Still looking for the perfect place for a Christmas shopping break or daytrip? We have the perfect destination
The government has various schemes to help out those in financial need (Image: Getty )
With the final weekend in November upon us you’re probably starting to think about Christmas presents – if you haven’t done so already. If you’re at a loose end this weekend and haven’t decided what to do with your day there’s a Welsh city you could head for that’s got the brilliant shopping, delicious places to eat and drink and lots of Christmas activities, shows and more.
Cardiff’s city centre is bursting with the annual Christmas market, the brilliant indoor market where you can get fruit and veg, spices and bread alongside a raft of streetfood stalls selling pizza, Japanese-style sandos, coffee, tacos and more.
Unlike places like Bath or Birmingham, which get way, way too crammed, modestly-sized city, Cardiff has everything you need within walking distance, from Christmas-only stalls to restaurants and bars and the last minute essentials you might need for a night away.
If you’re after a rundown of Christmas events in Wales for 2025, click here. Or for Father Christmas Grottos, you’ll find those, here.
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Here’s why we reckon your Christmas shopping weekend trip should be Cardiff:
Christmas Markets
Picture the scene, rows of wooden huts selling one-off pieces of jewellery, keepsakes and toys, boozy treats and loads more Christmas gift ideas. If you like browsing Christmas markets the Cardiff city centre one should be on your radar. The traders rotate so you could even visit it more than once!
While it does get busy, it’s not as rammed as say, Bath, and the setting is also just as festive as you’re surrounded by the huge tower of St John’s Church, the German bar and bratwurst stall and lots of Christmas decorations to get you in the spirit. There’s also the huge Cardiff Castle smack dab in the centre trimmed up for the season.
As you mooch the snake of stalls don’t forget to check out the seven Victorian and Edwardian arcades. These beautifully lit up corridors house more than 100 independent shops, cafes, bars and restaurants.
(Image: FOR Cardiff)
Make sure you get a pastry and coffee from Pettigrew in Castle Arcade, where you’ll also find cosy bar, Nighthawks for the best wines and cheese toasties in town. Wally’s Deli in Royal Arcade screams Christmas hamper treats, too – and they’ve a traditional Viennese Kaffeehaus with brilliant lunches, traditional cakes and coffee.
Don’t forget, too, there’s the Victorian Cardiff Market found just off the Hayes and opposite St John’s Church Gardens – you should defintely explore this venue if you love vintage clothes stalls, Hatt’s Emporium, record stores – Kelly’s – and enough brilliant streetfood you can shake a stick at – Greek, Jamaican, pizza, Japanese and loads more.
For up-to-date traders at Cardiff’s Christmas markets, click here.
Keep an eye out for the stunning projections, too, on Cardiff Market. Part of FOR Cardiff’s A Very Cardiff Christmas campaign the display has been created by renowned light artists Illuminos, the projections transform Cardiff Market and Cardiff Central Station into breathtaking festive landmarks, wrapping the heart of the city in light, poetry, and colour.
At Cardiff Market, visitors will see a brand-new projection featuring a robin soaring among the market stalls – a symbol of warmth and community during the Christmas season. Over at Cardiff Central Station, a refreshed display celebrates Dylan Thomas’s A Child’s Christmas in Wales, featuring animated quotes from the iconic poem, bringing Welsh storytelling to life for locals and visitors alike.
(Image: Cardiff Market)Christmas fun in the city centre
Aside of shopping Cardiff city centre has a huge list of Christmas activities to enjoy, not least a very festive Cardiff Castle – where there’ll be a Santa’s grotto – the Winter Wonderland, spread across the castle and City Hall lawns – Cardiff Christmas Festival and the gorgeous and twinkly, Christmas at Bute Park light trail.
If you’ve never been to Cardiff before at Christmas time, you’ll definitely leave feeling in the spirit of the season.
The Christmas light trail at Bute park last year (Image: WalesOnline/ Rob Browne)Fancy something indoors?
The Welsh capital’s theatres have you covered if you’re visiting during December. The Edwardian New Theatre has Sleeping Beauty with BBC faves, Gethin Jones and Owain Wyn Evans, while a little outside the city centre, in Cardiff Bay, the Wales Millennium Centre’s big Christmas show is Mary Poppins.
All the essential dates and booking information can be found in this round-up, here.
Meanwhile at National Museum Cardiff there’s a screening of It’s a Wonderful Life as well as a Christmas silent disco on December 13 – what a setting! For booking and more on these events, click here.
Big name brands
While a day browsing might sound appealing, it’s obvious that many shoppers will have a list of must-buys from the high street but don’t worry, Cardiff has you covered for that, too.
St David’s Shopping Centre is packed with your go-tos, John Lewis, JD Sports, Boots, MandS, Primark.
The big attractions for this Christmas shopping season, though, will be beauty giant, Sephora and the brand new, bigger Lego store.
Where to eat and drink
We’ve already mentioned Cardiff Market and Wally’s as must-visits for lunches, Hard Lines for coffee on the go at the main market, too is a must.
You’ll spot the usual Starbucks. Costas and Black Sheeps across the city for that all-important caffeine boost. As well as the dependable chain restaurants where you know what you’ll get eg. Wagamama’s, Honest Burger, Franco Manca, Slim Chickens – we have them all and more spread across the main shopping area (St David’s Shopping Centre food spots can be found on the Hayes and in the Grand Arcade.)
If you want a really nice dinner in the city centre, Pasture, Parallel, Asador 44 are must tries for top quality steaks and inventive but super tasty dishes. Bacareto is is the perfect place to stop for a well-sourced wine, beer and a crostini at the counter – a splash of Venice in the heart of Cardiff.
Love tapas? Bar 44 and Curado are ideal places to check out.
Like with so many other cities, many of the brilliant restaurants worth visiting are in the surrounding neighbourhoods, and you can find our full Cardiff best restaurant list, here.
The steak at Asador 44(Image: Asador 44)Things to know
- Cardiff is on the main railway line from London, Bristol and Bath. You can also get a Flixbus or National Express which will bring you into the city centre, Sophia Gardens terminal – a short walk from the shops and hotels.
- City centre hotels in December start at £65 per night when we searched for one night over the first weekend, December 5, on booking.com. So prices may vary with different dates. Wowcher currently has a deal for a £79 a night stay at Mercure Holland House and you can still pick November and December 2025 dates to use that at the time of publishing.
- On November 15, 22 and 29 Wales will be hosting their autumn international rugby games at the Principality Stadium, this will mean that the city centre will be extra busy.
