The Most Instagrammable Places in Cardiff

The Arcades

Cardiff, the city of arcades, has the highest concentration of Edwardian and Victorian arcades in the UK, making it a popular spot for Instagrammers.

The Arcades are home to more than 100 independent shops and cafés from Spillers Records, the oldest record shop in the world, to Coffee Barker where you can snap the ultimate food flat lay.

Grab your camera or smartphone and capture the character that oozes from the period features of the shopfronts and balconies. Don’t forget to point upwards towards the ceiling to discover new surroundings and capture a unique shot. 

Bute Park

If nature and wildlife photography is your thing, then don’t miss a visit to one of the many parks Cardiff has to offer.

Bute Park has 130 acres of green space for you to enjoy.  No matter your photography experience, you’d struggle to capture anything less than stunning here in these gardens. 

Use the trees and pathways to frame your shots and direct attention towards a particular focal point, or go down to ground level and explore the beauty of the kept flowerbeds.

Roath Park

Roath Park opened in 1894 and its beautiful Victorian gardens make it one of Cardiff’s Green Flag parks.

Explore the grounds on foot or take a boat trip on the lake to capture some stunning nature photography. Oh, and don’t forget to share a snap of the iconic white lighthouse - a tribute to Captain Scott, and a landmark that can’t go uncaptured.

The park and pleasure gardens are open daily until 30 minutes before sunset, making it the perfect location for the best golden hour shots.

Cardiff Castle

At the heart of the city centre, you’ll find Cardiff Castle, one of the most visited tourist attractions in Wales.

The Roman fortification holds almost 2,000 years of history within its walls and is one of the best-preserved medieval castles in the region.

Climb to the top of the castle, and you will be surrounded by extravagant views of the city that will promise a ‘most liked’ picture on the ‘gram.

Or take the House Tour and capture the details of the opulent interiors, designed by nineteenth-century architect William Burges.

Castell Coch

If you have a sweet spot for castles, why not take a trip just outside of Cardiff to visit the fairy-tale castle, Castell Coch. The gothic-revival castle is stunning inside and out and is regularly voted as the most favoured building in Wales by locals.

You’ll find the ‘Red Castle’ nestled in the hills above the village of Tongwynlais with stunning views of the Taff Gorge and surrounding forestry. No wonder it is often found as one of the top locations in Wales on Instagram!

Cardiff Bay

Cardiff Bay, Europe’s largest waterfront development, is a social hub full of waterside attractions and modern restaurants, many of which have outdoor seating and overlook the water. The perfect spot for your new profile pic.

If bars and restaurants aren’t your thing, one of the walking trails will lead you to a wetland reserve, where, from the boardwalk, you will get stunning views of Cardiff Bay and the seaside town of Penarth. 

The National Museum Cardiff

Created in 1907, the National Museum Cardiff is home to a selection of galleries and exhibitions from dinosaurs and woolly mammoths to one of Europe’s best collections of impressionist art. 

Admission is free, however, there are plenty of ‘photo opps’ outside of the building, too. The stunning architecture of the museum makes a great backdrop for a selfie with friends, or you can use the elegant staircase to shoot your latest OOTD.

The building is situated opposite Cardiff’s Civic Centre, which is home to another Instagrammable location, Alexandra Gardens… two in one!

Llandaff Cathedral

Venture a little out of the city centre and you’ll be in the pretty suburb of Llandaff, at the heart of which, you’ll find a stunning Cathedral dating from the Norman period.

Although the cathedral has suffered damage over the years from devastations including the Blitz, the interior architecture is nothing shy of breathtaking, and you can learn all about it during your visit.

Cardiff City Hall

Cardiff City Hall is based in Cathays Park and serves as Cardiff’s centre of local government. This grand building showcases some of the finest French and English-inspired architecture and is a popular venue for a range of events.

The elegantly landscaped gardens are lined with trees, World War 2 memorials and a distinguished water fountain in front of the Edwardian Civic buildings.

If you have your zoom lens to hand, you’ll even be able to snap a close-up of the dragon that lives at the top of the 194-foot-high clock tower, a well-loved Cardiff landmark. 

Jacobs Antique Centre

To all photographers that enjoy capturing something a bit quirkier, a visit to Jacobs Antiques Centre is a must.

Here, you’ll be free to explore more than 30 independent stalls that offer an array of antique collectables varying from vintage fashion to jewellery, comics, vinyl records and home décor.

Be sure to get permission from any stallholders before snapping your pics, but rest assured, there are plenty of hidden treasures waiting to be discovered in this city centre location.