Looking for the best day trips from Cardiff by train? Whether you want to stay close to Cardiff or explore further into South Wales, this post has you covered with lots of Cardiff day out ideas!
South Wales is a great place to explore by train, with ‘more trains, more choice’ thanks to direct routes, quicker travel times and more frequent trains connecting the cities, towns and villages, one of the reasons I love Cardiff is because it’s perfect for exploring South Wales by train from!
Day Trips From Cardiff By Train
More Trains, More Choice
As of June 2024, Transport for Wales (TfW) has brought new routes and train times to South Wales making it even easier to get around which is why a day trip from Cardiff by train should be on your list of Cardiff days out!
How to book trains in South Wales
All train travel in Wales can be planned and booked through the TfW app or website and you can use them to stay up to date on the latest information!
RELATED POST: See even more of Wales by Train by reading my post on the best places to see in Wales by train!
1. Caerphilly
Caerphilly is one of the easy day trips from Cardiff by train because it’s just outside of Cardiff city. The train leaves every 10 minutes from Cardiff Central Station taking only 21 minutes, perfect if you have kids who want the fun of a train but not a long journey!
When visiting Caerphilly Castle, be sure to keep in mind the Cadw 2 for 1 offer. Cadw looks after over 120 historic locations across Wales and Caerphilly Castle is one of them! Cadw and Transport for Wales have teamed up and all you need to do is to show your valid train ticket when you arrive at the site and you’ll get your cheapest individual ticket free.
Caerphilly Castle (Cadw) is the main draw of visiting Caerphilly. The Castle sits in the heart of the town and is fun for all to visit. This castles construction started in 1268 to be the biggest castle in Wales and the second biggest in Britain at the time! Now, you can still explore it’s hidden passageways and enjoy stories from the past!
Other things to do in Caerphilly include walking up Caerphilly Mountain, but don’t worry, it’s not really a mountain, more like a big hill! Here’s my full guide on how to do the Caerphilly Mountain Walk, from the castle you’re looking at a 40 minute to 1 hour walk to the top via the road and then onto the mountain footpaths so pack some snacks, enjoy the fresh welsh air and the views from the top!
Search for trains from Cardiff to Caerphilly on TfW here
2. Barry Island
So many people want to visit Barry Island when visiting South Wales and its very possible to visit Barry Island on a day trip from Cardiff by train!
Whether you want to visit for the large choice of Barry Beaches, the fun fair or because of Gavin and Stacey, jump on the train in Cardiff and you’ll be at Barry Island Station within 30 minutes for a seaside day out!
Caerphilly & Barry Island: With TfW’s updated train schedule offering more direct links within South Wales, as of June 2024 you can get a direct train from Caerphilly to Barry Island, meaning you could visit both places easily on a day trip by train!
3. Penarth
Talking of the seaside, another place to enjoy the coastline near Cardiff is Penarth. At just 15 minutes from Cardiff Central Station by train, a day trip to Penarth isn’t taking you far but it offers a lot and has a much different feel to Cardiff city centre, think cool cafes and weekend vibes.
Penarth Beach and Pier are the top places to see and enjoy in Penarth. Take a walk with an ice cream down the pier which opened in 1898 and has a beautiful art deco styled Pavilion, and get a drink with a view at one of the many restaurants along the beachfront.
However, you don’t need to rely on good beach weather to enjoy Penarth. Its town is home to indie shops and cafes and plenty of delicious restaurants to enjoy. Here’s a list of things to do in Penarth from a friend of mine who is a local!
4. Cardiff Bay
It’s possible to walk from Cardiff city centre to Cardiff Bay but to save time and if you’re travelling with kids, jump on the train at Cardiff Queen Street to Cardiff Bay and in 4 minutes you’ll be by the water experiencing a very different side to Cardiff!
I really love Cardiff Bay, especially in the summer, there’s such a buzz about it and there are plenty of things to do in Cardiff Bay.
Whether you want to enjoy the many waterside restaurants, entertain the kids at Techniquest, wander Cardiff Bay Wetlands, or hire a bike and bike down to Cardiff Bay Barrage for a water, city and mountain view!
Search for trains from Cardiff to Cardiff Bay on TfW here!
5. Aberdare
Dubbed ‘Queen of the Hills’, Aberdare is one of the day trips from Cardiff by train you might not have thought about but with fantastic links from Cardiff Central Station you can visit this cultural town in 1 hour 15 minutes by a direct train.
Giving you an insight into a vibrant Welsh community with a rich history, on a day trip to Aberdare from Cardiff you can explore the town’s coal mining heritage through its museums and historic sites like Cynon Valley Museum and enjoy the fresh Welsh mountain air from Aberdare Park in the town centre, a 50 acre park with views of the Cynon Valley and well-looked after gardens to wander.
Search for trains from Cardiff to Aberdare on TfW here!
