Free things to do in Cardiff: five places, opening times and extra costs
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Five places in Cardiff offer a day out without an admission charge: National Museum Cardiff, St Fagans, the Museum of Cardiff, the Senedd and Bute Park. They cover art, city history, parliamentary life and outdoor space, but free entry does not mean every part of the trip is free. Parking, food and some special activities can still cost money.
This selection is based on the venues’ published visitor information, checked on 13 September 2026. Choose around the day you are travelling, the area you want to explore and any access requirements. The opening days differ, and a museum ticket does not remove the need to check whether a particular exhibition charges separately.
National Museum Cardiff: art and natural history
At Cathays Park, CF10 3NP, National Museum Cardiff brings together art, natural history and geology collections. General admission is free, although some exhibitions, events and activities carry a charge. The museum recommends booking a free ticket in advance so it can send updates about your visit.
The published opening hours are Tuesday to Sunday, 10am to 5pm, with galleries closing at 4.45pm. It normally closes on Mondays, with bank-holiday exceptions. Children under 16 need an accompanying adult and pushchairs are allowed. Visitor parking behind the building, reached from Museum Avenue, costs £6.50 and is free for Blue Badge holders. Only trained assistance dogs are allowed inside the museum buildings.
St Fagans: historic buildings and picnic space
St Fagans National Museum of History, CF5 6XB, has historic buildings moved and re-erected in parkland, including houses, a farm, school, chapel and workmen’s institute. Entry is free, with charges possible for some exhibitions, events and activities. The published daily hours are 10am to 5pm, subject to Christmas arrangements.
Gwalia Stores at St Fagans National Museum of History. Archive photograph, 2022-09-20.
Photo: David SmithOriginal photographCC BY-SA 2.0
Parking costs £7 a day, payable by cash or card, with free parking for disabled badge holders and motorbikes. Picnics are welcome. Dogs can use outdoor areas on a short, non-extendable lead. Plan around uneven paths, slopes, steps and potentially slippery surfaces. Prams and pushchairs are permitted inside only Oakdale Institute, St Teilo’s Church and Gwalia Stores, so visiting every building with a pushchair is not an option.
Museum of Cardiff: the city through its residents
The Museum of Cardiff tells the city’s history through residents’ stories. It is in the Old Library on The Hayes, CF10 1BH, with free entry Monday to Saturday from 10am to 4pm. Some events and education visits charge separately. Cardiff Central and Queen Street are the nearest railway stations listed by Visit Cardiff. Its Monday opening makes this a different option from National Museum Cardiff, which normally closes that day.
The Senedd: free tours in Cardiff Bay
The Senedd offers free entry, exhibitions and guided tours. Parliamentary business can be watched when scheduled. The Senedd and Pierhead publish opening hours of 9am to 4.30pm Monday to Friday and 10.30am to 4.30pm on Saturdays and bank holidays, with last entry at 4pm.
The Senedd in Cardiff Bay, viewed from the east. Archive photograph, 2019-08-03.
Photo: Rosser1954Original photographCC BY-SA 4.0
Free public tours last an hour and cater for individuals, families and small groups of up to eight. They run Tuesday to Saturday, plus Mondays during recess; contact the Senedd to book. Allow about 15 minutes for the security scan and bag search. The estate has lifts, ramps and step-free access, accessible toilets, a Changing Places facility and wheelchair spaces in viewing galleries. Accessible parking needs advance arrangement. Parliamentary business can change access, tours and exhibitions at short notice.
Bute Park: an outdoor option behind Cardiff Castle
Bute Park has an arboretum, natural play features, a visitor centre and sculpture and woodland play trails. It opens daily at 7.30am and closes 30 minutes before sunset; check the signs for the day’s closing time. There is no visitor parking on site, although paid parking is available nearby.
The park estimates a walk of about 10 minutes from Cardiff Central to its southern West Gate, or 15 minutes from Queen Street. Before travelling, check the relevant venue’s current notices, particularly for holiday opening and any bookable activity.