The city centre of Cardiff provides a unique opportunity to tour the spectacular Millennium Stadium, walk the picturesque trails of Bute Park and take a boat ride down the River Taff and across Cardiff Bay. The city combines a shopping addicts paradise, with acres of greenery to wander through and an interestingly lively waterfront district.

Cardiff found fame exporting coal and steel from the South Wales valleys across the world, when these industries dried up it, Cardiff reinvented itself as the political and commercial heart of the Principality. Now the city is populated with iconic buildings, both modern and historic, a wide and diverse range of entertainment venues and a magnificent array of sporting facilities everywhere.

City Attractions

Not many cities have a square mile centre that is dominated by both a 74,000-seat stadium and a 2,000-year-old Castle but Cardiff does. It has always been famed for its shopping with the stylish Victorian Wyndham, Castle and Morgan arcades complemented by the new, modern St David’s developments. You will find everything from chic boutiques to internationally renowned department stores, designer labels to individual craft items.

Visitors will discover that the National Museum of Wales holds a wealth of interesting exhibits, paintings and shows. It has one of the best collections of Pre-Raphaelite pictures and a fabulous display of the paintings by Gwen John, the Welsh lover of the sculptor Rodin. The stately City Hall is also worth a peek to see the magnificent statues of Welsh heroes that stand on the first floor lobby.

Dining Out

Eating out in Cardiff is a joy, the Café Quarter on Mill Lane and the Old Brewery provide a massive selection of world restaurants. Diners can try everything from Japanese sushi, Indian curries, American burgers and traditional Welsh fayre. The city also has a great choice in independent snack bars and cafés, which offer something out of the ordinary for those looking for a quick bite between tours.

Once the sun goes down Cardiff continues its entertainment in its exciting bars and pubs, great diverse club scene and fantastic theatres and concert venues. Much of the city centre is pedestrianised and getting around comes at a premium, as you don’t have to worry about avoiding a constant precession of cars, taxis and buses.

Where to stay?

The centrally located Radisson Park Inn provides visitors with the security and knowledge of comfortable accommodation, first class restaurants on hand and being situated only minutes from the main attractions of Cardiff City centre. The 146-room city centre hotel, has ample underground parking, large function rooms and high speed internet access.

Whether you are coming to Cardiff for a special occasion, a weekend break or a business conference, the Park Inn offers great facilities and value. Staying in this central location you are free to explore the exciting Cardiff Bay area, take trips along the spectacular coastline of the Vale of Glamorgan or a quick drive to the marvellous wonders of Caerphilly Castle just up the road. 

 

One of the most fascinating areas of Paris is Montmartre, where some of the city’s greatest artist’s once lived and culture still thrives. No trip to Paris (France) is complete without experiencing the unique atmosphere and history of the District of Montmartre.

The 18^th Arrondissement of Paris is known for being the epicenter of the flourishing artist community in the City of Light from 1907 until 1914. Pablo Picasso, Marcel Duchamp, Salvador Dali, Toulouse-Lautrec and many other incredibly influential artists lived here during the early modern period. The 18^th is also where you will find a vibrant ethnic community as well as the red-light district, adding an interesting flavour to this fascinating part of the city.

Le Moulin Rouge

Yes, the famous naughty "can-can dance" show at this iconic turn-of-the-century burlesque hall still exists, and you can watch the performance as well as comedians, jugglers and magicians.

You can even treat yourself to dinner while you watch the show, although with the prices this will certainly not be the cheapest night of your Paris holiday.

Savour the View from Sacre Coeur

The Sacre Coeur Basilica is an un-mistakable white domed church that perches high on a hill overlooking the city, the "Sacred Heart" of Montmartre. The sore calves that you will have from climbing up the many staircases and steep streets to the top of the hill will be absolutely worth it when you feast your eyes upon one of the best views in Paris. Up at the top of the hill, ignore the cheesy souvenir sellers and instead find yourself a place to sit on the steps. Almost every night there are buskers with guitars belting out beautiful ballads, which makes the perfect soundtrack to a peaceful moment spent gazing out at the rooftops of Paris.

Art and Culture

Montmartre is absolutely brimming with culture, and a list of previous residents in this neighborhood reads like a "Who’s Who" of Art History. If you look hard enough you will find the studios of Modigliani and Picasso, the apartment of Van Gogh, and a restaurant where a young starving Picasso exchanged his paintings for food. Bizarre Surrealist artist Salvador Dali lived here as well, and you can find the Espace Dali on Rue Poulbot which features a collection of his work.

To meet some of the current day artists of Montmartre, head to the Place Du Tertre where local artists sell their work and paint portraits of visitors.  

Beware of Place Pigalle!

You are better off missing the historic red-light district of Paris, as clubs often send girls out into the streets to drag men into the clubs and force them to buy drinks. After innocently having a drink or two and a private dance, you could be slapped with a bill for up to 700 Euros by an enormous threatening bouncer. Yikes!

Enjoy the art, culture, and history of this unique and fascinating corner of Paris.