6. Pontypridd
Pontypridd or ‘Ponty’ as it’s known to the locals is another gem to visit from Cardiff by train and an ideal day trip to experience the Welsh character and culture, with a hint of Italy too!
You may know of Tom Jones, he was born and grew up in Pontypridd which is why this town is popular for some people to visit, along with being home to many more singers and poets.
For how to spend your day in Pontypridd, consider booking a ticket for Ponty Lido, this is the National Lido of Wales and one of it’s kind! Take a trip to see the ‘old bridge’ completed in 1756, and get a taste of welsh culture at the covered market.
On the note of Italy, from the 1890s until World War 2, there was a lot of immigration from Italy to South Wales. These families opened up cafes and coffee shops in the valleys which still remain and are thriving today so be sure to check out a Welsh Italian cafe in Pontypridd on your Cardiff day out!
Search for trains from Cardiff to Pontypridd on TfW here!
7. Taffs Well
Another one of the train stations close to Cardiff but will make you feel far from the city is Taffs Well. When you arrive here, you’ll enter a semi-rural village known as the ‘Gates to the Valleys’ and be sure to pack some comfy walking shoes as this is one of the best day trips by train from Cardiff to do some walking in!
Garth Hill, or Garth Mountain as it’s also known is accessible from Taffs Well station and is a great walk that will give you a bit of a test but is in no way too hard! Here’s my guide on how to do Garth Mountain walk with different difficulty options.
Another option, or to extend your day walking is to head to Castle Coch, one of the best castles in South Wales because of its Gothic architecture. It can be reached on a 30 minute walk from Taffs Well Station along the scenic Taff Trail.
Like Caerphilly Castle, Castle Coch is part of the Cadw 2 for 1 offer. Cadw and Transport for Wales have teamed up and all you need to do is to show your valid train ticket when you arrive at the site and you’ll get your cheapest individual ticket free!
Search for trains from Cardiff to Taffs Well on TfW here!
8. Dean Forest
Take a day trip from Cardiff into the Dean Forest by train, and have a train filled day there! Just 37 minutes by train from Cardiff Central Station is the station of Lydney in Gloucestershire, England surrounded by the Forest of Dean and on the edge of the Wye Valley.
Once in Lydney, to best explore the area is to keep going by train! A 5 minute walk from the station is Dean Forest Railways’s Lydney Junction station where the Dean Forest Railway leaves from and you can book a range of experiences from a 1.5 hour steam train ride to a full day ride.
There are now an extra 12 trains per day running between Cardiff and Cheltenham Spa stopping at Lydney so this is one of day trips you don’t have to plan too far in advance as there’s plenty of train options!
Search for trains from Cardiff to Lydney on TfW here!
9. Brecon Beacons
The Brecon Beacons national park is one of the top places to visit in South Wales and with increased train options to Merthyr Station, it’s not hard to do a day trip from Cardiff to the Brecon Beacons.
Catch the train from Cardiff Central Station or Cardiff Queens Street Station and in 1 hour you’ll be at Merthyr Tydfil Station. From here, catch the T4 TrawsCymru Bus to Brecon, you can use the TfW website here to plan your route to Brecon!
Explore the National Park on a steam train by booking an experience with The Brecon Mountain Railway, easily accessed from Merthyr Tydfil. Or, explore the historic market town of Brecon with its Cathedral, market and shops.
Search for trains from Cardiff to Merthyr Tydfil on TfW here!
10. Swansea
Finally, if seeing another city in South Wales is on your radar, Swansea is a great day trip from Cardiff by train as it takes around 1 hour.
Offering something for everyone and especially good if you want plenty of facilities and indoor things to do on your day trip.
A day in Swansea can be spent visiting Museums such as the Glynn Vivian Art Gallery, Swansea Museum and The National Waterfront Museum. Entertain the kids at Plantasia Tropical Zoo right in the city centre and the Marina Amusement Arcade right on the water, and if the weathers good, the benefit of a city on the coast is the beach!
Search for trains from Cardiff to Swansea on TfW here!
Click here for the Transport for Wales website to check times and book your tickets!
I hope this list of day trips from Cardiff by train gives you lots of ideas!
Disclosure – This post is in collaboration with Transport for Wales but all thoughts and opinions are my own.
- For more of my Wales posts see:
- 14 BEST Beaches in South Wales To Visit! For Walking, Surfing & Families
- 10 BEST Beaches in North Wales & Most Beautiful Beaches in North Wales!
- 30 TOP Places To Visit in South Wales & South Wales Attractions!
- How To Spend 3 Days in Wales! Perfect 3 Day Wales Itinerary!
- 7 Cardiff Hidden Gems You Shouldn’t Miss!
- How To Do A Cardiff Day Trip from London With Things To Do in Cardiff!
- How To Spend One Day in Cardiff! A Lush Cardiff Itinerary!