you staying in Cardiff into the winter recess? Good news, there are plenty of free and/or low-cost Christmas activities taking place across the city this year!
If you’re looking for some festive inspo, below are some suggestions of Christmas activities that you could get up to in Cardiff this year…
Cardiff Winter Wonderland
Dress up warm and visit the Winter Wonderland!
Cardiff Winter Wonderland is open until the 8th of January and is the perfect place to put you in the Christmas spirit! It is located just outside of city centre on the City Hall lawn and is open daily between 11am and 10pm.
Winter Wonderland is free to enter, and once inside you will find a range of bars, including an Ice bar, festive foods, and funfair attractions! Some activities such as the Ice Bar require prebooking which can be done here.
Christmas in the Castle
This year, the Winter Wonderland Ice Rink and Ice Walk is located inside the grounds of Cardiff Castle. Cardiff Castle is free to enter and is the perfect place to get you feeling festive. Within the castle walls you will also find a range of festive food and drink stalls.
Please note that ice skating tickets will need to be prebooked, which can be done here.
Outside of the Castle you can also admire the giant light-up reindeer. They are located on the lawn just outside of the castle and are best viewed at night for the full effect.
Christmas Markets
Cardiff Christmas Market is open daily until the 23rd of December, and has stalls located in St John Street, Working Street, Trinity Street, and the Hayes. You will find a range of independent food and gift stalls which are perfect for shopping for Christmas gifts, or even just to explore and get some Christmas inspiration!
The markets are free visit, and there is also some food and drink stalls if you fancy a mulled wine to put you int the Christmas spirit!
Exploring the City of Arcades
Cardiff is known as the City of Arcades, and they are definitely a sight to behold over Christmas when they are decorated with festive lights. Not only are they just pretty to walk through, but they are also home to a range of independent shops, perfect for buying Christmas trinkets.
St Fagan’s Christmas Farmers Market
Taking place on the 17th of December, St Fagan’s will be hosting a Christmas Farmers Market.
The market will be open from 10am until 3pm and will have a range of stalls attending. St Fagan’s and the Farmers Market are free to enter and is the perfect opportunity to support local businesses.
Located just outside of Cardiff city, it’s easy to get to by car or bus for a low cost.
The Big Screen
There are multiple cinemas in Cardiff city centre that will remain open across the holidays (with the exception of bank holidays). If you’re in Cardiff during the recess, have a look at what’s on to get you and your friends out the house.
Some cinemas will offer a student ticket for a reduced cost. But, remember to shop around because some cinemas in the area offer cinema tickets for under £5 so make sure you get the best deal!
Adventure Golf
If you fancy trying your hand at (mini) golf, why not visit an Adventure Golf course. The Adventure Golf centre in Cardiff offers student putters a reduced round so remember your student ID card!
The opening times may vary over the festive period, so you may want to give them a call before you go.
Cardiff Central Library
Fancy a change of scenery? Why not visit Cardiff Central Library. If you’re a bookworm but running out of new material, Cardiff Central Library is free to visit and will open the door to hundreds of new reads. Something to keep you occupied over the break and to get you out the house!
If you are going home for the holidays, make sure you check out our advice on going Home for the Holidays.
If you are seeking advice and support over the festive period, we also have some information available on this webpage about who you can contact.
Contact
advice@cardiff.ac.uk
029 2078 1410