What to do in Cardiff when it rains
When Cardiff turns grey, head for the indoors — centuries of history in its museums, art to lose an hour in, and markets and cafés out of the rain.
Museums
Spend a few hours in the city's museums — many are free, and a rainy day is the perfect excuse to take your time.
- Cardiff Castle Castle St, Cardiff CF10 3RB, UK
- National Museum Cardiff Cathays Park, Cardiff CF10 3NP, UK
- Techniquest Stuart St, Cardiff CF10 5BW, UK
- Museum of Cardiff The Old Library, The Hayes, St Davids Centre, Cardiff CF10 1BH, UK
- Pierhead Building Cardiff CF10 4PZ, UK
- Firing Line Cardiff Castle Museum of the Welsh Soldier Castle St, Cardiff CF10 3RB, UK
Art galleries
Duck into the art galleries; they're quiet, warm and rarely busier than on a wet day.
- Chapter Arts Centre Market Rd, Cardiff CF5 1QE, UK
- Norwegian Church Arts Centre Bay, Norwegian Church Arts Centre, Harbour Dr, Cardiff CF10 4PA, UK
- Cardiff Indoor Flea Market 2, Clydesmuir Industrial Estate, Clydesmuir Rd, Cardiff CF24 2QS, UK
- Jacobs Antique Centre W Canal Wharf, Cardiff CF10 5DB, UK
- Llanover Hall Llanover Hall Arts Centre, Romilly Rd, Cardiff CF5 1FH, UK
- Waterloo Tea 5 Waterloo Gardens, Cardiff CF23 5AA, UK
Historic sites
Explore the indoor historic sites and their covered galleries.
- Insole Court Fairwater Rd, Cardiff CF5 2LN, UK
- Cardiff Central Railway Station Water Tower Stadium Plaza, Wood St, Cardiff CF10 1LA, UK
- Animal Wall 11 Castle St, Cardiff CF10 1BJ, UK
- Roath Basin Cardiff CF10 4GA, UK
- The Old Library 18 Trinity St, St Davids Centre, Cardiff CF10 1BH, UK
- South African War Memorial King Edward VII Ave, Cardiff CF10 3NS, UK
Covered markets
Browse the covered market — street-food stalls, local makers and somewhere dry to graze for an hour.
- Tesco Extra Excelsior Estate, Excelsior Rd, Cardiff CF14 3AT, UK
- The Cardiff Market Cardiff CF10 1AU, UK
- Tesco Extra Tesco Extra, Ffordd Pengam, Cardiff CF24 2HP, UK
- Tesco Superstore Tesco Stores Ltd, Terra Nova Way, Penarth CF64 1SA, UK
- Tesco Express 26-27 St Mary St, Cardiff CF10 1AB, UK
- Tesco Express St Davids Shopping Centre, 78-79 Tredegar St, St Davids Centre, Cardiff CF10 1EF, UK
Cafés
Claim a window seat in a cosy café and watch the rain instead of walking in it.
- Chapter Arts Centre Market Rd, Cardiff CF5 1QE, UK
- ODEON Cardiff Hemingway Rd, Cardiff CF10 4JY, UK
- Marks & Spencer 72 Queen St, St Davids Centre, Cardiff CF10 2XG, UK
- Norwegian Church Arts Centre Bay, Norwegian Church Arts Centre, Harbour Dr, Cardiff CF10 4PA, UK
- Flashpoint Cardiff Freemans Parc, 236 Penarth Rd, Cardiff CF11 8EQ, UK
- Bill's Cardiff Central Restaurant 27-39 Wyndham Arcade, Mill Ln, Cardiff CF10 1FH, UK
Indoor shopping
Hit the covered shopping streets and centres — everything under one roof.
- St David’s Dewi Sant St Davids Dewi Sant, Bridge St, St Davids Centre, Cardiff CF10 2EF, UK
- Mermaid Quay Mermaid Quay, Cardiff CF10 5BZ, UK
- Capitol Cardiff Queen St, Cardiff CF10 2HQ, UK
- Castle Quarter Arcades Castle St, Cardiff CF10 1BU, UK
- Royal Arcade, Cardiff Royal Arcade, Cardiff CF10 1AE, UK
- Capital Shopping Park Brian Clark Way, Leckwith Rd, Cardiff CF11 8AU, UK
Venue suggestions powered by Google — tap a name for the map, and always check opening times before you go. 36 places listed; the list refreshes regularly.