Cardiff

Cardiff's tourist arrivals are more than 10 million a year making it a commercial nerve centre in Wales and a base for several national cultural and sporting institutions ranging from football, rugby, athletics to motor racing and boxing. Cardiff's reputation for its short break and city break has qualified it as a member of the Eurocities network linking 130 European cities from over 30 countries.

You can book rooms for your short break in one of the numerous hotels in and around Cardiff International Airport. Many of the hotels and guests houses are strategically placed, offering you access to the city centre as well as to the country side. Remember that smoking is strictly banned in hotels, pubs and bars in Cardiff.

There is quite a lot to do in Cardiff, leaving you wondering whether a short break is enough or whether you should have an extended holiday. Cardiff City Council has come out with a new money saving scheme "The Stretch Card" for regular visitors who arrive for a break. A monthly down payment would give access to several outdoor activities.

While on short break, you can hardly leave out the Cardiff and Caerphilly Castle and perhaps Fagan's Castle, which presents Welsh Life as an attraction. If course, the National Museum of Wales is also one place you would rather not miss during your break.

Of course, if you want a bit of adrenalin in your short break, just visit the Welsh International Climbing and Activity Centre. E2, as it is called, has a range of exciting activities for individuals and families at affordable rates.

Cardiff Bay, just three km from the city centre, is another good place to visit while on a short break. The Old Cardiff docklands have been renovated to form the Cardiff Bay, a fresh water lake for sailing and water sports.

The place has quite a few restaurants and bars offering a variety of cuisines. You can take a shopping break in Mermaid Quay or explore other attractions such as Wales Millennium Centre, the Norwegian Church, Red Dragon Centre or Techniquest, an interactive science discovery museum.

Cardiff walk is also now being promoted as an activity for short breaks after the opening of the Cardiff Bay Barrage Path. This is an exclusive path for pedestrians and for cycling leading to the Inner harbour. Circular walking paths are also being planned from Cardiff to nearby places.

If you prefer green environment for your short break, there is good news. Cardiff is rated as one of Britain's most sustainable cities, ahead of London, Edinburgh and Birmingham. The city promotes its green image by trying to maintain more green urban spaces.

Cardiff is so compact that you can cover the city by foot. You can have the best of Cardiff break as the city is well connected to other parts of the United Kingdom by road and rail