Car hire in Cardiff

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Car hire in Cardiff

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Car hire Cardiff

Hiring a car in Cardiff

The capital of Wales, Cardiff is also the tenth largest city in the United Kingdom and is widely considered one of the most important commercial centres in the country.

Cardiff is home to some of the most important institutions in Welsh culture, politics, sport and media, giving it a special significance to many people across the country.

The centre of Cardiff has seen substantial development over the last ten years making it one of the top ten shopping destinations in the United Kingdom.

While it is an important city for the Welsh, Cardiff is also a hugely popular with visitors, drawing people in from across the UK and the rest of the world.

What you need to know

As it is one of the largest cities in the UK, Cardiff offers a multitude of sights and attractions that will appeal to all types of visitors. However, its size means that it can be less accessible with public transport, meaning that hiring a car is one of the best ways to get around and take in everything this city has to offer.

Holiday Autos has a wide range of the best names in car rental, providing a service that makes the process as easy as possible. Simply fill out one form and pay one price and you're all good to pick up your keys. Even in the unlikely event that you do experience any problems, there is a 24-hour contact centre on hand to help you with any issues.

Where to pick up your car

Cardiff Airport CWL serves just over one million passengers a year, connecting Cardiff with the rest of the south-west and west Wales.

If you book beforehand, head over to the pick-up desks at the arrivals hall and you can pick up your keys and be on your way.

If you prefer, it is also possible to pick up your hire car at Cardiff Central train station.

Best Car Hire Companies Cardiff

Car Hire Reviews Cardiff

“The pick-up was easy, it took 5 minutes from arriving at the desk to driving out the car, and the return took even less time. Booking with Holiday Autos was easy and I received the car that I had asked for, just perfect!”
Diane T

What to do

Due to its size, seeing everything that Cardiff has to offer can often require a lot of planning. Luckily, having your own hire car to hand can make it a lot easier so you'll have more time to focus on sightseeing.

Nearby Cardiff

If you are looking for an in-depth look at Welsh culture and history, then a visit to St Fagan's National History Museum is a must.

Situated, around five miles west of the city centre, this open-air museum chronicles the historical lifestyle, culture, and architecture of the Welsh people, consisting of around 40 re-erected buildings from various parts of the country, all within the grounds of St Fagans Castle, an Elizabethan manor house.

Head west for about an hour and you'll find the Gower Peninsula, which was the UK’s first Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty back in 1956, boasting wild moors and limestone cliffs, as well as golden, sandy beaches.

Longer drives

While Cardiff has a large number of sights and attractions for visitors, having the freedom of your own hire car means you are free to explore further afield.

Head over the Severn Bridge and head past Bristol and you'll find the historic city of Bath, which is set in the rolling countryside of southwest England and is known for its striking 18th-century Georgian architecture, as well as its Roman baths and quaint tea rooms.

Alternatively, head west towards the Pembrokeshire coast to the small seaside town of Tenby, which has attracted countless tourists over the years with its unspoilt, picturesque sandy beaches and its welcoming pubs and taverns.

Top attractions to see in Cardiff

The freedom that comes with having a hire car makes the whole process of enjoying the city's various sights much easier.

Cardiff castle

An ideal day out for families, the remains of this Norman and Roman ruins of this castle allow you to experience around 2,000 years of history, while also containing a colourful Victorian Gothic interior. It is impossible to miss this great attraction, which is also situated a short walk away from the city's National Museum

Millennium Stadium

Another landmark that is hard to miss, this 74,500-capacity stadium has been at the heart of the city since 1999. It has already provided a back-drop to some truly great sporting moments, as well as being used for concerts and other large scale events. Now the stadium is mainly used for rugby union, which remains the national game in Wales. Catching a match at this world class stadium is a truly special experience, but taking a stadium tour is also always worth it.

Cardiff Bay

Since its regeneration, Cardiff Bay has become home to some of the most important establishments in the city.

The Senedd building has been home to the National Assembly for Wales since 2006, and is the most important political centre in Wales. The building itself features a uniquely environmentally-friendly design that uses an Earth Heat Exchange system for heating, while the roof collects rainwater that is used for cleaning the windows and flushing the toilets.

Other sights on the bay include the Millennium Centre, which is often used as an events space for theatre and opera productions, and the Dr Who Experience that is a must for any sci-fi fan. All of these great sights are complemented by a number of bars and restaurants, meaning you will never be short of something to do.

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