{"id":18089,"date":"2025-02-28T14:03:05","date_gmt":"2025-02-28T14:03:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.cardiff.ac.uk\/insiders\/?p=18089"},"modified":"2025-02-28T14:03:05","modified_gmt":"2025-02-28T14:03:05","slug":"how-to-spend-a-weekend-exploring-wales-without-a-car-from-cardiff","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.cardiff.ac.uk\/insiders\/how-to-spend-a-weekend-exploring-wales-without-a-car-from-cardiff\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Spend a Weekend Exploring Wales Without a Car from Cardiff"},"content":{"rendered":"

As a Cardiff Uni student living in Cathays, I don\u2019t have a car (like most students), but that hasn\u2019t stopped me from exploring some of the most beautiful places in Wales. Thanks to decent public transport and a bit of planning, a weekend adventure is totally doable. Here\u2019s how you can make the most of two days out of the city\u2014without needing a car!<\/span><\/p>\n

Day 1: A Seaside Escape to Tenby<\/b><\/h3>\n

Morning: Train Ride to Tenby<\/b><\/h4>\n

\"\"<\/span><\/p>\n

Kick off your weekend with an early train from Cardiff Central to Tenby. It takes around <\/span>2.5 to 3 hours<\/b>, but trust me, it\u2019s worth it. The journey itself is scenic, passing rolling green hills and charming little towns. Make sure to grab a coffee from Greggs or Pret at the station before you board.<\/span><\/p>\n

Midday: Exploring the Colourful Streets<\/b><\/h4>\n

Once you step off the train, you\u2019ll see why Tenby is one of Wales\u2019 prettiest coastal towns. It\u2019s small, so everything is walkable. Start with a wander through its <\/span>cobbled streets<\/b>, lined with pastel-colored houses, cute gift shops, and old pubs.<\/span><\/p>\n

For lunch, head to <\/span>The Stowaway<\/b> (a tiny caf\u00e9 hidden under the arches near the harbor) for an amazing toastie and a strong coffee. If the weather\u2019s nice, take it to go and sit on Castle Beach\u2014one of the best beaches in the UK!<\/span><\/p>\n

Afternoon: Beaches and Views<\/b><\/h4>\n

After lunch, walk up to the <\/span>ruins of Tenby Castle<\/b> for panoramic sea views. If you’re feeling adventurous, hop on a boat trip to <\/span>Caldey Island<\/b>, home to a small community of monks and beautiful, quiet beaches.<\/span><\/p>\n

Evening: Sunset & Seafood<\/b><\/h4>\n

For dinner, check out <\/span>The Salt Cellar<\/b>\u2014a bit pricier but totally worth it for fresh seafood and ocean views. If you’re on a budget, get fish and chips from <\/span>Fecci\u2019s<\/b> and eat them by the harbor as the sun sets.<\/span><\/p>\n

After that, head back to your hostel (or a budget B&B) and get a good night\u2019s sleep because tomorrow is all about hiking!<\/span><\/p>\n

Day 2: Hiking the Pembrokeshire Coast<\/b><\/h3>\n

Morning: Bus to Pembrokeshire National Park<\/b><\/h4>\n

After a quick breakfast (grab a pastry from <\/span>Loafley Bakery<\/b>), take the <\/span>Coastal Cruiser bus<\/b> from Tenby towards <\/span>Pembrokeshire Coast National Park<\/b>. These buses are designed for hikers and run between the most scenic spots.<\/span><\/p>\n

Jump off at <\/span>Stackpole Quay<\/b> and follow the <\/span>coastal path to Barafundle Bay<\/b>\u2014often called the “Caribbean of Wales” because of its golden sand and clear water. It\u2019s about a <\/span>30-minute easy walk<\/b>, and you\u2019ll feel like you\u2019ve stepped into a postcard.<\/span><\/p>\n

Afternoon: St Davids \u2013 The UK\u2019s Smallest City<\/b><\/h4>\n

After your beach time, hop back on the bus to <\/span>St Davids<\/b>. Despite being tiny, this city has a massive <\/span>cathedral<\/b>, cool independent shops, and a chilled-out vibe. It\u2019s a great spot to grab lunch before heading back.<\/span><\/p>\n

Evening: Train Home to Cardiff<\/b><\/h4>\n

From St Davids, take a bus to Haverfordwest, then catch a train back to Cardiff. By the time you get home, you\u2019ll have seen some of Wales’ best coastal spots\u2014without needing a car!<\/span><\/p>\n

Top Tips for a Smooth Trip<\/b><\/h3>\n
    \n
  • Book train tickets in advance<\/b> \u2013 Use Railcard discounts if you have one!<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Check bus timetables<\/b> \u2013 Some coastal buses only run seasonally.<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Pack smart<\/b> \u2013 Bring comfy shoes, snacks, and a raincoat (because, well, Wales).<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Stay in a hostel or budget B&B<\/b> \u2013 Tenby has great affordable options.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    So, if you\u2019re looking for an easy, affordable weekend trip from Cardiff, <\/span>this is it!<\/b> No car? No problem. Public transport and good planning will get you to some of the most stunning places in Wales. Give it a go\u2014you won\u2019t regret it!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"As a Cardiff Uni student living in Cathays, I don\u2019t have a car (like most students), but that hasn\u2019t stopped me from exploring some of the most beautiful places in […]","protected":false},"author":6946,"featured_media":18092,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[696,693,4,12,694,756,20],"tags":[21,358,78,151,566,1003,156],"class_list":["post-18089","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-advice-for-students","category-cardiff-university-experiences","category-going-out","category-only-in-cardiff","category-student-life","category-things-to-do-in-cardiff","category-travelling","tag-cardiffuniversity","tag-advice","tag-experience","tag-student-life","tag-things-to-do-at-cardiff","tag-top-tips","tag-travelling"],"meta_box":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.cardiff.ac.uk\/insiders\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18089","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.cardiff.ac.uk\/insiders\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.cardiff.ac.uk\/insiders\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.cardiff.ac.uk\/insiders\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/6946"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.cardiff.ac.uk\/insiders\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=18089"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.cardiff.ac.uk\/insiders\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18089\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":18112,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.cardiff.ac.uk\/insiders\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18089\/revisions\/18112"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.cardiff.ac.uk\/insiders\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/18092"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.cardiff.ac.uk\/insiders\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=18089"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.cardiff.ac.uk\/insiders\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=18089"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.cardiff.ac.uk\/insiders\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=18089"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}