Few capital cities have a 74,000-seat stadium in the middle of their shopping streets. Cardiff does, and it changes how journeys work on event days. On a normal day, though, Cardiff is a straightforward city to get around by car, with the city centre, Cardiff Bay and the airport all within a short drive of each other.
The city's main journeys
- Cardiff Central station. Trains from London Paddington arrive here, right next to the stadium. Queen Street is the other city-centre station, on the north side.
- Cardiff Bay. The waterfront, the Senedd and the Wales Millennium Centre. It's a short drive south of the centre.
- The universities. Cardiff University's buildings are spread across Cathays and the city centre, with busy periods at the start and end of terms.
Principality Stadium event days
On a Six Nations weekend or a big concert, the roads around the Principality Stadium close and the city centre fills with people. A car can't get anywhere near the stadium.
- Agree a pickup point well outside the closed area, and walk to it.
- Leave plenty of time. Everyone leaves at once, and the roads open again gradually.
- Book your car home before the day. Demand is very high afterwards.
The same advice applies to other big crowds. Our stadium and concert guide has more.
20mph limits
Since 2023, most residential and built-up roads in Wales have had a default 20mph speed limit, though some roads have since been changed back to 30mph. For journeys around Cardiff, that can add a few minutes compared with what you might expect from the distance. It's worth allowing for if you have a train or flight to catch.
Cardiff Airport or Bristol Airport?
- Cardiff Airport is at Rhoose, around 12 miles south-west of the city centre, usually 25 to 35 minutes by car. It's the closest, but it has a smaller choice of flights.
- Bristol Airport is around 50 miles away, across the Severn and on the far side of Bristol. It has a wider range of destinations. The Severn bridges have been toll-free since 2018. Our Bristol guide covers the airport end.
Check which airport your airline flies from. For long-haul flights, many Cardiff travellers go to Heathrow, around 150 miles along the M4. Our long-distance travel guide covers journeys of that length.
Booking a Cardiff minicab
Enter your journey on the booking page for an estimated fare. We run 24 hours a day, so very early flights and late finishes after events are covered. You can also contact us on WhatsApp. We confirm the final price when we accept your booking.
Frequently asked questions
Q: How far is Cardiff Airport from the city centre? A: Around 12 miles south-west at Rhoose, usually 25 to 35 minutes by car.
Q: Can a minicab drop me at the Principality Stadium on match day? A: Not right outside it. The roads around the stadium close on event days. Agree a drop-off and pickup point outside the closed area.
Q: Is it better to fly from Cardiff or Bristol Airport? A: Cardiff is much closer, but Bristol has more destinations. Check which airport your airline uses, and compare the total journey time.
Q: Do I have to pay a toll to cross the Severn bridges? A: No. The Severn bridge tolls were removed in 2018.
Q: Can I book a minicab from Cardiff to Heathrow? A: Yes. It's around 150 miles along the M4. Book well ahead for early flights.