Top Rated Attractions in Cardiff

Blaenavon Pwll Mawr, or the Big Pit National Coal Museum, is one of the few places where you can experience life as a coal miner. Once a working colliery, this museum offers fascinating guided tours across the massive expanse of the mine and chronicles the workings as witnessed here. In the colliery buildings, one can find numerous interesting exhibitions that offer theoretical insight into its history. The on-site gift shop and cafeteria are worthy pit stops, offering delectable snacks and unmissable souvenirs.

Wales Millennium Centre has established itself as one of the world's leading performing arts venues. It presents operas, ballets, contemporary dances and the best international musicals. The Donald Gordon Theatre (main auditorium) seats 1897 and the Studio theater can accommodate up to 250 people. The center also houses eight resident companies: BBC National Orchestra of Wales, Urdd Gobaith Cymru, Literature Wales, National Dance Company Wales, Tŷ Cerdd, Hijinx Theatre, Touch Trust, and Welsh National Opera. You will also find a wide range of shops and restaurants.

This open-air museum take visitors through centuries of Welsh history and culture from the Celtic age to the modern day. The museum brings together a cross section of Welsh architecture from around the country that have been recreated on the Fagan Castle grounds. Originally called the Welsh Folk Museum, the museum has evolved since its opening in 1948. From Welsh rural life to life experience by the upper classes, the historic buildings include rural farm houses, medieval courts, mills, schools, smithies, chapels, and castles. The museum is a hive of activity, and traditional crafts including clog making and weaving. Festivals and music events held regularly keep Welsh tradition alive and celebrate the richness of the local culture. The beautiful location and old-school ambiance has led to the museum being featured in popular TV series like Dr. Who and Poldark.

The Chapter Arts Centre brings the best of the arts and contemporary culture in Wales to a captive audience. The center organizes regular exhibitions, workshops and dance and drama productions. The two in-house cinemas have disabled facilities, including full wheelchair access and headsets for the hearing impaired. Guide and hearing dogs are welcome. Its cafe is a great place for a snack and a coffee.

Wales' premier museum is an impressive, white stone building housing a number of separate exhibition rooms and art galleries. The central exhibition is the multimedia Evolution of Wales, which documents the history of Wales. The galleries include works by some of the world's most famous impressionist painters, as well as displays by Welsh artists. There are sections on natural history, Celtic art and archaeology, while the Clore Discovery Centre offers activities, talks and a hands-on exhibition for all ages.

Anyone who thinks science is boring should pay a visit to Techniquest to be proved wrong. This hands-on, interactive science center is a major source of fascination for children and adults alike. There are many exhibits to play with, including giant puzzles, computers and a mirror maze. Moreover, the center has a planetarium, science theater, cyber-library, a discovery room for young children, a shop and cafe too. A program of events and talks covers subjects as diverse as forensic science and music.